Junior Grand Prix Final--Mens Short Program

Group 1

Gordei Gorshkov, RUS
28.73 TES + 26.82 PCS = 55.55

Zhan Bush, RUS
33.69 TES + 26.36 PCS = 60.05

Max Aaron, USA
35.71 TES + 28.07 PCS = 63.78

Richard Dornbush, USA
40.36 TES + 30.39 PCS = 70.75

Group 2

Keegan Messing, USA
38.02 TES + 30.50 PCS = 68.52

Joshua Farris, USA
36.03 TES + 29.21 PCS = 65.24

Han Yan, CHN
36.16 TES + 31.13 PCS = 67.29

Andrei Rogozine, CAN
30.35 TES + 28.82 PCS = 59.17

Top 3:
1) Dornbush
2) Messing
3) Yan

Top TES: Dornbush
Top PCS: Yan

Junior Grand Prix Final--Ladies Short Program

Group 1

Zijun Li, CHN
28.04 TES + 21.58 PCS = 49.62

Kristiene Gong, USA
25.52 TES + 21. 72 PCS = 47.24

Yasmin Siraj, USA
18.34 TES + 20.74 PCS -1.00 = 38.08

Christina Gao, USA
23.21 TES + 21. 77 PCS -1.00 = 43.98

Group 2

Polina Shelepen, RUS
30.71 TES + 22.55 PCS = 53.26

Risa Shoji, JPN
28.56 TES + 24.00 PCS = 52.56

Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, RUS
29.36 TES + 24.40 PCS = 53.76

Adelina Sotnikova, RUS
31.52 TES + 25.75 PCS = 57.27

Top 3:
1) Sotnikova
2) Tuktamisheva
3) Shelepen

Top TES: Sotnikova
Top PCS: Sotnikova

Junior Grand Prix Final--Short Dance

Group 1

Marina Antipova/Artem Kudashev, RUS
22.69 TES + 21.49 PCS = 43.18

Anastasia Galyeta/Alexei Shumski, UKR
21.43 TES + 23.67 PCS = 45.10

Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin, RUS
30.79 TES + 24.79 PCS = 55.58

Evgenia Kosigna/Nikolai Moroshkin, RUS
23.00 TES + 23.98 PCS = 46.98

Group 2

Charlotte Lichtman/Dean Copely, USA

27.36 TES + 23.38 PCS = 50.74

Ekaterina Pushkash/Jonathan Guerreiro, RUS

26.43 TES + 26.63 PCS = 53.06

Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin, RUS

29.57 TES + 24.02 PCS = 53.39

Ksenia Monko/Kirill Khaliavin, RUS

27.50 TES + 28.00 PCS = 55.50

Top 3:
1) Sinitsina/Zhiganshin
2) Monko/Khaliavan
3) Stepanova/Bukin

Top TES: Sinitsina/Zhiganshin
Top PCS: Monko/Khaliavan

Breaking Down the Elements--Mens Free Skate

Senior Men must complete elements in three categories during the four and a half minutes allotted for their free skate.

Jumps

• A maximum of 8 jumping passes can be completed
• 1 must be an Axel-type jump
• Maximum 3 combinations or sequences
• Combinations are limited to 2 jumps, but one 3-jump combo is permitted
• Number of jumps in sequence is free
• 2 triples or quads may be repeated, but they must be in a combination or sequence
• 2 double Axels maximum as solo jumps or in a combination or sequence

Spins

• Maximum of three spins
• 1 spin must have a flying entry
• 1 spin must be a combination with or without change of foot
• 1 spin with only 1 position
• Minimum 6 revolutions, 10 for the combination spin, minimum of 2 revolutions in each position
• All spins may change feet and start with a flying entry
• Spins must be of a different nature

Step Sequences

• There is a maximum of 2
• Step sequences can be straight line, cicular, or serpentine
• If two sequences are performed, the first will be awarded the level, and the second will be awarded a fixed Base Value and is factored into the program components scores.

