Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Grand Prix: The Big Matchups

 Skate America
Ladies
2010 World Bronze Medalist Laura Lepisto makes her season debut after sitting out all last season with an injury.  She'll face 2011 World Bronze Medalist Carolina Kostner.  Alissa Czisny will also be looking for a medal on the way to defending her Grand Prix Final title in front of the home crowd.
TBD Slot: There are a few ladies who could fill this slot including Melissa Bulanhagui, Amanda Dobbs (1 Grand Prix last year) and Alexe Gilles (2 GP last year).  My hunch is on Gilles, especially if she does well in the summer comps under her new coaches.

Men
Michal Brezina will enter his first Grand Prix event since 2009 after sitting out the fall last season with an injury.  Also in the mix are European Champion Florent Amodio and World Silver medalist Takahiko Kozuka.  Evan Lysacek is also scheduled for this event and it would be his first competition since winning the Olympic Gold Medal.  He is also the 2009 Grand Prix Final champ.
TBD Slot: The USFSA could go a few ways with this pick.  They could select Armin Mahbanoozadeh to give him a second entry and a chance at the final or go with Max Aaron, Grant Hochstein (2 GP last year) or Keegan Messing.
New entry: Peter Liebers was recently injured and has been withdrawn.  He was replaced by Denis Ten.

Pairs
World Champions Savchenko/Szolkowy start their season at Skate America.  They'll be up against 4th place finisher Bazarova/Larionov.  Moore-Towers/Moscovitch also start their season here after a trip to the Grand Prix Final last season.  Zhang/Zhang also make their debut after sitting out last season due to injury.  As proof of the decimation of US Pairs teams in the off-season, two teams make their GP debut at Skate America: Marley/Brubaker and Vise/Baldwin.
TBD Slot: USFSA could assign this slot to either Castelli/Shnapir or Cain/Reagan to give them two assignments for the season or go with Davis/Leftheris or Donlan/Speroff.  Given the teams they've already selected, my bet is they'll go with one of the newer teams to try and see how these teams stack up internationally.  Denney/Coughlin could also receive this slot, but they may still be too new to be ready to compete at the first event.

Dance
World Champions Davis/White start their title defense at Skate America.  They'll be joined by Pechalat/Bourzat who just missed the World podium.  Hoffman/Zavozin earned a trip to the Grand Prix Final last season.  This event also marks the Grand Prix debut of World Junior Champions Monko/Khaliavin.
TBD Slots: The first TBD slot was filled by the new team of Hubbell/Donohoe.  Kriengkrairut/Giuletti-Schmitt and Lichtman/Copely each have one assignment.  Other options include Cannuscio/Lorello (2 GP last season) and Cannuscio/McManus.
Potential Opening: Hoffman/Zavozin have retired and their spot would be filled from the ISU's substitution list.

Skate Canada
Ladies
This is a deep ladies event.  Alena Leonova headlines after her impressive showing at Worlds.  She looks to head off her young countrymate, World Junior Silver medalist Elizaveta Tuktamisheva in her Grand Prix debut.  Akiko Suzuki will look to return to the Grand Prix Final and earn back her spot on the Japanese World Team.  A trio of talented US ladies will also compete, including Ashley Wagner, Rachael Flatt (2010 Grand Prix Final) and Mirai Nagasu (2011 Four Continents Bronze Medalist)
TBD Slot: I am fairly confident this spot will go to Myriane Samson (2 slots last season) who did not receive a Grand Prix assignment, unless she chooses to not compete.

Men
This event features a pair of Canadian World Champs.  World Champion Patrick Chan will face off against Junior World Champion Andrei Rogozine.  They'll be up against 2010 World Champion Daisuke Takahashi fresh from his knee repair.  Also competing will be World Junior Bronze medalist Alexander Majorov and US team members Adam Rippon and Ross Miner.
TBD Slot: Elladj Baldé finished 5th at Canadian nationals and is the highest ranked man eligible to compete.  World Junior competitor Liam Firus is another option.

Pairs
World Silver Medalists Volosozhar/Trankov make their Grand Prix debut at Skate Canada.  They'll face off with Canadian up and comers and Four Continents Silver Medalists Duhamel/Radford.  Lawrence/Swiegers, the Four Continents Bronze Medalists enter their only scheduled event of the series.  In one of the biggest surprises, Grand Prix Final Bronze medalists and two-time World Junior Champions Sui/Han have only been assigned to this event. World Junior Bronze Medalists Takahashi/Tran and Grand Prix Finalists Iliushechkina/Maisuradze will also compete.
TBD Slot: Canadian Pairs Jones/Gaskell, Purich/Schultz and Steele/Schultz all currently have one slot.  One of these teams will likely receive a second slot here.

Dance
2010 Olympic and World Champs and 2011 World Silver Medalists Virtue/Moir will enter the Grand Prix for the first time since 2009.  They'll face off against countrymates Weaver/Poje and Pechalat/Bourzat.
TBD Slot: Paul/Islam and Ralph/Hill have one slot already.  Harvey/Gagnon competed on the Grand Prix last season but have no slots assigned.  My money is on Paul/Islam since they're the ones most likely to make the World Team this season and I'd love to see the battle between Virtue/Moir and Virtue/Moir 2.0!
Potential Opening: Mysliveckova/Novak have been removed from the entry list.  Another team from the ISU substitution list will take this slot.

Cup of China
Ladies
In one of the most anticipated events of the season, World Junior Champion Adelina Sotnikova will make her Grand Prix debut.  She'll try to hold off World Bronze Medalist Carolina Kostner, Four Continents Bronze Medalist Mirai Nagasu and Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist Kanako Murakami.  American Christina Gao will also make her Grand Prix debut.
TBD Slot: I could see this slot going to Zijun Li who placed at the Junior Grand Prix Final last season.

Men
This event looks to be a trio of veterans vs a trio of youngsters.  World Bronze Medalist Artur Gachinski will go head to head with 2010 Junior World Champion Yuzuru Hanyu and 2010 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Richard Dornbush.  They'll be joined by 2010 Grand Prix Finalist Nobunari Oda, 2008 Grand Prix Final Champion Jeremy Abbott and Brian Joubert.
TBD Slot: I believe this slot will go to Nan Song, the top ranked Chinese skater, who is currently only assigned to one event.  Junior skater Yan Hang could also be given his Grand Prix debut at this event.

Pairs
Kavaguti/Smirnov headline against youngsters Sui/Han who will be looking for a return trip to the the Grand Prix Final.  Also in the mix are 2010 Grand Prix Finalists Moore-Towers/Moscovitch and 2009 World Silver Medalists Zhang/Zhang.  Evora/Ladwig make their season debut as the only U.S. team with two slots on the Grand Prix.
New Entry: Pang/Tong have withdrawn from the Grand Prix season and were replaced by Sui/Han.

Dance
World Bronze Medalists Shibutani/Shibutani will look for their first Grand Prix Gold medal at this event.  They'll face 2010 Grand Prix Finalists Bobrova/Soloviev and World Junior Champions Monko/Khaliavin.  They'll be joined by World Junior Bronze Medalists Lichtman/Copely in their Grand Prix debut.
TBD Slot: Huang/Zheng only have one slot and could be given this for their second assignment or Wu/Zhang could be given their first assignment of the season.

NHK Trophy
Ladies
Alena Leonova enters her second event of the season against former World Champion Mao Asada.  Grand Prix Finalist Akiko Suzuki will also compete.  Americans Ashley Wagner and Agnes Zawadzki are also in the mix.
TBD Slot: If she's not returning to the Junior Grand Prix, I could see this slot going to Risa Shoji.  Another option would be to give the slot to veteran skater Fumie Suguri.

Men
Japanese powerhouses including 2011 World Silver Medalist Takahiko Kozuka and 2010 World Champion Daisuke Takahashi will battle it out for gold.  They'll be joined by Grand Prix Finalist Tomas Verner and a trio of Americans including Brandon Mroz, Armin Mahbanoozadeh and Ross Miner.
TBD Slot: Daisuke Murakami could get his second event of the season here.  Takahito Mura and Tatsuki Machida could also get a shot at the Grand Prix at this event.

Pairs
In one of the most competitive pairs events of the season, World Champions Savchenko/Szolkowy face off against 2010 World Bronze Medalists Kavaguti/Smirnov.  They'll be joined by World Junior Bronze medalists Takahashi/Tran, Grand Prix Finalists Iliushechkina/Maisuradze and Americans Castelli/Shnapir.  The new pairing of Denney/Coughlin will be looking to make a splash in their first season together.
Potential Opening: Pang/Tong have withdrawn from this event and have been replaced by Denney/Coughlin.

