She'll have to fend off Elena Radionova, the newest generation of Russian wonder babies. She placed 3rd at Russian nationals as a junior last season. Her scores at an international novice event are good enough to put her on the podium, even though novices are limited to easier elements and a maximum of Level 3 on their spins and footwork. She has lots of expectations to live up to but has the skills to win a medal in her JGP debut.
Ziquan Zhao finished off the podium at her sole JGP event this season. Although she finished just outside the top 10 at Junior Worlds last season, she did finish ahead of Vanessa Lam. With Zijun Li competing on the Senior Grand Prix this season, Zhao is China's top lady on the JGP circuit.
Also looking to medal is Hwi Choi of Korea who scored almost 140 points at the Asian Figure Skating Trophy. She is also making her JGP debut but is coming into this event under the radar.
Ashley Cain skated solidly on the JGP last season but finished just off the podium in her two events. She skated cleanly at U.S. nationals and was a surprise silver medalist. She skated on the Senior Grand Prix last season in pairs, but her partnership ended in the off-season. With time to focus solely on her singles career she could make the leap to the podium for the first time at an international event here.
Nearly half the field at this event are new to international competitions with nine making their international debuts and three making their Junior Grand Prix debuts. Only Vanessa Lam has medaled on the JGP, giving at least two skaters the opportunity to earn their first medals.
My podium predictions:
Gold: Elena Radionova
Silver: Vanessa Lam
Bronze: Ziquan Zhao
Bios of the competitors:
Kristina Isabel Yntema, AUT: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Nastassia Hrbyko, BLR: She placed 25th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 85.99. She is 18 years old.
Julianne Seguin, CAN: This is her international debut. She is 15 years old.
Ziquan Zhao, CHN: She placed 11th at Junior Worlds. She finished 6th at JGP Italy last season. Her personal best is 143.92. She is 14 years old.
Nastassia Hrbyko, BLR: She placed 25th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 85.99. She is 18 years old.
Julianne Seguin, CAN: This is her international debut. She is 15 years old.
Ziquan Zhao, CHN: She placed 11th at Junior Worlds. She finished 6th at JGP Italy last season. Her personal best is 143.92. She is 14 years old.
Anita Madsen, DEN: She finished 26th at Junior Worlds. She placed 12th at JGP Australia and 8th at JGP Italy last season. Her personal best is 115.55. She is 17 years old.
Sindra Kriisa, EST: She placed 15th at JGP Australia and 16th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 98.21. She is 16 years old.
Sindra Kriisa, EST: She placed 15th at JGP Australia and 16th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 98.21. She is 16 years old.
Eveliina Viljanen, FIN: She placed 11th at JGP Italy. Her personal best is 110.65. She is 16 years old.
Lenaelle Gilleron-Gorry, FRA: She placed 27th at Junior Worlds. She finished 8th at JGP Latvia and JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 120.78. She is 17 years old.
Laurine Lecavelier, FRA: She finished 12th at JGP Italy and 10th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 119.78. She is 16 years old.
Carla Monzali, FRA: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Micol Cristini, ITA: She finished 11th at JGP Romania and 23rd at JGP Italy. Her personal best is 105.56. She is 15 years old.
Rika Hongo, JPN: This is her international debut. She is 15 years old.
Yura Matsuda, JPN: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Angelina Kuchvalska, LAT:
Aleksandra Golovkina, LTU: This is her JGP debut. She is 14 years old.
Laurine Lecavelier, FRA: She finished 12th at JGP Italy and 10th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 119.78. She is 16 years old.
Carla Monzali, FRA: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Micol Cristini, ITA: She finished 11th at JGP Romania and 23rd at JGP Italy. Her personal best is 105.56. She is 15 years old.
Rika Hongo, JPN: This is her international debut. She is 15 years old.
Yura Matsuda, JPN: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Angelina Kuchvalska, LAT:
Aleksandra Golovkina, LTU: This is her JGP debut. She is 14 years old.
Kim Bell, NED: She placed 24th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds. She finished 22nd at JGP Austria last season. Her personal best is 84.11. She is 17 years old
Camilla Gjersem, NOR: She finished 16th in the preliminary round at Europeans. She placed 15th at JGP Austria and 20th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 95.35. She is 18 years old.
Hwi Choi, KOR: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Elena Radionova, RUS: This is her international debut.
Uliana Titushkina, RUS: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Ceciliane Mei Ling Hartmann, SIN: This is her JGP debut. She is 14 years old.
Erika Vitekova, SVK: She finished 22nd at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 83.29. She is 17 years old.
Marta Garcia, ESP: She finished 19th at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 97.78. She is 18 years old.
Rebecka Emanuelsson, SWE: She finished 11th at JGP Poland last season. Her personal best is 119.89. She is 17 years old.
Tanja Odermatt, SUI: This is her JGP debut. She is 15 years old.
Anastasia Yalovaia, UKR: Her personal best is 83.00. She is 17 years old.
Ashley Cain, USA: She placed 6th at JGP Latvia and 5th at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 132.95. She is 17 years old.
Camilla Gjersem, NOR: She finished 16th in the preliminary round at Europeans. She placed 15th at JGP Austria and 20th at JGP Estonia last season. Her personal best is 95.35. She is 18 years old.
Hwi Choi, KOR: This is her international debut. She is 14 years old.
Elena Radionova, RUS: This is her international debut.
Uliana Titushkina, RUS: This is her international debut. She is 13 years old.
Ceciliane Mei Ling Hartmann, SIN: This is her JGP debut. She is 14 years old.
Erika Vitekova, SVK: She finished 22nd at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 83.29. She is 17 years old.
Marta Garcia, ESP: She finished 19th at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 97.78. She is 18 years old.
Rebecka Emanuelsson, SWE: She finished 11th at JGP Poland last season. Her personal best is 119.89. She is 17 years old.
Tanja Odermatt, SUI: This is her JGP debut. She is 15 years old.
Anastasia Yalovaia, UKR: Her personal best is 83.00. She is 17 years old.
Ashley Cain, USA: She placed 6th at JGP Latvia and 5th at JGP Romania last season. Her personal best is 132.95. She is 17 years old.
Vanessa Lam, USA: She placed 13th at Junior Worlds. She won bronze at JGP Australia and gold at JGP Austria to qualify for the JGP Final last season where she finished 5th. Her personal best is 156.58. She is 17 years old.
It's Courchevel with an 'el' not wit an 'al'!!!
ReplyDelete