Goin Back to Cali: Worlds Dance/Pairs Predictions

If you’ve been following this blog in any fashion over the past skating season, you know this much about my predictions: they’re nothing to bet the rink on. But try, try again, as they say… so let’s see what happens when we put ‘em all together for the 2009 Worlds:

For DANCE:
Gold-- Khoklova/Novitski (RUS)
Silver-- Domnina/Shabalin (RUS)
Bronze-- Davis/White (USA)

Until I looked it up just now, I didn’t realize Dombalin had yet to even medal at a World Championships, let alone win. So if they were to get silver here as I’ve predicted, that would have to rank as a victory of some sort.

I’m going with Khokitski not because I adore their dances this year—I don’t—but the judges seem to. And they’ve been building momentum all season, from last year’s world bronze to present. As for this year’s bronze, I think/hope it will be a virtual tie between D/W and V/M (Virtue/Moir), but I’m giving the edge to D/W for the sheer Americana of it!

Possible spoilers include Pechalat/Bourzat, Faiella/Scali, the Kerrs, and yes, Belbin/Agosto too… I’d like to predict higher for them, but it’s been so long since we saw them compete I’m just not comfortable with it.

And for PAIRS:
Gold-- Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)
Silver—Pang/Tong (CHN)
Bronze-- Dube/Davison (CAN)

On the other hand, I’d forgotten that Pang/Tong have won a medal of every color, including gold in 2006. This has been a pretty good year for them; definitely better than that of their Chinese teammates (Zhang/Zhang), so I’m predicting another Pang/Tong podium visit…silver this time, behind the virtually unstoppable Sav/Szol German team. (Just don’t mention the Grand Prix finals.) Dube/Davison haven’t been back on the competitive track long this season, but they won bronze last year and I think they’ll at least be able to hold steady with that this time.

Possible spoilers include the aforementioned Zhang/Zhang, Kawaguchi/Smirnov, and Mukhortova/Trankov… the last of which has succeeded this season largely on the consistent strength of their SP. With so much stiff competition, though, I don’t think this will be enough to earn them their first medal.

The Clip of the Day reminds us how Khokitski won bronze last year.

Predictions of mens and ladies medals to follow tomorrow!