China's star figure skating pairs are starting their final season before the advent of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with a set of dazzling new routines.

Pang Qing and Tong Jian, and Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, are hoping to impress the judges and wow audiences this season with a mixture of greater artistry and faster beats.

Pang Qing (left) and Tong Jian perform at the National Grand Prix short program. [Zhong Ti]

Returning from a month-long trip to the US earlier this year, Pang/Tong, the 2006 pairs world champions, had world-renowned choreographers Nikolai Morozov and Sarah Kawahara step in to help develop their new routines.

Blues will form the soundtrack for their short program, while up-tempo tango will replace the slower and more lyrical music they previously opted for in their freestyle routines.

"There is now a sharper contrast between our two routines, since the short program will have a slower rhythm while the free skating will be faster and stronger," said Tong.

"The new routines will be more like dance performances rather than relying solely on technical elements. We hope to impress the judges with our changes."

Meanwhile, the younger Zhangs, silver medalists in Turin two years ago, have selected more lyrical music for both programs.

"We focused on producing a more artistic performance so we selected slower rhythms," said Zhang Hao. "We want to be world champions this season."

After three-time world champs Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo retired following the 2006 Turin Games, Pang/Tong and the two Zhangs are considered China's brightest lights in the world of pairs skating.

They tested their new programs at the season-opening National Grand Prix last week, one of the events on CCTV's Winter Sports Series calendar, with the Zhangs claiming gold and Pang/Tong taking silver.

"We only just resumed training because I picked up a foot injury in August so we didn't hit our peak form," said Tong after the competition.

"I still have to build up my strength as most of the big technical elements are in the second half of the routine, which requires a lot of physical conditioning."

The Zhangs also said they were short on practice. Both pairs' first international competition will be the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China, which runs from Nov 6-9.

As the third stop on the season's GP circuit, the event has attracted the cream of the world's skaters. Participants include Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, last year's runner-up at the worlds, and 2007-08 Grand Prix finals women's champion Kim Yu-na of South Korea.

Women's 2007 world champ Miki Ando of Japan, 2007-08 Grand Prix finals ice dancing champions Oksana Dominina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia, and 2006 Winter Olympic ice dancing silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the US will also attend.

The Chinese will also face a heady challenge from Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine, who ranked fourth at last year's worlds.

Tong said he was undaunted by the fearsome competition.

"We are getting ready for the Grand Prix China stop and we are expecting a good start to the season," he said.

Former champs may take the reins

Retired three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist couple Shen and Zhao have said they will not compete at the 2010 Vancouver Games, but they may continue to help the national team in the role of coaches.

"Due to a change of regulations and our age, it is hard for us to get back into competition," said the 35-year-old Zhao, who retired last year. "But we may participate in the 2010 Games as coaches."

Team officials confirmed that they have already handed in the application forms needed to become national team coaches and are awaiting a reply.

"We hope to pass our experience on to younger skaters and help more young talents rise up on the international stage," said Zhao.

(China Daily October 22, 2008)