Grand Prix Final: Ice Dance Preview

Comparing Davis & White to Virtue & Moir is like splitting hairs, but Davis & White have the highest score of the season and if the judges stay consistent, they should come out on top. I expect Virtue & Moir to lead after the short, but Davis & White should win the free by enough to take the overall lead. Pechalat & Bourzat are a good bet for bronze, though neither of their programs seems World Class to me this season. Weaver & Poje are the most beautiful team on the scene today and they have more chemistry and better presentation skills than anybody, in my opinion. I liked Bobrova & Soloviev last season, and I appreciate their effort, but their high-drama programs this season are very 1990s ice dance. While they won Cup of China, I think their scores will slide when compared directly to Davis & White and Virtue & Moir. I'm not sold on the Shibutanis' programs this season and I don't know how they'll hold up in this field. They have the lowest scores of this group, but they are very consistent and will be able to climb if other teams make mistakes.

Placement Predictions:
1) Davis & White (USA) Season's Highest GP Score 179.02
2) Virtue & Moir (CAN) Season's Highest GP Score 178.34
3) Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA) Season's Highest GP Score 164.56
4) Weaver & Poje (CAN) Season's Highest GP Score 161.18
5) Bobrova & Soloviev (RUS) Season's Highest GP Score 163.52
6) Shibutani & Shibutani (USA) Season's Highest GP Score 151.85


Competitive History:


Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)-3rd at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 1st at 2011 Cup of China, 6th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 163.52 at 2011 Cup of China (Cup of China, Rostelecom Cup)


Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)-1st at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 1st at 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 NHK Trophy; PB: 185.27 at 2011 Worlds (Skate America, Rostelecom Cup)


Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)-2nd at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 2nd at 2011 Skate America, 4th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2011 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 167.40 at 2011 Europeans (Skate America, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-1st at 2011 NHK Trophy, 2nd at 2011 Cup of China, 2nd 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 163.79 at 2011 Worlds (Cup of China, NHK Trophy)


Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-1st at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Worlds, 1st 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-2nd at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 2nd at 2011 Skate Canada, 5th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 4th 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 160.32 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)

Grand Prix Final: Pairs Preview

Savchenko & Szolkowy struggled in their first 2 events of the season, but only because they're trying really difficult elements. They are one of those teams that I expect to win every time they take the ice, and this event is no exception. This is certain to be an exciting event as it is the first head-to-head match up between the Germans and Volosozhar & Trankov. Each team picked up two Gold medals, but neither team has peaked yet so it will be exciting to see them grow throughout the rest of the season. Kavaguti & Smirnov also picked up two Gold medals this season and can seize Gold here if the other teams make mistakes.

So we have the medal favorites, and then a second wave of teams that are pretty good in their own right. Zhang & Zhang are back after a year off and they've been competent, but not inspired. Takahashi & Tran are so young and they have the elegance and beauty to be a top team if they could improve the consistency in their technical elements. Skating against this field will help them take their careers to a new level. Duhamel & Radford are a feel good team  because you know they are workhorses and it's great to see that work pay off. They are a joy to watch and I love their programs, though they don't have the polish of the top flight.

Placement Predictions:
1) Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER) Season's Highest GP Score 208.69
2) Volosozhar & Trankov (RUS) Season's Highest GP Score 201.38
3) Kavaguti & Smirnov (RUS) Season's Highest GP Score 197.84
4) Zhang & Zhang (CHN) Season's Highest GP Score 178.66
5) Duhamel & Radford (CAN) Season's Highest GP Score 176.62
6) Takahashi & Tran (JPN) Season's Highest GP Score 172.09


Competitive History: 


Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford (CAN)-3rd at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 3rd at 2011 Skate Canada, 7th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 3rd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Four Continents (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov (JPN)-2nd at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 1st at 2011 NHK Trophy, 1st at 2011 Cup of China, 4th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 3rd 2010 Worlds, 4th 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 213.15 at 2010 Europeans (Cup of China, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)


Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)-1st at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, 3rd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 1st at 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 1st 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 Worlds, 3rd 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 217.85 at 2011 Worlds (Skate America, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)


Narumi Takahashi & Mervin Tran (JPN)-2nd at 2011 NHK Trophy, 4th at 2011 Skate America, 9th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2010 JGP Final, 2nd 2010 Cup of Russia, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy, 2nd 2010 JGP Germany, 2nd 2010 JGP England; PB: 172.09 at 2011 NHK Trophy (Skate Canada, NHK Trophy)


Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov (RUS)-1st at 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st 2011 O Nepela, 1st 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 210.73 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)


Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)-2nd at 2011 Cup of China, 2nd at 2011 Skate America, 5th 2010 Worlds, 5th 2010 Winter Olympics, 6th 2009 Grand Prix Final; PB: 197.82 at 2008 Worlds (Skate America, Cup of China)

2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Viewing Schedules

**All times listed below are Eastern Standard Time Zone**

Rostelecom Cup

Moscow, Russia

Friday November 25th
7:00 a.m. Ladies Short Program
8:35 a.m. Pairs Short Program
10:45 a.m. Men's Short Program
12:20 p.m. Short Dance
Saturday November 26th
7:00 a.m. Ladies Free Skate
8:45 a.m. Pairs Free Skate
10:25 a.m. Men's Free Skate

12:25 p.m. Free Dance               

2011 Grand Prix Final Predictions

I've finally made my predictions for the 2011 Grand Prix Final. Last year I only picked 12/24 qualifiers so I'm hoping to get to about 18/24 this season. Last year I chose blindly and this year I actually attempted to calculate the qualifiers based on who I predicted to medal at each event. I've also tried to calculate who I think will qualify as alternates.

Men:

1) Patrick Chan (30)

2) Michal Brezina (28)

3) Jeremy Abbott (28)

4) Yuzuru Hanyu (28)

5) Takahiko Kozuka (26)

6) Daisuke Takahashi (26)

A1) Adam Rippon (22)

A2) Brandon Mroz (22)

A3) Nobunari Oda (22)

Ladies:

1) Adelina Sotnikova (30)

2) Mao Asada (28)

3) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (28)

4) Alissa Czisny (26)

5) Mirai Nagasu (26)

6) Carolina Kostner (26)

A1) Ashley Wagner (20)

A2) Akiko Suzuki (20)

A3) Agnes Zawadzki (20)

Pairs:

1) Savchenko & Szolkowy (30)

2) Volosozhar & Trankov (30)

3) Kavaguti & Smirnov (28)

4) Sui & Han (26)

5) Zhang & Zhang (24)

6) Iliushechkina & Maisuradze (22)

A1) Bazarova & Larionov (20)

A2) Duhamel & Radford (20)

A3) Moore-Towers & Moscovitch (18)

Ice Dance:

1) Davis & White (30)

2) Virtue & Moir (30)

3) Shibutani & Shibutani (30)

4) Pechalat & Bourzat (26)

5) Weaver & Poje (26)

6) Bobrova & Soloviev (24)

A1) Ilinykh & Katsalapov (22)

A2) Cappellini & Lanotte (20)

A3) Zhiganshina & Gazsi (18)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Skate America Pairs Short Program [LIVE BLOG]

Wow, Dan Zhang is super tall now!!

1) Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)
    Music: East of Eden

• I don't like her lipstick, but I like her dress a lot
• it still hurts that she's not Caitlin
• That triple twist was huge with a very clean catch
• Nice clean triple toes, slight unison issues
• They seem to have a very strong personal connection to one another for only being together a few months
• Very slow in the footwok, speed will pick up as they get more experience
• A little bit of a wonky entrance into that overhead lift
• I don't know how Caydee saved that throw, very tilted in the air
• I still hate that she isn't Caitlin, but that was a solid skate

SP Score: 33.82 (TES) + 25.80 (PCS) = 59.62

2) Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA)
     Music: Pirates of the Caribbean by Hans Zimmer

• They only do a split double twist, so that will her their TES
• Very good height on the throw triple loop, hand down
• I think it's interesting to watch teams that jump and spin in opposite directions
• Here head almost hit the ice on that death spiral
• I really like their speed and edging on the footwork
• She tripped up a bit at the end, unfortunate

SP Score: 27.12 (TES) + 24.43 (PCS) = 51.55

3) Mary-Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)
    Music: Singin in the Rain

• I love that they are doing a cute, jazzy short program
• Very good unison on those side by side triple toes
• Very cute choreography, loving it so far
• Really good height on the the split triple twist, a little bit of a rough catch
• Hands down maybe on that throw triple lutz, but kudos to them for trying a harder throw
• I am just smitten with this program
• Very great energy throughout
• Nice lift
• They showed AMAZING improvement

SP Score: 29.68 (TES) + 26.48 (PCS) = 56.16

4) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
    Music: A Transylvanian Lullaby by John Morris

