1998 Sparkassen Cup on Ice

Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse impress at Gelsenkirchen and win the bronze medal

by Tatjana Flade

Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse impressed the audience and the judges at their first competition of the season in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, from November 12th to 15th. The Germans won the bronze medal - their first medal in a Grand Prix event so far. They presented their new programs which were very well received.

They started the competition well right away with a good Tango Romantica in the compulsory dance on Friday afternoon. Kati's and Rene's waltz to "L'homme de Paris" by Mireille Mathieu is absolutely adorable, has great flow, looks easy and charming. They received marks ranging from 5.3 to 5.6 (A) and 5.5 to 5.7 (B).

They were third behind World Champions Angelika Krylova/Oleg Ovsiannikov and World Bronze medallists Shae-Lynn Bourne/Victor Kraatz.

The new free skating to Kodo Drums and Chinese Music debuted very sucessfully in Gelsenkirchen. The program is very innovative, contains new moves and elements, is interesting to watch and looks very promising. It will be interesting to follow how it grows throughout the season. "Our choreographer said he never has seen Asian music interpreted in ice dance", Rene said. They want to interpret the concept of Ying and Yang - Ying and Yang is man and woman, beginning and end, hot and cold - just uniting all aspects of life, as Rene explained at the press conference. The judges awarded the ambitious performance with marks ranging from 5.3 to 5.5 (A) and 5.5 to 5.7 (B).

The Sparkassen Cup was a sucessful start into the season for Winkler/Lohse who hope to advance further in the international ice dance hierarchy. "Chances are not bad", Rene believes. "Some couples left and we worked very hard."

Zurück