How Hot Is Junior Worlds - Japan, Czech Rep, Russia

[Joesitz (RIP)]

and who in Canada?

While the US pretty much dominates Juniors, there are some interesting competitions:

Japan has several Ladies that could win this.

Czech Rep - Michael Brezina

France - Amodio in the Mens,

Russia - 3 worthy dance teams

Anyone else?

 

[dorispulaski]

The 3 Russian pair teams should own the podium.

Riazanova & Guerreiro (RUS) will probably prevent a US sweep of dance.

 

[PROKOFIEV]

Japan is sending two girls who have placed 12th and 14th at 2008 national championship. And both of them got 1st and 2nd at junior level of national championship of 2008. I really do not think Japan really cares to have medals at Junior worlds. It seems they really want young skaters have international experiences for the future. I guess American senior skaters are going to fight against each other for medals. I really feel bad that Ashley has to compete there. Even though she is writing positive about it in her diary, it must be a bit disappointing to be there. But she has no choice.........
I hate to say this, but Junior World is going to be a boring one this year.

 

[Trewyn]

I really feel bad that Ashley has to compete there. Even though she is writing positive about it in her diary, it must be a bit disappointing to be there. But she has no choice.........

My sentiments exactly! I think it's horrible for her, after two years of working so hard on skating like a 'senior lady' she's back to juniors? That must have been a bad blow. But she has no choice. She wants 2 GPs, obviously, and if she doesn't do Jr Worlds she might even fall out of the top 20 in the rankings! So she really needs it. I just hope she wins.

 

[Nirti]

Elene Gedevanishvili on the podium!!!



I think Zhang and Wagner could easily get to the podium, but not sure for Hacker...

Russia can have podium in the men category, maybe with Bariev...

 

[champs]

Has anyone seen Oksana Gozeva's skating? Or does anyone know what her jump layouts are for her SP/FS and what her strengths are? I haven't found a video of her, but I'm curious about her as she medaled at JGP Belarus tis season and also in the Russian Jr. Nationals placing below Sotnikova and Tuktamysheva but above Polina Shelepen. I hope they will show her programs on TV when they air the event.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I don't think all of Junior Worlds will be boring. I am interested in watching Michal Brezina go against Florent Amodio with Adam Rippon looking on.

The Russian Dance teams v. the Americans should be interesting.

I think, too, the Pairs may be interesting.

The Ladies have too many Seniors but will be good to see them skate as seniors and not as juniors. Boring? yes, competitively, but the American fans are looking for a winner in Vancouver next year.

 

[oleada]

I think Junior Ladies will be boring. I find it boring when there is no competition.

I hope Amodio and Brezina will give Rippon competition. Amodio's 3A seems more secure than Rippon's and they are evenly matched in presentation (though different in style). Adam probably has better skating skills, though.

Has anyone seen Oksana Gozeva's skating? Or does anyone know what her jump layouts are for her SP/FS and what her strengths are?

I've seen Gozeva skate....and frankly, I'm not impressed.
She'll probably do 3F+2T and 3Lz in the SP; and do a 2A+2A sequence in the LP and repeat the 3Lz.

Iliushechkina & Maisuradze should win the pairs, but they've got to be cleaner than in their last few competitions, because Zhang/Wang and Martiusheva/Rogonov can give them a run for their money. I want to see how Sheremetieva/Kuznetsov are doing after her injury.

I hope the Hubbells and Riazanova/Guerreiro will go 1-2 in dance, in any order.

 

[life684]

I hope Martuseva/Rogonov perform a clean routine, especially their LP, that program is so much artistically better than so many senior pairs long program. It is a shame that we won't see them in any championships for couple of years due to age eligibility rules.

I simply can't understand the purpose of sending Iliushechkina & Maisuradze. Every month they seem to switch between senior pair routine and Junior one. The federation should have sent some other pair, it is not as if they haven't got any quality pairs team left.


Junior ladies have turned out to be a Senior B world Championships(like the one they have for cycling), as much as i love Hacker, Wagner, Zhang and Leonova, they should never be allowed to compete in Junior world championships because they already had their crack at Senior ISU Championships.

 

[Fashionista]

Russia can have podium in the men category, maybe with Bariev...

Bariev has just withdrown.

 

[Sylvia]

Bariev has just withdrown.

Can you provide a source or link? Thanks.

ETA: oleada has posted at FSU that "Someone at a Russian forum said he had the chicken pox."

 

[chuckm]

Alena Leonova has an outside chance at the podium if she skates as well as she did last year.

 

[chuckm]

I think Junior Ladies will be boring. I find it boring when there is no competition.