Dance
The Shibutanis headline this event against Canadians Weaver/Poje and 2010 World Junior Champions Ilinykh/Katsalapov.  Americans Kriengkrairut/Giuletti-Schmitt enter their second season on the Grand Prix.
TBD Slot: I would be shocked if the Japanese Federation did not give this slot to the Reeds as a second event.  There is one other dance team in the country, but Japan's money is really on the Reeds.

Trophee Eric Bompard
Ladies
2011 and 2010 World Bronze Medalists Carolina Kostner and Laura Lepisto face off against 2010 Grand Prix Final Champion Alissa Czisny.  They'll be joined by 2010 World Junior Champion and Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist Kanako Murakami and 2011 World Junior Silver Medalist Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, both armed with triple-triple combinations.
TBD Slots: One of these slots will almost certainly go to Mae Berenice Meite who impressed at Europeans last season and will give her a second spot on the Grand Prix.  I could see the other slot going to Lena Marrocco who had two spots on the Grand Prix last season.

Men
This is a stacked event with one of the hottest matchups of the season between 2010 Olympic Champion Evan Lysacek and 2011 World Champion Patrick Chan.  Lysacek showed that you could win without a quad by focusing on great steps, spins and artistry.  Chan has all three of those plus three quads in his two programs including a quad+triple combination.  Former World Medalists Brian Joubert and Nobunari Oda will also compete for the podium with 2011 European Champion Florent Amodio. Michal Brezina and Adam Rippon are also podium threats.
TBD Slot: This will likely either go to Alban Preaubert as a second slot or to Chafik Besseghier who impressed in his short program here last season.

Pairs
Top Russian pairs will battle it out for the podium in Paris.  World Silver medalists Volosozhar/Trankov will face off with European Bronze Medalists Bazarova/Larionov and World Junior Silver Medalists Stolbova/Klimov.  Looking to break up the Russian party will be Duhamel/Radford who had a phenomenal first season together.  Americans Evora/Ladwig will also be in the medal hunt.
TBD Slot: There were only two other French pairs teams at their nationals last season, Melodie Chataigner/Medhi Bouzzine and Anne-Laure Letscher/Bruno Massot.  If they can meet the minimum score requirements at an international competition they could get this slot.
Potential Opening: Canac/Bonheur have split.  This could go to one of the French teams above, or if the Federation has no other pairs teams, could go to an international competitor from the substitute list.

Dance
World Silver medalists Virtue/Moir headline against European Champions Pechalat/Bourzat.  The young Russian team of Ilinykh/Katsalapov will be looking to challenge the leaders.
TBD Slot: This slot will most likely go to Orlova/Jost.
Potential Opening: Gorshkova/Butikov have reportedly split.  This spot would go to the ISU substitute list.

Rostelecom Cup
Ladies
Alena Leonova headlines this event at home, but she'll have to fend off her countrymate, World Junior Champion Adelina Sotnikova.  Mao Asada is also a strong competitor for the podium along with Kiira Korpi.  The U.S. ladies face off against each other with up and coming skaters Agnes Zawadzki and Christina Gao battling with veteran Rachael Flatt.  

Men
World Bronze Medalist Artur Gachinski will have an advantage in front of the home crowd, but he'll be faced with World Junior Champion Andrei Rogozine and 2010 World Junior Champion Yuzuru Hanyu.  Veterans in the field include Czechs Michal Brezina and Tomas Verner as well as Americans Brandon Mroz and Jeremy Abbott.
TBD Slot--This slot will likely go to Evgeny Plushenko should he return to competition as he has stated.  Russian Champ Konstantin Menshov and Zhan Bush are also possibilities.

Pairs
Savchenko/Szolkowy and Kavaguti/Smirnov face off for the second time this season.  Joining them will be Gerboldt/Enbert who just missed the podium at Russian Nationals last season in a deep field.  The young American team of Cain/Reagan will make their Grand Prix debut.
TBD Slot: Most of the Russian teams have spots on the Grand Prix.  A team who impresses on the Junior Grand Prix could get this slot.

