It's interesting to see my opinion fracture with the last GP event of the season. I have my desired result in a vacuum (my favourite skaters, etc), my desire result knowing that it'll decide the final GPF slot(s), and then of course the straight up predictions. So all three in one fell swoop.
MEN, Predictions
1. Artur Gachisnki
2. Javier Fernandez
3. Jeremy Abbott
4. Yuzuru Hanyu
5. Konstantin Menshov
WHY: Gachinski will not only get a hometown boost to go along with his quad, the early reports from the test skates suggested he was actually ramping up the PCS difficulty of his programs. Mishin has mentioned that he understands theat COP is more than just jumps (he specifically used the word "transitions"). Fernandez must be flying high since Skate Canada and he'll want to prove that those scores weren't flukey. Jeremy Abbott has a lot of people impressed, and I suspect he's someone who'll benefit from the intra-rink competition that Rippon provides. Hanyu's stamina problems won't disappear overnight, and Menshov? Why not?
In a vacuum: Yuzuru and Javier as 1-2. Rogozine on the podium. Jeremy in fourth, Menshov beating Gachinski
Re the GPF: Yuzuru, Javier, Brezina, Gachinski, Abbott so Javier, Yuzuru and Song join Brezina, Chan and Takahashi.
LADIES
1. Mao Asada
2. Adelina Sotnikova
3. Alena Leonova
4. Kiira Korpi
5. Haruka Imai
WHY: Asada is probably the best skater of the group and will show that. Sotnikova vs Leonova is interesting. If you presume that part of her struggle in CoC was living up the expectation set by Tuktamisheva, I think she'll either be doubly prepared or doubly nervous. I'll go with the former. Leonova? Eh, hometown skater that usually does all right in front of the crowd (CoR 2009, Nationals 2010, Worlds 2011). Korpi will have the PCS to support a so-so skate. Imai's just a guess.
In a Vacuum: Asada, Sotnikova, Korpi, Biryukova, LaCoste
re: the GPF: Don't really care, just want Asada and Sotnikova to make it.
PAIRS
1. Savchenko/Szolkowy
2. Kavaguti/Smirnov
3. Berton/Hotarek
4. Gerboldt/Enbert
5. Stolbova/Klimov
6. Cain/Regan
7. Jones/Gaskell
WHY: Lets see what sticks
In a Vacuum: S/S and K/S tie for Gold. Stolbova/Klimov 3rd.
re: the GPF: S/S, K/S, B/H
DANCE
1. Davis/White
2. Bobrova/Soloviev
3. Weaver/Poje
4. Riazanova/Tkachenko
5. Tobias/Stagniunas
Why: Self explanatory
Hopes: That D/W win with a total score (over both this and SA) that ties V/M's total score from SC and TEB. The conspiracy theories and fan-wars would be epic. That Weaver/Poje have a total that suggests they could flirt with the idea of beating Bobrova/Soloviev on more neutral territory (Nice) without B/S screwing up a la 2011 Worlds (if not beating them here outright). That Riazanova/Tkachenko actually make a play for the second spot and not just settle for third-fending-off-upcoming-juniors.