Early Predictions

[skatingfan04]

I know it's only September, and these will probably change a million times by the end of the Grand Prix season, but I just want to post some early predictions. Please feel free to post your own.

Pairs
Gold- Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison
Silver- Anabelle Langlois/Cody Hay
Bronze- Meagan Duhamel/Craig Buntin

Ice Dance
Gold- Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir
Silver- Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje
Bronze- Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier (Ok, they're young, but I think it's possible)

Ladies
Gold- Joannie Rochette
Silver- Cynthia Phaneuf
Bronze- Mira Leung

Men
Gold- Jeffrey Buttle
Silver- Christopher Mabee
Bronze- Shawn Sawyer

 

[silver.blades]

The men's is really open, but I think:
1. Jeff Buttle
2. Patrick Chan
3. Chris Mabee
But other than Buttle winning, I think that 2nd & 3rd could be any # of skaters comming up. I don't think that Buttle is a shoe in for gold, although I havn't seen him skate this year and I might change my mind on that. I'd love Joey Russell to make the podium or at least top 5. I really can't wait for this competition, it should be really exciting.
I agree with the dance, pairs and womens predictions above. I've never seen Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier skate, but he's quite a good free skater.

 

[skatingfan04]

The men's is really open, but I think:
1. Jeff Buttle
2. Patrick Chan
3. Chris Mabee
But other than Buttle winning, I think that 2nd & 3rd could be any # of skaters comming up. I don't think that Buttle is a shoe in for gold, although I havn't seen him skate this year and I might change my mind on that. I'd love Joey Russell to make the podium or at least top 5. I really can't wait for this competition, it should be really exciting.
I agree with the dance, pairs and womens predictions above. I've never seen Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier skate, but he's quite a good free skater.

I agree that anything can happen, especially in the men's event. At the recent Thornhill Summer Skate, Chris Mabee had a very poor FS and was beaten substantially by Joey Russell, whom I would love to see make the podium. I havn't seen that much of Crone/Poirier, but they have had fairly good results. 9th at last year's Jr. worlds in their first year there. I have read a few reports from the LPID competition that were singing their praises. With so many Canadian teams from last year hitting splitsville, I have high hopes for them.

 

[skatingfan04]

Based on Crone/Poirier's JGP results, and Duhamel/Buntin's results in Nebelhorn, my predictions stand. Great results for both teams.

 

[skatingfan04]

Given the recent GP results, I'm gonna have to factor Patrick Chan into the gold medal mix, and Hann-McCurdey/Coreno in as possible spoilers in dance.

 

[Winnipeg]

MEN

Buttle
Chan
Open - Russell, Mabee, Andreev, Young, Sawyer


LADIES

Rochette
Leung
Open - Samson, Phaneuf (I hope, I hope) Hawker, Putnam?


PAIRS

D and D
L and H
Open (K and R, M and M, D and B)


Dance

V and M
W and P
No idea

 

[Winnipeg]

I know it's only September, and these will probably change a million times by the end of the Grand Prix season, but I just want to post some early predictions. Please feel free to post your own.

)

Ladies
Gold- Joannie Rochette
Silver- Cynthia Phaneuf
Bronze- Mira Leung

Men
Gold- Jeffrey Buttle
Silver- Christopher Mabee
Bronze- Shawn Sawyer

I am interested in your rationale for placing Phaneuf 2nd? I'd love it to be true but think even a 3rd place might be a stretch. Any comments that would support your prediction would be appreciated so I can hope more for Phaneuf!!

No Chan on men's podium? :disapp:Any reason why?

 

[bems]

What about Vaughn Chipeurand his triple axel ?

 

[silver.blades]

I thought Andreov(Sp?) wasn't compeating anymore

 

[redhotcoach]

Fedor is back and looking good - at least in practice..........His triple lutz is gorgeous and his circular footwork really difficult. We'll see how he makes out at Challenge - didn't put forth a difficult program at sectionals. At Challenge he will have to pull out those triples. He looks more mature and centred in practice now after a couple of years off modelling and racing cars.

 

[skatingfan04]

I am interested in your rationale for placing Phaneuf 2nd? I'd love it to be true but think even a 3rd place might be a stretch. Any comments that would support your prediction would be appreciated so I can hope more for Phaneuf!!

