Here are some guesses for the action in Kelowna, B.C. this weekend:
DANCE
GOLD: Hubbell/Donohue (USA)
SILVER: Gilles/Poirier (CAN)
BRONZE: Hawayek/Baker (USA)
Let’s be honest-- I’m pretty much going by world rank here.
If you read my Skate America recap, and/or followed my Twitter feed, you know
I’m not yet a fan of H/D’s free dance this season. But, barring a skating-world
disaster, they’ll win this one. To be honest, I’m not yet a full-blown fan of
the new Gilles/Poirier “Both Sides Now” FD either (after having seen it at the
Autumn Classic last month), but I’m required to cut them some slack because I’m
not sure how they can top their “Vincent” FD from last season. On the other
hand, I DID enjoy Hawayek/Baker’s FD when I caught it at Nebelhorn Trophy (Sharp!!
I wrote in my notes). So don't miss that!
Eyes on: Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha of Canada,
the young’uns (18 and 20) and current World Junior Champs, making their GP
debut on home ice this weekend.
LADIES
GOLD: Alexandra Trusova (RUS)
SILVER: Rika Kihira (JPN)
BRONZE: Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS)
Dang, does this SkCAN ladies field make last week’s
impressive ladies roster look like amateur night or what? Notice how I don’t
have Bradie Tennell (SkAM’s silver medalist) on the podium—that’s because I
think she’ll do very well to place 4th or 5th here. Same
thing with reigning Olympic Silver Medalist/ 2017 World Champion Medvedeva.
Last year was a “rebuilding” season for her; she looks better and better with
each event. Still, stacked against one young lady bearing multiple consistent
quads (Trusova), and one with at least a fairly consistent triple axel (Kihira,
who may or may not be introducing a quad this year too), I’m not confident that
even a spot-on Medved can win. Again, a medal of any color will be a
triumph for the ladies of SkCAN.
Eyes on: Young You, who first made headlines winning
the South Korean Nationals at age ELEVEN. Now 15, she’s got two Top 10 World
Junior finishes under her cap and makes her GP debut here at SkCAN. (And may be
another one attempting a triple axel.)
PAIRS:
GOLD: Tarasova/Morozov (RUS)
SILVER: Boikova/Kozlovskii (RUS)
BRONZE: Moore-Towers/Marinaro (CAN)
I haven’t caught a lot of early-season pairs action, so I
had to look up the music being used to have at least a vague sense of
familiarity… and it appears Tara/Moro (everyone’s favorite blonde & ginger
Russian team) are taking on Bolero for their SP. I think that’s as
strong a sign as any that their brand of GP hardball isn’t expected to let up
anytime soon. I also expect the Russian teenager team (Boi/Koz) to capture
silver over M-T/M, who remain a reliable team… if not necessarily one that’s
still improving.
Eyes on: The new Canadian partnership of
Ilyushechkina/Bilodeau; she was with Dylan Moscovitch until last he retired
last year, and Bilodeau was partnered with Julianne Seguin until July
2018. Together, Ilyushodeau already
claimed an impressive 3rd at Finlandia Trophy this season. (Does anyone know if Seguin has re-partnered yet? I'd like to see her back in competition too.)
MEN:
GOLD: Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
SILVER: Matteo Rizzo (ITA)
BRONZE: Keiji Tanaka (JPN)
I know, I know… this is the fourth trip Hanyu has made to
SkCAN, and so far he’s yet to win anything higher than silver. But like Nathan
Chen last weekend, I just don’t see any of the men in this field beating him,
even on his worst day. (Apologies to Hanyu if I just jinxed him for the worst
upset ever.) And if you’re thinking I wonder what she’s thinking with Tanaka
in 3rd; his only GP medal was won FOUR years ago… I admit it’s a
risk, but Tanaka’s also coming off a win at the U.S. International Classic. So
I haven’t completely lost it… yet.
Eyes on: Nam
Nguyen, Nicolas Nadeau, and Roman Sadovsky (ages 21, 22, and 20, respectively),
Canada’s
representatives at the event, all eager to get on the SkCAN podium for the
first time.
No comments:
Post a Comment