Cup of China Mens Preview

Brian Joubert is looking to continue the success he saw at last seasons worlds and erase the memory of his disastrous Olympics.  He firmly believes in the quad and when he lands it he scores well, but when it deserts him he can lose the rest of the program.  Takahiko Kozuka has a great coach in Nobuo Sato and a free choreographed by Marina Zueva.  He has the ability to pull off great programs but lacks consistency.  He needs to do well here to make a name for himself back home where he is ranked 3rd (Machida is ranked 4th).  Samuel Contesti has a shot at medaling here, especially if he can go clean.  Tomas Verner is also looking to redeem himself on the world stage but I'm not sure he has the goods to do it anymore.  Sergei Voronov and Ross Miner are also capable of putting together programs that can land them on the podium but consistency has been an issue here as well.  I predict the medals will be:

Gold: Brian Joubert
Silver: Takahiko Kozuka
Bronze: Samuel Contesti

For more information on all the skaters at Cup of China, see below.

Peitong Chen, CHN: It does not appear that he has competed internationally since 2003.

Jinlin Guan, CHN: He is the 2008 World Juniors Bronze Medalist.  He placed 9th at last year's Cup of China in his Grand Prix debut and placed 17th at last year's world championships. 

Jialing Wu, CHN: Wu is the three time national champion.  He placed 8th at last year's Four Continents with personal best short and free skating scores.  He finished 11th at his lone Grand Prix assignment last year (Skate America).  He finished 7th at this season's NHK Trophy.

Tomas Verner, CZE: Verner is coming off a disastrous season.  He lost his national title, placed 10th at Europeans and finished 19th at the Olympics.  He was the silver medalist at Europeans in 2007 and won the title in 2008.  Last season on the Grand Prix, he finished 5th at Skate America, 2nd at Trophee Eric Bompard and 6th at the Grand Prix Final.

Brian Joubert, FRA: Joubert had a roller coaster season last year.  He won bronze at Europeans but his 16th place showing at the Olympics led to a tryout before the French Skating Federation would allow him to compete at Worlds.  He rebounded with a bronze medal at Worlds.  He is the 2004, 2007 and 2009 European champion and has medaled at Europeans every year since 2004.  He has won one gold medal at Worlds, two silvers and two bronzes.  Last season on the Grand Priz, he finished 4th at Trophy Eric Bompard and 1st at NHK before withdrawing from the Grand Prix Final.  He switched coaches after last season and seems eager to redeem himself on the world stage.

Peter Liebers, GER: Liebers finished 25th at last seasons World Championships.  His lone Grand Prix stop last season was Trophy Eric Bompard where he finished 10th.  He has competed in two international B events this season coming in 3rd and 4th.

Samuel Contesti, ITA: Contesti placed 7th at Worlds with personal best scores in the Short and Free programs.  He also placed 18th at the Olympics and 5th at Europeans.  He won a silver at Europeans in 2009.  His 2009 Grand Prix Season included a 4th place finish at Cup of China and 5th at Skate Canada. 

Takahiko Kozuka, JPN: Kozuka placed 8th at the Olympics and 10th at the World Championships.  He is the 2006 World Junior Champion and the 2009 Four Continents bronze medalist.  His 2009 Grand Prix season included a silver medal at Rostelecom Cup and a 7th place finish at NHK Trophy. 

Tatsuki Machida, JPN: Machida finished 2nd at last year's Four Continents with personal best scores in the Short and Free.  This will be his Grand Prix debut.  He won his international B assignment earlier this season. 

Sergei Voronov, RUS: Voronov finished 14th at both Europeans and Worlds last year.  He finished 6th at last seasons Trophee Eric Bompard and followed up with a bronze medal at the Cup of China.  He also set personal bests for his short program and total score at Cup of China last season.  He switched coaches in the offseason.

Ross Miner, USA: Miner is the 2009 national junior champion and placed 10th at the World Junior Championships.  He won a bronze medal at last years Junior Grand Prix Final.  He finished 9th at his Grand Prix debut earlier this season at NHK Trophy with personal bests in the short and free programs.

Brandon Mroz, USA: Mroz finished 4th at Four Continents last season.  He finished 7th at Rostelecom Cup and 8th at Skate America last season.