No Chan on men's podium? :disapp:Any reason why?

I made those predictions in September. I was hoping that Phaneuf would make more of an improvement over the off season than she did, causing me to place her ahead of Leung. Knowing what I do now, I'd switch that around, although I still would love to see Cynthia back to old form. As for Chan, I didn't think that he would be half as good as he has been this season. After his recent results, I'd put hin 2nd, and possibly 1st depending on how Buttle skates it.

 

[skatingfan04]

Fedor is back and looking good - at least in practice..........His triple lutz is gorgeous and his circular footwork really difficult. We'll see how he makes out at Challenge - didn't put forth a difficult program at sectionals. At Challenge he will have to pull out those triples. He looks more mature and centred in practice now after a couple of years off modelling and racing cars.

Andreev is back?? Wow, that should be interesting. He's been out a while. To be honest, I can't even really remember his skating. I wasn't quite so interested in figure skating at that time.

 

[Winnipeg]

Andreev is back?? Wow, that should be interesting. He's been out a while. To be honest, I can't even really remember his skating. I wasn't quite so interested in figure skating at that time.

I still think he would have been a lovely pairs skater....................:yes:


Thanks for clarifying Cynthia prediction. I wish she could get back to her old form too..................

 

[skatingfan04]

I still think he would have been a lovely pairs skater....................:yes:


Thanks for clarifying Cynthia prediction. I wish she could get back to her old form too..................

Not a problem. I completely understand your confusion. Those predictions seem rahter irrationals now. Then again, as we've seen before, anything's possible. As for Andreev, I wonder if he will be anywhere near the form that he was before. He's been gon a while.

 

[fumie_fumie]

Men,

1. Patrick Chan
2. Jeff Buttle
3. Chris Mabee
4. Emanuel Sandhu
5. Vaughn Chipeur
6. Shawn Sawyer

Ladies

1. Joannie Rochette
2. Mira Leung
3. Lesley Hawker
4. Myriane Samson

Pairs
1. DD
2. Langlois/Hay
3. Buntin / Duhamel
4. Miller /Moram

Dance
1. VM
2. Open
3. open

 

[bems]

Good Analysis f_f

My predictions exactly.

See you rink side in Mississauga ?

 

[nadster]

Men,

1. Patrick Chan
2. Jeff Buttle
3. Chris Mabee
4. Emanuel Sandhu
5. Vaughn Chipeur
6. Shawn Sawyer

Ladies

1. Joannie Rochette
2. Mira Leung
3. Lesley Hawker
4. Myriane Samson

Pairs
1. DD
2. Langlois/Hay
3. Buntin / Duhamel
4. Miller /Moram

Dance
1. VM
2. Open
3. open

I agree with most of the predictions. In pairs the Moscovitches and Kirkland/Radford are definite factors for 4th place. However neither of these teams can go to 4CC or Worlds even because the girls are too young and the men are too old for JW consideration. Hopefully both these couples will get an invite to SC next season. Age problems have kept both these couples from getting the international experience they deserve.

In ladies Amelie Lacoste is a definite darkhorse. She finished 5th at Canadians 2 years ago and has struggled with injuries since then. She won the Quebec sectional and is in the running for the JW spot along with Samson.

In dance it will be a close battle between 2-4 between Weaver/Poje , McCurdy/Coreno and Crone/Poirier. Crone/Poirier will be at a serious handicap in the CD's but could overtake the other couples in the OD and FD ( similar to Weaver/Poje last season).

In men , I suspect that Sawyer could drop down even futher behind Kevin Reynolds. His score at cup of China is lower than the average of Kevin's two GP scores this season and Sawyer is struggling at NHK as well. Certainly SC will like to boost up Kevin for Junior Worlds because Kevin is certain to go there. I also doubt that Sandhu will finish 4th as some reports still say he looks out of shape.

 

[fumie_fumie]

bems,

unfortunately, I won't be there. working in ottawa full time.

Nadster,

As for Mens,

I wouldn't bet that Sandhu will show up for the Nationals either. I just put his name there for the fun of it. I am not ready to count Shawn out yet, as the CoC was just a complete splatfast. Few had really a good skate.

