Skaters to Watch: Skate America Edition

Alissa Czisny (USA)-2010 Grand Prix Final Free Skate





Carolina Kostner (ITA)-2010 Grand Prix Final Short Program





Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)-2011 World Free Skate





Richard Dornbush (USA)-2011 US Nationals Free Skate





Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER)-2011 Worlds Free Skate





Bazarova & Larionov (RUS)-2010 NHK Trophy Short Program





Davis & White (USA)-2011 Worlds Short Dance





Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)-2011 Europeans Short Dance

2011 Skate America: Pairs Preview

This pairs event won't be much of a competition for the the top spot, but it's going to be a dog fight for the rest of the medals. I'll be live blogging ever moment so check in with me 9:55 pm EST this Saturday for the short program and on Sunday at 4:00 pm for the free skate.

3-time and reigning World Champions Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER) should easily run away with this title. They are so far above the rest of this field that they'll be using the event as a way to test out their new programs in front of the judges rather than worrying about the competition. Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS) are a good bet for Silver because they are gorgeous when their programs are clean, though Vera has been known to have problems on her jumps. Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA), the much-hyped new pair made a strong debut at Nebelhorn Trophy and beat Bazarova & Larionov in the short program, though their weaknesses were highlighted when the Russians blew them away in the free and knocked them into 3rd. They are a very athletic pair and have a lot of drive and enthusiasm, but their polish and chemistry is still lacking and will be until they get some more experience together under their belts.  Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang (CHN) are a true wild card because nobody has seen them skate in over a year. In their prime, 06-09, they were World medalists and Olympic medalists, but they've fizzled out since then and rumor has it, the once tiny Dan has gone through a growth spurt which can ruin pair elements.  Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) won a surprise Silver medal here last year but fizzled out later in the season. They have some great tricks but are very rough around the edges and have had consistency issues. They'll need another high-scoring free skate like Les Miserables last season to break win another medal. Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wende (GER) are not to be counted out either and have been steadily improving. They are not at the level of their countrymen but they did win a surprise Bronze on the Grand Prix last season. Mary-Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA) are another wild card because they impressed us all with a 4th place at US Nationals and then fell apart last year at Four Continents. Mary-Beth is still new to pairs skating, but I'm expecting more from them now that they've been together for about a year and a half. They aren't in the medal hunt, but they can set themselves up for the rest of the season but skating cleanly and impressing the judges. Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA) debuted at Nebelhorn this season and weren't too shabby.They are an older team and won't have their sites set on medals or titles, but it is great for them to just get out there and get some International exposure.

My Podium Predictions:
1) Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER)
2) Bazarova & Larionov (RUS)
3) Denney & Coughlin (USA)


My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Savchenko & Szolkowy (GER)
B) Denney & Coughlin (USA)
C) Marley & Brubaker (USA)


Competitive History:


Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (RUS)-2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 5th 2011 Worlds, 3rd 2011 Europeans, 5th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 2nd 2010 NHK Trophy, 1st 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 188.24 at 2011 Europeans 


Caydee Denney & John Coughlin (USA)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, PB: 175.94 (Yankowskas/Coughlin) at 2011 Worlds; PB: 62.73 at 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy


Maylin Hausch & Daniel Wende (GER)-4th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 12th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 3rd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Ice Challenge, 7th 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 157.42 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard


Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker (USA)-8th 2011 Four Continents, 1st 2011 Nestle Cup; PB: 144.46 at 2011 Four Fontinents


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


Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (GER)-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


Tiffany Vise & Don Baldwin (USA)-7th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 8th 2011 US Nationals, 2nd 2010 Ice Challenge; PB: 165.76 (Vise/Trent) at 2007 Trophee Eric Bompard


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

2011 Skate America: Ice Dance Preview

The top two spots in this event are all but locked up, but the fight for Bronze will be interesting. I'll be live-blogging it all so visit me Friday night at 11:40 EST for the short dance and Saturday afternoon at 4:30 for the free dance.

Reigning World Champions Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA) will have no real competition until they meet up with Virtue & Moir at the Grand Prix Final but it is such a joy to see them perform anyway. They'll use this event as a way to test out their programs with the judges and make adjustments for later in the season. I can't wait to watch Meryl channel J Lo in the short dance and then an opera diva in the free. Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA) will leave with the Silver in their pocket and rack up points toward the Grand Prix Final. They are a great team and they have something to prove after falling at the 2011 Worlds and losing a medal. They've also made a coaching change to Camerlengo in Detroit so we'll see how that affects them. I was so impressed by the newly formed team of Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA) at Nebelhorn Trophy where they won a surprise Gold. They have solid technique and Camerlengo is doing wonders for them. They also have amazing chemistry and can do sensual programs that Madison couldn't do with her previous partner. Nelli Zhiganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER) have had a busy season, having already competed at two Senior B events. They've been steadily improving and could be a top ten team come Worlds, but I don't know that they are ready to take a Grand Prix medal yet. I'm really looking forward to Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN) after falling in love with them at Skate Canada last season. They are known as Virtue & Moir 2.0 but I hope they are finding their own identity. Either way, I appreciate their grace and elegance and hope to see them at Worlds this season. Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN) medaled at Nebelhorn so they'll have good momentum going in and Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU) also had a strong showing at that event. Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA) had two GP assignments last year but this is their lone event this year so they'll want to go for broke and make as strong an impression as possible.

