Cup of China: Ice Dance Preview

Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA) keep reinventing themselves and they finally won their world medal last year. Normally I'd wonder how judges will receive their Rolling Stones free skate, but if they won a world medal with the mummy routine, they can do well with anything. Aside from any major mistakes, look for them to win there though their training partners will be hot on their heels.

Weaver & Poje (CAN) placed 3rd at Skate America behind the Russians, but I personally believe that was a fluke. I find them to be the most enjoyable team to watch with the most genuine passion and chemistry on the ice. One day I know that will pay off and get them a World medal. This could be the year if they set up their training so that they peak at the right time.

Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS) are an old school ice dance team. They go for that unbridled passion and high drama that the judges loved in the 1990s, but for some reason it is working for them. They tend to be hit or miss and their scores vary a lot from event to event depending on the judging panel. The judges' opinions will be the X-factor in this event. These 3 teams should make up the podium, but the specific order is up for grabs.

Chock & Bates (USA) have an outside chance of making the podium depending on the panel and if any of the top teams make mistakes. Their programs last season were awkward and I struggled to get used to them as a team. This year their programs are gorgeous and I think they are ready to make a name for themselves and be that 3rd US team at Worlds. I think that moving to Igor was the best decision they could've made. At least now that have a fighting chance. You know they would've been pushed aside if they would've stayed with Marina as her other top teams all have World and/or Olympic medals.

My Podium Predictions:
Gold: Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)
Silver: Weaver & Poje (CAN)
Bronze: Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS)

The Rest of the Field:
Huang & Zheng (CHN)
Yu & Wang (CHN)
Guignard & Fabbri (ITA)
Sinitsina & Zhiganzhin (RUS)