Friday, November 4, 2011

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Pairs Short Program

1) Taylor Steele & Robert Schultz (CAN)
Music: Malena soundtrack

Really low catch on that split twist
Her free leg was a little wild on those side by sides
Not a lot of height or distance, but she lands the throw
This program isn't doing much for, the choreography and music are really flat
They have good basics, now they need to up the speed, difficulty, and performance

SP Score: 26.68 (TES) + 21.57 (PCS) = 48.25

2) Xiaoyu Yu & Yang Jin (CHN)
Music: The Nutcrakcer

Wow does this Waltz of the Flowers music take me back or what
Huge split twist, the home crowd is going to love them
Perfect SBS 3toes
Their unison is exquisite
I love the entry into the throw, very clean element with a long edge flowing out
Very labored position changes in the lift
No speed in the death spiral
The ending of the music is too fast, they ran out of gas there
Those costumes are very old fashioned, hers is cute but his is so 1994

SP Score: 31.91 (TES) + 22.51 (PCS) = 54.42

3) Klara Kadlecova & Petr Bidar (CZE)
Music: Flamenco

So I don't think purple when I think Flamenco, not sure where this costume idea came from
They hit their side by side jumps, ever so slight unison issue
He has deeper knees on crossovers than she does which looks slightly awkward
Good speed
Only a double split twist
They look a little spastic out there, he slipped on a crossover and went down
She took a very hard fall onto her shoulder on the throw, short of rotation
That first half was a struggle, they seem to have their legs under them now
They have more experience so their PCS could hold them up over the young Canadians but I'm not sure about that

SP Score: 20.28 (TES) + 20.06 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 38.34

4) Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN)
Music: Transylvanian Lullaby

This was a very pleasant program at Skate America
Very strong opening throw
A little fight for the landing from him, but good SBS jumps
They just exude experience out there
I don't know how much that program can improve and grow in terms of peaking at Worlds though

SP Score: 30.77 (TES) + 29.80 (PCS) = 60.57

5) Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig (USA)
Music: The Man I Love

Amanda is absolutely exquisite
They are perfectly suited for Gershwin, they're an American classic
Nice split twist, catch a little low
Step out by Amanda on the SBS jumps
If they could be consistent, they'd always be a podium threat
Really beautiful throw, long flowing edge by Amanda
This is really nice choreography
Wonderful lift with a great smooth exit
This program should score well
They looked mostly pleased with that

SP Score: 31.39 (TES) + 26.49 (PCS) = 57.88

6) Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)
Music: Borsalino

Only a split double twist
Speed is one of the top things this team has going for them, and athleticism
Shaky on the SBS toes
Kirsten was really tilted in the air on that throw, really held onto it
That lunge lift has become a signature for them and they do it so well

SP Score: 32.63 (TES) + 28.15 (PCS) = 60.78

7) Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)
Music: Country Dance

I have to say it, I'm really sick of this program
Sui falls on the SBS jump, I'm not worried though because they're good enough to make up those points
Really nice twist and throw, smooth as always
They've squeezed everything they can out of this program, it's time for something more mature now

SP Score: 33.16 (TES) + 27.84 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 60.00

8) Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov (RUS)
Music: All Alone

Yuko looks fantastic
Perfect SBS triple toes
This is a new style, especially after that terrible short last season
Very low catch on the split triple twist
Very good flow out of the throw
I like teh choreography, especially in the step sequence
Fantastic position in that lift with nice smooth exit
I hat that death spiral entrance but unfortunately for the audience, that's what earns bonus points and levels
Ended after the music
A very Peter Tschernyshev program...that much was clear

SP Score: 34.47 (TES) + 30.98 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 64.45

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Men's Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Jialiang Wu (CHN)
Music: Poeta en el puerto

Good triple-triple to start things off
The Chinese Men have always been good jumpers, where he'll be lacking is in the components mark
I really liked his music choice
Sorry for the lack of commentary, my feed cut out mid-program

SP Score: 37.35 (TES) + 27.71 (PCS) = 65.06

2) Nan Song (CHN)
Music: Requiem for a Dream

NICE QUAD
He too is a very strong jumper but will be lacking in the components mark
This is a big day for the Chinese men, they don't get much international exposure
Good effort on the footwork
I hate that butt in the air spin
The home crowd will love that!

