Predictions?

[fairly4]

When I stated Kimmie will win if she skates like she did in Skate America. I didn't mean exactly like she did. I meant if she skates pretty decent with 1 fall and the rest of the skaters will skate clean, she will most likely win.
Last year they ratified her triple triple even though they shouldn't have. I don't see them not doing the same thing this year, also she is still the best skater they have to try to keep 3 girls on for the 2009 worlds.

 

[Kathleen]

I don't know about that.. I actually think a clean Mirai Nagasu, should beat a clean Caroline Zhang, if you were to go by just skating. Mirai's basic skating is a lot better than Caroline Zhang's.. And Mirai has better jumping technique to, which should factor into GOE.
At junior worlds, Mirai's jumps were just a big shaky, and I think the judges didn't know her enough to really reward her for her amazing basic skating skills. No way should Zhang ever get higher Skating Skills marks than Mirai.

I was really big on Mirai, at one time but she's been having issues rotating her triples. I'm really curious to see how Mirai skates at the JGPF this week... If Mirai skates well there and puts up a huge score, I think she'll get respect from the USFSA judges. (At least I hope)

Still, I think that if Mirai can just overcome her growth spurt, and rotate her jumps better, I wouldn't be surprised if next year in the GP, a clean Mirai starts surpassing a clean Zhang. Because I think skating skills wise, Mirai can really compete with the best.

I totally agree!!!

I've been feeling in the minority a bit, since I don't get the hype about Caroline. Yes, she's musical and mature and her spins are great....but her jumping technique is just not up to snuff.

 

[Cal Girl]

Rachael has one disadvantage at Nationals this year and that is she has competed as a junior on the international level but with one advantage that she competed as a senior lady last year. And Caroline has one disadvantage on the National level and that is this is her first Nationals as a Senior and one advantage of skating on the SGP under a higher level of scrutiny in judging.
It will be interesting to say the least, but my money is on Flatt to have clean FS and for Caroline to have a little trouble with the FS.

 

[Hsuhs]

Would've been nice if Johnny skated two clean programs. But will he do so? Frankly, I don't know. I can only hope he will.

 

[Vodka Shot]

Would've been nice if Johnny skated two clean programs. But will he do so? Frankly, I don't know. I can only hope he will.

If that happens there will be wide spread parties in the streets. Ok, not really. Figure skating isn't that popular, but hey there will definitely be a party in my living room. :yes:

 

[flyingnun]

Men
Evan
Johnny
Stephen
Ryan
Jeremy
Scott

Ladies
Kimmie
Emily (held up by components)
Caroline
Ashley
Mirai
Bebe
Rachael
Alissa (The Human Zamboni)

Pairs
Vise/Trent
Inque/Baldwin
Mclaughlin/Brubaker
Castille/Okolski
Theomi

Dance
Belbin/Agosto
Davis/White
Gregory/Petukov
Samuelson/Bates

 

[pista04]

Hmm....I'll throw my opinions and hopes out there...

Ranking is where I think they should fall, then at the end is where I want them

Ladies
1.) Meissner (1st)
2.) Zhang (3rd)
3.) Wagner (5th)
-4.) Nagasu (6th)
-5.) E. Hughes (4th)
-6.) Czisny (2nd =] )
--7.) Flatt

Men
1.) Weir (1st)
2.) Lysacek (3rd)
3.) Carriere (5th)
-4.) Abbott (2nd)
-5.) Bradley (4th)

Pairs
1.) McLaughlin/Brubaker (3rd)
2.) Inoue/Baldwin (5th)
3.) Castile/Okolski (1st)
-4.) Nam/Leftheris (2nd)
--.) Moyle/Pottenger (4th) (no logical rank; havent seen em skate)

Dance
1.) Belbin/Agosto (1st)
2.) Gregory/Petukhov (2nd)
3.) Davis/White (4th)
-4.) Samuelson/Bates (3rd)

Juniors! Just Logical...

Ladies:
1.) Maxwell
2.) Musademba
3.) Gilles

Men:
1.) Rippon
2.) Mroz
3.) Kanallakan

Pairs:
1.) Paetsch/Nuss (2nd)
2.) Best/Young (1st)
3.) Guillen/Curzon

Dance:
1.) Hubbell/Hubbell
2.) Bosley/Corona
3.) Wingle/Devereaux

 

[flying camel]

Ladies
1. Zhang
2. Meissner
3. Wagner ( love her)
4. Flatt ( She will be on that podium)
5. Mirai
6. Hughes
7. Alissa
8. Bebe

 

[ks777]

Men
1.Johnny
2.Evan
3.Carriere
4.Abbott
5.Bradley

Ladies
1. Caroline
2. Mirai
3. Ashley
4. Kimmie
5. Flatt
6. Emily
7. Alissa
8. BeBe

 

[Wrlmy]

Dream podium:
Ladies:
1. Alissa Czisny
2. Caroline Zhang
3. Ashley Wagner

Men:
1. Ryan Bradley
2. Evan Lysacek
3. Johnny Weir

Pair:
1. Nam/Leftheris
2. Inoue/Baldwin
3. McLaughlin/Brubaker

What's likely...
Ladies:
1. Caroline Zhang
2. Kimmie Meissner
3. Ashley Wagner

Men:
1. Evan Lysacek
2. Johnny Weir
3. Stephen Carriere

Pair:
1. McLaughlin/Brubaker
2. Inoue/Baldwin
3. Nam/Leftheris

 

[skatergirl45]

My Predictions

Dance
B/A
D/W
G/P
N/B
W/B

Pairs
M/B
I/B
V/T
N/L

Mens
Evan
Johnny
Rohene(I just want him to medal in his hometown)
Stephen
Ryan

Ladies
Caroline
Kimmie
Ashley
Mirai
Emily
Bebe (but I hope Bebe is ahead of Emily:yes

 

[Tonichelle]

welcome to the board skatergirl! post often post long!