• Fantastic throw triple loop, that's what happens when you practice throwing over couches
• This is signature Lori Nichol choreography
• Other than lacking some speed, they look just as good as they did before they took their year off
• I'm not in love with this program, it is a little bland for me
• They are clearly a class above all the other skaters we've seen
• That was an abrupt ending to the program

SP Score: 34.17 (TES) +28.68  (PCS) = 62.85

5) Kirsten  Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
     Music: Borsalino by Claude Bolling

• Fast rotation on the  split twist, but not a clean catch
• Good side by side triple toes
• That throw triple loop was so tilted, she saved it
• I love their lift entry with Dylan in the lunge
• This program has some nice potential, but they can really up the performance ante
• That was scary when she stepped over the back of his skate boot, looked like a sliced achilles waiting to happen

SP Score: 32.30 (TES) + 27.40 (PCS) = 59.60

6) Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wendne (GER)
    Music: Music by John Miles

• Is it just me or does Daniel look a bit like Alexander Gazsi?
• Bad catch on that split triple twist, but I like how they linked it to their throw triple salchow
• Fall by Maylin on the triple toe
• I'm hating this 80s-tastic musical selections, and how do black and white costumes fit? 
• Trip by Daniel on the footwork sequence, they just look a bit frantic for me
• Her positions in the overhead spins could really use work
• I really like the ending pose

SP Score: 25.63 (TES) + 24.31 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 48.94

7) Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS)
    Music: Tosca by Puccini

• I always forget that Vera is so young, only 18
• I love they're elegance, if they can just land their elements, they're elite status
• Wow Yuri actually fell this time, usually it's Vera who struggles
• Did she die her hair darker?
• I've been saying for many a season that they remind me of Gordeeva & Grinkov, but not when they fall like that
• Clean throw triple flip, a harder throw than many
• I like their death spiral and that pair spin is to die for
• Very unique entrance and position changes into their overhead lift
• This is lovely choreography, not a moment is wasted
• Stumble by Yuri at the end, they looked unsettled out there

SP Score: 32.43 (TES) + 28.20 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 59.62

8) Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)
    Music: Angels & Demons by Hans Zimmer

• Wow, Aliona is all about the fake skin
• I love Ingo!!
• Let me guess, she's the angel and he's the demon?
• They have a very innovative coach which is great to see
• She ate it in the throw triple axel, very tilted, not sure if they'll call it rotated or not
• Struggle coming out of the split triple twist
• She two-footed the triple toe
• Granted she took a very hard fall on the throw, could understandably be shaken
• Their pair spin is so cool, loving it!
• So far no heinous death spirals, I'm okay with that sideways position
• This program is going to be outstanding come the Grand Prix Final, just needs some work

SP Score: 29.48 (TES) + 30.97 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 59.45

2011 Skate America: Ladies Preview

The 2011-2012 Grand Prix circuit kicks off this weekend, and though this may not be the most loaded ladies field of the series, there is one key battle to watch for. The ladies take the ice Saturday at 11:25pm (EST) for their short program and 5:40pm on Sunday for their free. I'll be live-blogging all 8 events this weekend so be sure to check back for all my thoughts and feelings! Welcome back and let's have a great season!

This event has two standouts in Alissa Czisny (USA) and Carolina Kostner (ITA) who will fight it out for Gold, and then an inconsistent rest of the field who could fall into place any number of ways. Czisny & Kostner had nearly identical seasons in 2010/11 with each winning Gold & Bronze on the Grand Prix. Czisny finished one notch ahead of Kostner to win the Grand Prix Final while Kostner finished two spots ahead of Czinsy when she won Bronze at Worlds. Both have been inconsistent in the past but if they are both on, I'd prefer to watch Czisny any day. Her spins are among the best in the World, and in my opinion her artistry is far superior with grace and fluidity to spare, while I have always found Kostner to be a bit robotic. Bronze will be key here and there is no favorite now that 2010 World Bronze Medalist Laura Lepisto has withdrawn. Ksenia Makarova (RUS) had an up and down 2010/11 season and she withdrew from Nebelhorn Trophy earlier this month due to injury so only time will tell if that was serious enough to affect her here. Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) made a coaching change in the off-season and seemed to have settled down a bit when she debuted at Nebelhorn earlier this month with a Silver Medal. Sisters Viktoria Helgesson (SWE) & Joshi Helgesson (SWE) had strong showings last year and normally Joshi is the higher scoring athlete, though she has a habit of finishing lower when she competes directly against her sister. We'll see if that trend continues. Haruka Imai (JPN) finished as high as 5th last season at Skate Canada, and though she is a nice skater, she has never reached the level of the top Japanese Ladies. Valentina Marchei (ITA) is a nice skater when she can land her elements and she too finished as high as 5th last season at Rostelecom Cup. At 25, she is pushing the age envelope for a singles skater and this could be her last season. Last but not least, America's host picks Caroline Zhang (USA) & Joelle Forte (USA) are dark horses to say the least. Zhang was a Junior phenom but never achieved success as a senior and you have to wonder if this may be the last year that US Figure Skating gives her International assignments unless she produces results. Forte is a pleasant skater, though I don't see a hugely successful career ahead of her given that she is making her International debut this season at age 25.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Alissa Czisny (USA)
2) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
3) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)


