Podium Predictions

[Mrs. P]

The JSF typically uses 4CC for its lower ranked skaters to get more experience or skaters that are unable to go to Worlds. Last year Akiko went to 4CC instead of Kanako. So it makes sense for Haruka and Kanako to go instead of Akiko (who went to 4CC in 2009, 2010 and 2011).

[skatingfan04]

Considering how completely off my predictions for nationals were, I shouldn't be trying this, but here goes...

Men

Chan (unless he completely blows up)
Takahashi
Abbott

Ladies

Asada
Murakami
Wagner (she seems to be having a really great season, and I expect it will continue)

Pairs

Duhamel/Radford (if they go clean)
Sui/Han
Takahashi/Tran (I expect the throws will let them down again)

Ice Dance

Virtue/Moir (If their SD goes well)
Davis/White
Weaver/Poje (assuming they stay on their feet, I see no reason why they shouldn't handily beat the Shibs)

[PolymerBob]

Ladies:

Mao Asada
Kanako Murakami
Caroline Zhang

Caroline will need to finish as top U.S. lady here ( which she has done twice ) to regain some credibility. I figure most ISU judges haven't seen a 3loop/3loop in over a decade, so she might just squeek into the final freeskate group. That will provide a slight psychological boost with the judges over the lower ladies.

Men

Chan (unless he completely blows up)
Takahashi
Abbott

I don't know that a blow-up is necessary. Daisuke has finished in front of Patrick in the past. He may pull out a win here.

[Jaana]

Men
Chan
Takahashi
Song

Ladies
Asada
Murakami
Wagner

Dance
Davis/White
Virtue/Moir
Shibutanis

Pairs
Duhamel & Radford
Sui & Han
Takahashi & Tran

[fairly4]

women,
mao
zhang- i hope
ashley
but could go
mao, kanako ashley, caroline zhang, agnes
any of the U.S. and Japan ladies,
i think the top 6 will be from U.S. and Japan, with canada outside shot cracking it

[Layfan]

The ladies are hard to predict with so few top women competing. Of course, I hope Mao wins - certainly the gold is hers to lose. I'd bet on Murakami, Ashley and Agnes for the other spots on the podium but it's too hard for me to say who or in what order. Really really rooting for Ashley though! What a boost a medal would be ahead of worlds. I certainly don't see her missing the podium if she skates like she did at nationals or better.

As for the men, I'd be surprised and bummed if Patrick and Takahashi didn't medal of course. And I hope Jeremy also medals but there are other contenders. Really, though, Jeremy SHOULD medal at this one.

[Bluebonnet]

As usual, no predictions from me, just wishes:

Men:

Chan - gold
Takahashi - silver
Abbott - bronz

Ladies:

Asada - gold

Dance:

Davis&White - gold
Virtue&Moir - silver

(And then at 2012 worlds, Virtue&Moir gold, Davis&White silver. Really can't pick who are better.)

Pairs:

Doesn't matter.

[jettasian]

After countless sleepless nights, pulling grey hair, biting nails and eating chocolates, I'm ready to make my bold prediction, LOL

WOMEN

1. Mao Asada
2. Cynthis Phaneuf
3. Kanako Murakami

MEN

1. Patrick Chan
2. Nan Song
3. Daisuke Takahashi

PAIRS

1. Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford
2. Wenjing Sui/Cong Han
3. Narumi Takahashi/Mervin Tran

ICE DANCE

1. Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir
2. Meryl Davis/Charlie White
3. Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje

[fairly4]

men

patrick chan 1st
daisuke murakami 2nd
jeremy abbott 3rd

dance

virture and moir 1st
davis and white 2nd
shibutani/weaver poje 3rd

pairs

zhang zhang 1st
duhamel radford 2nd
denny coughlin 3rd

[blue_idealist]

LADIES

1) Mao Asada 2) Ashley Wagner 3) Kanako Murakami

But Caroline Zhang could sneak in there, or one of the Canadian ladies.. or Agnes.

MEN

1) Patrick Chan 2) Daisuke Takahashi 3) Jeremy Abbott

How can this NOT be the podium? lol. Unless Rippon or Song sneaks on.

PAIRS

1) Duhamel/Radford 2) Sui/Han 3) Denney/Coughlin

Although, don't count out Takahashi/Tran.

DANCE

1) Davis/White 2) Virtue/Moir 3) Shibutanis or Weaver/Poje, too close to call.

[Reginald]

Ladies
1. Asada
2. Murakami
3. Zhang (Bronze again!)

[Li'Kitsu]

Ladies:

1.) Asada
2.) Murakami
3.) Wagner

Altough, silver and bronze are rather hard to predict, might aswell switch them. And I wouldn't mind Zawadski and Zhang sneaking up there.

Men:

1.) Chan
2.) Takahashi
3.) Song Nan

It's sad that Abbott is out due to injury. But it makes it easier for me to predict, since I really didn't know how to rate him against Song. Song really had a great season so far, and I hope he continues like that

[nynyfee]

Caroline will need to finish as top U.S. lady here ( which she has done twice ) to regain some credibility. I figure most ISU judges haven't seen a 3loop/3loop in over a decade, so she might just squeek into the final freeskate group. That will provide a slight psychological boost with the judges over the lower ladies.

Not true Amelie Lacoste did one in 2010 in skate Canada

[sweetskates1]

Ladies:
1.Asada
2.Wagner
3.Zhang

Men:
1.Chan
2.Takahashi
3.Rippon

Dance:
1.D/W
2.V/M
3.S/S

Pairs:
1.D/C
2.Z/Z
3.D/R

[roemerr]

Ladies:
1. Asada
2. Wagner
3. ????

Men:
1. Chan
2. Takahashi
3. Rippon

Dance:
1. D/W
2. V/M
3. S/S

Pairs:
1. S/H
2. D/R
3. ????

I think pairs will be very interesting because I think many of the teams are very similar in their scoring abilities. It will depend on who puts it out there cleanly at the event. I just hope Denney and Coughlin can sneak in for a medal.