Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 16 Days!

Agnes Zawadzki (Broadmoor SC)

• 2010 US Junior Champion
• 2010 Junior World Silver Medalist
• 2010 Skate Canada 6th
• 2010 Cup of Russia 4th

Agnes burst onto the scene last season, snatching the US Junior title and winning silver at Junior Worlds. She trains with Rachael Flatt under Tom Zakrajsek and in several home competitions, her scores were right in line with Rachael's. At the tender age of 16, Agnes shows amazing promise for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, but don't wait that long for her to strike. It won't surprise me at all if she medals at Nationals this year and even makes the World team. She has all the technical elements of the top ladies but she just needs to work on upping her program components scores. I had high hopes for her to medal in one or both of her Grand Prix events this season, but while she had strong short programs at both events, she struggled in the free skate in both outings. I am confident that this was just a sign of nerves and the pressure of her senior international debut, but she certainly shows immense promise for the future, and even for this season.

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 20 Days!

Ashley Wagner (SC of Wilmington)

• 2007 US Junior Bronze Medalist
• 2008 US Bronze Medalist
• 2009 US Nationals 4th
• 2009 Grand Prix Final 4th
• 2010 US Bronze Medalist
• 2010 Cup of Russia Bronze Medalist

Ashley is one of those skaters who is always on the cusp of greatness, but just never quite makes it to the top. After being the only US lady to qualify for the Grand Prix Final last season, she looked poised to make the Olympic team but came up just short at Nationals placing 3rd. Of the top four ladies in the United States, the others being Mirai Nagasu, Rachael Flatt, and Alissa Czisny, Ashley is the only one who has yet to win a National title and this just may be the year. She is coming off of a strong performance and a bronze medal at Cup of Russia and she also got a nice two month break after the Grand Prix to prepare for Nationals. She calls herself a "free skater" as that is usually her stronger of the two programs so if she can keep from getting too far behind in the short, her free skating abilities may put her atop the podium this year in Greensboro. She will need to be clean in both programs though because Rachael Flatt is the Queen of consistency, and both Mirai Nagasu and Alissa Czisny are able to achieve high scores even with mistakes based on the quality of most of their elements and their program components. 

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 21 Days!

Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin (Colonial FSC)

• 2008 US Nationals 6th
• 2009 US Nationals 7th
• 2010 US Nationals 6th
• 2010 Four Continents Championships 4th
• 2010 NHK Trophy 4th
• 2010 Cup of China Bronze Medalists

I have been a big critic of the US Pairs program for a long time and though I don't think this team is the future of US Pairs skating, I think they are our best hope for the present. Caitlin is only 20 but John is 25 so I don't know how many good years they have left in them. I hadn't seen them skate before this year's Grand Prix and I was quite impressed. I find them to be quite clean and fairly consistent compared to the other top pairs teams in the US who often crack under pressure. Their free program this season to Ave Maria  is a tribute to John's mother who passed away recently and it is quite beautiful. Pairs is so hard to predict at Nationals but I have a feeling this team is going to stand atop the podium this year. Denney and  Barrett will probably lead after the short program, but I predict that Yankowskas and Coughlin's free skate will propel them ahead in the end. 

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 22 Days!

Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein (Arctic FSC)

• 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final Champions
• 2009 US Junior National Champions
• 2009 Junior World Champions
• 2010 US Nationals 5th
• 2010 Four Continents Championships 5th
• 2010 Skate Canada Bronze Medalists
• 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard Bronze Medalists

Madison & Greg had a great Grand Prix this season, finishing 3rd in both of their events and 8th overall in the Grand Prix series. With only 2 or 3 of the top teams in the world skipping the Grand Prix this season, this puts Madison & Greg in a great position to place in the top 10 at worlds. Of course they will have to qualify for their first senior worlds, but barring any major disasters, they should easily make the podium. With Davis & White untouchable in the US, the real battle should be for silver between this team and Maia & Alex Shibutani. Interestingly enough, all three teams are coached by Marina Zoueva & Igor Shpilband. They train together everyday so they know what to expect from one another and they push each other to be better. I am torn because I love the Shibutanis' short dance to the Carousel Waltz, but I love Chock & Zuerlein's free dance to Cabaret. Based on Grand Prix scores, the Shibutanis have about a 4-point edge over Chock & Zuerlein, but those extra 2 months of training between the Grand Prix and Nationals can do wonders for most teams. I find the Shibutanis to be stronger technically while I enjoy watching Chock & Zuerlein more as performers. Either way I love them both and have no reason to believe they won't win silver and bronze at nationals right behind Davis & White and make a great showing at their first senior Worlds. This is certain to be a battle royale in Greensboro and the senior free dance is the event I am most looking forward to at the 2011 US Nationals. 

