Who's In the Grand Prix Final - Dance | Golden Skate

Who's In the Grand Prix Final - Dance

MissIzzy

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
18 couples have competed so far in two events, and so far the eliminations have been determined by complete withdrawal from the series while noone surprising has been knocked out, though for a couple of teams its become a little harder. Analyses of those competed so far:

Trophée Eric Bombard Top Four:

1. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir-Should win Skate Canada and then it's only a question of whether they win the Finale or not.

2. Nathalie Pechélat & Fabian Bourzat-Mathematically they need to win Skate Canada in order to seal it, which ain't gonna happen. However, with a strong likelihood that three teams will share the six golds between them, two silvers should get them in no problem at all. For that they would need to beat Faiella & Scali, which they did at Worlds, but they've lost to more often than not even so. Still would have a good chance if they won bronze, where their only real competition is Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates, and them barely, so unless they have a bad competition, it's either silver and in or, perhaps slightly more likely, bronze and as the chips fall.

3. Sinead & John Kerr-Would need to win NHK to seal it, which isn't too likely with Meryl and Charlie there. However, their only remote competition for silver is Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier, who've had a disappointment already not making the podium at the Rostelecom Cup. Most likely they take silver and hope.

4. Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates-To have a chance they'd need to win Skate Canada, where they'd need to do a lot better than they've done to even take silver.

Rostelecom Cup Top Four:

1. Meryl Davis & Charlie White-need only medal at NHK, where there isn't even much competition for gold.

2. Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte-Mathematically would have to win Skate America, and beating Tanith and Ben is not likely for them. Two silvers would still get them in, but even for that, they'd need to beat Khoklova & Novitski, which doesn't seem likely either. They could do bronze, if they could hold off the Zaretskis and Navarro & Bommentre, both of them they would be heavily favored over, but then they would probably be in the back of the score tiebreaker.

3. Ekaterina Rubleva & Ivan Shefer-Both events done, out with 5th at Trophée Eric Bombard.

4. Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirer-Same situation as Samuelson & Bates, only substitute NHK Trophy for Skate Canada.

Knocked out, but ghost of a chance of still factoring in:

Kimberly Navarro & Brent Bommentre-6th at Trophée Eric Bombard, only miniscule chance of changing someone's fate at Skate America, but still more chance than anyone else finishing 5th or below so far
Katherine Copely & Devidas Stagniunas-8th at Rostelecom Cup, wouldn't even list them as confusing things at Skate Canada but there's noone else to list

Contenders yet to skate:
Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto
Jana Khokhova & Sergei Novitski
Frederica Faiella & Massimo Scali
 

museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
Congrats to Davis/White for making the GPF! Hope it's a successful season for them!! :love::bow::rock:
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
GPF standing before Skate America

1 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE USA 15 15 30 1 403.07 2 201.81 101.02 125.30 19
2 Sinead KERR / John KERR GBR 11 13 24 2 354.84 2 172.41 86.25 111.26 20
3 Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIER CAN 9 11 20 3 322.89 2 163.12 84.51 99.32 19
4 Ekaterina RUBLEVA / Ivan SHEFER RUS 7 11 18 3 318.86 2 163.37 82.07 98.04 19
5 Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR CAN 15 X 15 1 197.71 1 97.39 97.39 61.91 10
6 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA 15 X 15 1 194.51 1 95.85 95.85 60.33 9
7 Anna ZADOROZHNIUK / Sergei VERBILLO UKR 9 5 14 4 312.70 2 154.37 78.44 99.23 19
8 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 13 X 13 2 181.64 1 89.77 89.77 56.34 10
9 Jana KHOKHLOVA / Sergei NOVITSKI RUS 13 X 13 2 180.57 1 87.79 87.79 56.48 9
10 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE ITA 13 X 13 2 168.57 1 83.26 83.26 52.58 9
11 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI ITA 11 X 11 3 179.92 1 89.96 89.96 54.59 9
12 Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG CHN 4 7 11 5 306.30 2 152.99 77.79 96.67 19
13 Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV RUS 9 X 9 4 160.01 1 80.78 80.78 47.51 10
14 Emily SAMUELSON / Evan BATES USA 9 X 9 4 158.07 1 80.41 80.41 46.55 10
15 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI ISR 7 X 7 5 156.86 1 79.03 79.03 46.95 9
16 Anastasia PLATONOVA / Alexander GRACHEV RUS 7 7 5 153.22 1 77.41 77.41 47.88 9
17 Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE CAN 5 X 5 6 151.87 1 80.36 80.36 41.11 9
18 Kimberly NAVARRO / Brent BOMMENTRE USA 5 X 5 6 150.29 1 72.93 72.93 48.17 10

Of the teams who have skated two events, only D&W have clinched a spot. The Kerrs are on the bubble with 24 points, a first tie breaker of second, and a total point score (2nd tie breaker) of 354.84 .