My Podium Predictions:

1) Davis & White (USA)

2) Pechalat & Bourzat (FRA)

3) Hubbell & Donohue (USA)

My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Davis & White (USA)
B) Hubbell & Donohue (USA)
C) Paul/Islam (CAN)


Competitive History:

Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello (USA)-7th 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 10th 2010 Cup of China, 6th 2009 JGP Final, 3rd 2009 JGP Istanbul, 3rd 2009 JGP Germany; PB: 116.60 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard 

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

Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (USA)-1st 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, PB: 139.01 

Alexandra Paul & Mitchell Islam (CAN)-4th 2010 Skate Canada, 2nd 2010 World Juniors; PB: 138.16 at 2011 Skate Canada

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

Kharis Ralph & Asher Hill (CAN)-3rd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 6th 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, 7th 2011 Cup of China; 121.39 at 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard

Isabella Tobias & Deividas Stagniunas (LTU)-5th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 14th 2011 Worlds, 12th 2011 Europeans, 3rd 2010 NRW Trophy, 11th 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 131.01 at 2011 Worlds

Nelli Zhinganshina & Alexander Gazsi (GER)-1st 2011 O Nepela, 2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 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 

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 Skate America: Men's Preview

Can you believe it? The 2011-2012 Figure Skating season is finally upon us! Some very exciting things have been happening on the Junior Grand Prix and at some ISU Senior B events, but nothing compares to the Senior Grand Prix. And starting it off with Skate America seems like old times again. The men take the ice Friday at 10pm (EST) for their short program and 2:35pm on Saturday 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!

I have every reason to believe that reigning World Silver Medalist Takahiko Kozuka will take this title. Taka won 2 Grand Prix Golds and a Bronze at the Final last season as well. He has solid technique and a quiet artistry that always puts up a great score. Without Evan Lysacek, he has no real competition unless he makes major mistakes. I see a three-way battle for Bronze between Michal Brezina (CZE), Florent Amodio (FRA), and Richard Dornbush (USA), who placed 4th, 7th, and 9th respectively at the 2011 Worlds. Brezina & Amodio have more experience, but both are very inconsistent. Dornbush lacks the polish of Kozuka, but he is quickly improving and has been working on Quads. Do not count out last year's Skate America Bronze Medalist Armin Mahbahnoozadeh (USA), who is known for clean, consistent skating that often wins the day when others make mistakes. Rounding out the field we have Daisuke Murakami (JPN), Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL), and Samuel Contesti (ITA) who finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively at this season's O Nepela Memorial Trophy and Denis Ten (KAZ) who finished 9th earlier this month at Nebelhorn Trophy. Douglas Razzanno (USA) was a last minute addition after the withdrawal of Evan Lysacek. He brought home a silver at the Finlandia Trophy this season and could make a splash if he throws down his best programs. None of the five are likely to factor into the medals, but they have the potential to build their International reputation with a good showing here.

Podium Predictions:
1) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
2) Richard Dornbush (USA)
3) Florent Amodio (FRA)


My USFSA Fantasy Picks:
A) Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
B) Richard Dornbush (USA)
C) Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)


Competitive History:

Florent Amodio (FRA)-7th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2011 Europeans, 6th 2010 Grand Prix Final, 2nd 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard 3rd place 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 229.68 at 2011 Worlds


Michal Brezina (CZE)-2nd 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 4th 2011 Worlds, 8th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Bavarian Open, 2nd 2010 Golden Spin of Zagreb, 7th 201 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 236.06 at 2010 Worlds 


Samuel Contesti (ITA)-3rd 2011 O Nepela, 18th 2011 Worlds, 6th 2011 Europeans, 1st 2011 Mont Blanc Trophy, 4th 2010 NRW Trophy, 4th 2010 Cup of Russia, 4th 2010 Cup of China, 3rd 2010 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 226.97 at 2009 Worlds


Richard Dornbush (USA)-9th 2011 Worlds, 1st 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 JGP Germany, 4th 2010 JGP Austria; PB: 222.42 at 2011 Worlds


Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)-2nd 2011 Worlds, 4th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Grand Prix Final, 1st 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard, 1st 2010 Cup of China; PB: 258.41 at 2011 Worlds


Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA)-7th 2011 Four Continents, 3rd 2010 Skate America, 4th Nebelhorn Trophy; 211.17 at 2010 Skate America


Daisuke Murakami (JPN)-1st 2011 O Nepela, 2nd 2011 Triglav Trophy, 3rd 2011 Winter Universiade, 5th 2010 Skate America, 5th 2010 Finlandia Trophy; PB: 213.37 at 2010 Skate America


Douglas Razzanno (USA)-2nd at 2011 Finlandia Trophy, 2nd at 2010 Ice Challenge, 8th at 2009 Ice Challenge, 4th at 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final; PB: 174.71 at 2007 JGPF


Denis Ten (KAZ)-9th 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, 14th at 2011 Worlds, 1st at 2011 Winter Asian Games, 11th at 2010 Skate America, 12th at 2010 NHK Trophy; PB: 211.43 at 2009 Worlds


Kevin Van Der Perren (BEL)-2nd 2011 O Nepela, 17th at 2011 Worlds, 4th at 2011 Europeans, 6th at 2010 Skate America, 8th at 2010 NHK Trophy, 5th at 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy; PB: 219.36 at 2009 Europeans