Dance
World Champions Davis/White will battle it out with Weaver/Poje and Bobrova/Soloviev in front of their home crowd.  Riazanova/Tkachenko will be looking to move up the ranks and challenge the top teams and earn their place in the Russian hierarchy.
TBD Slot: Gorshkova/Butikov or Pushkash/Guerreiro could get their second assignment of the season or Khoklova/Andreev could receive their Grand Prix debut.  They impressed at Russian Nationals with a 4th place finish in their first season together (she is a former World medalist, he a singles skater) and are coached by Zoueva/Shpilband.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Grand Prix Winners and Losers

Dance

Winners
Junior World and JGPF winners Monko/Khaliavin have received two slots (junior medalists are only guaranteed one).
Kriengkrairut/Giuletti-Schmitt received an assignment (non-host pick) although they did not meet any of the normal criteria.
Riazanova/Tkachenko received two slots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one).

Losers
JGPF Medalists Sinitsina/Zhiganshin and Stepanova/Bukin were not given assignments, however, they could be returning to the JGP.
Faiella/Scali with the 14th best seasons best score and the 2010 World Bronze medal have come out of retirement, but were not given an assignment.
The Reeds only received one event this season, but could still be given the host slot in Japan.
Paul/Islam only received one event this season, but could still be given the host slot in Canada.
Grand Prix Finalists Hoffman and Zavozin received only one event.

Neutral
Pechalat/Bourzat and Weaver/Poje have taken advantage of the three event rule, will it give them more experience or drain their energy at the beginning of the season?
The Shibutanis were assigned back-to-back events.  This means they won't have time to incorporate judges' feedback fully but both events are in Asia so they'll likely stay in between events and avoid jet lag.

Pairs
Winners
Steele/Schultz received a (non-host) assignment despite not meeting any of the normal criteria.
Purich/Schultz received a (non-host) assignment despite not meeting any of the normal criteria.
Iliushechkina/Maisuradze received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Zhang/Zhang, who sat out last season due to injury received two assignments.

Losers
Two time Junior World Champions and 2010 Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Sui and Han only received one assignment.
Kemp/King, ranked 12th in the World, received no assignments.
2011 Four Continents Bronze Medalists Lawrence/Swiegers received only one assignment.

Neutral
Kavaguti/Smirnov and Savchenko Szolkowy have taken advantage of the three event rule, will it give them more experience or drain their energy at the beginning of the season?
Pang/Tong have back to back events, but both are in Asia, so they will have minimal travel and jet lag.

Men
Winners
Daisuke Murakami received a (non-host) assignment despite not meeting any of the normal criteria
Samuel Contesti received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Konstantin Menshov received a (non-host) assignment despite not meeting any of the normal criteria
Kevin Reynolds received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Adam Rippon received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Andrei Rogozine received two spots (junior medalists are only guaranteed one).
Yuzuru Hanyu received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Jeremy Abbott received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Brandon Mroz received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Evan Lysacek recevied two spots despite sitting out last season.

Losers
JGPF Medalist Han Yan and Jr World Medalist Keiji Tanaka did not receive assignments, but could be going back to the JGP.
Evgeny Plushenko has not received an assignment, but could receive a host slot.

Neutral
Michal Brezina has taken advantage of the three event rule, will it give him more experience or drain his energy at the beginning of the season?

Ladies
Winners
Valentina Marchei received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Mirai Nagasu received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Cynthia Phaneuf received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Mae Berenice Meite received a (non-host) assignment despite not meeting any of the normal criteria
Akiko Suzuki received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Ashley Wagner received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Agnes Zawadzki received two spots (junior medalists are only guaranteed one).
Laura Lepisto received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Elizaveta Tuktamisheva received two spots (junior medalists are only guaranteed one).
Amelie Lacoste received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Haruka Imai received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)
Adelina Sotnikova received two spots (junior medalists are only guaranteed one).
Christina Gao received two spots (top 24 seasons best/world rankings typically only receive one)

Losers
Yasmin Siraj, Vanessa Lam, and Polina Shelepen did not receive assignments, but are all rumored to be returning to the JGP.

Neutral
Carolina Kostner and Alena Leonova have taken advantage of the three event rule, will it give them more experience or drain their energy at the beginning of the season?

2011 Grand Prix Assignments

Skate America (Oct 21-23)
Ladies
Elene Gedevanishvili, GEO
Carolina Kostner, ITA
Valentina Marchei, ITA
Haruka Imai, JPN
Ksenia Makarova, RUS
Joshi Helgesson, SWE
Viktoria Helgesson, SWE
Alissa Czisny, USA
Caroline Zhang, USA
Joelle Forte, USA


Mens 
Kevin van der Perren, BEL
Michal Brezina, CZE
Florent Amodio, FRA
Samuel Contesti, ITA
Takahiko Kozuka, JPN
Daisuke Murakami, JPN
Denis Ten, KAZ
Richard Dornbush, USA
Evan Lysacek, USA
Armin Mahbanoozadeh, USA


Pairs
Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, CAN
Zhang/Zhang, CHN
Hausch/Wende, GER
Savchenko/Szolkowy, GER
Bazarova/Larionov, RUS
Marley/Brubaker, USA
Vise/Baldwin, USA
Denney/Coughlin, USA


Dance
Paul/Islam, CAN
Ralph/Hill, CAN
Pechalat/Bourzat, FRA
Zhiganshina/Gazsi, GER
Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU
Davis/White, USA
Hubbell/Donohoe, USA
Cannuscio/Lorello, USA

Skate Canada (Oct 28-30)
Ladies
Amelie Lacoste, CAN
Cynthia Phaneuf, CAN
Adriana DeSanctis, CAN
Sarah Hecken, GER
Akiko Suzuki, JPN
Alena Leonova, RUS
Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, RUS
Rachael Flatt, USA
Mirai Nagasu, USA
Ashley Wagner, USA


Mens 
Kevin van der Perren, BEL
Patrick Chan, CAN
Andrei Rogozine, CAN
Elladj Balde, CAN
Daisuke Takahashi, JPN
Denis Ten, KAZ
Javier Fernandez, ESP
Alexander Majorov, SWE
Ross Miner, USA
Adam Rippon, USA


Pairs
Duhamel/Radford, CAN
Lawrence/Swiegers, CAN
Dube/Wolfe, CAN
Sui/Han, CHN
Yu/Jin, CHN
Takahashi/Tran, JPN
Iliushechkina/Maisuradze, RUS
Volosozhar/Trankov, RUS


Dance
Virtue/Moir, CAN
Weaver/Poje, CAN
Harvey/Gagnon, CAN
Pechalat/Bourzat, FRA
Cappelini/Lanotte, ITA
Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS
Riazanova/Tkachenko, RUS
Chock/Bates, USA

Cup of China (Nov 4-6)
Ladies
Bingwa Geng, CHN
Kexin Zhang, CHN
Qiuying Zhu, CHN
Carolina Kostner, ITA
Valentina Marchei, ITA
Kanako Murakmi, JPN
Ksenia Makarova, RUS
Adelina Sotnikova, RUS
Christina Gao, USA
Mirai Nagasu, USA


Mens 
Kevin Reynolds, CAN
Jinlin Guan, CHN
Jialing Wu, CHN
Nan Song, CHN
Brian Joubert, FRA
Yuzuru Hanya, JPN
Nobunari Oda, JPN
Artur Gachinski, RUS
Jeremy Abbott, USA
Richard Dornbush, USA 


Pairs
Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, CAN
Steele/Schultz, CAN
Sui/Han, CHN
Yu/Jin, CHN
Zhang/Zhang, CHN
Kadlecova/Bidar, CZE
Kavaguti/Smirnov, RUS
Evora/Ladwig, USA


Dance
Yu/Wang, CHN
Huang/Zheng, CHN
Carron/Jones, FRA
Coomes/Buckland, GBR
Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS
Lichtman/Copely, USA
Samuelson/Gilles, USA
Shibutani/Shibutani, USA

NHK Trophy (Nov 11-13)
Ladies
Cynthia Phaneuf, CAN
Kiira Korpi, FIN
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA
Elene Gedevanishvili, GEO
Mao Asada, JPN
Akiko Suzuki, JPN
Shoko Ishikawa, JPN
Alena Leonova, RUS
Ashley Wagner, USA
Agnes Zawadzki, USA


Mens 
Tomas Verner, CZE
Samuel Contesti, ITA
Takahiko Kozuka, JPN
Daisuke Takahashi, JPN
Tatsuki Machida, JPN
Konstantin Menshov, RUS
Adrian Schultheiss, SWE
Armin Mahbanoozadeh, USA
Ross Miner, USA
Brandon Mroz, USA


Pairs
Purich/Schultz, CAN
Savchenko/Szolkowy, GER
Berton/Hotarek, ITA
Takahashi/Tran, JPN
Iliushechkina/Maisuradze, RUS
Kavaguti/Smirnov, RUS
Castelli/Shnapir, USA
Denney/Coughlin, USA


Dance
Paul/Islam, CAN
Weaver/Poje, CAN
Zhiganshina/Gazsi, GER
Alessandrini/Vaturi, ITA
Reed/Reed, JPN
Ilinykh/Katsalapov, RUS
Kriengkrairut/Giuletti-Schmitt, USA
Shibutani/Shibutani, USA


Trophee Eric Bompard (Nov 18-20)
Ladies
Yrethe Silete, FRA
Lena Marrocco, FRA
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA
Sarah Hecken, GER
Carolina Kostner, ITA
Kanako Murakami, JPN
Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, RUS
Sonia Lafuente, ESP
Victoria Helgesson, SWE
Alissa Czisny, USA 


Mens 
Patrick Chan, CAN
Kevin Reynolds, CAN
Nan Song, CHN
Michal Brezina, CZE
Florent Amodio, FRA
Brian Joubert, FRA
Chaffik Besseghier, FRA
Nobunari Oda, JPN
Alexander Majorov, SWE
Adam Rippon, USA


Pairs
Duhamel/Radford, CAN
Dong/Wu, CHN
James/Cipres, FRA
Bazarova/Larionov, RUS
Stolbova/Klimov, RUS
Volosozhar/Trankov, RUS
Evora/Ladwig, USA


Dance
Virtue/Moir, CAN
Huang/Zheng, CHN
Pechalat/Bourzat, FRA
Zahorski/Miart, FRA
Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA
Gorshkova/Butikov, RUS
Ilinykh/Katsalapov, RUS
Hurtado/Diaz, ESP
 
Rostelecom Cup (Dec 8-11)
Ladies
Amelie Lacoste, CAN
Kiira Korpi, FIN
Mao Asada, JPN
Haruka Imai, JPN
Sofia Biryukova, RUS
Alena Leonova, RUS
Adelina Sotnikova, RUS
Rachael Flatt, USA
Christina Gao, USA
Agnes Zawadzki, USA


Mens 
Andrei Rogozine, CAN
Michal Brezina, CZE
Tomas Verner, CZE
Yuzuru Hanyu, JPN
Artur Gachinski, RUS
Sergei Voronov, RUS
Konstantin Menshov, RUS
Javier Fernandez, ESP
Jeremy Abbott, USA
Brandon Mroz, USA


Pairs
Jones/Gaskell, CAN
Hausch/Wende, GER
Savchenko/Szolkowy, GER
Berton/Hotarek, ITA
Gerboldt/Enbert, RUS
Kavaguti/Smirnov, RUS
Stolbova/Klimov, RUS
Cain/Reagan, USA


Dance
Weaver/Poje, CAN
Carron/Jones, FRA
Reed/Reed, JPN
Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU
Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS
Riazanova/Tkachenko, RUS
Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS
Davis/White, USA

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Potential Grand Prix Dance

I have listed out the criteria by which Grand Prix assignments have typically been given out in the past and bolded each skater's name the first time they appear on this list.  There are 28 teams on the list and 4 additional teams who have split/retired and could receive assignments but are unlikely to compete. 


Top 12 finishers at Worlds (historically guaranteed 2 GP spots, top 6 are seeded and may do 3 events)
1-6 Davis/White, Virtue/Moir, Shibutani/Shibutani, Pechalat/Bourzat, Weaver/Poje, Bobrova/Soloviev
7-12 Ilinykh/Katsalapov, Cappellini/Lanotte, Chock/Zuerlein (split), Crone/Poirer (split), Zhiganshina/Gazsi, Carron/Jones

Top 3 at Junior Grand Prix Final and Jr. Worlds (historically guaranteed 1 spot)
JGPF
Monko/Khaliavin, Sinitsina/Zhiganshin, Stepanova/Bukin
Jr. Worlds
Monko/Khaliavin, Pushkash/Guerreiro, Lichtman/Copely




Top 24 Seasons Best (typically receive 1 spot)