Tanith & Ben and Tessa & Scott, even if they lose at their events (which is not happening), have a first tie breaker of first. There is no way for 4 teams to pass them for the second and third GPF spot with Meryl and Charlie. That leaves 3 spots to fill.

If Antarctica doesn't melt, we'll have:

D&W 30 points, V&M 30 points, B&A 30 points

P&B have a second place and 181.64 towards the 2nd tie breaker already. To beat Kerrs,
K&N have a second place and 180.57 towards the 2nd tie breaker already
C&L have a second place and 168.57 towards the 2nd tie breaker already

Kerrs have a second place and 24 points total and 354.84

SA: B&A, K&N, and C&L. For K&N to make the final over the Kerrs, they have to have a total score of more than 174.27 and be 3rd, or be second with 26 points. Either way, it sounds very likely . C&L have to be 3rd and score 186.27, or finish 2nd, to give them a total of 26 points. Either way, it doesn't sound likely unless B&A withdraw. C&L only scored 168.57 at CoR. For B&A to lose to the Kerrs, they would have to finish 4th, which is not happening. They might, however, withdraw. Any team might.

SC: V&M, P&B, F&S, Bobrova&Soloviev & S&B
Similarly, For V&M to lose to the Kerrs, they would have to finish 4th, which is not happening. They might, however, withdraw. Any team might.

For P&B to beat the Kerrs, they either have to finish second, or be 3rd with at least 173.2 points. They scored over 181 points at TEB, so this seems very likely, even if they fail in an element.

For F&S to beat the Kerrs, they have to finish second (24 points) and score more than 174.92 points. That's possible, since they scored more than that at CoC, but they would still have to beat P&B for it to happen.

So it looks to me like the GPF lineup is, barring illness or withdrawal by the top teams:

D&W, V&M, B&A, 30 points
P&B 26 points or 24 points
K&N 26 points or 24 points
F&S 24 points, if the finish 2nd at SC and score more than 174.92
C&L 26 points, or 24 points (3rd place at SA) provided they score more than 186.27 points at SA (This seems very unlikely, either way)

Kerrs, if F&S either don't finish second, or if they do finish second but score less than 174.92.

Whether or not the Kerrs make their first GPF depends pretty much entirely on P&B beating F&S at Skate Canada.
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Obviously global warming melted Antarctica.

Consequently, we have D&W, B&A, and C&L locked for the GPF.

The top team, other than those, who have skated 2 events is the Kerrs with 24 points..

4 Sinead KERR / John KERR GBR 11 13 24 2 354.84 2 172.41 86.25 111.26 20

9 Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR CAN 15 X 15 1 197.71 1 97.39 97.39 61.91 10
11 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 13 X 13 2 181.64 1 89.77 89.77 56.34 10
13 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI ITA 11 X 11 3 179.92 1 89.96 89.96 54.59 9
15 Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV RUS 9 X 9 4 160.01 1 80.78 80.78 47.51 10
16 Emily SAMUELSON / Evan BATES USA 9 X 9 4 158.07 1 80.41 80.41 46.55 10

If either Bobrova or Samuelson won, they would have 24 points and win a tie breaker with the Kerrs, otherwise they don't qualify.

If V&M finish 4th they have 24 points, and the win the first tie breaker by virtue of winning TEB. And they also clinch, obviously if they place 1,2, or 3.

As everyone has pointed out, if it is V&M, P&B and F&S, P&B go and so do the Kerrs.

In every other scenario with those 3 teams swapping places, only if F&S finishes 3rd or worse, do the Kerrs go to the GPF for sure. If F&S finishes second, the Kerrs most likely lose the total points tie breaker, although with Antarctica melting, I won't say anything is sure!
 

