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Saturday, August 27, 2011

JGP Latvia Pairs Preview

This is Sui and Han of China's event to lose.  They competed as juniors and seniors last season and medaled at the Grand Prix Final in addition to defending their Junior Worlds title.  They have throw quads in their arsenal and impressive lifts.  They should have an easy time winning here and preparing for their Grand Prix season.  Yu/Jin took home the bronze from the JGPF to add to their two JGP medals from the season and should also put up a strong showing here. A trio of veteran teams could be fighting it out for the last spot on the podium: Purdy/Marinaro from Canada, Petaikina/Kurduykov from Russia and Duarte/Grafton from the USA.  Young teams from China, Russia and the USA are also making their debuts and could snatch a medal.  The competition is tight for the last spot on the podium with so many teams looking to make their mark.

Podium predictions:
Gold: Sui/Han, CHN
Silver: Yu/Jin, CHN
Bronze: Petaikina/Kurduykov, RUS

Bios of the competitors:

Martini/Kiefer, AUT: They finished 21st at Worlds, 15th at Europeans and 16th at Junior Worlds.  Their personal best is 100.87.  She is 18 years old and he is 20 years old. 

Purdy/Marinaro, CAN: The finished 10th at JGP Great Britain and 9th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 129.29.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Li/Jiang, CHN: This is their international debut.  She is 13 and he is 19.

Sui/Han, CHN: They are the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Champions.  They won silver at Cup of China and bronze at Skate America last season to qualify for the GPF where they won bronze.  They won silver at JGP Austria and gold at JGP Germany last season to qualify for the JGPF but they withdrew to focus on the senior competition.  Their personal best is 179.04.  She is 16 years old and he is 19.

Yu/Jin, CHN: The won bronze at JGP Austria and gold at JGP Czech Republic last season to qualify for the JGPF where they won bronze.  Their personal best is 140.58.  She is 15 and he is 17.

Krutskinkh/Morozov, RUS: This is their international debut.  She is 13 and he is 18.  

Petaikina/Kurduykov, RUS: They finished 5th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 131.94.  She is 16 and he is 20.  

Tudvaseva/Lisiev, RUS: This is their international debut.  She is 13 and he is 18. 

Lundberg/Lundberg, SWE: They placed 12th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 95.15.  She is 16 and he is 19. 

Denney/Frazier, USA: This is their first season together since last competing as a team in 2008.  She is 15 and he is 18. 

Duarte/Grafton, USA: They placed 5th at JGP Great Britain and 7th at JGP Czech Republic last season.  Their personal best is 123.45.  She is 18 and he is 19. 

Oltmanns/Santillan, USA: They placed 11th at JGP Austria last season.  She is 14 and he is 19.

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