Ladies Event Preview

[dorispulaski]

Ladies

I'm expecting to see Amanda Dobbs, Alexe Gilles, Rumi Suizu and Shoko Ishikawa as the top four. What are your thoughts?

I'd like to see Joshi Helgesson have a great skate here!



27 Amanda DOBBS USA 21
Coach:Tammy Gambill
Choreographer:Braden OverettHer Icenetwork bio
Personal best 2008 Mexico Cup 139.44
http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=100451&mode=I
SP music: "Warsaw Concerto" performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
FS music: J.S. Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" by J.S. Bach and performed by Vanessa Mae
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 1 1 1 (139.44)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 3 3 3 (122.65)
2008 U.S. Junior National Championships 6 2 5 (142.76)
2008 U.S. Pacific Coast Junior Sectionals 2 3 3 (131.30)
2008 U.S. Central Pacific Junior Regionals 1 1 1 (130.25)
2007 U.S. Pacific Coast Novice Sectionals 8 4 6 (95.89)
2007 U.S. Central Pacific Novice Regionals 2 1 1 (94.37)
2006 U.S. Central Pacific Novice Regionals 7 7 7


28 Alexe GILLES USA 21
Coaching History: Tom Zakrasjek Becky Calvin Jill Trenary
Choreographer:Catarina Lindgren, David Wilson
Gilles' twin sister, Piper, is an ice dancer, as is her older brother, Todd. Piper and her partner Zach Donohue, will be skating in Capetown, too.
Personal Best Cup of Mexico 136.46
Seventh Qualifier for the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final
Her icenetwork bio
http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=100045&mode=I
SP music: "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" by Claude Debussy
FS music: Bongo music
Her 2008 SP at Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhOfb0nwyU
Her 2008 LP at Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvdDT3i71-w
Her 2007 SP Lake Placid JGp (Nancy Kerrigan CN8 coverage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp30vQcms34
A Broadmoor skaters skit where Alexe Gilles, Brandon Mroz, Rachael Flatt and Jeremy Abbott
talk about their coaches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDiGaFvdIpU
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 2 2 2 (136.46)
2008 U.S. Junior National Championships 3 1 1 (156.17)
2008 Junior Grand Prix Final 7 7 6 (115.49)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 3 5 4 (123.82)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 2 2 2 (132.67)
2007 Junior Challenge Cup 2 2 2 (133.62)
2007 U.S. Junior National Championships 6 5 5 (129.37)
2007 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 1 1 1 (132.48)
2007 U.S. Southwestern Junior Regionals 3 1 1 (138.12)
2006 Junior North American Challenge Skate (Pittsburgh) 3 1 2 (107.61)
2006 U.S. Novice National Championships 9 5 6 (114.25)
2006 U.S. Midwestern Novice Sectionals 4 2 3 (112.50)
2006 U.S. Southwestern Novice Regionals 3 1 1



25 Joshi HELGESSON SWE 19
Coach: Regina Jensen, Christina Helgesson
Choreographer: Susanne Seger
Personal Best Total Score 130.46 02.03.2008 World Junior Championships 2008 Joshi's older sister, Viktoria Helgesson, is a Swedish national champion.
JGP Merano LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1SBX2-uvng
2008 JGP Merano 3 13 7 (110.25)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 5 4 4 (113.06)
2008 World Junior Championships 8 9 7 (130.46)
2008 Junior Nordic Championships 2 1 1 (123.95)
2008 Swedish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (141.16)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 4 7 7 (113.35)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 4 12 6 (103.46)
2007 Junior Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 1 1 1 (125.69)
2007 Junior Nordic Championships 6 3 4 (106.29)
2007 Swedish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (123.50)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 3 3 3 (105.36)
2006 JGP Hungary 4 11 9 (95.55)
2006 Novice Nordic Championships 3 2 3 (82.03)
2005 Novice Triglav Trophy 4 4 4
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 2 3 2

