Skaters sharpen blades for Vancouver

China's star figure skating pairs are starting their final season before the advent of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with as 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.

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.