SP Score: 41.38 (TES) + 31.34 (PCS) = 72.72

3) Richard Dornbush (USA)
Music: The Fifth

Come on Ricky (my mom loves him!)
Ricky start, fall right off the top
Hand down on the triple axel
He had really awesome speed
I appreciate that he is really going after the program, but he looks a little wild out there, there are times when you need to reign it in
That being said I do like this program and he needs to find the appropriate intensity level, he'll get there by Nationals

SP Score: 31.50 (TES) +32.43 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 62.93

4) Kevin Reynolds (CAN)
Music: Chambermaid Swing

Look for some big Quad action to come
Nice toe-tapping footwork to start off
4s-3t like it was nothing
His hair is too much for me, I just can't stop thinking of Frodo
Wild turn out of the triple axel, tries to save it and does a few turns and puts a hand down
I like that knee down entry into the triple lutz
He has moments of performance, but slips in and out a lot
His spins really hold him back, he'd do well to work with somebody like Lambiel or Buttle to teach him some artistry

SP Score: 31.36 (TES) +32.95 (PCS) = 64.31

5) Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
Music: Etude in D sharp minor patetico

Only 16, a baby in Men's figure skating but so strong already
I love this program
4toe!!
Really nice triple axel, he has really good flow on the edges out of his jumps
He looks like Johnny Weir out there in that donut spin in baby blue
Huge 3f-3t
Really beautiful footwork
Good sit spin variations, I like the arms out at the sides
He is really something special, he has a bit of polishing to do but I bet anything he'll be a World champ someday

SP Score: 44.93 (TES) + 36.44 (PCS) = 81.37

6) Jeremy Abbott (USA)
Music: Bei mir bist du schoen, Swing Kids

Nice opening choreography
3f-3t
I hope we'll see a Quad later this season
Solid triple axel
I'm obsessed with the toe point in the sit spin!!
I'm no fan of Benji Schwimmer but this is really good choreography, not a second is wasted
Funky landing out of that triple lutz
I like the costume too, it's understated

SP Score: 40.39 (TES) +38.93 (PCS) = 79.32

7) Artur Gachinski (RUS)
Music: Saint Louis Blues

Quad-triple, messy and slanted in the air just like his idol Plushenko
That was a very ugly spread eagle into that triple axel
That broken leg camel spin is horrendous looking, as is that wrapped sit spin
I feel about this like I feel about a Plushenko program; good jumps, not much else happening

SP Score: 44.63 (TES) + 37.01 (PCS) = 81.64

8) Nobunari Oda (JPN)
Music: Memphis Soul Stew

Gigantic triple axel, he has the softest knees of any skater I've seen
Nice big triple-triple
But where is the Quad?
Loved that little West Side Story jump!
Triple flip
He has the springiest legs I've ever seen, like Tigger
Perfect technique on the jumps, and more performance than I'v seen from him in a while

SP Score: 39.68 (TES) + 37.97 (PCS) = 77.65

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Ladies Short Program LIVE BLOG

1) Kexin Zhang (CHN)
Music: Piano Concerto No. 3 by Rachmaninov

The Chinese ladies struggled last Grand Prix season, I'd like to see them do well here at home
3-3 attempt, I couldn't tell from the angle if it was rotated
Hand down on a very tilted triple lutz
She is very stiff in her upper body, some ballet would go a long way for her
She needs to extend the movement even through the fingertips
Nice donut spin position
Footwork into a double axel, so far clan on the jumping
I want to see more use of levels in this footwork, but she has begun to relax her upper body
She'll be happy with that skate

SP Score: 31.47 (TES) + 21.38 (PCS) = 52.85

2) Quiying Zhu (CHN)
Music: Nutrckacker

She is gorgeous!
From that costume I was expecting the Plum pas de deux music and I was correct!
Fall on the first triple attempt, just not nearly enough speed and or height
Triple-double completed, but still lacking speed and height
She goes into the double axel almost at a stand-still
She is so tentative going into these elements
Her hands are really broken at the wrist which really disrupts the arm line she's creating
Spins are a bit wobbly, traveling a bit
No don't pick your skirt out of your butt on the ice!

SP Score: 16.40 (TES) + 19.88 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 35.28

3) Bingwa Geng (CHN)
Music: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

I love this costume, it's very dynamic
I hate this overhead camera angle, but nice 3-2
She has more speed and is more aggressive than the other more delicate Chinese ladies
That catch foot spin should be much more stretched if she's going to attempt it
The spins really lack speed
That ina bauer needs much more stretch, clean double axel
That fog on the ice is really distracting
Nice layback into final ending position
An easy skater to watch

SP Score: 29.66 (TES) +22.95 (PCS) = 52.61

4) Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)
Music: Bolero

Very strong opening stance, drastically different from her programs of last season
She is coming out very aggressive
Fall on the triple lutz, had no speed coming out
I hope she's smart enough to tack on a combo to another jump
And she does add a 2T to the 3F
Very fast spinning and nice position changes
That lutz looked rotated, so she'll just lose the 1 point deduction and some GOE marks
Solid double axel
I'm loving her spins, that is where she is much stronger than Elizaveta
Her step sequence movements are a little repetitive for me, but I appreciate that she is giving it her all
That low sit spin variation is rally interesting
She is not happy with that, but should still bring in a strong score

SP Score: 29.66 (TES) + 25.08 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 53.74

5) Christina Gao (USA)
Music: To Love You More

I like her even more now that she's tall, is that strange?
She's getting the Yuna look!
3F-3t, looked solid to me
Slow approach to the double axel, can't keep it on her feet
I like this program on her
I'd like a stronger flow out of that triple lutz
She has lovely spin positions but lost a lot of speed by the time she hit the Bielman
I'd like to see more facial expression, she's in the ballpark here on her step sequence
Aren't bangs really distracting for a figure skater?

SP Score: 29.34 (TES) + 23.65 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 51.99

6) Valentina Marchei (ITA)
Music: Johnny's Mambo, Ronny's Mambo

Yuka is here for Team Detroti, no surprise b/c of her connection with Jeremy Abbott
Again, I hate the braid, it's immature for her age
Her opening combo took off from and landed on very straight legs
She came out firing today, seems to really have her legs under her
This program doesn't do much for me, the transitions are really just crossovers with sassy facial expressions
She's landed all of the jumps, but none of them really have much height at all
Pretty quick rotation on the spins, she must be studying Alissa

SP Score: 26.46 (TES) + 25.96 (PCS) = 52.42

7) Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
Music: Maria and the Violin's String

What a lovely program this is if she can just stay upright
The choreography is fantastic, the opening is so unique
Fall out of the opening 3F, I really don't know that the coaching change did her any favors
This audience really gasps when a skater falls
Step out of the triple loop,won't get full credit
I don't know where this girl's mind is, if I had that choreography I wouldn't be throwing away jumps
This poor girl, she's so lovely if she could get her mind in the game and learn to compete

SP Score: 20.44 (TES) + 26.46 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 45.90

8) Kanako Murakami (JPN)
Music: Violin Muse

Wow she's grown up since last season!
3lz-3t, 2nd jump likely underrotated and maybe two-footed
Triple loop, UR probably
This is a much more mature program for her, she's improved her sense of interpretation
A bit of a funny layback position; broken leg line
Her hands are a bit stiff for me, softening them would do wonders for her arm line
Double axel, good to see she's maintained her jumps even with the growth spurt