10 Shoko ISHIKAWA JPN 8
Coach: Koji Okajima, Yutaka Higuchi
Choreographer: Noriko Sato
Personal Best Total Score 133.54 21.09.2008 ISU JGP Czech Skate
SP: Vamo' Alla Flamenco (information from 2007/2008 season)
Her Ostrava 2008 SP
http://www.dailymotion.com/romaji/video/x6txow_shoko-sp_sport
Her Ostrava 2008 LP
http://www.dailymotion.com/romaji/video/x6u9fh_shoko-fs_sport
LP: Titanic (soundtrack) by James Horner (information from 2007/2008 season)
Her LP from Jr. Nationals to Titanic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i4LZCNVjuk
3F+3T in Practice at Ostrava
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKrTwNT5G0
2008 Ostrava 3 3 4 (133.54)
2008 Junior AEGON Challenge Cup 2 2 2 (134.98)
2008 Japanese National Championships 8 7 8 (142.57)
2008 Japanese Junior Nationals 3rd overall (130.96)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 3 5 5 (118.98)
2006 JGP Hungary 2 6 5 (104.73)
2005 Japanese Junior National Championships 23 22 22 (87.35)
2004 Japanese Junior National Championships 10 11 11
2nd AEGON Championship 134.98


11 Rumi SUIZU JPN 8
Coaching History: Naoki Shigematsu
Choreographer: Kenji Miyamoto, Nanami Yoshida
Personal Best Total Score 134.95 04.03.2007 World Junior Championships 2007
Her 2008 Merano LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-kkIYX6UHw
Her 2008 Jr. Worlds SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVQoEuWzsRw
Her winning Japanese Nationals LP (Strange Paradise by Bond)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFAqgEmqNCA
Rumi in 2005 SBC Cup JGP (Scherazade) Okaya, Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqlp6f0MSb4&feature=related
First Alternate for the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final
Sixth Qualifier for the 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final
2008 JGP Merano 2 4 2 (121.97)
2008 World Junior Championships 10 21 16 (112.19)
2008 Japanese National Championships 6 13 11 (136.27)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 1 7 3 (129.32)
2007 International Counter Match 1 (Jr) 2 (Team)
2007 Harghita Cup [JGP] 2 4 3 (122.32)
2007 World Junior Championships 5 6 5 (134.95)
2007 Japanese National Championships 10 10 11 (144.56)
2007 Junior Grand Prix Final 7 8 8 (112.13)
2006 JGP The Hague 2 3 3 (124.82)
2006 JGP Hungary 3 3 2 (107.92)
2006 Junior Gardena Spring Trophy 2 3 2 (113.85)
2005 SBC Cup [JGP] 8 4 5 (114.57)
2005 Sofia Cup [JGP] 5 5 5 (119.89)
2005 Japanese Junior National Championships 7 7 6 (121.43)
2004 Skate Long Beach [JGP] 7 4 5 (102.99)
2004 Japanese Junior National Championships 15 12 13
2003 Novice Mladost Trophy 1 2 1

18 Jana SMEKHNOVA RUS 15
Total Personal Best 2007 Sofia Cup (122.71)
Photo from Russian championships
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rus-nat-smekhnova.JPG
2008 Russian National Championships 5 6 5 (137.20)
2007 Golden Spin of Zagreb 19 17 18 (98.15)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 1 4 3 (122.71)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 5 6 6 (114.28)
2006 JGP Liberec 6 9 9 (105.33)
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 5 9 8 (104.05)

2 Miriam ZIEGLER AUT 2
Coaching History: Eva Martinek
Personal best 2007 Vienna Cup (119.18)
2008 Jr. Worlds SP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9COuT2DcyoE
2008 Jr. Worlds LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW9gRqya-W0
2007 Vienna Cup LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKLuwdRsUA
2008 JGP Courchevel 18 8 11 (102.94)
2008 World Junior Championships 16 19 19 (110.60)
2008 Austrian Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (131.81)
2008 Austrian National Championships 3 4 4 (106.32)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 1 2 2 (122.41)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 5 10 8 (102.80)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 5 7 6 (119.18)
2007 Novice Challenge Cup 2 2 2 (107.75)
2007 Austrian Junior National Championships 6 3 4 (100.72)
2006 Novice Grand Prize SNP 7 2 3 (74.97)