 

[dutchherder]

Why does everyone seem to be counting out Castile and Okolski? They are the current U.S. Champs, and they, along with McLaughlin/Brubaker are our best hopes internationally. I'm not convinced that Inoue/Baldwin will be higher than bronze...

 

[Tinymavy15]

what i think will happen

ladies:

1.kimmie
2.caroline
3.marai
4.ashley wagner
5.bebe
6.alissa cizny


men:

1.johnny
2.evan
3.abbot


pairs:
i really have no idea here. castile and olkoski i havn't seen yet, i almost forgot about inoue and baldwin i havnt heard or seen of them...

dance:
1.belbin and agosto (they have to be getting very close to a record by now)
2.davis and white
3.gregory and pethuchov

 

[chuckm]

Why does everyone seem to be counting out Castile and Okolski? They are the current U.S. Champs, and they, along with McLaughlin/Brubaker are our best hopes internationally. I'm not convinced that Inoue/Baldwin will be higher than bronze...

C/O had to withdraw from their summer competitions and their GP events because of her injury. I'm not convinced that with an injury that severe they can possibly have had enough productive practice time to contend for a medal.

I feel the same way about Naomi and Themi, after her hip surgery. Throws were always NN/L's biggest hurdle, and landing throws after major surgery is asking a lot after such a brief recovery time.

I'm also skeptical about I/B being prepared. They've been touring all summer and fall, so I wonder what kind of shape they are in competitively.

I think we may see a few new pairs on the US podium this season.

 

[Tinymavy15]

what i would LIKE to see happen:

ladies:

zhang
bebe
marai
alissa
kimmie
emily

men:

evan
abbot
weir

pairs:

nam/leftheris
maclughlin/brubacker
castile/olkowski


dance:
belbin/agosto
davis/white
?

 

[Tonichelle]

dance:
belbin/agosto
davis/white
?

*cough*Gregory/Petukhov*cough*

 

[Medusa]

I just had to look at the competitor's list if Rachel Flatt is participating - because there is not much talk about her. I find it very strange that people concentrate on Caroline and Mirai so much. Especially because Rachel Flatt has beaten Mirai in the FS at the Junior Grand Prix Final by five points. The girl landed 7 triples there (Mirai did 4), including a triple lutz - triple toe, which got -0.5 GOE, but no underrotation was called. All her edges seem to be clean, she did not get much positive GOE - but at least she was clean (her TES were 62,18!), and personally, I like her skating style very much.

Then let's see...

LADIES
1. Rachel Flatt
2. Caroline Zhang
3. Ashley Wagner

MEN
1. Lysacek
2. Weir
3. Bradley

PAIRS
1. Vise / Trent
2. McLaughlin / Brubaker
3. Nam / Leftheris

DANCE
1. Belbin / Agosto
2. Gregory / Pethukov
3. Davis / White

 

[Nigel]

I just had to look at the competitor's list if Rachel Flatt is participating - because there is not much talk about her. I find it very strange that people concentrate on Caroline and Mirai so much. Especially because Rachel Flatt has beaten Mirai in the FS at the Junior Grand Prix Final by five points. The girl landed 7 triples there (Mirai did 4), including a triple lutz - triple toe, which got -0.5 GOE, but no underrotation was called. All her edges seem to be clean, she did not get much positive GOE - but at least she was clean (her TES were 62,18!), and personally, I like her skating style very much.

Then let's see...

LADIES
1. Rachel Flatt
2. Caroline Zhang
3. Ashley Wagner

MEN
1. Lysacek
2. Weir
3. Bradley

PAIRS
1. Vise / Trent
2. McLaughlin / Brubaker
3. Nam / Leftheris

DANCE
1. Belbin / Agosto
2. Gregory / Pethukov
3. Davis / White

Besides Flatt, has any US lady skated a LP with 7 triples this year?

 

[feraina]

I just had to look at the competitor's list if Rachel Flatt is participating - because there is not much talk about her. I find it very strange that people concentrate on Caroline and Mirai so much. Especially because Rachel Flatt has beaten Mirai in the FS at the Junior Grand Prix Final by five points. The girl landed 7 triples there (Mirai did 4), including a triple lutz - triple toe, which got -0.5 GOE, but no underrotation was called. All her edges seem to be clean, she did not get much positive GOE - but at least she was clean (her TES were 62,18!), and personally, I like her skating style very much.

Well, ultimately this particularly ladies podium is just about impossible to predict. We are lucky to have so many talented young ladies, all of whom with supporters who believe their favorite can win gold (and they well can). :grin:

Your observation about Rachael versus Mirai at JGPF is well-taken. But it can also be argued the other way. If Rachael only beat Mirai by just under 5 points with 7 triples versus 4, including a 3-3, and ultimately losing to Mirai after a good SP (clean, but the 3/3 was called UR), then it seems like she would lose the LP to Mirai if Mirai just skated a little better and say landed 5 clean triples. Plus Mirai is a better spinner, so with the extra spin in the senior LP, Mirai has additional technical advantage over Rachael. I think aside from the jumps, Mirai outshines Rachael a bit in everything else (spins, spirals, footwork sequences, PCS including speed, polish, and choreography). There's no say, of course, that Rachael won't get her 3/3 ratified in the SP at National's, or that she won't improve the levels of her elements.

With these young skaters, who are really improving by leaps and bounds by the day, we'll just have to see how they fare when National's actually rolls around.