Pairs,

The problem with the Moscovitches is the speed and the height issue, really. I don't know how long they will stay as a pair.

As for Kirkland/Radford, as long as they don't do love story type of program, they should be fine. I also heard from the folks in Mississauga, they put together two strong programs over the summer, so we will see how it goes.

Dance

Weaver/Poje might have a upper hand for no. 2 spot.

 

[nadster]

Pairs,

The problem with the Moscovitches is the speed and the height issue, really. I don't know how long they will stay as a pair.

As for Kirkland/Radford, as long as they don't do love story type of program, they should be fine. I also heard from the folks in Mississauga, they put together two strong programs over the summer, so we will see how it goes.

I agree with the speed and height issue with the Moscovitches mainly because Kyra's singles skills up to this point were way behind Dylan's.

Dylan did receive a silver medal in junior men's once and has done JGP assignments in singles. When he first started skating pairs with Kyra, he won that silver medal in junior men's while Kyra was still competing as a juvenile in ladies.

Nowadays Kyra is starting to land triple toes with some consistency ( at least based on the protocols of her novice ladies skate at sectionals). I don't think they can stay together much longer because of the height issue. Based on my recent viewings of Kyra in singles, her power has definitely improved so that should make the speed problem less of an issue.

As for Kirkland/Radford , they have a good future as long as she can gain the jumps. Radford is a very strong singles skater himself ( won junior men's at nats when Dylan won the silver). But Kirkland is very young ( too young for World's and 4CC this year ) so she still has time.

 

[skatingfan04]

I agree with most of the predictions. In pairs the Moscovitches and Kirkland/Radford are definite factors for 4th place. However neither of these teams can go to 4CC or Worlds even because the girls are too young and the men are too old for JW consideration. Hopefully both these couples will get an invite to SC next season. Age problems have kept both these couples from getting the international experience they deserve.

In ladies Amelie Lacoste is a definite darkhorse. She finished 5th at Canadians 2 years ago and has struggled with injuries since then. She won the Quebec sectional and is in the running for the JW spot along with Samson.

In dance it will be a close battle between 2-4 between Weaver/Poje , McCurdy/Coreno and Crone/Poirier. Crone/Poirier will be at a serious handicap in the CD's but could overtake the other couples in the OD and FD ( similar to Weaver/Poje last season).

In men , I suspect that Sawyer could drop down even futher behind Kevin Reynolds. His score at cup of China is lower than the average of Kevin's two GP scores this season and Sawyer is struggling at NHK as well. Certainly SC will like to boost up Kevin for Junior Worlds because Kevin is certain to go there. I also doubt that Sandhu will finish 4th as some reports still say he looks out of shape.

I think that the biggest issue with teams like Kirkland/Radford and the Moscovitches is the age/height/size difference. The age differrence , not to mention the sibling issue, makes chemistry pretty impossible, which brings the performace level and PC score down, and the size difference makes them look sort of mismatched. Not to say that mismatched teams cant and havent been sucessful, but it's a bit more of a challenge, even though it makes some moves easier. I like both of these teams, but these differenced will make it hard for them.

In dance, i would still give W/P the uppr hand on silver, despite being beaten by M/C at SC. They have more experience, including at worlds, and better programs IMO. I still like C/P to be on the podium as well. Concerning their CD handicap, I've noticed that this is a constant problem for Canadian teams. V/M just lost NHK because of a low CD score,and have had this problem before, W/P always seem to have to climb a mountain to contend after their CD's, C/P were 3rd in the CD at a summer comp in lake placid and 1st by a mile in the other 2 segments,and have done this on the JGP circuit as well, Lenko/Islam place low in CD's as well. Even the novice champs Ralph and Hill had to fight to win their title after being lower ranked in the CD, and climbed signinficantly after that portion in both of their JGP events. D/L had superior CD's, but if i recall correctly the CD wasn't B/K's favourite part of competitions either. I don't think that any of these teams have bad CD's, just that they are much better at the othe two segments. Is it the way that we train our teams here? I'll admit, I prefer a team have weak CD's and not OD's or FD's, but it did strike me as odd that it seems to be a common occurance among Canadian teams.