Savchenko and Szolkowy should walk away with this title. Their total score for this season is over 27 points higher than the rest of the field. They have room to make mistakes and still easily win gold. I'm not crazy about their short program this season including the costume Savchenko wore at the GPF but I love the playfulness they've injected into their free skate and the ease with which they execute their movements. They lost their title to the Russians last year and I don't see that happening again.
Bazarova and Larionov have the 3rd best total scores of the season. I adore both of their programs and they have such an ease and grace when on the ice. It's hart to believe that she is just 17 as there is so much maturity in their programs. They have had a bit of struggle with consistency, having a few problems in their free skates including a disastrous outing at the Grand Prix Final where they were only able to finish 5th. They finished 4th at their nationals and with only two spots on their Worlds team, they'll need a medal finish here to be considered for one of those spots. They finished 5th at Europeans last season, but they should be able to move up and get a medal this year.
Kavaguti and Smirnov had to miss their first Grand Prix due to injury. Their scores put them 4th for the season, but I expect these to improve. They finished 2nd at their nationals ahead of Bazarova and Larionov so I would expect them to finish in front of them here. They are the reigning European Champions, but I think it will be difficult for them to hold on to their title.
Gerboldt/Enbert are a new team this season and they finished 4th at their first Grand Prix event and finished 3rd at Russian nationals. They've put up some impressive scores and I expect that trend to continue. They could be a medal threat here and I expect them to at least finish in the top 5.
Hausch/Wende won a bronze at Trophee Eric Bompard and finished 9th at Europeans last season. While I don't see them on the podium here, I believe they can have a top 5 finish here.
Kadlecova and Bidar are one of the young teams at the event and will be looking for a good finish at their first Europeans.
Missing from this competition are the reigning Russian Champions, Volosozhar and Trankov. She competed for Ukraine last season and is ineligible to compete until Worlds. Also missing will be Iliushechkina and Maisuradze who finished 4th at the Grand Prix Final and have the 6th best score for the season. Their 5th place finish at Russian Nationals has ended their season. They will compete at Winter Universaide later this month.
My podium predictions:
Gold: Savchenko/Szolkowy
Silver: Kavaguti/Smirnov
Bronze: Bazarova/Larionov
My USFSA Fantasy Team:
A) Savchenko/Szolkowy
B) Gerboldt/Enbert
C) Gierok/Just
The teams:
Martini/Kiefer, AUT: They placed 20th at Junior Worlds.
Bakirova/Kamianchuk, BLR: They finished 19th at Worlds and 17th at Europeans.
Kadlecova/Bidar, CZE: They finished 14th at the World Junior Championships. They finished 7th at both their Junior Grand Prix assignments and placed 6th at Trophee Eric Bompard with a personal best short program.
Nabijako/Kulbach, EST: This is their first season together.
Canac/Bonheur, FRA: This is their first season together. They are the reigning national champions.
Gierok/Just, GER: This is their first season together.
Hausch/Wende, GER: They finished 17th at the Olympics, 14th at Worlds and 9th at Europeans with a personal best short program. They finished 7th at NHK Trophy with a personal best free skate and total score and won bronze at Trophee Eric Bompard with personal best scores across the board..
Savchenko/Szolkowy, GER: They won bronze at the Olympics with a personal best short program score and silver at Worlds and Europeans (with a personal best free skate and total score). They have 2 additional Gold and 1 Bronze medal at the World Championships and 3 Gold and a silver at Europeans. They won gold at Skate America and Trophee Eric Bompard to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they won gold.
Hoolin/Safranek, GBR: They are the reigning national silver medalists.
Kemp/King, GBR: They placed 16th at Olympics (with a personal best total score) and Worlds and 11th at Europeans with a personal best free skate. They finished 8th at Skate Canada and Skate America.
Montalblano/Krasnopolski, ISR: They finished 25th at Worlds and 18th at Europeans.
Berton/Hotarek, ITA: They finished 11th at the World Championship with personal best scores across the board. They placed 6th at Cup of Russia with personal best free skate and total scores.
Gillespie/Dematte, ITA: They finished 8th and 11th at their two JGP assignments this season.
Bazarova/Larionov, RUS: They finished 11th at the Olympics, 8th at Worlds and 5th at Europeans. They won silver at NHK Trophy with personal best scores across the board and at Trophee Eric Bompard with personal best scores across the board to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 5th.
Gerboldt/Enbert, RUS: They finished 4th at Cup of Russia.
Kavaguti/Smirnov, RUS: They finished 4th at the Olympics with a personal best short program, won bronze at Worlds and are the reigning European champions with a personal best free program and total score. They also won bronze at the World Championships in 2009 and a silver and bronze at Europeans. They won gold at Cup of Russia.
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