SP Score: 25.80 (TES) + 27.29 (PCS) = 53.09

9) Mirai Nagasu (USA)
Music: Danzarin

Lord I don't even know what to think anymore when Mirai steps onto the ice
It looks like good Mirai came out to skate today, all jumps landed
She really does a fantastic job of not traveling at all on that layback spin
I like that camel variation into the donut that she does
Sassy Mirai is out there today, Frank is looking on as seriously as ever
I like this step sequence a lot
Mirai is one of the best spinners around in terms of speeding up rotation as she goes

SP Score: 31.75 (TES) + 29.21 (PCS) = 60.96

10) Carolina Kostner (ITA)
Music: Alegretto from Trio No. 2 by Shostakovitch

The illusion mesh is still horrible but the costume as a whole has grown on me
The more I watch it I like this program
She went for the 3-3, wasn't watching closely enough for rotation
She really carries a lot of speed with those long legs
Two hands down on the triple loop
Nice sharp double axel
I appreciate the way the subtleties of the choreography mirror the music
Nice deep edging, she'll likely pass Mirai in PCS but not in TES after the hands down

SP Score: 31.44 (TES) + 30.44 (PCS) = 61.88

2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Cup of China Short Dance LIVE BLOG

3:24 I'm anxiously awaiting the Live feed, let's hope icenetwork gets it together soon!
3:29 Emily and Todd look very cute, it's great to see Emily back on competition ice!
3:31 We have some wild and crazy costumes from Yu & Wang, where are the maracas?
3:31 I love Charlotte Lichtman's dress, Dean is in solid black as were all the other Zouva & Shpilband-coached me in the short dance
3:34 It seems Igor has traveled with the teams this weekend and Marina is at home

1) Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles
Music: Samba, Mambo, Samba

I don't know how I feel about these costumes, I'd love to see at least a little color or sparkle
Really nice positions on that straight line lift
Fabulous toe point and straight leg lines from Emily as used to
The leg lines are a little broken in the Rhumba sequence, the unison needs work
Really slow twizzles, some unison issues
This step sequence looks quite labored to me, they seem to be perhaps under conditioned?

SD Score: 22.51 (TES) + 21.13 (PCS) = 43.64

2) Xiaoyang Yu & Chen Wang (CHN)
Music: Cha Cha, Mambo, Rhumba

Nice twizzle sequences
I'm going to have nightmares about these costumes
Good speed and attack going into this Rhumba sequence
They're improved from last season which is great to see
Very good unison on the circular not-touching step sequence, but the speed could increase for my taste
Slight stumble by her right before the end but she held on

SD Score: 27.58 (TES) + 21.78 (PCS) - 1.00 (DED) = 48.36

3) Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)
Music: Mambo No. 5, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps

I love these guys, they're so sassy
This is a perfect example of Zoueva/Shpilband catering to each team's needs and making them stand out in what they do
Nice smooth entrance into the 1st Rhumba sequence, good smooth edgework
Good twizzle work, I appreciate how close together they are
Charlotte is a little stiff in her upper body today, I'd like to see her relax a little more out there
Slight stumble by Dean in the circular not-touching step sequence, that will effect the level
These guys look just a little bit nervous, understandable for their first Senior Grand Prix but it's been a solid debut thus far
They look solid, nothing junior-ish about this program

SD Score: 18.79 (TES) + 21.47 (PCS) = 40.26

4) Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland (GBR)
Music: El Bess del Findl, Let's Get Loud

They could stand to point their feet harder and really stretch through the free leg in the Rhumba sequences
And here's our second "Let's Get Loud" of the day; how many more should I expect? I like the small detail work in the circular step sequence from the hand and head gestures to the shimmies
Very odd ending pose, I couldn't tell if she fell or if that was the choreography

SD Score: 28.85 (TES) + 25.04 (PCS) = 53.89

5) Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN)
Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Samba

These costumes are killing me, my eyes!
She bails a little early on the first twizzle set
Her free arm is really stiff on this 1st Rhumba set, but their speed is nice
I missed what happened, but it looked like a botched lift or something going into the circular step sequence
Nice hydroblade move, I appreciate that people are still doing those, though this one wasn't the best I've seen by any means
I think they're running out of steam here at the end
Dramatic final position upside down
That lift will receive zero points