The main change this season is the removal of the second required step sequence and the inclusion of the choreographic step sequence.  With only one step sequence scored for a level, the skaters have more time to use throughout the rest of the program.  The second step sequence allows the skaters to express their personalities and the character of the music without worrying about hitting a required number of elements.

Grand Prix Final Schedule and Liveblogs

The Grand Prix Final starts in just three days! I've highlighted the events I plan to liveblog.  All times are Eastern Standard Time. 

December 9th
3:45am Junior Short Dance
5:10am Junior Ladies Short Program
6:35am Junior Men Short Program
8:00am Junior Pairs Short Program

December 10th
1:15am Junior Free Dance
2:45am Junior Ladies Free Skate
4:15am Senior Short Dance
5:25am Senior Men Short Program
6:30am Senior Ladies Short Program
7:35am Senior Pairs Short Program

December 11th
12:45am Junior Men Free Skate
2:20am Junior Pairs Free Skate
3:55am Senior Men Free Skate
5:10am Senior Ladies Free Skate
6:20am Senior Free Dance
7:40am Senior Pairs Free Skate

Grand Prix Final--Dance Preview

This is Davis and White's competition to lose.  They had some problems at Skate America with their programs and even had an uncharacteristic fall.  They have also received low levels for their Golden Waltz.  Even with these problems, they still easily have the top scores this season.  If they've corrected these problems, they should have an easy lead and take home the gold.  Pechalat and Bourzat are having a great season, winning gold at both their events and have set themselves up as Davis and White's top competition.  I don't think they can overtake the Americans here but they should easily be able to take the gold medal. 

Crone and Poirier have emerged as the top Canadian team with Virtue and Moir out for at least the first half of the season, but they are still a ways from the top two teams.  I think they need to work on adding more fluidity to their programs and to up their performance value if they want to challenge for the top spots on the podium.  Bobrova and Soloviev are another team that have come into their own this season, winning their first career Grand Prix medals.  Their scores are very close to Crone/Poirier's and they will challenge for the 3rd podium spot.  Bobrova and Soloviev have slightly higher technical and program component scores in their free dance, and if they can repeat this in their short dance, they'll medal here.

Weaver and Poje are one of my favorite teams and are a delight to watch and their technical scores are on par with the other teams, but they fall behind in their program components.  This is not unusual in a younger team, and this score should come up as they continue to improve.  They had a fall in their program at Skate America yet still managed to improve their score over NHK Trophy.  Their scores should be higher here, but it will be difficult for them to get onto the podium.  Hoffman and Zavozin are having a break out season winning the silver medal at Rostelecom Cup with a score 12 points higher than Cup of China.  The Final will be a chance for them to solidify their place among the top teams if they can maintain their scores but they are still a long way from the podium. 

My predictions in order of finish:
Gold: Davis/White
Silver: Pechalat/Bourzat
Bronze: Crone/Poirier
4th: Bobrova/Soloviev
5th: Weaver/Poje
6th: Hoffman/Zavozin

My USFSA Fantasy Team is:
A) Davis/White
B) Bobrova/Soloviev

The teams in order of qualification:

Meryl Davis/Charlie White, USA: They won silver at Olympics and Worlds.  They are the 2009 Four Continents champions and 2008 silver medalists.  They are the 2006 World Junior bronze medalists.  They won gold at NHK Trophy and Skate America.  They are the defending GPF champions.  This is their 3rd trip to the Final. 

Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat, FRA: They placed 7th at the Olympics and 4th at both Worlds and Europeans.  They won gold at Cup of China and Trophee Eric Bompard.  They took home bronze from the GPF last season.  This is their 3rd trip to the Final.

Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier, CAN: They finished 14th at the Olympics and 7th at the World Championships.  They won gold at Skate Canada and silver at Skate America.  They placed 6th at the GPF last season.  This is their 2nd trip to the Final.

Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev, RUS: They placed 15th at the Olympics, 8th at Worlds and 9th at Europeans.  They are the 2007 World Junior Champions.  They won silver at Cup of China and gold at Rostelecom Cup.

Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje, CAN: Weaver and Poje are the reigning Four Continents champions.  They are the 2007 World Junior Bronze Medalists.  They won silver at NHK Trophy and finished 4th at Skate America.

Nora Hoffman/Maxim Zavozin, HUN: Hoffman and Zavozin placed 13th at the Olympics and 10th at the World and European Championships.  Zavozin used to compete for USA and won the World Junior title in 2005.  They finished 4th at Cup of China and won silver at Rostelecom Cup.

Grand Prix Final--Pairs Preview

Savechenko and Szolkowy easily have the top 2 scores of the season and if they perform as they did in their two assignments, should have a good shot at the gold here.  Pang and Tong will give them a run for their money and can outscore Savchenko/Szolkowy if they perform their best, but they don't seem to be in top form yet this season and they had a lot of problems at Cup of China. 

Bazarova and Larionov have come into their own this season and have set two new personal bests despite a few errors in their programs.  They have all the characteristics of the great Russian teams with exquisite lines, great lifts, and flawless technique.  If they can skate two clean programs, they could potentially challenge for silver here, but should be able to land on the podium.  Moore-Towers and Moscovitch have emerged as the pairs team to beat in Canada with the absence of Dube and Davison.  They also have momentum behind them as they've set new personal bests at both their events.  Their scores are lower than Bazarova/Larionov but if they skate clean, they could challenge for the podium. 

Ilushechkina/Maisuradze are proving to be another young up and coming Russian pair team.  I especially love the personality in their short program which contrasts with some of the older teams more serious programs.  Their scores are some of the lowest in the bunch and their technical and performance components fall below the other competitors.  They also fell off the podium in their second event with a significantly lower score.  Look for them to regroup here but it will be difficult for them to make the podium.  Sui and Han have had a standout first season on the senior circuit, nearly defeating Pang and Tong at Cup of China and winning bronze at Skate America.  Their short program is full of personality and they have all the trademark Chinese elements including huge throws and they have a quad throw in their free program.  I think they'll see an improvement in their scores here, but it will also be difficult for them to make the podium.

My predictions in order of finish:
Gold: Savchenko/Szolkowy
Silver: Pang/Tong
Bronze: Bazarova/Larionov
4th: Moore-Towers/Moscovitch
5th: Sui/Han
6th: Iliushechkina/Maisuradze

My USFSA Fantasy Team is:
A) Savchenko/Szolkowy
B) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch

Competitors in order of qualification:

Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy, GER: They won bronze at the Olympics with a personal best short program score and silver at Worlds and Europeans (with a personal best free skate and total score).  They have 2 additional Gold and 1 Bronze medal at the World Championships and 3 Gold and a silver at Europeans.  They won gold at Skate America and Trophee Eric Bompard.  They took home bronze from the GPF last season.  This is their 6th consecutive trip to the Final.

Qing Pang/Jang Tong, CHN: Pang and Tong won silver at the Olympics (with personal bests in the free skate and total score) and are the reigning World Champions (with a personal best short program).  They also won the World Championships in 2006.  They are three time Four Continents gold medalists and two time silver medalists.  They won gold at NHK Trophy and Cup of China.  They took home silver from the GPF last season.  This is their 7th trip to the Final.

Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov, RUS:  They finished 11th at the Olympics, 8th at Worlds and 5th at Europeans.  They won silver at NHK Trophy with personal best scores across the board and silver at Trophee Eric Bompard again with personal best scores across the board.

Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch, CAN: They placed 9th at Four Continents.  They won silver at Skate Canada this season with personal best scores across the board and silver at Skate America with personal best short program and total scores.

Lubov Iliushechkina/Nodari Maisuradze, RUS: They are the 2009 World Junior Champions.  They won Skate Canada with personal best free skate and total scores and they placed 4th at Cup of China.

Wenjing Sui/Cong Han, CHN: Sui and Han are the reigning World Junior Champions. They won the silver medal at Cup of China with personal best scores across the board and bronze at Skate America with a personal best free skate in their first season on the Grand Prix.  They won the JGPF last season and qualified again this season, but withdrew to focus on the senior Final.