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Photos are Copyright (c) 2000, Sandra J. Loosemore, and are provided
for personal viewing only.
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This is the roller-skating equivalent of a Zamboni. :-) I guess they
wanted to be sure there were no stray sequins littering the floor
before the pairs skated.
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Nichole Walter and Michael Schauf from the US (3rd place)
do a one-handed lift.
Lifts in roller pairs skating are a lot more acrobatic and
dangerous-looking than in competitive ice skating -- it's more like what
the adagio pairs on ice do. This lift, with the grip on the lady's thigh
rather than on her torso or hands, would be illegal in ice skating.
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Aubrey Orcutt and William Galvin also from the US (2nd place)
do a back outside death spiral.
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Eleonara Roma and Alberto Donadi from Italy (1st place)
do a particularly
scary-looking pair spin, with the woman in a layover while the man does
a camel over her head. All of the pairs were doing this spin, and while
this team seemed to have it under control, for the others I was truly
frightened for the safety of the woman. I don't imagine getting kicked
in the head by your partner's wheels is any more pleasant than getting
a skate blade embedded in your skull.
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Roma & Donadi do another flavor of lift that is not allowed in ice skating
because of the support of the woman by her leg.
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