MissIzzy

Final Flight
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Faiella and Scali are out of Skate Canada. The Kerrs are into the Finale unless Samuelson & Bates or Bobrova & Soloviev win Skate Canada(I don't *think* that's going to happen, but these days I'm not assuming anything's impossible!). Line-up presumptive:

1. Davis-White
2. Virtue-Moir
3. Belbin-Agosto
4. Pechelat-Bourzat
5. Capellini-Lanotte
6. Kerr-Kerr
 

cotillion

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
This is the first final that probably won't have a Russian team! I hope P&B pull off a second place at SC to secure their trip to the final. It will be nice to see K&K finally get a spot at the final as well. It is really nice to see such a mixture of different teams, three very young teams, and B&A at their 6th final, and of course K&K at their very first!
 
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Atena

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 3, 2007
This will be a Very interesting GPF for dance. I really have mixed feelings about all the teams but in spite of that I wish all the 6 teams a great skate.

In the CD Belbin and Ahosto (till now) have the highest scores, and the actually improved in that area, but Virtue and Moir are pretty good too and have a wonderfull flow. D/W don't good CD as the other 2 teams but have energy, althoug I hate their leg lines and posture.

In the OD D/W have the most exciting program but not very "folk" for me, is more like bollywood thing (it my be alrady part of the idian cultura, but thsi doesn't mean folklorical dance). V/M really capture he mood of flamenco, they are really precise on the step but there isn't much of flamenco on it (I still prefer P/B flamenco in 08). B/A migth have the most authenti OD, is very much into their style and they are skting with a lot of energy.

In the FD...toaly mixed feeling. As much as i like D/W, their POTO is a disaster for me, is just another typical Igor choreography, after SD i was hoping for something more mature and beatifull, but nope...just the same old Igor tricks and blah choreo, is really efective to capture the audience and the Judges but we all now that tehre are better programs out there.
V/M are just brilant skaters, I like the music that they are using but I really don't get the "concept" og the progra, For me is dak music with nothinh of Joy or weding,
V/A finaly have one nice program. for me is still something missing but I think that with this program they have a chance.

from the other team I really like P/B, but not this season. Their OD make me go crazy. Same thing with the Kerrs. I'm investing on C/L.

:clap::clap: to the 6 top teams.
 

life684

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
This will be a Very interesting GPF for dance. I really have mixed feelings about all the teams but in spite of that I wish all the 6 teams a great skate.

In the CD Belbin and Ahosto (till now) have the highest scores, and the actually improved in that area, but Virtue and Moir are pretty good too and have a wonderfull flow. D/W don't good CD as the other 2 teams but have energy, althoug I hate their leg lines and posture.

In the OD D/W have the most exciting program but not very "folk" for me, is more like bollywood thing (it my be alrady part of the idian cultura, but thsi doesn't mean folklorical dance). V/M really capture he mood of flamenco, they are really precise on the step but there isn't much of flamenco on it (I still prefer P/B flamenco in 08). B/A migth have the most authenti OD, is very much into their style and they are skting with a lot of energy.

Hello Atena, but i don't think their are CDs for GPFs; or at least they didn't have till last year. So, any advantage B/A may have had with CD is lost, plus Judges have scored Shilpband team's much higher than B/ A in PCS.

Yes, I agree with you on D/W's OD is Bollywood dance rather than kathak, which they are claiming it to be. I wish they would have stuck to authentic Indian Folk dance rather than Bollywood dance, especially considering they had 100s of folk dances to choose from. they took the short cut of using bollywood dance rather than actual indian folk dance which in most cases would be difficult and very likely less popular with the crowd.

and finally GPFs are very different ball game to other GPs, since almost all top teams are competing. But the winner of GPF can't still be considered a lock for Olympic title, especially considering both D/S did not compete in it.
 

Atena

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 3, 2007
Hello Atena, but i don't think their are CDs for GPFs; or at least they didn't have till last year. So, any advantage B/A may have had with CD is lost, plus Judges have scored Shilpband team's much higher than B/ A in PCS.

Yes, I agree with you on D/W's OD is Bollywood dance rather than kathak, which they are claiming it to be. I wish they would have stuck to authentic Indian Folk dance rather than Bollywood dance, especially considering they had 100s of folk dances to choose from. they took the short cut of using bollywood dance rather than actual indian folk dance which in most cases would be difficult and very likely less popular with the crowd.

and finally GPFs are very different ball game to other GPs, since almost all top teams are competing. But the winner of GPF can't still be considered a lock for Olympic title, especially considering both D/S did not compete in it.


oh damm...I forgot about the Cds on th GPF :p
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Here's the finally official listing of the qualifiers for the Grand Prix Final, with the tie breakers.