5 Diane SZMIETT CAN 4
Coaching History: Alison Purkiss Scott Rachuk
Personal Best Total Score (126.58) JGP Courchevel 2008
SP: Once Upon a December by Newman
LP: Farrucas Flamenco (soundtrack)
2008 Canadian Nationals LP (The Illusionist soundtrack)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW9Mdhx9N8g
2008 Canadian Nationals SP (Il Postino)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su0PjfXvDZE
2008 JGP Courchevel 3 3 3 (126.58)
2008 Canadian National Championships 13 10 10 (119.49)
2008 Senior Challenge 18 1 3 (127.29)
2008 Western Ontario Sectionals 1 1 1 (129.62)
2007 Tallinn Cup [JGP] 14 9 9 (98.94)
2007 Canadian National Championships 15 14 13 (107.43)
2007 Western Ontario Sectionals 3 2 2 (103.80)
2006 Spin of Norway [JGP] 13 18 15 (92.70)
2006 JGP Courchevel 10 5 6 (102.71)
2006 World Junior Championships 22 20 21 (102.20)
2006 Canadian Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (112.60)
2006 Junior Western Challenge 5 4 4 (99.67)
2006 Western Ontario Junior Sectionals 1 1 1 (113.82)
2005 Junior North American Challenge Skate - Kansas City 7 7 8 (84.53)
2005 Canadian Junior National Championships 16 14 16 (79.19)
2005 Junior Western Challenge 5 3 5 (91.40)
2005 Western Ontario Junior Sectionals 1 1 1
2004 North American Challenge Skate - Waterloo (Nov) 8 3 4
2004 Canadian Novice National Championships 3 2 2
2004 Novice Western Challenge 1 1 1

24 Sonia LAFUENTE ESP 18
Coach: Ivan Saez, Carolina Sanz
Choreographer: Ivan Saez, Carolina Sanz
Personal best 119.99 2008 World Junior Championships
SP: Singer by Rene Aubry
LP: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin
2008 World Jr Championships SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJMfL26rxQ
2008 Europeans Championships LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBpcR_mYFL8
2008 Madrid 12 10 9 (109.07)
2008 World Championships 30 30 (FNR)
2008 World Junior Championships 9 11 12 (119.99)
2008 European Championships 18 21 20 (119.66)
2008 Spanish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (117.95)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 6 3 3 (122.24)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 18 21 20 (94.64)
2007 World Junior Championships 13 14 14 (116.43)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 5 2 1 (107.42)
2007 Spanish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (106.02)
2006 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 4 4 4 (99.68)
2006 Junior Merano Cup 2 1 1 (106.72)
2006 JGP Mexico 7 2 2 (108.83)
2006 JGP Courchevel 13 4 5 (105.14)
2006 World Junior Championships 29 30
2005 Gdansk Cup [JGP] 26 23 23 (80.60)
2005 Andorra Cup [JGP] 11 11 12 (87.87)
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 4 6 4
2004 Novice Merano Cup 2 1 1
2003 Novice Merano Cup 4 3 3

16 Na-Hee SIN KOR 13
Coaching History: Sun-Mi Chang
Choreographer: Audrey Wiesinger
Personal best 117.57 2008 Ostava
LP at 2008 JGP Selection Competition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erfU7ofEoco
SP at 2008 JGP Selection Competition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPYCll-POVY
2008 World Jr Championships SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cinFJB_cWUA
2008 Ostrava JGP 5 9 9 (117.57)
2008 World Junior Championships 12 20 17 (111.47)
2007 John Curry Memorial [JGP] 17 17 18 (94.17)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 7 5 5 (103.82)
2007 Asian Winter Games 7 10 10 (114.24)
2007 Korean Junior National Championships 4 (94.81)
2006 JGP The Hague 6 7 5 (113.61)
2006 Harghita Cup [JGP] 8 9 9 (97.55)
2005 SBC Cup [JGP] 17 16 17 (85.37)
2005 Andorra Cup [JGP] 12 9 11 (88.71)
2004 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 23 21 22 (84.69)
2004 Skate Long Beach [JGP] 12 16 15 (78.48)