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 23 Days!

Brandon Mroz (Broadmoor SC)

• 2006-07 Junior Grand Prix Final Silver Medalist
• 2007-08 US Junior Silver Medalist
• 2009 US Silver Medalist
• 2010 US Nationals 6th
• 2010 Cup of China Silver Medalist
• 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard Silver Medalist

Though Brandon stood on the podium at the 2009 Senior Nationals between Jeremy Abbott and Evan Lysacek, I still consider him among the "next generation" of US male figure skaters along with Adam Rippon, etc. At only 20 years old, he is still a baby in terms of internationally successful male figure skaters. With Lysacek and Weir sitting this season out, the 2011 Nationals will be a great opportunity for the younger skaters, like Brandon, to move up and make the world team. Based on his Grand Prix scores, Brandon should have no trouble finishing in the top 6 or 7 at worlds, though he must make the world team before he can compete there. I still think the mens podium will be Abbott, Rippon, and Mroz, not necessarily in that order, but Armin Mahbanoozadeh or returning veteran Ryan Bradley could easily throw a wrench into that plan. Brandon's highest total score this season was a 216.80 at Cup of China which puts him about 2 points below Jeremy Abbott and about 17 below Adam Rippon. However, Mroz has arguably been the most consistent of the three as Rippon had somewhat of a meltdown at Skate America and Abbott struggled to put together two clean programs at either of his events. Mroz has also shown that he can do the quad which Rippon has yet to show us in competition and Abbott has not done consistently. He has come into his own this season in terms of presentation with his debonair Bernstein free skate, but look for that quad to be a major factor that just may catapult Brandon Mroz to the top this year at Nationals.

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 24 Days!

Alissa Czisny (Detroit SC)

• 2005 US Collegiate Champion
• 2005 Skate Canada Champion
• 2009 US Collegiate Champion
• 2009 US National Champion
• 2010 Skate Canada Champion
• 2010 Grand Prix Final Champion

Alissa is an incredibly talented skater, but like the other US Ladies' skaters of this generation, she struggles with consistency in her jumps. Her spins are among the best in the world and she is one of the most graceful and elegant skaters competing today. Though she never received the same international recognition, she reminds me so much of Sasha Cohen in that she has moments of such brilliance in her skating that are often eclipsed by mistakes in her jumps. I've always doubted that Alissa could come up big in a clutch situation, but she proved me wrong this season, winning the Grand Prix Final. Not only did she win, but she beat a very strong field of talented skaters who put up solid programs. This event was the first time I have ever remembered Alissa putting together 2 clean programs in the same competition and it was such a treat to see her at her best. If she can put together two clean programs at Nationals, she may regain her National Title, but more importantly she will be all but guaranteed a spot at the World Championships. Since the US only has slots to send 2 ladies to Worlds, it will be crucial for these skaters to put together clean programs and try to place in the top two, though there is a chance the USFSA may elect to send another skater to the World Championships even if they do not place among the top two. Alissa has done well internationally this season and may be sent to Worlds regardless of her placement at nationals, but it is in her best interest to do well at nationals to build on her confidence going into Worlds and to prove that her Grand Prix Final win was not a fluke. Though other skaters may most likely top Alissa on the technical mark, look for her to outscore the rest of the ladies field at Nationals on program components, the old artistic mark. I would say that her biggest competition will come from Rachael Flatt or Mirai Nagasu, but in the case, Alissa's biggest competition is herself and if she can stay out of her own way, she can really shine in Greensboro in January. 

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 29 Days!

Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett (Panthers FSC)

• 2009 US Silver Medalists
• 2010 US National Champions
• 2010 Olympics 13th
• 2010 World Championships 7th
• 2010 NHK Trophy 5th
• 2010 Skate America 4th

Unfortunately the US has not had a strong pairs team that has done well internationally since Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman. Denney and Barrett definitely have the talent to move up internationally this season but they struggle with consistency. They have improved their performance quality immensely this season and if they can manage to land all of their elements that may find themselves in the top 5 in the world. The US has two slots to send pairs to the World Championships and in my opinion, only 4 teams have a legitimate shot at that getting those spots. Denney & Barrett are the reigning US champions but Evora & Ladwig made a stronger showing on the Grand Prix this season winning bronze at Cup of Russia. The strongest US team this grand prix, however, was Yankowskas & Coughlin who scored enough points to be the second alternate to the Grand Prix Final. Castelli & Schnapir are a young team and a long-shot, but they have an incredible free program if they can skate it clean, and in an inconsistent field, that may be the ticket. I think that the key to winning the senior pairs event will be skating clean regardless of difficulty or beauty. Whichever team can stay on their feet for both programs, or have the least falls, will most likely win the title and go into Worlds as the top American team. 

