Notes from the Indy Challenge 2008

Short Program - Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, fifth at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, followed up their strong performances at the recent Liberty Open with another solid showing. They took second with 58.18 points.

With the Beijing Games just underway, the couple wore Olympic colors and skated to Olympic-themed music by Yanni. Although their triple Salchows were downgraded, they made up the deficit with a solid triple twist and excellent throw triple loop.

"Their high grades of execution and clear Level 4 elements are a commodity," Jim Peterson, the team's primary coach and choreographer, said. "Even if the Salchows are not there, the quality of their skating keeps them up."

"There are so many great teams here; it's like a mini-nationals," added the 25-year-old Evora, who has skated with her 28-year-old partner since 2002. "Even with the mistake [on the Salchows], we've had a lot of improvements. We've changed the catch on the [triple] twist; it's at the hip now."

Long Program - Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig continued their string of strong summer performances with a solid outing of their free to the "Pas de Deux" from The Nutcracker. They captured second place with 100.51 points.

The pair opened with a solid triple twist and then lost ground when Ladwig fell on a triple Salchow. They recovered with a lovely throw triple Lutz, strong side-by-side spins with a jump entrance and a well-executed throw triple loop. Although they singled planned double Axels, four of their five remaining elements gained Level 4s from the technical panel.

"The ["Pas de Deux"] is an old war horse, but it is beautiful music that shows the relationship between a man and a woman," Jim Peterson, the team's primary coach and choreographer, said.

"I think those are the best throws Amanda has ever done; the throw Lutz is becoming very consistent."

Information Courtesy of Ice Network