1185.27Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITEUSAWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
2181.79Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIRCANWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
3167.40Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZATFRAEuropean Championships 201128.01.2011
4163.79Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANIUSAWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
5161.14Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEVRUSEuropean Championships 201128.01.2011
6160.32Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJECANWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
7157.49Sinead KERR / John KERRGBREuropean Championships 201128.01.2011
8155.04Ksenia MONKO / Kirill KHALIAVINRUSISU JGP J. Curry Memorial 201002.10.2010
9154.50Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOVRUSWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
10154.42Vanessa CRONE / Paul POIRIERCANISU GP Skate Canada International 201031.10.2010
11153.77Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTEITAWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
12151.86Madison CHOCK / Greg ZUERLEINUSAWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
13146.79Ekaterina RIAZANOVA / Ilia TKACHENKORUSISU GP Trophee Eric Bompard 201027.11.2010
14145.92Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALIITAEuropean Championships 201128.01.2011
15142.09Nora HOFFMANN / Maxim ZAVOZINHUNISU GP Cup of Russia 201020.11.2010
16140.95Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSIGERWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
17140.86Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONESFRAWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
18138.16Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAMCANISU GP Skate Canada International 201031.10.2010
19136.80Ekaterina PUSHKASH / Jonathan GUERREIRORUSISU JGP Czech Skate 201016.10.2010
20135.35Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Matej NOVAKCZEEuropean Championships 201128.01.2011
21134.62Victoria SINITSINA / Ruslan ZHIGANSHINRUSISU JGP Final 2010/201110.12.2010
22133.36Charlotte LICHTMAN / Dean COPELYUSAWorld Junior Championships 201104.03.2011
23133.33Cathy REED / Chris REEDJPNWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
24131.01Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNASLTUWorld Championships 201130.04.2011
Note: #7 Kerr/Kerr have retired and #20 Mysliveckova/Novak have split but could still receive assignments.

Top 24 World Standings (typically receive 1 spot)

14171Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE
USA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
1200
756
0
800
560
0
400
280
0
0
175
0
0
0
23814Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT
FRA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
875
613
0
720
454
0
400
252
0
250
0
0
250
0
32704Tessa VIRTUE / Scott MOIR
CAN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
1080
840
0
0
504
0
0
280
0
0
0
0
0
0
42652Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE
CAN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
787
588
0
525
227
0
360
165
0
0
0
0
0
0
52549Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
756
402
0
583
204
0
400
204
0
0
0
0
0
0
62414Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI
USA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
972
256
0
324
199
0
324
175
0
164
0
0
0
0
72385Nora HOFFMANN / Maxim ZAVOZIN
HUN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
402
326
0
472
0
0
360
0
0
250
175
0
225
175
82278Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE
ITA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
574
347
0
262
368
0
0
252
0
250
0
0
225
0
92045Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES
FRA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
377
264
0
292
0
0
262
0
0
250
175
0
250
175
102000Elena ILINYKH / Nikita KATSALAPOV
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
638
350
0
324
221
0
292
175
0
0
0
0
0
0
111895Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG
CHN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
496
428
0
262
183
0
262
149
0
0
115
0
0
0
121804Ksenia MONKO / Kirill KHALIAVIN
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
500
284
0
350
245
0
250
175
0
0
0
0
0
0
131778Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Matej NOVAK
CZE
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
325
173
0
262
149
0
236
0
0
250
158
0
225
0
141771Ekaterina RIAZANOVA / Ilia TKACHENKO
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
496
0
0
360
165
0
262
0
0
203
158
0
0
127
151498Ekaterina PUSHKASH / Jonathan GUERREIRO
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
450
207
0
255
175
0
250
161
0
0
0
0
0
0
161412Kristina GORSHKOVA / Vitali BUTIKOV
RUS
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
0
0
0
292
149
0
236
149
0
225
158
0
203
0
171404Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND
GBR
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
247
121
0
191
0
0
191
0
0
203
142
0
182
127
181222Cathy REED / Chris REED
JPN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
339
193
0
213
149
0
213
0
0
0
115
0
0
0
191133Kharis RALPH / Asher HILL
CAN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
0
347
0
236
179
0
213
158
0
0
0
0
0
0
201096Charlotte LICHTMAN / Dean COPELY
USA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
405
0
0
250
127
0
230
84
0
0
0
0
0
0
211063Nelli ZHIGANSHINA / Alexander GAZSI
GER
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
446
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
250
142
0
225
0
22928Lorenza ALESSANDRINI / Simone VATURI
ITA
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
173
230
0
0
158
0
0
142
0
225
0
0
0
0
23923Sara HURTADO / Adria DIAZ
ESP
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
215
72
0
164
104
0
97
68
0
203
0
0
0
0
24918Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG
CHN
2011/2012 season (100%)
2010/2011 season (100%)
2009/2010 season (70%)
0
446
281
0
191
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0