News | Five questions with Rachael Flatt | Universal Sports

2010 US Figure Skating National Champion Rachael Flatt discusses her preparations for her first ever Senior Grand Prix Final despite an injury. Though Flatt, a workhorse, has struggled a bit with having to sit at home when she would rather be training, she remains surprisingly optimistic. Though she has the lowest scores of the six qualifiers in the ladies competition, she is the most consistent of all of them and I predict that she will make the podium and win her first ever Senior Grand Prix Final Medal.

News | Five questions with Rachael Flatt | Universal Sports

My Predictions for the 2011 US World Figure Skating Team

Pairs:
The US has been weak in pairs since the days of Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, so the placements at Nationals are always a toss-up in this discipline. However, I'm going to base these predictions on Grand Prix performances so far.

1) Caitlin Yankowskas & John Couglin- They have a very strong free skate and I expect, that with a few more months of practice, they will make a strong showing at the US Nationals and win the title.
2) Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett- They are arguably the most consistent of US pairs, but I find their programs this year to be lackluster, and as performers, they pale in comparison to Yankowskas & Coughlin.

Men:
With Johnny Weir & Evan Lysacek out, at least for this season, the shape of the US mens team is changing drastically. However, there is a strong field ready to stand on the Nationals podium.

1) Jeremy Abbott- Reigning National Champion and 2010 Olympian, enough said.
2) Adam Rippon- He is a beautiful skater, and I think he is ready to step into Johnny Weir's shoes as the "artistic" US male. He also gave a brilliant performance at Skate Canada to land on the podium with Patrick Chan and Nobunari Oda, two of the world's finest.
3) Brandon Mroz- He capitalized on the failures of the top men at last week's Cup of China to win a silver medal and I believe he is poised to stand on the National podium this year.

Ice Dance:
With Belbin & Agosto retired and Samuelson & Bates out for the season due to injury, look for some younger teams to step up into the spotlight this year.

1) Meryl Davis & Charlie White- They are the best team in the world and seem poised to win the world title, so its all but a sure thing that they'll win the National Title. There is not a more sure bet in sports this season.
2) Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein- Sharing the practice ice with Davis/White & Virtue/Moir under the coaching of Zoueva & Shpilband has done wonders for this team. I love their Cabaret free skate and they looked so mature at Skate Canada where they won a bronze medal.
3) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani- They are also coached by Zoueva & Shpilband and they looked very solid this season at NHK trophy, winning a bronze medal even with a fall in the short program.

Ladies:
With only two spots on the World Team after a poor showing in the 2009 Worlds, the fight will be brutal to be one of the top two ladies at nationals. With no major retirements, I expect the makeup of the last group for the free skate to be fairly similar to last year.
1) Rachael Flatt- I must say that she is not nearly as exciting to watch as some other US ladies, like Mirai Nagasu or Alissa Csizny, but she definitely is consistent, which no other top US lady can say.
2) Agnes Zawadzki- Mark my words, this girl is the next Michelle Kwan. She is the reigning US Junior champion and her short program at Skate Canada had her in medal contention. A fall early in the program broke her concentration, but who can blame her, it was her first Senior International and she was just getting her feet wet. We have over two months until Nationals and I expect her to be on fire by then. She is also the training partner of Rachel Flatt, so if I predict correctly, this would be quite the night for coach Tom Zakrajsek. I am going to say it now...Agnes Zawakzki is the rebirth of US Ladies Figure Skating and she will also be the 2014 Olympic Champion.

Favorite Figure Skating Memories #2: Michelle Kwan's Lyra Angelica at 1998 US Nationals

I have loved Michelle Kwan ever since I started following the sport of figures skating in 1994. This program to Lyra Angelica by William Alwyn, her free skate at the 1998 US Nationals in Philadelphia has long been regarded as the most exquisite performance of her illustrious career. What I have always admired about Michelle Kwan is her consistency and her performance quality. It is interesting to look back on a program that excelled in Figure Skating's now long gone 6.0 system. Here we see Michelle receive eight 6.0's for presentation out of a possible nine scores. Now, with the new code of points system, skaters are able to rack up points for every element in their program in hopes that the programs will be more unique, more technically daring, and more complete. But in my opinion, the downside to the new system is that falls and mistakes do not hurt a skater's scores nearly as much as they could in the 6.0 systems. So now it is a rarity to see a near perfect performance in this day and age that Michelle Kwan was known for delivering in her prime. With a record 9 US Titles, 5 World titles, and 2 Olympic medals, Michelle Kwan is arguably the most renown figure skater that has every taken the ice and the world is still waiting for the next dynamic female skater who can combine technique, artistry, and consistency to take her place.