JGP Romania Dance Preview

This should be a good event as Stepanova and Bukin of Russia face off against Galyeta and Shumski of Ukraine.  Stepanova and Bukin took home two gold medals this season, and with so many talented Russian teams, nothing less than gold will do.  Galyeta and Shumski had a great season last year and started off this season with a silver medal at JGP Poland.  They finished below their personal best and will need to step up their game if they want to return to the JGPF, where there are two less slots then less season.

Shtork and Rand of Estonia have a great shot at winning their first medal here.  They finished 8th and 6th last season and finished in the top 10 at Junior Worlds.  Against the young field here, they have one of their best shots at climbing into the upper ranks at the junior level.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Stepanova/Bukin
Silver: Galyeta/Shumski
Bronze: Shtork/Rand

Bios of the competitors:

Shostak/Kisliakov, BLR:

Bent/MacKeen, CAN:

Fournier Beaudry/Breton, CAN:

Konickova/Lang, CZE: They finished 13th at JGP Romania last season.  Their personal best is 59.59.  She is 15 and he is 16.

Shtork/Rand, EST: They finished 21st at Europeans and 10th at Junior Worlds.  They finished 8th at JGP Austria and 6th at JGP Great Britain last season.  Their personal best is 117.50.  She is 18 and he is 19.

Flemin/Flemin, FRA:

Hetman/Allain, FRA:

Hauser/Lerche, GER: They finished 19th at JGP Germany last season.  Their personal best is 69.44.  She is 16 and he is 18.

Bugrov/Rogov, ISR: They finished 15^th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  They placed 15^th at JGP Latvia.  Their personal best is 85.37.  She is 15 and he is 19. 

Sforza/Fioretti, ITA: They finished 20th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 6th at JGP Romania and 8th at JGP Germany last season.  Their personal best is 104.46.  She is 16 and he is 18.

Simonova/Dragun, RUS: This is their international debut.  She is 15 and he is 17.

Stepanova/Bukin, RUS: They won gold at JGP France and Japan last season to qualify for the JGP Final where they won bronze.  Their personal best is 130.08.  She is 16 and he is 18.

Galyeta/Shumski, UKR: They finished 13th at Junior Worlds.  They won silver at JGP Poland.  They won silver at JGP Romania and bronze at JGP Czech Republic last season to qualify for the JGPF where they finished 7th.  Their personal best is 124.65.  She is 18 and he is 20.

Hawayek/Bramante, USA:

Nagornyuk/Kovalenko, UZB: