European Championships Zagreb, Croatia, January 21-27

[eleonora.d]

Hi everyone, European Figure Skating Championships, competitions are starting on January22th and finishing w on January 26th in Zagreb ( Croatia ). Gala on the 27th.

Entries are not available yet because not all the national championships ended yet.

For the finnish ladies, it seems like Laura Lepistö,Kiira Korpi, Jenni Vähämaa are coming, since Pokyo was out of the national podium.

Italy has 3 spots for the ladies, so it'll be interesting to see what happens this week end at italian national championships and who else is going with Carolina Kostner and Valentina Marchei.

 

[russell30]

Sussanna Poykio was thrird and on the podium at Nationals, but I have been informed by a skate forum colleague she has problems with her back (fractured the discs in her back) and did not get the required number of points to go to Europeans. I hope Susanna will be back next year. However Finland look very strong and Lepisto, Korpi and Vahaama will be contenders along with Kostner and Meier.

 

[Lumi]

I really look forward to Europeans, especially ladies and men.

I really hope some of the Finnish girls skates well medals since their international scores have been very encouraging this season. Kiira compleated what, two or three triples (one loop was downgraded...) in CoR FS, and still managed to score almost 100 points for FS. Since her SP is really solid this season, I hope she can post 160+ score in Euros... But you never know about her, she is so inconsistent... Anyway, I am huge Kiira fan since I admire how mutch she has progressed since she came to senior scane. You can see that she has worked hard on her spins and spirals, and has really beautiful non-jump elements now. I will be happy with Jenni and Laura if they don't bomb and will keep three spots for Finland (which is likely, not too many good ladies in Euros... and Gedevanisvili, Sebestyen and Marchei don't look too strong this season).

Carolina Kostner will take the Euro title again I think. She has managed her nerves better recently, and Meier is really in trouble with her edge deducations and too high sit spins. Plus some injuries and the lack of the loop... That leaves her with three different triples. Well, I hope she will be good in Euros because she is really lovely too.

Mens podium is most likely to bee Joubert, Verner and Lambiel in some order. I am expecting fierce and good competition between them.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

My problem with Euros is that they come at the same time as US Nats every year. Still bad is that ESPN will give a super abridged version when I get back. Just can't win in being a viewer of this Sport.

Joe

 

[1795]

D/S vs D/S

 

[calica]

D/S vs D/S

:scratch::scratch::scratch::scratch:
If you refer to Dom/Sha v Del/Scho, surely you are wrong because Shabalin is recovering of an operation and surely he will not take part in the Euro.

 

[life684]

D/S vs D/S

D/S Vs K/N ?

 

[1795]

D/S Vs K/N ?

now that i know what happened yes...

:scratch::scratch::scratch::scratch:
If you refer to Dom/Sha v Del/Scho, surely you are wrong because Shabalin is recovering of an operation and surely he will not take part in the Euro.

...take a look at the date in which i wrote that reply.

but yeah....its like TEB all over again, acrobatics vs sign language

 

[perlla]

On website of ISU there is list of entries for European Championships.

 

[eleonora.d]

http://www.isufs.org/events/fsevent00010320.htm

No Idora Hegel for Croatia.. I wonder why..

 

[chuckm]

Hegel was reported to have a spinal injury.

 

[chuckm]

:scratch::scratch::scratch::scratch:
If you refer to Dom/Sha v Del/Scho, surely you are wrong because Shabalin is recovering of an operation and surely he will not take part in the Euro.

Shabalin has had the surgery, is back on the ice practicing, and DomShabs are on the Euros entries list. They are most likely going to be competing, after all.

 

[cocovica]

Entries!!!!!
http://www.isufs.org/events/fsevent00010320.htm

no Griazev???
Dytrt for Germany with bronz medal on nationals?
domnina and shabalin in, as well as pechalat bourzat

 

[Audrey19]

Annette Dytrt skates for Germany because the champion, Sarah Hecken, and the vice champion, Isabell Drescher, are too young, 14 and 13 years old.
Age limit...hwell:
How come Domnina & Shabalin compete? :think:

 

[Alex]

After reading the entries, here are my thoughts on all the participants....
(I'll do just men now and the rest later)

