Skate America Ladies Preview

Alissa Czisny had a breakout season last year, winning her first Grand Prix Final.  Despite her success, she admitted she didn't reach all of her goals last season and is aiming for the World podium armed with a new arsenal of triples.  She went for the triple-triple at the Japan Open and while it was deemed under-rotated she is getting the combination out there.  With her impressive spins and performance quality, the increased technical content should be enough to get her to the top of the podium again.  


Carolina Kostner also had a good season last year, winning silver at the Grand Prix Final, silver at Europeans and bronze at Worlds.  She accomplished this with a limited repertoire of jumps.  She proved that even without the skills some of the other ladies have, she can still be competitive and if those elements are back in she could win gold.


Ksenia Makarova had good results in her Grand Prix results last year but never seemed to live up to her full potential.  She could never seem to put together two clean programs and maximize her score.  She is channeling Marilyn Monroe in her free skate this season and with her blonde hair and diva personality on the ice it should be an entertaining program.


Also in the hunt are Valentina Marchei and Haruka Imai.  Imai especially should pull up her score here.  She is young and only in her second season on the Grand Prix.  


My podium predictions:
Gold: Alissa Czisny
Silver: Carolina Kostner
Bronze: Ksenia Makarova


Bios of the competitors:

Elene Gedevanishvili, GEO: She finished 10th at Worlds and 9th at Europeans.  She placed 6th at NHK Trophy and 7th at Skate America last season.  She is the 2010 European Bronze medalist.  Her personal best is 164.54.  She is 21 years old.

Carolina Kostner, ITA: She is the reigning World bronze medalist and European silver medalist.  She won gold at NHK Trophy and bronze at Skate America last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won silver.  She is the 2008 World silver medalist and 2005 World bronze medalist; 2010, 2008 and 2007 European Champion; 2009 European silver medalist; 2006 European bronze medalist; and 2003 World Junior bronze medalist.  Her personal best is 184.68.  She is 24 years old.

Valentina Marchei, ITA: She finished 10th at Europeans.  She placed 8th at Skate Canada and 5th at Cup of Russia last season.  Her personal best is 153.71.  She is 25 years old.

Haruka Imai, JPN: She finished 5th at Skate Canada and 6th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Her personal best is 155.29.  She is 18 years old.

Ksenia Makarova, RUS: She finished 7th at Worlds and 4th at Europeans.  She won silver at Skate Canada and placed 7th at Cup of Russia last season.  Her personal best is 171.91.  She is 18 years old.

Joshi Helgesson, SWE: She finished 15th at Worlds.  She placed 7th at Cup of China and 4th at Skate America last season.  Her personal best is 149.08.  She is 18 years old.

Viktoria Helgesson, SWE: She finished 17th at Worlds and 6th at Europeans.  She placed 9th at NHK Trophy and 6th at Skate America last season.  Her personal best is 161.79.  She is 23 years old.

Alissa Czisny, USA: She finished 5th at Worlds and Four Continents.  She won gold at Skate America and bronze at Trophee Eric Bompard last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won gold.  Her personal best is 182.85.  She is 24 years old.

Joelle Forte, USA: This is her Grand Prix debut.  She is 25 years old.

Caroline Zhang, USA: She finished 7th at NHK Trophy and 9th at Skate America last season.  She is the 2010 Four Continents bronze medalist, 2007 World Junior Champion and 2008 and 2009 World Junior silver medalist.  Her personal best is 176.48.  She is 18 years old.