SD Score: 21.73 (TES) + 23.34 (PCS) = 45.07

6) Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA)
Music: Mambo, Rhumba, Mambo

Slight unison issue in twizzles, but decent speed
She has a very nice free arm in the 1st Rhumba sequence, expressive and free-flowing
Something about this program isn't really doing much for me, it's just not dynamic enough, a little flat thus far
It begins to pick up a little more with the 2nd piece of music
They're losing a little control in the step sequence, it's getting a bit wild
I like they're energy, but they need more polish

SD Score: 25.35 (TES) + 27.06 (PCS) = 52.41

7) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)
Music: Samba, Rhumba, Samba

They have never looked like stars to me, I wonder how long they can honestly hold onto the top spot in Russia?
Botched exit form the 1st twizzle set
I love me some theatrics, but she is way over the top in her facial expressions, even for me!
Their speed is good, but she is flailing out of control
This program is very 1990s Russian ice dance

SD Score: 32.50 (TES) + 33.23 (PCS) = 65.73

8) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)
Music: Batuca, Skip to the Bip, Jazz Machine

I like Maia's new dress, much more mature than the old blue dress
They look like a senior team
Very quick footwork, precision is key
That move where Alex flips her around with one arm has improved so much since Finlandia
Perfectly matched leg line in Rhumba sequence 1
Nobody twizzles like them, and they do the optional 3rd set
They pay attention to everything, down to finger and head placements
Very smooth and even speed throughout
Maia looks much more mature this season, she is just carrying herself differently this season than at the start of 2010
This is such a clean program, what a debut for the beginning of the season

SD Score: 27.71 (TES) + 30.08 (PCS) = 57.79

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Skaters to Watch: Cup of China Edition

Jeremy Abbott (USA)-2011 Four Continents Free Skate

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)-2011 Four Continents Free Skate

Nobunari Oda (JPN)-2010 Skate America Short Program

Adelina Sotnikova (RUS)-2011 Russian Nationals Short Program

Carolina Kostner (ITA)-2011 Skate America Free Skate

Kanako Murakami (JPN)-2010 Grand Prix Final Short Program

Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov (RUS)-2010 Cup of Russia Free Skate

Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)-2011 Skate Canada Free Skate

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-2011 Finlandia Trophy Short Dance

Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS)-2011 Cup of Russia Free Dance

Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA)-2011/2012 Free Dance

2011 Cup of China: Ice Dance Preview

The short dance will be the kick off event this weekend at Cup of China, at 3:30 a.m. EST on Friday November 4th. The free dance is at 2:30 a.m. EST on Saturday November 5th. Two of these teams were top 6 at 2011 Worlds, but the rest are more Intermediate-level teams, new teams, or teams rising from the Junior ranks.

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA) are the favorites to win this event, their first major competition after winning Bronze at Worlds. I've seen their new programs and love them, though many argue their new free skate is too similar to that of last season. They certainly have an identity now and their coaches, Zoueva & Shpilband know how to show off what they do well. This is their first major event as the favorites so we'll see how they handle the pressure...my guess is they pass with flying colors. Their win is not as cut and dry though as that of those of their training mates Davis/White & Virtue/Moir, as Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) are in the mix as well. They had a solid 2010 GP winning a Gold, a Silver, and placing 4th at the Final. However, they struggled with programs that didn't suit them and only placed 6th at Worlds. They do not have the technical proficiency of the Shibutanis, but they could potential beat them in the components mark if they can find their identity as a couple and put out programs that show of their stronger suits. Reigning Junior World Bronze medalists Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copely (USA) have the change to play spoiler for a medal. They were competitive all last season and have always had a very "senior look" so the transition shouldn't be too difficult. If they avoid major mistakes I can see them on the podium. Pernelle Carron & Lloyd Jones (FRA) have finished 12th at the past two World Championships and it seems they need to make a major change if they want to jump up in the rankings, but they're a nice enough team and pleasant to watch. China isn't known for ice dancing, but Xintong Huang & Xun Zheng (CHN) had a respectable 2010-2011 season and may start to make a name for themselves. Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles (USA) are a new team and this will be the first we see of them. Look for long lines and an elegant, lyrical style, even if all the technical elements aren't there quite yet.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Shibutani/Shibutani (USA)
2) Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS)
3) Lichtman/Copely (USA)