My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Alissa Czisny (USA)
B) Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)
C) Joshi Helgesson (SWE)


Competitive History:

Alissa Czisny (USA)-5th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2010 Grand Prix Final, 3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 182.25 at 2011 Worlds


Joelle Forte (USA)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 4th 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy


Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO)-2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 10th 2011 Worlds, 8th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 164.54 at 2010 Europeans


Joshi Helgesson (SWE)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 15th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 6th 2011 Nordics, 4th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 Cup of China; PB: 149.08 at 2011 Worlds

Viktoria Helgesson (SWE)-5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Nordics, 1st 2010 Merano Cup, 6th 2010 Skate America, 9th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 161.79 at 2010 Worlds


Haruka Imai (JPN)-3rd 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 6th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 O Nepala; PB: 155.29 at 2010 Four Continents


Carolina Kostner (ITA)-3rd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Gardena Spring Trophy, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 1st 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 184.68 at 2008 Worlds


Ksenia Makarova (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 7th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 Skate Canada, 4th 2010 Finlandia Trophy; 171.91 at 2010 Winter Olympics

Valentina Marchei (ITA)-10th 2011 Europeans, 5th 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 8th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice, 2nd 2010 O Nepala; PB: 153.71 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup 


Caroline Zhang (USA)-9th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 176.48 at 2008 Grand Prix Final

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series: Event Schedules

These are the tentative competition schedules (Eastern Standard Time) for all of the 2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events.

Skate America

Ontario, California, USA

Friday October 21st
10:05 p.m. Men's Short Program
11:45 p.m. Short Dance

Saturday October 22nd
2:45 p.m. Men's Free Skate
4:30 p.m. Free Dance
10:00 p.m. Pairs Short Program
11:45 p.m. Ladies Short Program

Sunday October 23rd
4:05 p.m. Pairs Free Skate
5:45 p.m. Ladies Free Skate

10:00 p.m. Exhibition

Skate Canada

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Friday October 28th

2:05 p.m. Ladies Short Program

3:45 p.m. Pairs Short Program

7:30 p.m. Men's Short Program

9:10 p.m. Short Dance

Saturday October 29th

12:15 p.m. Ladies Free Skate

4:15 p.m. Pairs Free Skate

7:10 p.m. Men's Free Skate

Sunday October 30th

12:30 p.m. Free Dance

3:00 p.m. Exhibition

Cup of China

Shanghai, China

Friday November 4th

3:30 a.m. Short Dance

5:00 a.m. Ladies Short Program

6:45 a.m. Men's Short Program

8:45 a.m. Pairs Short Program

Saturday November 5th

2:30 a.m. Free Dance

4:15 a.m. Ladies Free Skate

6:15 a.m. Men's Free Skate

8:30 a.m. Pairs Free Skate

Sunday November 6th

7:00 a.m. Exhibition

NHK Trophy

Sapporo, Japan

Friday November 11th

1:55 a.m. Short Dance

3:45 a.m. Pairs Short Program

6:15 a.m. Ladies Short Program

11:00 p.m. Free Dance

Saturday November 12th

1:05 a.m. Pairs Free Skate

3:30 a.m. Men's Short Program

6:00 a.m. Ladies Free Skate

11:55 p.m. Men's Free Program

Sunday November 13th

2:50 a.m. Exhibition

Trophee Eric Bompard

Paris, France

Friday November 18th

9:00 a.m. Pairs Short Program

10:20 a.m. Men's Short Program

12:45 p.m. Ladies Short Program

2:35 p.m. Short Dance

Saturday November 19th

7:30 a.m. Pairs Free Skate

9:25 a.m. Men's Free Skate

12:30 p.m. Ladies Free Skate

2:30 p.m. Free Dance

Sunday November 20th

9:00 a.m. Exhibition

Rostelecom Cup

Moscow, Russia

Friday November 25th

7:00 a.m. Ladies Short Program

8:35 a.m. Pairs Short Program

10:45 a.m. Men's Short Program

12:20 p.m. Short Dance

Saturday November 26th

7:00 a.m. Ladies Free Skate

8:45 a.m. Pairs Free Skate

10:25 a.m. Men's Free Skate

12:25 p.m. Free Dance

Sunday November 27th

6:35 a.m. Exhibition

2011 Grand Prix Final Predictions

 

