- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Among skaters/teams that were not in the top ten at Worlds, who do you think might defy the odds and make the Grand Prix finals?
Assuming it will take at least a second and a third to make it, here are two I'll be rooting for.
Ladies: Elene Gedevanishvili. With her troubles in Russia behind her, this could be Elene's breakout season. At Skate America she will face Ando and Meissner.
Which Miki will we see? The Miki who almost finished dead last at last year's GP final, or the World Champion?
Meissner was vulnerable all season in 2006-07. She barely squeaked out a flawed victory at U.S. nationals and missed the podium at Worlds.
Elene should be a solid favorite for bronze, with a pretty good chance at silver or even gold.
At NHK Elene faces Ando again and Meier. I give Elene the same chance to make second or better as at Skate America.
Will the long lay-off between the first event of the season and the last affect her, one way or the other?
Pairs: Nam and Leftheris This is way out there. But hey, it's pairs, anything can happen. Their two events are USA and China. Pang and Tong are at both and probably a lock for gold. At Skate America N&L will also face Dube and Davison. To get third, Nam and Lefteris' first job is to beat fellow countrymen Castile and Okolsky. It could be done.
At Cup of China, besides Pang and Tong, N&L will have to contend with Inoue and Baldwin. I&B could go either way. They are capable of a solid score, they might bomb. Obertas and Slavnov could conceivably get it together and reach the podium (?). Nam and Lefterhis could be second with a miracle skate (more heart than mind here) or buried in the bottom half.
Assuming it will take at least a second and a third to make it, here are two I'll be rooting for.
Ladies: Elene Gedevanishvili. With her troubles in Russia behind her, this could be Elene's breakout season. At Skate America she will face Ando and Meissner.
Which Miki will we see? The Miki who almost finished dead last at last year's GP final, or the World Champion?
Meissner was vulnerable all season in 2006-07. She barely squeaked out a flawed victory at U.S. nationals and missed the podium at Worlds.
Elene should be a solid favorite for bronze, with a pretty good chance at silver or even gold.
At NHK Elene faces Ando again and Meier. I give Elene the same chance to make second or better as at Skate America.
Will the long lay-off between the first event of the season and the last affect her, one way or the other?
Pairs: Nam and Leftheris This is way out there. But hey, it's pairs, anything can happen. Their two events are USA and China. Pang and Tong are at both and probably a lock for gold. At Skate America N&L will also face Dube and Davison. To get third, Nam and Lefteris' first job is to beat fellow countrymen Castile and Okolsky. It could be done.
At Cup of China, besides Pang and Tong, N&L will have to contend with Inoue and Baldwin. I&B could go either way. They are capable of a solid score, they might bomb. Obertas and Slavnov could conceivably get it together and reach the podium (?). Nam and Lefterhis could be second with a miracle skate (more heart than mind here) or buried in the bottom half.
Last edited: