1) Which skater/team are you most excited to see this season in terms of new programs, choreography, and overall performance?
Unusual number of high ranking ice dancing teams broke up at or around the conclusion of the 2010-2011 season. So I am excited to see all the promising newly formed ice dance teams: Gilles / Poirier; Chock / Bates; Hubbell / Donohue; and Samuelson / Gilles.
2) Who do you expect to make their biggest splash in their Senior Grand Prix debut? This can be a skater rising from the Junior ranks or a newly formed team.
Like many of you foresee, my vote goes to Sotnikova.
3) What do you think about the new Grand Prix format?
I'm not too crazy about the reduced roster. I'd like to be able to see many more skaters being able to participate in GPs, thought I understand each federations' financial considerations.
4) Will Denney & Coughlin live up to their pre-season hype?
I doubt it. While they maybe able to put out bigger and more consistent jump/throw elements, they'll inevitably lack unison due to the short partnership duration. Also I personally much rather preferred Caitlin's elegant lines/presentation compared to Cadee's.
5) Which individual GP event are you most excited for? (i.e. Ladies at NHK, Pairs at TEB, etc)
The very first event of the very first GP! It means the men's short program at Skate America. My choice here isn't so much about the merit of each event more as my need for figure skating fix!
2011-2012 season can't come soon enough.
6) Will we have a clear favorite for the national title in ladies, men's singles, or pairs at the conclusion of the Grand Prix season? If so, who will it be?
None of the current crop of US skaters have had established him/herself as a clear #1. Also we don't have enough information of pairs either.
7) How does Evan Lysacek factor in this season, particularly if Plushenko returns to competition?
As of now, Plushenko does not participate in GP, so he is a non-factor there. There is a good chance Evan will make it to the GP final as well as to Worlds.
Evan comes across as a methodical person who establishes a clear goal for himself and diligently pursue it. He will not come back to competitive career without ample preparations and clear plan of actions.
8) Who has the potential to beat Virtue/Moir or Davis/White?
None at this season, but I expect the Shibs and Riazanova / Tkachenko of Russia to competitively challenge the duopoly by Sochi in 2013-2014.
9) Does it help or hurt Ice Dance as a discipline when one coaching team (Zoueva/Shpilband) dominates most of the competitions?
Contrary to some who voiced their concerns, I actually think it helps other teams becoming more competitive. Ice dance as a discipline goes though different trend/fad just like any other disciplines.
I consider the Canton team to have been most successfully able to adapt and exploit the COP system. Specifically, the Canton school of ice dancing emphasizes the power and speed, i.e., blindingly fast twizzles, and intricate and innovative lifts to milk maximum points out of TES and PCS. Collorary to this philosophy is their tendency to go for simpler costumes (you will see what I mean when you see the 2011 world ice dancing podium), and younger age of the ice dancers (emphasis on athleticism works better with younger skaters).
I presume the Canton sweep at the 2011 worlds was a wake up call for European and especially Russians federations. Already I see more innovative and complex lifts on the Russian top teams (via Russian test skating events) to be more competitive/current vis a vis the Canton teams. Yes, comeptition is a good thing! :thumbsup:
10) How critical is the 2011-2012 in the grand scheme of things, specifically looking toward Sochi?
I think it is critical for ladies, for this is the only discipline without clear front runner(s). Men has Chan, Ice dance has the Canton Duo, and pairs have Russian, Chinese, and German teams.
This will be the year we will see how/if Sotnikova transition into the senior scene successfully or not. We will also see whether Mao has successfully able to fix her jumping/edge problems. Finally, we will also see if Kanako Murakami and American usual suspects could assert her suprimacy
11) Who will be this year's Alissa Czisny and come out of nowhere to have a stellar season?
Although they are not exactly unknown, I expect Riazanova / Tkachenko to have a steller season. This is
the season for them to establish their suprimacy. I am not surprised that they make it to the GP final as well as becoming the number 1 team in Russia. They are not only technically proficient, but they are also hungry due to being upstaged by I/K the last season (R/T won the silver medal at Russian nationals but was unable to go to worlds due to I/K placing higher at Europeans).
R/T appear to have good solid programs and are better prepared then their rivals as far as I could glimpse at the recent Russian test skating events. I have yet to see I/K lived up to hype; and I am not surprised that I/K, S/B, and Monko/Khaliavin fight out the second and third places in Russia among themselves.
12) I know it's not nice to think about, but who do you expect to bomb this season?
Mao Asada. If we do not see marked improvement in her edge issues I enumerated above, her prospect for Sochi will be considerably dimmed. Mao has a tendency to be either spectacular or spectacularly "bombed."
13) If the World Team Trophy does take place, (assuming US, Canada, France, Russia, China, and Japan compete) who will win?
Russia (obvious geographic advantage; I'll abstain from saying anything about politics, if any), USA second, and Canada third.
14) I know we've debated this for years but I'm going to ask it anyway. Which 2 ladies, men, or pairs can earn a 3rd spot in their discipline for the US at Worlds?
Don't know and don't care. There are no clear front runner among men; none of the ladies are consistent/solid performers. And let's face it, the US pair teams are not up to par with the world first rate teams.
Watch for an email from "MM." 
