NHK Trophy: Predictions | Golden Skate

NHK Trophy: Predictions

MikiAndoFan#1

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Ladies
1. Miki Ando
2. Yukari Nakano
3. Laura Lepistö

Men
1. Daisuke Takahashi
2. Takahiko Kozuka
3. Brian Joubert

Pairs
1. Qing Pang & Jian Tong
2. Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov
3. Rena Inoue & John Baldwin

Ice Dance
1. Meryl Davis & Charlie White
2. Sinead Kerr & John Kerr
3. Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier

Go Miki!

:biggrin:
 

Hsuhs

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Men

1. La-la-la (but it's not a given. Depends on whether La-la-la attemps a quad in fs, and what becomes of that)
2. Takahiko Kozuka
3. Jeremy Abbott

Ladiez

1. Miki Ando
2. Yukari Nakano
3. Alyona Leonova

Pairs

1. Qing PANG / Jian TONG
2. Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV
3. Ksenia KRASILNIKOVA / Konstantin BEZMATERNIKH

Ice Dance

1. Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE
2. Sinead KERR / John KERR
3. Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIER
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
My guess is that the Japanese duo of Nakano/Ando will go 1-2 (in either order, but probably Ando on top).

It's anyone's guess what will happen below that. If Wagner grabs a bronze here is she in the running for the GPF?

ETA: Actually, looking at the roster again, one of the Europeans could sneak in as well, as Korpi did in China- some room might be "made" for one or more of them...
 
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museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
Men
1. Takahashi
2. Abbott
3. Kozuka

Ladies
1. Ando
2. Nakano
3. Leonova

Pairs
1. Kavaguti/Smirnov
2. Pang/Tong
3. Denney/Barrett

Dance
1. Davis/White
2. Kerr/Kerr
3. Crone/Poirier
 

yqs100

On the Ice
Joined
May 21, 2009
Pairs

1. Qing PANG / Jian TONG:rock:
2. Yuko KAVAGUTI / Alexander SMIRNOV:rofl:
3. Ksenia KRASILNIKOVA / Konstantin BEZMATERNIKH
 

Trewyn

Medalist
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Really tough field to predict... D. Takahashi in Men is very much an unknown to me. And Ladies is awful to predict!

I'll go for:

Men

1. Kozuka
2. D. Takahashi
3. Joubert
4. Rippon
5. Abbott

Ladies

1. Ando (because for some reason the judges like her)
2. Wagner (because I have faith in my favorite skater, predictions are always a little bit mixed with dream podium)
3. Lepisto (once again dreams vs prediction; I always prefer a multi-continental podium)
4. Nakano
5. Leonova
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I can never predict anything. I just want to cross my fingers for Takahashi. At his best, he's so spectacular, and I hope he hasn't lost that. As for Ando vs. Nakano, something in me gets distressed watching Nakano jump, though all her other skills are top-notch. If the technical experts are downgrading everything in sight, how can a wrapped-leg jump be okay?
 

demarinis5

Gold for the Winter Prince!
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 23, 2004
Mens and Ladies are tough predictions for me so I won't predict those two disciplines.


Pairs
P/T China
K/S Russia
D/B or I/B USA

Ice Dance

D/W USA
K/K GBR
C/P Canada
M/N Cze
 

Bennett

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
I can never predict anything. I just want to cross my fingers for Takahashi. At his best, he's so spectacular, and I hope he hasn't lost that. As for Ando vs. Nakano, something in me gets distressed watching Nakano jump, though all her other skills are top-notch. If the technical experts are downgrading everything in sight, how can a wrapped-leg jump be okay?

Dai seems great this season. He has his jumps back. His spins seem even better than before.
I do not think Nakano's steps very good. Her changes of edges don't look very smooth. But I like her spins. I also like her music selections this season. I think these powerful pieces suit her personality better than gentle balletic music.

My prediction

Men
1. Joubert
2. Kozu
3. Dai

Ladies
1. Miki
2. Wagner
3. Laura
 

ImaginaryPogue

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Men
1. Daiskuke Takahashi
2. Takahiko Kozuka
3. Jeremy Abbott
4. Brian Joubert
5. Adam Rippon

Okay, this will be interesting. Unlike CoC being so cut and dry (which it wasn't, but we'll let that slide), on paper, this is a deep line-up. First question: is Brian Joubert still struggling, mentally? As people have asked here/elswhere, does Plushenko being back make him a less unique commodity (as Plushenko rips of those quads and axels far more naturally than Joubert)? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, than I don't see how he can medal here, as his relative consistency and solid jumps were what got him those medals.

