
Every time one of these prediction threads come up , I feel I just can't wrap my brain around the situation. I'm going - On the one hand... But on the other hand..all the while feeling like an octopus , and there still aren't enough hands to cover all the possibilities...Then along comes
pogue with one of his sets of questions , and it helps me to focus..
somewhat.
I think it will be too close to predict between D/W and V/M for the same reasons NorthernDancers laid out. Since the beginning of the GP , when the GW marks seemed to be all over the place , Z/S 's teams seem to have gotten a good handle on what the judges are looking for. So V/M will have known very well what adjustments to make , and there's nothing questionable about their music. So I'm betting the one place where any sizeable gap could be opened up would be the FD . D/W have been skating really well , but I don't think they've quite made the Tango their own , which could lessen their advantage .
#3-#5 Oh,boy !..here, my preferences take over..I've felt all season that the only advantage C/P have had over W/P has been in the the FD program...and I suspect that's mainly a matter of taste. I've never been a fan of W/P's program, but I don't think C/P's program necessarily has more content. It has the Dean signature and the Dean rep. But his programs have not always swept judging panels away, and C/P don't bring any extra emotional oomph to it , while there's no question W/P can sell a program.
But..here come the Shibs. They've been getting very good levels , and of the three couples , their programs are the most perfectly suited to them . Their expression cannot be faulted ,IMO, so I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them vault past both C/P and W/P at this competition. I don't say it's a sure thing, but I think it's a real possibility. ( Of all the programs we've seen this year ,P/B and Sh/Sh are the two sets of programs that have stood out to me as being perfect for the skaters )
I don't think C/Z can keep it close .
I think
pogue's pairs picks could be pretty good, but I don't know if Y/C's emotional impact will be as strong outside of NA..and I confess I have a fond hope of Takahashi / Tran shaking things up and
maybe sneaking on to the podium ( they're very polished and appealing ).
Still lost with the Ladies and Men..I do think it will be between Dai and Taka for the men, with a
slight preference on my part for Dai..and beyond that ..??? ( a roll of the dice )... I
hope to see Asada come back, but realize she's bravely tackled a project that may not be attainable in a year.. I
hope for Alyssa, Cynthia, Akiko..pretty much equally..so I guess the upside is, I'll be pretty difficult to disappoint.
I don't know what to say about Miki ( I don't want to go into a Morozov rant) I feel at best, neutral about her .