Manuel Koll (AUT) - I don't remember him... What has happened with Viktor Pfeifer? I haven't seen him since the Olympics I think...
Danil Privalov (AZE) - I don't know him... Probably won't make it to the LP
Sergei Davydov (BLR) - A great skater, but since he is 29, I don't know about his jumps. Top-8 for sure though...
Alexandr Kazakov (BLR) - Two skaters for Belarus? Next year they'll be back to one, I'm afraid...
Kevin vd Perren (BEL) - One of my favourite skaters. I don't think that he will medal again though. Top-6 easily...
Ruben Blommaert (BEL) - Same as Kazakov.
Naiden Borichev (BUL) - Have I ever said how much I love obscure European skaters?
Josip Gluhak (CRO) - No voidy Martinec this year?
Tomas Verner (CZE) - Probably a medal. He will seek the top this year
Michael Brezina (CZE) - I hear a lot of good things about him. I have never watched him though...
Mikko Minkinnen (FIN) - Did he actually beat Nurmenkari at Nationals?? Nurmenkari was around for years...
Brian Joubert (FRA) - The favourite for gold
Yannick Ponsero (FRA) - If only he makes all his jumps once..
Alban Preaubert (FRA) - I haven't watched his new programs... Probably top-8 and surely king of the voids!
Clemens Brummer & Peter Brummers (GER) - No idea....
TBA (GBR) - Probably John Hamer again? Well, definitely in the LP, nothing more...
Tigran Vardanyan (HUN) - Huhh???
Maxim Shipov (ISR) - There are no clues at all. Not even in the ISU bios...
Karel Zelenka (ITA) - He will fight for a place in the top-8... I really like him...
Paolo Bacchini (ITA) - Since Contesti will be around next year, he has to place well, so Italy can have 3 spots next year...
Konstantin Tupikov (POL) - No idea...
Zoltan Kelemen (ROU) - Probably not in the LP
Sergei Voronov (RUS) - Russians hope for a medal, but I think it will be really hard. Maybe top-6...
Andrei Lutai (RUS) - I really really like his skating. Top-8 I think for sure (probably 3 skaters for Russia again next year)
Igor Macypura (SVK) - Solid skater. Somewhere around 15
Gregor Urbas (SLO) - Same as above. Probably some places higher...
Luka Cadez (SLO) - Huhh?
Javier Fernandez (ESP) - Probably won't make it to LP....
Kristoffer Berntsson (SWE) - He has a great LP, if I remeber correctly... Maybe top-10.
Adrian Schultheiss (SWE) - He'll make it to the LP, but nothing more..
Stephane Lambiel (SUI) - I don't know about his condition... Medal contender definitely
Moris Pfeifhofer (SUI) - He'll make it to the LP, but nothing more..
Alper Ucar (TUR) - He'll fight for a place to the LP...
Vitali Sazonets (UKR) - I don't know him...

No Zeus Issariotis from my country Greece this year... That's a pity.... Does anyone remember his voidy short program last year?

My predictions:
1) Joubert
2) Lambiel
3) Verner
4) Voronov
5) van den Perren
6) Lutai
7) Preaubert
8) Davydov

 

[Mathman]

No Zeus Issariotis from my country Greece this year...

He deserves bonus points just for his name!

 

[gkelly]

What has happened with Viktor Pfeifer? I haven't seen him since the Olympics I think...

He decided to try to compete for the US. He competed at Eastern sectionals this year and placed 8th out of 11. Top 4 go to Nationals.

 

[chuckm]

He [Zeus Issariotis] deserves bonus points just for his name!

Greece will be represented by Maria Elena PAPASOTIRIOU and the estimable Pairs team of Ariel Fay GAGNON and Chad TSAGRIS.

 

[Alex]

Greece will be represented by Maria Elena PAPASOTIRIOU and the estimable Pairs team of Ariel Fay GAGNON and Chad TSAGRIS.

Oh yeah.... I know that Maria Elena is actually a pretty good skater. Last year in the Euros she left 7-8 other skaters behind her in the SP (she landed all her jumps including a triple lutz, with a little lean, but she fell at the footwork). For a Greek skater it is a success:yes: Of course, all skaters who represent Greece, were born, live and train in the US or Canada..

Anyway, Pairs' time now.... (I will do ladies and dance tomorrow)
1. Amy IRELAND / Michael BAHORIC (CRO) - Wow!!!! Amy of course can't be croatian (maybe she is Irish) and Michael is 34 years old and it is the first time we hear about him!
2. Melodie CHATAIGNER / Medhi BOUZZINE (FRA) - Where are Canac/Coia???
3. Aliona SAVCHENKO / Robin SZOLKOWY (GER) - The gold medalists. Even if the rest skates clearly and the fall 2 or 3 times, they get so overmarked that they will be first.
4. Mari VARTMANN / Florian JUST (GER) - Here again...
5. TBA (GBR) - Probably Kemp/King? OK, once again, I love obscure european skaters!
6. Ariel Fay GAGNON / Chad TSAGRIS (GRE)
7. Ekaterina SOSINOVA / Fedor SOKOLOV (ISR) - First time I hear about them
8. Laura MAGITTERI / Ondrej HOTAREK (ITA) - We've seen them, nothing special
9. Marika ZANFORLIN / Federico DEGLI ESPOSTI (ITA) - Two pairs for Italy? Yikes!!
10. Dominika PIATKOWSKA / Dmitri KHROMIN (POL) - OK, they aren't the Siudeks, but I think they are better than the rest obscure skaters.
11. Yuko KAWAGUCHI / Alexander SMIRNOV (RUS) - They will fight with M&T and V&M for two places at the podium. It's all open
12. Maria MUKHORTOVA / Maxim TRANKOV (RUS) - Same as 11
13. Arina USHAKOVA / Sergei KAREV (RUS) - They got the third Russian ticket, but I didn' liked them at nationals....
14. Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Stanislav MOROZOV (UKR) - My favourite pair... I really hope for a silver medal.
15. Ekaterina KOSTENKO / Roman TALAN (UKR) - I have no idea...

Where is the swedish young pair of Pylkina and something???

My predictions:
1) Savchenko/Szolkowy
2) Volosozhar/Morozov
3) Kawaguchi/Smirnov
4) Mukhortova/Trankov
5) (far behind) Piatkowska/Khromin
6) Ushakova/Karev

 

[hockeyfan228]

Pylkina/Hogner split. Lina Johansson left figure skating, leaving Berntsson the only top Swedish senior for Worlds in Sweden.