Evgenia POCHUFAROVA RUS
Evgenia was put in just recently, I presume due to her good LP performance at Courchevel.
Competition SP LP Final
2008 JGP Courchevel 8 4 5 (114.00)
Her 2007 SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u65PElZDsLo

8 Isabel DRESCHER GER 7
Coaching History: Marina Dieck
Choreographer: Rene Lohse
SP: Winter performed by Bond
LP: Art On Ice by Edvin Marton
Personal Best Total Score (112.57) JGP Pokal der Blauen Schwerter 2007
2008 JGP Courchevel 17 10 14 (100.84)
2008 Junior Gardena Trophy 6 11 8 (86.84)
2008 Junior Bavarian Open - Junior Worlds Qualification 2 5 3 (101.39)
2008 German National Championships 2 2 2 (130.77)
2007 Junior NRW Trophy 1 1 1 (121.62)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 8 6 8 (112.57)
2007 Harghita Cup [JGP] 6 10 6 (101.85)
2007 German Junior National Championships - Group A 2 2 2 (110.89)
2006 German Novice National Championships - Group A 13 5 8 (65.57)

9 Sarah HECKEN GER 7
Coaching History: Peter Sczypa
Choreographer: Andrea Gilardi, Rafaela Cazanega
Personal Best Total Score ( 134.05) Pokal der Blauen Schwerter 2007
2008 JGP Merano LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUWD964l6M
2008 JGP Merano 4 7 3 (118.65)
2008 World Junior Championships 11 8 8 (128.45)
2008 Bavarian Open 2 1 1 (132.60)
2008 German National Championships 7 1 1 (134.28)
2007 Pokal der Blauen Schwerter [JGP] 5 1 1 (134.05)
2007 Vienna Cup [JGP] 13 13 13 (102.92)
2007 Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 5 2 2 (119.27)
2007 German Junior National Championships - Group A 1 1 1 (125.95)
2006 German Novice National Championships - Group A 1 1 1 (93.05)
2005 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 1 1 1
2004 Novice Heiko-Fischer-Pokal 1 1 1

17 Anca IONESCU ROU 14
Coaching History: Manuela Cristudor Marius Negrea
Choreographer: Sandra Chiper Schaer
Total Personal Best 50.16 09.09.2007 ISU JGP Harghita Cup 2007
SP: Jazz Medley
LP: Romanian Rhapsody by George Enescu
2007 Novice (1992) Skate Celje - 8 8 (22.32)
2007 Harghita Cup [JGP] 22 22 22 (50.16)
2006 Novice Golden Bear 21 17 17 (45.18)

6 Chaochih LIU TPE 5
Coaching History: Eddie Shipstad
Choreographer: Tom Dickson, Catarina Lindgren
Personal best (86.04) 2008 Mexico Cup
SP : Temple of LIfe by Keiko Matsui
LP: Midsummer Nights Dream by Felix Mendelssohn
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 19 14 15 (86.04)
2008 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 5 6 6 (131.65)
2008 U.S. Southwestern Junior Regionals 2 1 1 (147.96)
2007 U.S. Junior National Championships 13 10 11 (114.00)
2007 U.S. Midwestern Junior Sectionals 2 4 2 (129.28)
2007 U.S. Southwestern Junior Regionals 2 3 2 (129.72)
2006 U.S. Midwestern Novice Sectionals 9 7 8 (97.10)
2006 U.S. Southwestern Novice Regionals 1 3 3

7 Maria DIKANOVIC CRO 6
Coach & Choreographer: Jeranjak Ipakjan
Personal Best (87.02) 2008 Merano
2008 Europeans Exhibition to Smooth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi5arh5L7oo
2008 JGP Merano 21 25 24 (87.02)
2008 European Championships 40 25 25 (76.24)
2007 Golden Spin of Zagreb 21 22 22 (86.32)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 27 20 24 (79.35)
2007 Croatia Cup [JGP] 18 21 20 (83.63)
2007 Junior Dragon Trophy 12 6 9 (85.11)
2007 European Youth Olympic Festival 11 18 13 (80.87)
2006 Golden Spin 18 15 16 (78.26)
2005 Golden Spin of Zagreb 17 17 18 (80.28)
2005 Croatia Cup [JGP] 27 23 23 (73.93)
2005 JGP Slovakia 27 25 25 (68.47)
2005 Junior Triglav Trophy 9 10 10
2005 World Junior Championships 31
2004 Junior Golden Bear 4 5 5
2004 Junior Monfort Cup 6 5 5
2004 JGP Belgrade 18 19 18 (82.45)
2004 Novice Triglav Trophy 10 8 9
2003 Novice Triglav Trophy 11 11 10


3 Stacy PERFETTI BRA 3
Coaching History: Robert Daw
Personal Best 2008 Four Continents (21.97)
2008 Four Continents Championships 30 30 (FNR)

4 McKenzie CRAWFORD CAN 4
Coaching History: Scott Rachuk
2008 Ostrava 13 10 10 (108.88 )
2008 Canadian Junior National Championships 8 10 10 (108.36)
2008 Junior Western Challenge 3 2 1 (115.83)
2008 Western Ontario Junior Sectionals 6 2 2 (104.05)
2007 Canadian Junior National Championships 15 4 6 (100.64)
2007 Junior Western Challenge 6 8 5 (90.52)
2007 Western Ontario Junior Sectionals 12 2 2 (93.35)

15 Mary Grace BALDO PHI 12
Coaching History: Frank Carroll Ken Congemi
Choreographer: Lori Nichol (SP), Braden Overrett (FS)
Personal Best Total Score 88.14 09.09.2007 ISU JGP Harghita Cup 2007
SP: Like a Prayer, A String Quartet Tribute to Madonna
LP: A Day in the Life by J. Lennon, P. McCartney - instrumental version by Jeff Beck
2008 Mexico Cup [JGP] 17 16 17 (84.61)
2008 World Junior Championships 37 38 (FNR)
2007 Harghita Cup [JGP] 15 12 12 (88.14)
2007 U.S. Central Pacific Junior Regionals 8 9 8 (86.59)
2006 U.S. Central Pacific Novice Regionals 6 9 8
2005 U.S. Central Pacific Novice Regionals 7 9 8

12 Alexandra ELIZONDO MEX 9
Coach: Mariana Palma
Choreographer: Edgar Beckley
SP: The Firebird by Igor Stravinski
LP: Through The Eyes Of Love (soundtrack) by Marvin Hamlisch
2007 Junior Merano Cup SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG1fsa8ucNI
2007 Junior Merano Cup 14 13 13 (84.21)
2008 Mexican Nationals 2nd

13 Merovee EPHREM MON 10
Coaching History: Didier Lucine Claudine Lucine Sophie Golaz
Choreographer: Vanessa Gusmeroli (SP) Geraldine Zulini (FS)
First skater from Monaco in a European Championship
Personal Best 2008 Madrid JGP (91.25)
2008 Europeans SP (The Rat Hotel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv9mpppvLEg
2008 Madrid JGP 15 19 17 (91.25 )
2008 World Championships 28 28 (FNR)
2008 World Junior Championships 35 36 (FNR)
2008 European Championships 37 - 38 (FNR)
2007 Coupe Internationale de Nice 12 14 14 (78.98)
2007 Sofia Cup [JGP] 8 17 13 (92.12)
2007 World Championships 37 - 37 (FNR)
2007 World Junior Championships 32 32 (FNR)
2007 European Championships 30 - 30 (FNR)

