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Slutskaya and Cohen Take Early Lead Under New Judging System

Michelle Kwan at the 2005 World Figure Skating Championships Photo by Michelle Wojdyla

Event Results, News and Photos

(3/16/05) - For Irina Slutskaya and Sasha Cohen, the new judging system is beginning to feel like old hat. The two ladies put up the top two scores, respectively, on Wednesday as each won her qualifying heat.

Michelle Kwan, on the other hand, was offered a rude introduction in her first competition judged under the new system.

Kwan was marked down on her jumps, spins and stepwork and placed just fifth in her qualifying group, seventh overall.

“It was not very good. It was not very good at all,” Kwan said after completing only three clean triples in her ‘Bolero' routine that looked completely different from the one she showed at the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships. “I think I had too many things to think about and I wasn't pacing myself, quite frankly.”

Kwan opened with a double Axel, but fell off the pace quickly when a planned triple flip-double toe-double loop became just a double flip. She recovered a bit with a triple Lutz-double toe combination and a good triple flip, then faltered again when she skidded on her double Salchow (intended as a triple).

Her routine ended on a somber note when she badly two-footed her final jump, a triple toe.

Despite her poor performance in the opening round of the competition, Kwan has no regrets about the way in which she has approached the new judging system.

“One change is huge in skating,” Kwan said. “I don't look back. I made a choice and I feel good. A lot of people came in here with injuries. I am fine 100 percent. It just didn't happen.”

Kwan's score of 99.96 was well below the leading mark of 119.08 posted by Slutskaya.

From start to finish, Slutskaya demonstrated her quick study of the new judging system and was consistently awarded with level two and three spins. Her routine included five well-executed triple jumps and her only mistakes were step-outs of a triple loop and a double Axel at the end.

“In principle I'm satisfied, but I can do better," Slutskaya said.

Cohen, who completed six triple jumps (she fell on a seventh) and placed first in her qualifying group with a score of 113.64, shared those sentiments.

Sasha Cohen at the 2005 World Figure Skating Championships Photo by Michelle Wojdyla

“I'm pretty happy with that start,” Cohen said. “I really want to do well, and I really want to win these World Championships. It will be interesting to see how the points add up.”

Cohen, who opted to practice at her home rink with her coach, John Nicks, and fly in just before the competition, overcame a hastily modified itinerary that saw her arrive in Moscow even later than expected. Missed connections in London and Frankfurt, however, didn't prevent last year's World silver medalist from putting on a splendid performance.

“Sasha is limited by time constraints, but I think the system plays to her advantage,” said Nicks.

The other American woman in the competition, Jennifer Kirk, placed ninth in Kwan's group after falling twice and leaving out a combination jump in her Beatles medley program.

“It was really bad,” Kirk said. “I don't know what's wrong with my body. This competition for me is personal. I want to end the season well.”