Competitive History:

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

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

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

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

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

Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles (USA)-International debut

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani (USA)-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

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

2011 Cup of China: Pairs Preview

Pairs has gone from my least favorite discipline to my favorite in the past year and I think that is because of all the different styles that are emerging. Cup of China will showcase a variety of styles from lyrical and elegant to athletic and aggressive. They skate their short program on Friday November 4th at 8:45 a.m. EST and their free skate on Saturday November 5th at 8:30 a.m.

Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov (RUS) have struggled with consistency in big events in recent seasons, but if they skate cleanly they'll be favored to win here. They've grown on me a lot in recent seasons and I've come to love their soft lyrical style. Their Clair de Lune free skate was gorgeous last season and I'll be happy to see it again, especially paired with a new short program. If they fail to execute at a high level, the young dynamos Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN) will be ready to seize the top spot of the podium with their Quadruple twist and other top-notch elements. Their elements are do die for, but they are still a step below the top teams in their presentation and interpretation, though they are working toward a higher level of maturity and polish. Kirsten-Moore Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) are a fun team to watch because for their speed, energy, and athleticism, though they lack the finesse and precision of the Russians and the Chinese. Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig (USA) should be essentially neck and neck with the Canadians in this event as they normally put up similar scores, though they have all the elegance and polish, but often lack the consistency in jumps and throws. I would say a clean Evora & Ladwig will beat a clean Moore-Towers & Moscovitch, but both are unpredictable. Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN) returned to the scene this year with a debut at Skate America, picking up a Bronze. Both programs were clean, but unimpressive in my opinion. Their programs don't seem to have a lot of growing room so I can't see them scoring much higher than they did at Skate America. They'll likely skate cleanly so a medal is in reach if the inconsistent Canadians or Americans make mistakes. Xiaoyu Yu & Yang Jin (CHN) are very young team competing in their second senior GP, having skated at Skate Canada last week. Their poorly executed short program kept them out of the medal hunt, but they finished 4th in the free skate.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Kavaguti & Smirnov (RUS)
2) Sui & Han (CHN)
3) Moore-Towers & Moscovitch (CAN)

Competitive History:

Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig (USA)-11th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Rostelecom Cup, 5th 2010 Cup of China; PB: 171.92 at 2010 Winter Olympics

Klara Kadlecova & Petr Bidar (CZE)-15th 2011 Worlds, 7th 2011 Europeans, 6th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 6th 2010 Ice Challenge, 4th 2010 Coup de Nice, 7th 2010 JGP England, 7th 2010 JGP Austria; PB: 147.84 at 2009 JGP Budapest

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

Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN)-8th 2011 Worlds, 5th 2011 Four Continents, 6th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 Skate Canada; PB: 175.48 at 2010 Skate America

Taylor Steele & Robert Schultz (CAN)-4th 2010 JGP Final, 6th 2010 JGP Czech, 4th

2010 JGP England; PB: 133.08 at 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final

Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (CHN)-2nd at 2011 Skate Canada, 1st 2011 JGP Latvia, 1st 2011 World Juniors, 3rd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 2nd 2010 Cup of China, 1st 2010 JGP Germany, 2nd 2010 JGP Austria; PB: 120.82 at 2011 Skate Canada

Xiaoyu Yu & Yang Jin (CHN)-7th at Skate Canada, 3rd 2010 JGP Final, 1st 2010 JGP Czech Republic, 3rd 2010 JGP Austria; 158.36 at 2011 Skate Canada

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

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