As we did last season, @icemusings and I have decided to predict which skaters and pairs will make it to the Grand Prix Final ridiculously early in the year. After much thought, we've each come up with the 6 skaters/teams and 3 alternates that we think will make it to the final. We were even crazy enough to try to think of how the skaters will qualify, hence the numerical order. Here are our predictions, most of which are strikingly similar!

BACKSTAGE BARBIE                                            ICEMUSINGS

Ladies:
1) Mirai Nagasu (USA)                                                1) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
2) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)                                         2) Alissa Czisny (USA)
3) Carolina Kostner (ITA)                                             3) Mao Asada (JPN)
4) Alissa Czisny (USA)                                               4) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)
5) Kanako Murakami (JPN)                                          5) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
6) Ashley Wagner (USA)                                             6) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
7) Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS)                                7) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
8) Alena Leonova (RUS)                                              8) Kiira Korpi (FIN)
9) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)                                                 9) Laura Lepisto (FIN)

Men:
1) Patrick Chan (CAN)                                              1) Patrick Chan (CAN)
2) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)                                         2) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
3) Jeremy Abbott (USA)                                            3) Jeremy Abbott (USA)
4) Nobunari Oda (JPN)                                              4) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
5) Artur Gachinski (RUS)                                           5) Evan Lysacek (USA)
6) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)                                       6) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
7) Richard Dornbush (USA)                                        7) Michal Brezina (CZE)
8) Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)                                              8) Tomas Verner (CZE)
9) Michal Brezina (CZE)                                             9) Richard Dornbush (USA)

Pairs:
1) Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)                                   1) Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)
2) Volosozhar/Trankov (RUS)                                      2) Volosozhar/Trankov (RUS)
3) Kavaguti/Smirnov (RUS)                                          3) Kavaguit/Smirnov (RUS)
4) Bazarova/Larionov (RUS)                                         4) Bazarova/Larionov (RUS)
5) Sui/Han (CHN)                                                       5) Sui/Han (CHN)
6) Duhamel/Radford (CAN)                                          6) Zhang/Zhang (CHN)
7) Denney/Coughlin (USA)                                          7) Denney/Coughlin (USA)
8) Takahashi/Tran (JPN)                                             8) Iliushechkina/Maisuradze (RUS)
9) Zhang/Zhang (CHN)                                                9) Duhamel/Radford (CAN)

Ice Dance:
1) Virtue/Moir (CAN)                                                  1) Davis/White (USA)
2) Davis/White (USA)                                                 2) Virtue/Moir (CAN)
3) Shibutani/Shibutani (USA)                                      3) Shibutani/Shibutani (USA)
4) Pechalat/Bourzat (FRA)                                          4) Pechalat/Bourzat (FRA)
5) Weaver/Poje (CAN)                                                5) Weaver/Poje (CAN)
6) Ilinykh/Katsalapov (RUS)                                        6) Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS)
7) Riazanova/Tkachenko (RUS)                                   7) Ilinykh/Katsalapov (RUS)
8) Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS)                                          8) Monko/Khaliavin (RUS)
9) Paul/Islam (CAN)                                                   9) Riazanova/Tkachenko (RUS)

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: The Ice Dancers

 Here is a look at the past accomplishments of all the talented Ice Dancers that will be competing on the 2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating senior circuit. How will they stack up against one another? They'll be tested in a series of 6 events with each competing 1-3 events. The top 6 will compete in the Grand Prix Final in December to determine the ultimate winner.

