JGP Slovenia Ladies Preview

Courtney Hicks showed she was back to full form by winning the silver medal at JGP USA with a free skate full of triples and her signature spins.  After being out for the majority of the year after suffering an injury at her second JGP assignment last season, she'll have the change to earn a medal here and qualify for her first JGP Final.

Evgenia Gerasimova of Russia finished just off the podium in 4th place at her debut at JGP USA.  She had a good short program but had struggles with her free skate.  With a clean free skate, she could claim her first medal and make a name for herself among the other young Russian ladies.

Hae-Jin Kim of Korea finished 5th in her season debut at JGP Austria matching her first result from last season.  She continued to improve throughout the season last year, winning her first medal on the JGP.  She has been steadily improving this season as well and should be able to challenge for a medal here.

Three skaters are making their season debuts and looking for a spot on the podium.  Anna Shershak won a silver on the JGP last season, Miu Sato finished 4th at both of her assignments last year and Barbie Long is making her JGP debut after winning the Gardena Trophy last season.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Courtney Hicks
Silver: Evgenia Gerasimova
Bronze: Hae Jin Kim

Bios of the competitors:

Chantelle Kerry, AUS: She placed 22nd in the preliminary round at Worlds and 17th at Four Continents.  She placed 13th at JGP Australia and 24th at JGP Estonia last season.  Her personal best is 108.99.  She is 16 years old.

Sabrina Schultz, AUT: She placed 24th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 12th at JGP Romania and 16th at JGP Italy.  Her personal best is 104.53.  She is 18 years old.

Eline Anthonissen, BEL: She placed 20th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  This is her JGP debut. She is 16 years old.

Arijana Tirak, BIH: She placed 32nd at JGP Latvia.  Her personal best is 45.49.  She is 16 years old.

Julianne Seguin, CAN: She placed 7th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 122.17.  She is 15 years old.

Xiaowen Guo, CHN: This is her international debut.  She is 15 years old.

Lena Wu, TPE: This is her international debut.

Ema Lipovscak, CRO: She placed 36th in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She placed 24th in JGP Poland last season.  Her personal best is 76.21.  She is 17 years old.

Eike Langerbaur, EST: This is her international debut.  She is 14 years old.

Laurine Lecavelier, FRA: She finished 12th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 119.78.  She is 16 years old.  

Jennifer Parker, GER: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.

Natasha McKay, GBR: This is her JGP debut.  She is 17 years old.

Yong Yeu Tiffany Lau, HKG: This is her international debut.  She is 15 years old.

Ivett Toth, HUN: This is her international debut.  She is 13 years old.

Victoria Manni, ITA: She placed 21st at JGP Italy last season.  Her personal best is 96.54.  She is 18 years old.

Hinano Isobe, JPN: This is her JGP debut.  She is 15 years old.

Miu Sato, JPN: She finished 12th at Junior Worlds.  She placed 4th at JGP Poland and JGP Austria last season.  Her personal best is 141.52.  She is 15 years old.

Alina Fjodorova, LAT: She placed 27th at Worlds, 16th at Europeans and 21st at Junior Worlds.  She finished 19th at JGP Turkey.  Her personal best is 133.48.  She is 17 years old.

Aleksandra Golovkina, LTU: She placed 18th at JGP France.  Her personal best is 92.93.  She is 14 years old.

Alisson Krystle Perticheto, PHI: This is her international debut.  She is 15 years old.

Hae Jin Kim, KOR: She placed 8th at Junior Worlds.  She finished 5th at JGP Austria.  Her personal best is 149.71.  She is 15 years old.

Raisa Rjenovschi, ROU: She placed 32nd in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She finished 27th at JGP Romania last season.  Her personal best is 64.90.  She is 17 years old.

Evgenia Gerasimova, RUS: She placed 4th at JGP USA.  Her personal best is 145.68.  She is 14 years old.

Anna Shershak, RUS: She won silver at JGP Italy and placed 7th at JGP Estonia.  Her personal best is 150.21.  She is 14 years old.

Sandra Ristivojevic, SRB: She placed 23rd in the preliminary round at Junior Worlds.  She finished 22nd at JGP Latvia and 21st at JGP Romania last season.  Her personal best is 85.48.  She is 16 years old.

Nicole Rajicova, SVK: She placed 13th at JGP USA.  Her personal best is 109.04.  She is 17 years old.

Naja Ferkov, SLO: This is her international debut.

Patricia Glescic, SLO: She placed 15th in the preliminary round at Europeans and 17th at Junior Worlds.  She placed 14th at JGP Austria.  Her personal best is 125.46.  She is 18 years old.

Patricia Juren, SLO: This is her international debut.

Gabriella Josefsson, SWE: She placed 18th at JGP Austria.  Her personal best is 97.76.  She is 17 years old.

Melisa Sema Atik, TUR: She placed 18th at JGP Romania and 24th at JGP Turkey last season.  Her personal best is 93.94.  She is 16 years old.

Courtney Hicks, USA: She won silver at JGP USA.  Her personal best is 153.77.  She is 16 years old.

Barbie Long, USA: This is her JGP debut.  She is 16 years old.