Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett - Champions

All designs are copyright © by Zhanna Kens and may not be reproduced or modified without express written permission.

Denney and Barrett scored a major upset at the U.S. Championships, besting defending champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker in the short program.
Reunited only since June after a brief partnership two years ago, the pair pulled off a major upset at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday, Jan.22-2009. Not only did they win the short program with a flawless routine, they beat defending champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker and veterans Rena Inoue and John Baldwin in the process.
Denney and Barrett scored 61.51. McLaughlin and Brubaker had 61.12 despite two noticeable errors, but their power, speed and appealing program allowed them to edge Inoue and Baldwin -- barely. Inoue and Baldwin, the 2004 and 2006 national champions, were a mere hundredth of a point behind at 61.11.
"As soon as we started skating together, things just clicked,'' said Barrett, who has been to senior nationals twice before with other partners. "Our body types are very similar, our timing is very similar.''

And that timing is just about perfect.

While most couples were so out-of-sync they could have been doing separate programs, Denney and Barrett had perfect unison. They looked like shadow images on their side-by-side triple toe loop jumps, and the audience actually began clapping during their combination side-by-side spin. Even when they changed feet and positions, they stayed perfectly in time, as if linked by an invisible string.

They also scored big with their throw triple lutz, a jump so tough for pairs that few teams even try it. A lutz is difficult enough for single skaters, and the awkward takeoff position makes it even harder for a pair. No surprise, then, that it's worth a full point more than the throw triple salchow performed by most teams.

It probably helps that Denney still skates singles. She was sixth at sectionals as a junior, missing nationals by two spots.

"I think Caydee's the best partner anybody could ask for,'' Barrett said when asked the secret of their quick success. "She makes it pretty easy.''

Still, their ascent is a rarity in a sport where it often takes years to develop the chemistry and harmony of a world-class team.

CLEVELAND (AP) -Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett sure know how to make an entrance!!!

http://bit.ly/MysticLoveIceSkatingCostumes