14 Eva LIM NED 11
Coaching History: Neil Carpenter Willy van Veen Sandy Suy
Choreographer: Sandy Suy
Personal Best Total Score 90.45 07.09.2008 ISU JGP Merano
SP: Classical Gas by Vanessa Mae
LP: Anastasia (soundtrack)
2008 Challenge Cup Gala (Because of You, Kelly Clarkson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q--k49JBx_E
2008 Dutch Nationals SP (Swan Lake)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJrqDApO9k4
2008 JGP Merano 27 19 22 (90.45)
2008 AEGON Challenge Cup 7 6 6 (100.40)
2008 Kempen Trophy 4 2 3 (104.53)
2008 Dutch National Championships 2 2 2 (100.63)
2007 Junior NRW Trophy 8 16 11 (80.86)
2007 JGP Lake Placid 22 20 20 (70.03)
2007 Junior Challenge Cup 9 14 11 (87.04)
2007 World Junior Championships 48 48 (FNR)
2007 Junior Kempen Trophy 4 3 3 (92.40)
2006 JGP Liberec 21 20 19 (86.81)
2006 Novice Triglav Trophy 17 12 13 (65.53)
2006 Dutch Junior National Championships 1 2 2 (85.93)
2005 Novice (92 & younger) Montfort Cup 2 2 2
2005 Dutch Novice National Championships 1

26 Mimi Tanasorn CHINDASOOK THA 20
Coach (at least for 2005/2006) Longhe An
Choreographer (at least for 2006) Lu Chen
Personal best 86.86 2008 Madrid
SP: Piano Concerto No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninov
LP: Tango de los Exilados by Walter Taieb performed by Vanessa Mae
2006 Skate Thai SP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A6ZLOwhor4
2006 Skate Thai LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBTS6eXCku0
Mimi and Coach Jump & Spin at 2005 ISI Skate Asia (age 10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWIg6WyOdNU
2008 Madrid 20 23 24 (86.86)
2007 Novice Asian Trophy 4 4 4 (84.06)

1 Phoebe DI TOMMASO AUS 1
Coaching History: Liz Cain; Brian Orser
Choreographer: David Wilson
Personal Best Chinese Taipei Cup 2006 (87.46)
2008-09 Australian National Championships 4 4 5 (86.89)
2008 Four Continents Championships 28 28 (FNR)
2008 Australian National Championships 3 4 4 (105.09)
2007 Four Continents Championships 19 22 21 (92.92)
2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival 9 8 9 (77.38)
2006 Chinese Taipei Cup [JGP] 15 10 12 (87.46)
2007 Australian Junior National Championships 3 2 3 (93.74)
2005 World Junior Championships 29 29
2005 Australian Junior National Championships 1 1 1
2003 Australian Novice National Championships 4 1 1
2002 Australian Novice National Championships 3 5 4


20 Anja CHONG SIN 16
Coach: Da Xiao Liu
Choreographer: Wei Zhang
SP: Charleston
LP: Romeo and Juliet
2008 Belarus
2008 Singapore Novice National Championships 2 4 4 (75.61)

21 Lejeanne MARAIS RSA 17
Coach: Susan Marais
Choreographer: Daniela Solinas
SP: Sex and the City (soundtrack); Cradle Will Rock by David Robbins; Hairspray - You Can't Stop the Beat by Marc Shaiman
LP: Dreamer (soundtrack) by John Debney
Personal best 90.52 2008 Four Continents
2008 Mexico 21 18 20 (78.90)
2008 World Championships 51 FNR (25.85)
2008 Four Continents 22 19 20 (90.52)
2008 RSA Senior Championships 1st
2007 RSA Junior Championships 2nd
2005 RSA Junior Championships 3rd
2004 Courchevel 20 23 22 (81,4)


22 Siobhan MCCOLL RSA 17
Coach: Lisa Stigant
Choreographer: Trish McKennan
Personal best (67.93) The Hague JGP 2006
2008 World Junior Championships 52 52 (FNR)
2008 Four Continents Championships 29 29 (FNR)
2007 Junior Coupe Internationale de Nice 26 24 25 (70.50)
2008 South African Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (73.61)
2007 World Junior Championships 50 50 (FNR)
2006 JGP The Hague 29 30 30 (67.93)
2007 South African Junior National Championships 1 2 1 (74.27)
2005 Novice Merano Cup 9 8 8 (68.76)
2005 Novice Copenhagen Trophy 17 25 22

23 Jessica SKINNER RSA 17
Coach: Lisa Stigant
Choreograper: Lisa Stigant
2007 Novice Coupe Internationale de Nice 24 26 26 (57.29)
2008 South African Novice National Championships 3 1 1 (56.39)
2006 Novice Liberec Trophy 20 20 20 (46.91)

 

[Sandra_persch]

Ladies

I'm expecting to see Amanda Dobbs, Alexe Gilles, Rumi Suizu and Shoko Ishikawa as the top four. What are your thoughts?