Iliushechkina & Maisuradze should win the pairs, but they've got to be cleaner than in their last few competitions, because Zhang/Wang and Martiusheva/Rogonov can give them a run for their money. I want to see how Sheremetieva/Kuznetsov are doing after her injury.

I hope the Hubbells and Riazanova/Guerreiro will go 1-2 in dance, in any order.

Well, there's no competition in Pairs, even worse than in Ladies. In Ladies, Zhang and Wagner are expected to medal, but there is definitely competition for the third spot, and there are several ladies who are in contention for it: Leonova, Reitmayerova, Zeigler, Hecken, Helgesson. While a US sweep in Ladies is probably not in the cards, in Pairs, the podium is likely to be all Russian.

I think the Hubbells and Riazanova/Guerreiro will be on the podium in Ice Dance, but not necessarily in 1-2 order. They have to contend with Chock/Zuerlein, who bested them both at the JGPF. But if none of them has a major error, these 3 teams should be on the podium.

 

[Fashionista]

Can you provide a source or link? Thanks.

No, it's insider's information. And that's right, he has a chickenpox.

 

[chuckm]

Poxed-out Bariev has been replaced by Stanislav Kovalev.

 

[lmarie086]

I think the Hubbells and Riazanova/Guerreiro will be on the podium in Ice Dance, but not necessarily in 1-2 order. They have to contend with Chock/Zuerlein, who bested them both at the JGPF. But if none of them has a major error, these 3 teams should be on the podium.

I prefer the Shibutani's over Chock/Zuerlein but I think it will be between the three you mentioned. I'm with oleada though, I'm hoping for the Hubbells and Riazanova/Guerreiro to go 1-2. The Shibutani's will most likely have a few more trips to JW after this, plenty of time to medal (though I'd really like to see them get at least bronze, I'm trying to be rational/unbiased lol).

Joesitz, did you mean 3 pairs teams for Russia? Because I only see one Russian ice dance team that would be likely to medal, but if you're saying a pairs podium sweep is likely then ITA. I really hope I/M have their best, cleanest performance yet.

For the men I'm pulling for Brezina to win. I wouldn't complain if Amodio or Rippon (though he already won last year) won, but I'd like to see it go to Brezina. Those three are my picks for the podium.

Ladies..I don't really care right now lol. Too many senior ladies. I really wish Gilles and Maxwell were going, but since they're not Wagner and Zhang will probably medal. I'd really, really like to see Elene G. start doing better because I've loved her since Torino and I hate seeing her struggling.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Joesitz, did you mean 3 pairs teams for Russia? Because I only see one Russian ice dance team that would be likely to medal, but if you're saying a pairs podium sweep is likely then ITA. I really hope I/M have their best, cleanest performance yet.

More than probably. It's this early onset dimentia, I'm dealing with.

For the men I'm pulling for Brezina to win. I wouldn't complain if Amodio or Rippon (though he already won last year) won, but I'd like to see it go to Brezina. Those three are my picks for the podium. [/QUOTE[
Michal is my man in Sofia, but I find Amodio amazin. I can't get on the Rippon bandwagon this year because he shouldn't be there.

Ladies..I don't really care right now lol. Too many senior ladies. I really wish Gilles and Maxwell were going, but since they're not Wagner and Zhang will probably medal. I'd really, really like to see Elene G. start doing better because I've loved her since Torino and I hate seeing her struggling.

As much as I like to see them skate since they will not be going to the Senior Worlds,they do not belong in Sofia either. It's like the booby prize. I will not care which one wins, just want to see them skate and see any improvements from Nats.

I think it would be a hoot, if none wins gold.

 

[wonderlen3000]

I don't think it's fair for the young skaters. Once a skater moved into senior rank and competition, they should not allow to go back. It's kindda like, 'hey i can't make it to the class A, so i'll settle for class B.' Looks like U.S is really desperate for medel to send 3 seniors ladies to spoil the kids party.

 

[dancemaster]

I just hope we don't see yet another Canadian technical specialist heading the teck panel in the dance

 

[PolymerBob]

Yes, there seems to be quite a bit of discussion on this and other message boards on this topic ..... especially among us American fans. You see, we had 3 junior men, and 5 ( that's right, FIVE ) junior ladies make the Junior Grand Prix Final. The feeling is we should give these skaters priority at Junior Worlds.

I don't think it's really anybody's fault, and I don't think anyone is intentionally trying to screw anybody. It just seems there is no clear-cut definition of what a "junior" is. Perhaps the ISU will clarify this by next season.