What's Your Take on the USA Team for Worlds?

[April]

World Team

My Predictions

Ladies

1. Kwan-will have a triple-triple, more speed, and deeper edges
2. Cohen-will try not to fall and skate w/ flair again
3. Kirk- will try to make a name on the international scene and skate clean and finish in the top 5.


The ladies will sweep the podium, at least they have a chance.

Men

1. Weir-will try the quad and skate with more expression
2. Weiss-will try the quad and it will be clean
3. Savoie-will have a clean skate and be rewarded for artistry.

Savoie and Weiss have a big chance of medaling; Plushy is good, but his movements get a little wild when the pressures on. The mens field is getting stronger, so he needs work on his weak spots.. I think Weir could win Worlds b/c he's that good. If Weir lands the quad and is not the first or second skater to take the ice, he should win the gold.

The Pairs and Ice Dancers- Well, honestly, I would be proud if they just skated clean programs w/o falls. The Chinese teams will probably sweep the Pairs podium. The Ice Dance silver medal will go to Belbin and Agosto.

 

[heyang]

Here are my conjectures:

Ladies: MK and Sasha somewhere on podium. Probably Fumie there, too. Not sure what Irina's potential presence my play - if they aren't downplaying her physical condition, I doubt Irina will medal.

Men: possible US male Bronze. Could really be any of the 3 since I don't believe any of them has a truly consistent quad. Plush on top - he doesn't have any real pressure this year.

Pairs: No podium for the US. Lucky of both teams make top 10.

Dance: Belbin and Agosto will probably finish just off podium even if they deserve better. I just think this will be a leftover of using the old system. BTW, I really enjoyed their Free dance.

 

[RealtorGal]

Michelle will fall, Sasha will fall, Fumie will fall and Shizuka will fall. Jenny Kirk will win Worlds.

I don't really believe that, but predictions which simply follow the odds are so boring.

Gee, if you change around a couple of the names up there, you pretty much have story of the Salt Lake City Olympics! Who would have thought...?

 

[euterpe]

LADIES: Michelle will be on the podium, most likely at the top. She should be close to top form by then and has the right attitude and the right coach. If Sasha doesn't self-destruct, she can make the podium too; if not, then top 5. Kirk: top 10.

MEN: Hard to predict. Weir should make top 10, and if he skates as well or better than at Nationals, maybe top 6. Weir's the best thing that's happened to Weiss, because he is being pushed to skate well. Weiss doesn't really have a quad, so I'm not sure that he can medal, but top 6 is probable. Plushenko will win gold, you can take that to the bank; Sandhu may make the podium if HE doesn't self-destruct. Savoie? Maybe top 10, but more likely, top 12.

PAIRS: Ach! Hope I/B can hold on to a top 10 spot. O/L did not do well in the GP, and I think they will be even more intimidated at Worlds. Hope they can stay in the top 15.

DANCE: B/A have a shot at the podium, but may fall victim to the 6.0 system and sekret komputer selektion. Should finish in the top 5. G/P are looking good, and top 12 is a real possibility.

 

[Julia]

I wish this world's team the best.

 

[sk8m8]

Just a note about Weir...If he manages to land a clean quad, I think he has the "goods" to at least make the podium, if not top it. Remember, International judges are familiar with JW, he won the Junior Worlds and is considered a fine skater since he skated under Tarosova.

I was amazed at the skater that came out and performed on Saturday. I don't think it was just the thrill of being there ( by the way, I am WAY underwhelmed by Weiss' long). Weir has transformed in the same way Angelea did after her coaching change to Elayna. It was like, "yes I recognize this skater, but I've NEVER seen them like this before"

Unlike Angela, though, I think Johnny will stay healthy. I also think he already has more artisitic presence than Plushy (IMHO) and that he and Sandhu may be the big rivalry for the top spot there, especially if Plushy's knee is bothering him.

 

[Seonaid920]

I'm happy with all the teams except Pairs. I would prefer to see Tiffany Steigler and her new partner going because that team has potential and it would be a good learning experience for them.

 

[Seonaid920]

I think the US men have an outside chance at maybe 1 medal. Probably Weir or Weiss will be able to get a bronze.


Michelle or Sasha most likely on the podium, Jenny would be an upset if she got a medal, but its not out of the question. Japanese girls will be in her way.


Belbin & Agosto could medal this year - probably Bronz.

Pairs will not be in the top 10.

 

[Smiley0884]

I don't understand why some people seem to think one of our pairs won't make top ten. Two of them did it last year, and the international judges love I/B. They even got a 5.9 for their SP at worlds last year.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm happy with all the teams except Pairs. I would prefer to see Tiffany Steigler and her new partner going because that team has potential and it would be a good learning experience for them.

I don't know if they were on TV or not, but Don and Hunt were really the 'cat's meow' at the Atlanta competitions. So many people wishing she would give up Singles for Pairs. (Actually, I like her in both). I'll leave that up to her.