I'd like to see Joshi Helgesson have a great skate here!

I'd love for Sarah Hecken to be able to reach the podium ones more and hope that she can do 2 clean programms. In the warm up for the Nebelhorn Trophy short programm the reportedly landed 3Lz, but podded the one in the SP into a single.

A also hope Miriam Ziegler can do better than she did in Courchevel. She is such a beautiful skater and if here 3Lz and 3F get more stabil and consistant she can be a very dangerous skater

 

[flying camel]

I didn't know Gilles was coached by Jill trenary.

 

[ChrisH]

I think that Rumi Suizu, Shoko Ishikawa, Jana Smekhnova, Sarah Hecken, Joshi Helgesson, and Diane Szmiett can challenge Alexe Gilles and Amanda Dobbs for the podium. Sonia LaFuente, Miriam Ziegler, Evgenia Pochufarova, Na-Hee Sin, Isabel Drescher, and Chaochih Liu are capable of placing in the top 5.

Oksana Gozeva improved by over 24 (CoP) points in her 2nd event, so I'm not ruling out some of these ladies who struggled in their 1st events. Oksana may have benefitted from her event being held in Belarus - Russia's neighbor, though.

Alexe and Amanda may be our two best ladies for surviving such a tough draw. Alexe is the US junior champion and has the hardest jumps. Amanda doesn't have the hardest jumps but is consistent with what she has and she is sitting on 1st place points.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008
14:00 ICE DANCE – Compulsory Dance
15:30 LADIES – Short Program
20:00 Opening Ceremony

Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
13:15 MEN – Short Program
16:00 LADIES – Free Skating
21:00 ICE DANCE – Free Dance

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Gilles and Dobbs are not top tier USA skaters. They are impressive from what little we've seen of them. I would not have so many skaters topping them. in a prediction.

There are others mentioned that I have never seen so I am anxiously awaiting to see some of this action. I have seen Suizu and she is good.

The bottom line for all of this is to get to the Finals.

 

[chuckm]

Alexe Gilles just happens to be the reigning US Junior Champion. If that is not US top tier (for a JGP event) I don't know what is.

 

[samba]

I guess my top tier will be skaters like Caroline, Rachael or Mirai who were more consistent in JGP last year. This year, we do not have that kind of "top tier". Our Junior or Novice champions were not the level that we had last year :yes:.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Alexe Gilles just happens to be the reigning US Junior Champion. If that is not US top tier (for a JGP event) I don't know what is.

Gilles is an excellent American skater but she is not, imo, of junior international calibre yet and samba ^^^ gives good reasons. This JGP, however, may make Gilles a special skater for the JGP Final.

 

[ElFuego]

Gilles is an excellent American skater but she is not, imo, of junior international calibre yet .

How can a skate who made the JGP final last year, not be of "junior international calibre"?

 

[dorispulaski]

Well...Gilles is the reigning US Junior champion, and she won Group A at Liberty this summer in Seniors. Gilles did a 5 triple, 3 combination program. She appeared to pop the second lutz to a single, so it appears to be planned for 6 triples. Furthermore, all 5 triples were different (lutz, flip, loop, salcow & toe) .That is more than adequate to be ready for the international Junior scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvdDT3i71-w

Here's the icenetwork report of her win, which says she is landing 3f3t and 3t3t, but they are not yet consistent enough to put in the program:

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080719&content_id=49522&vkey=ice_news

She scored 94.79 for this effort.
Her SP was 50.93.

That would be a total of 145.72 total.