http://www.isuresults.com/events/gp2009/gpsdance.htm

1 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE USA 15 15 30 1 403.07 2 201.81 101.02 125.30 19
2 Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR CAN 15 15 30 1 402.09 2 200.51 103.12 122.48 18
3 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA 15 15 30 1 390.36 2 191.47 95.85 121.28 19
4 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 13 13 26 2 366.71 2 183.24 93.47 112.39 18
5 Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE ITA 13 13 26 2 340.43 2 168.99 85.73 106.67 19
6 Sinead KERR / John KERR GBR 11 13 24 2 354.84 2 172.41 86.25 111.26 20

PLACE 7 - 9: SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ISU GRAND PRIX OF FIGURE SKATING FINAL

7 Jana KHOKHLOVA / Sergei NOVITSKI RUS 13 9 22 2 348.82 2 169.57 87.79 106.01 19
8 Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIER CAN 9 11 20 3 322.89 2 163.12 84.51 99.32 19
9 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI ISR 7 11 18 3 328.63 2 166.97 87.94 98.85 19
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Off topic, but are Delobel and Schoenfelder and Domnina and Shabalin expected to compete at the Olympics? Or are we seeing the top three right here?
 

Dyan

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 7, 2004
From what I understand both DelShoes and DomShabs are planning on competing in Vancouver. DelShoes will compete at French Nationals and Europeans pre Vancouver. While I get why some are questioning DelShoes ability to win the gold, I don't think they should be counted out of the medal race. Unlike DomShabs there is no injury standing in the way of their training. I believe DelShoes will affect the medal race.

DomShabs are also planning on competing this season. IIRC they will also do their country's nationals as well as Europeans but I'm worried about Max's knees and exactly what his condition is. I wonder if he will be able to perform even equal to last season. Of course Maxim won't be the first athlete to compete injured; I remember the pair team in SLC in which the female member skated with a broken foot (I can't remember their names).

I don't believe we will really get a clear picture of how the judges are leaning overall until the olympics themselves. However at the GPF we will get a picture of how the top three North American teams are viewed.

I'm hoping for a "clean slate" situation with B&A adding more speed and attack to their FD. V&M may very well win the GPF but after seeing the programs, I still feel that B&A are the top U.S. team despite how they have been judged.
 

cornell08

Final Flight
Joined
May 10, 2009
Why did Tessa change her FD dress from that exquisite sash-tie lace halter gown to this tacky off-white cheap-looking shredded-skirt dress? Ughhh...I hope thats the last we see of it.
 

life684

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 8, 2007
Off topic, but are Delobel and Schoenfelder and Domnina and Shabalin expected to compete at the Olympics? Or are we seeing the top three right here?


DomShab are expected to compete at the Olympics. During the rostelecom cup Oxana had commented that the reason to pull out of Grand Prix was more preventive rather than sudden aggravation of the knee injury. The doctors had advised him to reduce training and to take rest for few weeks, this was similar to advice given last year. But here he decided to go with doctors advice.
He missed two weeks of training during Rostelecom, when he was getting some check up for his knee.

He did miss two weeks of training during rostelecom cup; but she was practicing CDs with Roman Kostamarov.

i think they just reduced the work load by half and seemed very confident and their OD (Aborigine Dance ) and their FD. i don't think by watching GPFs we will get good indication of medals at Vancouver, I think D/S is still the favorite to win the title.
 
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dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Yes, both D&S (France) and D&S (Russia) have to be considered as top contenders for the Olympic dance medals IMO. However, this thread is about the GPF--which is of more interest for trying to predict the results of US Nationals than anything else this year.

Thanks for telling us the news about Oksana and Maxim. I'm glad to hear Maxim is taking better care of himself. I can't wait to see their Aborigine Dance OD!
 

Buttercup

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Apparently K/N will not go to the GPF, either - just read on FSU that she has the flu, which I take it means: we must rework our programs :p. Next up: C/P, and if they can't make it, the Zars.
 

mycelticblessing

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 9, 2007
^ Wow, this is the second season in the row that both B/A and K/N has been out of the Grand Prix due to health reasons!
 

bigsisjiejie

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Apparently K/N will not go to the GPF, either - just read on FSU that she has the flu, which I take it means: we must rework our programs :p. Next up: C/P, and if they can't make it, the Zars.

I think your interpretation is correct. I suspect the Russian Federation may have had something to do with the nixing of their appearance, after their most recent podium-free finish at SA.
 

i love to skate

Medalist
Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Sorry to hear that the two teams have withdrawn! Very excited for C/P though! What a great opportunity at their young ages :biggrin:
 
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