As much as I like I&B, I liked the potential of Orscher and Lucash. He looks like he left his construction job and just happened to step by the Arena to throw his girlfriend around. I see them as a huge potential in future skates. Methinks the US Pairs may be on the upswing.

Joe

 

[berthes ghost]

I would prefer to see Tiffany Steigler and her new partner going because that team has potential and it would be a good learning experience for them.

I'm sorry, but Tiffany has had "potential" for almost a decade now. It's time to sh!t or get off the pot IMHO. As for experience, Tiffany has plenty of experience fallin on her butt at international competitons, she doesn't need more. I don't care if she's Nicole Bobeck, Tonya Harding and Janet Lynn all rolled up in one, she shouldn't go to world's until she can earn her spot fair and square by skating clean at nats. I personally ain't holding my breath waiting for her to fulfill her potential.

 

[curious]

Just a note about Weir...If he manages to land a clean quad, I think he has the "goods" to at least make the podium, if not top it. Remember, International judges are familiar with JW, he won the Junior Worlds and is considered a fine skater since he skated under Tarosova.

I was amazed at the skater that came out and performed on Saturday. I don't think it was just the thrill of being there ( by the way, I am WAY underwhelmed by Weiss' long). Weir has transformed in the same way Angelea did after her coaching change to Elayna. It was like, "yes I recognize this skater, but I've NEVER seen them like this before"

Unlike Angela, though, I think Johnny will stay healthy. I also think he already has more artisitic presence than Plushy (IMHO) and that he and Sandhu may be the big rivalry for the top spot there, especially if Plushy's knee is bothering him.

Sandhu and Weir(an unknown skater outside the states) has zero chance of winning this comp with the way Plushy with a bad knee is skating lately. I guess you didn't see his nats performance lol! As for Weir having more presence than Plushy, I don't think so. Weir did well at nats but he is not a very consistent skater yet. Plush is the gold winner here for sure,weir has a long shot for a medal if he skates clean.

 

[curious]

Has Weir landed a quad in comps?

(Edited by Mathman to correct a misspelling.)

 

[mpal2]

I don't think Weir has landed a quad in competition. This is one of the guys that Mike Weiss described as having "junior" jumps at 2003 Nationals. Apparently he got all kinds of backlash on that one because he was exceptionally considerate and respectful this year.

I read the Johnny Weir article posted on the Golden Skate newsletter that we may see him try a quad at Worlds. He's been working on a quad/triple in practice. I hope he goes for it because he has nothing to lose. It's his first SR worlds and he might as well go for broke.

 

[heyang]

Joe,

I hope you're right about US Pairs getting better. I do recall Don/Hunt being a pair to watch, but didn't see them this year. I'd also like to watch Steigler/Cording to check out the potential.

Tiffany and Johnny seemed to show a lot of promise when they 1st appeared at US Sr Nationals. It seems like growing pains and injuries and goal conflicts got in their path. I think Tiffany and her partner have only been skating together for about a year and will need time to mesh together. Wonder what sister Stephanie (who used to skate with John Zimmerman) is dong.

 

[heyang]

OOps - forgot to mention this. While a lot of people are saying that skaters should take certain risks or they'd rather see someone else perform at international competition for experience, there is some importance to the final placements.

This year's final overall placements for each country do determine what how many skaters will be able to compete at next year's Worlds. Overall placements at next year's World's will determine how many skaters a country can send to Oly's. So, it's really important to have good placements this year.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

heyang - Don and Hunt, imo, are America's hope for Pairs.

mpal - I did see Johnny land a quad but I also saw him miss the quad. I did not see any quad/triple combo but if he has that, and he skates with the presence he had in US Nats, he'll be on the lpodium. Other than Plushy, the euro boys are inconsistent but if luck is with any of them they may overtake Johnny.

Joe

 

[mpal2]

Thanks Joe,

I missed the landed quad but saw the missed one. I just heard the applause. Hopefully we do see one at Worlds.

 

[Pati]

I don't know why I think this, but I think Weir will surprise people... I say watch out.

For some reason I am thinking the same thing.

I think I might even jump out on a limb and say the US Ladies will take all 3 podium spots, the same way they were at Nationals.

I really liked Orscher and Lucash, but comparing US pairs to all the other pairs is like comparing apples to oranges. We have a long way to go, IMO.

As for dance, I have no clue.


(edited to add: I don't think I'll ever get enough posts to get an avatar... )

 

[sk8fanconvert]

weir's quad

Mpal and Joesitz,
I missed Johnny's quads in practice somehow, but his website has a couple of quotes- in news articles- that he's been landing a 4t-3t combo for several weeks. Another source says that we will "probably" see a quad at worlds. Joe, I think you mentioned that it was a 4s in nationals practices.

If all that's correct, he could have 2 quads even by worlds. I think we'll see at least one. If he lands a quad at worlds, he could do quite well. Before nationals, I wondered if he's been working on a 3-3-3 a la Van der Perren. I'd love to see him try that!

Too bad it's not code of points though. While Johnny's known internationally, that was as a junior skater. Judges may feel he needs to prove himself on the senior international circuit first.