2000 NHK Trophy

30th November - 3rd December 2000, Asahikawa/JPN

Winkler/Lohse win bronze medal at NHK Trophy

Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse won the bronze medal at NHK Trophy on Saturday (December 2) in Asahikawa, Japan. It was their second medal in a Grand Prix event this season. More important, Germans qualified for the Final for the first time in their career. The team from Oberstdorf put in a strong performance. They produced good steps, and interesting lifts. "Our goal was to make the Final", said a delighted Rene Lohse. "Now we'll improve our endurance, we want to add some elements and to make the program more difficult."

The fact that they made the Final is an important step in their career. "We are suprised that it worked this year already. It is a great success that motivates us a lot", he continued. "We realize that we can reach the top, but it is a hard fight, and we know that."

Winkler/Lohse stay in third after the OD at NHK Trophy

Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse stayed in third after the OD at NHK Trophy in Asahikawa, Japan on Friday (December 1). The Germans put in another convincing performance to music from "Cabaret". Their Charleston and Quickstep were both very entertaining and contained good footwork and original moves. "I felt so tired", said Winkler. "The jet lag hit me today! It wasn't great today, but we went through the program quite well." The Germans took three second-place ordinals.

Winkler/Lohse 3rd at NHK Trophy after Compulsory Dance

Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse are in third after the Rhumba (compulsory dance) at NHK Trophy in Japan (Thursday, November 30). The German Champions delivered a good performance, maybe they could have been a bit more aggressive. "It was a good routine as we do it in practice", said Winkler. The ice conditions for the skaters in the second group weren't too good. There were many complaints, because tracings made it difficult for the dancers. "There should be a resurfacing of the ice after the first group", suggested Winkler. "We were lucky to skate in the first group, but it was very difficult for the second group."

Kati and Rene got third place ordinals from eight of the nine judges. Just the Polish judge didn't like what she saw and placed them 5th. "She doesn't seem to like us", said Kati and shrugged.

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