Granted, summer competitions can be somewhat inflated in scoring. Still, if she stands all her planned jumps, she should do very well here. Dobbs beat Gilles at Mexico, but also Gilles had a fall in the SP and a fall in the LP, as well getting hit with underrotation on 3 jumps. On the plus side, she hit her 3T3T. For her, it wasn't a great competition and she still finished second with 136.46.

If she can medal with a performance (and score) like that in Mexico, if she skates well, she could win here.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

How can a skate who made the JGP final last year, not be of "junior international calibre"?

forgot about that. I and others were centered on the outcome of Flatt, Nagasu and Zhang.

btw, I am not putting down Gilles. I happen to like her skating and see something special in it, but I am not ready to call her a top tier skater. Maybe after I see the JGP Finals.

 

[feraina]

Alexe Gilles & Amanda Dobbs are both lovely skaters and should indeed be best positioned among the U.S. JGP ladies to do well in Cape Town despite the very tough field. But as was mentioned before, Amanda doesn't have the harder trips, and Alexe doesn't have the consistency. The only clean LP I remember from Alexe was at the last National's. Can anyone remember other clean LP's in recent events?

This is in contrast to Caroline two years ago, and Mirai and Rachael last year, when they had both the hard jumps and the consistency. Caroline, especially, put out one perfect skate after another (perfect in terms of what she was maximally capable of). Rachael had some downgrades of her 3-3 in the SP, but usually made up with stellar LP's. Mirai made some mistakes here and there, but she has so much talent that's so well suited for COP, that even with this bobbles, she won all the junior events except for JW.

Consistency aside though, Alexe is my favorite junior skater on the JGP circuit this year, just in terms of enjoyability. Alexe's goal for this season is to place in the top 3 at senior National's. It's not impossible, but it's going to be pretty tough against Caroline, Rachael, Mirai, Kimmie, Ashley, and the resurgent Alissa (and maybe Bebe and Emily, who are still unknowns at this point) -- those last three all have Alexe's level of skating, similar problems with consistency, but may benefit from greater experience. And then don't forget Katrina Hacker, who has easier jumps but does them very consistently. I think more realistically, Alexe should feel really good to place in the top 5, and not be disappointed to be in the top 8.

 

[Sylvia]

... and Alexe doesn't have the consistency. The only clean LP I remember from Alexe was at the last National's. Can anyone remember other clean LP's in recent events?

The 2 times Alexe Gilles went "clean" in the FS last season that I know of were at '08 Nationals (though she did double a flip there) and in winning the FS Final at Liberty in July 2007 -- she landed 6 triples (3f-2t, 3z, 3r(saved), 3t-2t-2r, 3t, 3s-2t) and a 2a. She and Kristine Musademba were the only junior ladies at 2008 Nationals that had 5 different triples planned in their FS programs.

As Doris posted earlier, Gilles did land 5 triples in her Sr. FS at Liberty this past July, which is considered very good for a summer competition. I think it's fair to say that, generally speaking, the majority of elite skaters "don't have the consistency" with regard to landing all their planned jumps in competition, and even more so when it comes to international juniors (Zhang and Flatt aside).

 

[ChrisH]

There are others mentioned that I have never seen so I am anxiously awaiting to see some of this action. I have seen Suizu and she is good.

In addition to Gilles and Suizu, there are several other 2008 national champions in the field who are among the highest ISU ranked juniors:

Joshi HELGESSON SWE
2008 Swedish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (141.16)

Miriam ZIEGLER AUT
2008 Austrian Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (131.81)

Sonia LAFUENTE ESP
2008 Spanish Junior National Championships 1 1 1 (117.95)

Sarah HECKEN GER
2008 German National Championships 7 1 1 (134.28)

The Japanese ladies have comeback strong in the previous 3 events and so have the Russian ladies in the previous 2 events. Perhaps the trend will head further west.

The other ladies I mentioned have had some success in the JGP this year or last year or have competitive personal best scores.

 

[oleada]

I loved Miriam Ziegler at Junior Worlds. I hope she can skate well here.