What about Abbott? Is he keeping the Beatles program (which is another great short) or not? On the one hand, he does well early in the season (see last year). On the other hand, less time to prepare is less time. Do expectations begin to mount for Rippon as an Olympic spot enters the realm of plausibility? Is Johnny able to recalibrate in time? And what about Brezina - along with Rippon and D. Ten, he's at the head of the pack of the group who'll threaten in Sochi. And can Chipeur improve after his disasterous TEB outing?

And finally, Takahashi and Kozuka. I think they'll be the top two, and I'm predicting Takahashi to win on the basis of strong PCS (he's a more outward skater).

Women
1. Miki Ando
2. Laura Lepisto
3. Yukari Nakano
4. Sarah Meier
5. Ashley Wagner

Another oddly deep field, but the problem is more that it's unexpectedly so. Meier, a consistent GP/Euros medalist who's previous season was marred by injury. How does she factor in? Wagner benefited from a disappointing competition in CoR. How does she factor in here? And who is the #1 European skater now? Is it Lepisto, being the reigning European champion? Is it Kostner, being the only (multi)medalist and, in terms of pure ability, likely the best? Every competition so far has had a major upset - Asada off the podium at CoR. S/S at third and Joubert 4th at TEB. Rochette at CoC. So it's obviously quite tempting to try and predict one here. But I won't (despite flirting with putting both Nakano and Lepisto on top, I'll stick with the easy choice and go for a medalist here). Miki Ando seems to have a solid strategy this season and she did well at CoR despite having a very new short program. Phaneuf would do well to crack the top five, but I think she'll be bubbling under it.

Pairs
1. Pang/Tong
2. Kavaguti/Smirnov
3. Inoue/Baldwin
4. Brodeur/Mattatal
5. Denney/Barrett

I'm VERY curious how bronze plays out. The top two will be the top two, in either/or order, but the next three... confuse me. Brodeur and Mattatal have a nice program, but are rough around the edges (and the short program doesn't play to their strength, with are in their easy lifts). Inoue/Baldwin saw coaching changes pay off dividends with their free in TEB, and I suspect that after ending their last season at 4CC, they're definitely eager to make the world/Olympic team. And Denney/Barrett... well, basically I see these three teams in any combination filling out the top five. The next three are basically there for the experience.

Dance
1. Davis/White
2. Kerr/Kerr
3. Crone/Poirier
4. Reed/Reed
5. Zadorozhniuk/Verbillo

Davis/White dominate again. Z/V could beat the Reeds, but I think skating in Japan will give them a mild boost and they'll sneak past. If Kerr/Kerr don't fix the levels, I can see C/P sneaking past them, but that's not that likely.
 

tilak

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Men:
1. Johnny Weir - (just because) :) :unsure: :rolleye:
2. Daisuke Takahashi
3. Takahiko Kozuka
4. Brian Joubert

Ladies:
1. Miki Ando
2. Ashely Wagner
3. Yukari Nakano
4. Laura Lepisto

Dance:
1. Davis/White
2. Kerr/Kerr
3. Crone/Poirier
4. Reed/Reed

Pairs:
1.Pang/Tong
2. Kavaguti/Smirnov
3. Inoue/Baldwin
4. Brodeur/Mattata
 

Audrey19

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Ladies:
1. Miki
2. Yukari
3. Laura

Pairs:
1. Pang &Tong
2. Kavaguti & Smirnov
3. Denney & Barret

Dance:
1. Davis & White
2. Kerrs
3. Crone & Poirier

But I'm unable to predict the gentlemen...just impossible
 

Wrlmy

Medalist
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Men
1. Takahashi:rock:
2. Joubert
3. Kozuka

Ladies
1. Leisto
2. Ando
3. Wagner

Pair
1. P/T
2. K/S
3. D/B

Dance
1. D/W
2. K/K
 

sjwh08

Rinkside
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
The line-up for the men's single is just wow.

Dakahashi is my favorite to win.

Adam looks so much better this season (TEB), so here's a hoping that he gets on the podium. :yes::yes:
 

museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
The line-up for the men's single is just wow.

I know! This has to be by far the toughest and most thrilling mens' line-up of the entire Grand Prix series! The men who were not assigned to NHK must be thanking their lucky stars.
 
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