Lorena Alessandrini & Simone Vaturi (ITA)-16th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Coup de Nice; PB: 115.32 at 2011 Europeans (NHK Trophy)
Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)-6th 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 2nd 2010 Cup of China; PB: 161.14 at 2011 Europeans (Cup of China, Rostelecom Cup)
Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte (ITA)-8th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 5th 2010 NHK Trophy, 2nd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 153.77 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)
Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)-12th 2011 Worlds, 9th 2011 Europeans, 4th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 Skate Canada, 1st 2010 Coup de Nice, 1st 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.86 at 2011 Worlds (Cup of China, Rostelecom Cup)
Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA)-International debut; PB: 151.86 (Chock/Zuerlein) at 2011 Worlds; PB: 174.30 (Samuelson/Bates) at 2010 Winter Olympics (Skate Canada)
Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)-16th 2011 Worlds, 14th 2011 Europeans, 8th 2010 Skate America, 8th 2010 NHK Trophy, 3rd 2010 Coup de Nice, 4th 2010 O Nepala; PB: 126.29 at 2011 Worlds (Cup of China)
Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)-1st 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2011 Skate America, 1st 2011 NHK Trophy; PB: 185.27 at 2011 Worlds (Skate America, Rostelecom Cup)
Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov (RUS)-1st 2011 Winter Universiade, 2nd 2010 Golden Spin, 4th 2010 Cup of Russia, 6th 2010 Skate Canada, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 3rd 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 127.47 at 2010 Rostelecom Cup (Trophee Eric Bompard)

Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)-17th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Asian Winter Games, 5th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Cup of China; 130.29 at 2011 Four Continents (Trophee Eric Bompard)

Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)-International debut; PB: 120.95 (Hubbell/Hubbell) at 2010 Cup of China (Skate America)
Sara Hurtado & Andria Diaz (ESP)-23rd 2011 Worlds, 15th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2011 Bavarian Open, 4th 2011 Winter Universiade, 11th 2010 Golden Spin, 8th 2010 Junior NRW Trophy, 5th 2010 JGP Germany, 10th 2010 JGP England; PB: 120.411 at 2011 World Juniors (Trophee Eric Bompard)
Elena Ilinykh & Nikita Katsalapov (RUS)-7th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 4th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 154.50 at 2011 Worlds  (NHK Trophy, Trophee Eric Bompard)
Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt (USA)-6th 2010 Skate America, 6th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; 130.72 at 2010 Skate America (NHK Trophy)
Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)-3rd 2011 World Juniors, 5th 2010 JGP Final, 3rd 20110 JGP Germany, 1st 2010 JGP Austria; PB: 133.36 at 2011 World Juniors (Cup of China)
Ksenia Monko & Kirill Khaliavin (RUS)-1st 2011 World Juniors, 1st 2010 JGP Final, 1st 2010 JGP England, 1st 2010 JGP Romania; PB: 155.04 at 2010 JGP England (Skate America, Cup of China)
Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)-4th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 World Juniors; PB: 138.16 at 2011 Skate Canada (Skate America, NHK Trophy)
Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (FRA)-4th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2011 Cup of China, 1st 2010 Finlandia Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 167.40 at 2011 Europeans (Skate America, Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)
Ekaterina Pushhkash & Jonathan Guerreiro (RUS)-2nd 2011 World Juniors, 4th 2010 JGP Final, 1st 2010 JGP Czech, 2nd 2010 JGP Japan; PB: 136.80 at 2010 JGP Czech (Skate Canada)
Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)-6th 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 7th 2011 Cup of China; 121.39 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard (Skate America)
Cathy Reed & Chris Reed (JPN)-13th 2011 Worlds, 2nd Asian Winter Games, 7th 2010 Skate America, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 133.33 at 2011 Worlds (Rostelecom Cup)
Ekaterina Riazanova & Ilia Tkachenko (RUS)-6th 2011 Europeans, 2nd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 5th 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 146.79 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard (Skate Canada, Rostelecom Cup)
Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-3rd 2011 Worlds, 2nd 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 3rd 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 163.79 at 2011 Worlds (Cup of China, NHK Trophy)
Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)-14th 2011 Worlds, 12th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 NRW Trophy, 11th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 131.01 at 2011 Worlds (Rostelecom Cup)
Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (CAN)-2nd 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Worlds, 1st 2010 Winter Olympics; PB: 181.79 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, Trophee Eric Bompard)
Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN)-5th 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 4th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 4th 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 160.32 at 2011 Worlds (Skate Canada, NHK Trophy, Rostelecom Cup)
Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)-7th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2011 Asian Winter Games, 8th 2010 Cup of China, 10th 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 125.75 at 2011 Four Continents (Cup of China)
Nelli Zhinganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)-11th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 1st 2010 P Roman, 2nd 2010 NRW Trophy, 3rd 2010 O Nepala, 4th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2010 Mont Blanc Trophy; PB: 140.95 at 2011 Worlds (Skate America, NHK Trophy)