Russian Nationals Ice Dance Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Deduction -	StN.
A	Catherine Bobrov / Dmitry Solovyov	MOS	70.23	34.00		36.23	9.00	8.89	9.00	9.21	9.14	0.00	# 10
2	Elena Ilina / Nikita Katsalapov	MOS	66.94	33.28		34.66	8.46	8.50	8.61	8.86	8.82	1.00	# 7
3	Catherine RYAZANOV / Ilia Tkachenko	MOB	65.22	31.86		33.36	8.36	8.14	8.39	8.43	8.36	0.00	# 3
4	Catherine Puskas / Jonathan Ghurair	MOS	60.25	30.72		29.53	7.36	7.21	7.50	7.39	7.43	0.00	# 5
5	Xenia Mońki / Cyril Halyavin	MOS	58.27	28.92		30.35	7.64	7.50	7.54	7.68	7.57	1.00	# 1
6	Valeria Starygin / Ivan Volobuev	MOS	54.67	26.37		28.30	7.00	6.89	7.18	7.18	7.11	0.00	# 8
7	Kristina Gorshkova / Vitali BOUTIQUE	MOS	48.68	8.22		26.60	7.00	6.50	6.68	6.54	6.54	0.00	# 4
8	Anastasia Kabanova / Nikolay Babin	MOB	46.24	24.86		21.38	5.54	5.21	5.36	5.46	5.18	0.00	# 2
9	Anna Polikarpov / Maxim Kirillov	TOL	45.64	22.93		22.71	5.86	5.54	5.61	5.75	5.61	0.00	# 9
10	Eugene Shakhtarin / Denis Kozlov	KIR	35.69	17.00		18.69	4.86	4.57	4.82	4.71	4.46	0.00	# 6

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Deduction -	StN.
A	Catherine Bobrov / Dmitry Solovyov	MOS	101.24	47.50		53.74	8.86	8.86	9.00	9.11	4.9	0.00	# 10
2	Elena Ilina / Nikita Katsalapov	MOS	95.00	42.85		52.15	8.79	8.46	8.71	8.82	8.82	0.00	# 7
3	Catherine Puskas / Jonathan Ghurair	MOS	90.32	44.02		46.30	7.68	7.54	7.82	7.79	7.89	0.00	# 9
4	Catherine RYAZANOV / Ilia Tkachenko	MOB	89.49	40.78		48.71	8.11	8.00	7.8	8.25	8.25	0.00	# 6
5	Xenia Mońki / Cyril Halyavin	MOS	88.01	42.00		47.01	7.82	7.68	7.86	7.93	8.00	1.00	# 8
6	Anna Polikarpov / Maxim Kirillov	TOL	73.93	38.92		35.01	6.00	5.64	5.89	5.82	5.93	0.00	# 1
7	Valeria Starygin / Ivan Volobuev	MOS	73.76	32.64		42.12	6.93	6.96	6.86	7.21	7.21	1.00	# 5
8	Kristina Gorshkova / Vitali BOUTIQUE	MOS	72.20	32.21		39.99	6.79	6.57	6.75	6.68	6.57	0.00	# 2
9	Anastasia Kabanova / Nikolay Babin	MOB	68.61	36.77		33.84	5.71	5.54	5.75	5.61	5.64	2.00	# 4
10	Eugene Shakhtarin / Denis Kozlov	KIR	56.84	25.89		30.95	5.7	5.00	5.21	5.36	5.29	0.00	# 3

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	CT	Fri
A	Catherine Bobrov / Dmitry Solovyov	MOS	171.47	A	A
2	Elena Ilina / Nikita Katsalapov	MOS	161.94	2	2
3	Catherine RYAZANOV / Ilia Tkachenko	MOB	154.71	3	4
4	Catherine Puskas / Jonathan Ghurair	MOS	150.57	4	3
5	Xenia Mońki / Cyril Halyavin	MOS	146.28	5	5
6	Valeria Starygin / Ivan Volobuev	MOS	128.43	6	7
7	Kristina Gorshkova / Vitali BOUTIQUE	MOS	120.88	7	8
8	Anna Polikarpov / Maxim Kirillov	TOL	119.57	9	6
9	Anastasia Kabanova / Nikolay Babin	MOB	114.85	8	9
10	Eugene Shakhtarin / Denis Kozlov	KIR	92.53	10	10

Skate Canada Dance Preview

Virtue and Moir are returning to the Grand Prix circuit after missing the majority of last season as she recovered from surgery to relieve compression syndrome in her legs.  They have turned their free dance that won them the world silver medal into their short dance for this season.  They debuted their programs earlier this season at Finlandia Trophy, and while their scores were good, Davis and White set the bar high at Skate America.  They have never won a Grand Prix Final and have made it clear that they want their World title back.  They'll need to keep pace with the Americans if they want to show the judges that they're healthy and can contend for the title.

Pechalat and Bourzat had a great shot at claiming their second medal here, but had to withdraw due to his bronchitis.  This gives the other teams in this field a shot at the podium and the Final.  Pechalat and Bourzat's training mates Weaver and Poje had a breakout season last year showcasing their elegant style in a classy short dance and finishing in the top 5 at Worlds.  They struggled with their free dance all season, however, and it seemed like their nerves got the best of them and caused them to make mistakes that cost them placements and medals all season long.  If they can get a handle on that and if they are packaged appropriately they have all the skills to be serious contenders.  One of the successes of the Canton system is that there are several top skaters practicing and pushing each other every day, and this will be the first chance to see how Weaver and Poje are improving having another World class team at their rink.

Riazanova and Tkachenko are a young team from Russia who are in their second senior season.  They won their first medal last season and finished 5th at Europeans but were left off the World team as there were only two Russian spots.  The Russians have three spots this season, but there is a lot of young talent coming up from the junior ranks and they'll need to up their game if they want to remain competitive.

One of those young Russian teams is Pushkash and Guerreiro, who are the reigning World Junior silver medalists.  With Monko and Khaliavin, the Russian World Junior Champions out of the Grand Prix series due to injury, this team has a great shot at making a name for themselves and showing they have what it takes to compete at the senior level.

Chock and Bates are making their Grand Prix debut and are a wild card here.  He sat out last season after his achilles tendon was severed in a training accident.  Chock finished in the top 10 at Worlds with Greg Zuerlein who retired at the end of last season.  They teamed up this summer and have made quick strides and could be one of the dark horses in this event.  They both have had success and lots of experience and with their height difference can pull off some impressive lifts.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Virtue/Moir
Silver: Weaver/Poje
Bronze: Riazanova/Tkachenko

Bios of the competitors:
Harvey/Gagnon, CAN: This is their Grand Prix debut.  She is 21 and he is 23.

Virtue/Moir, CAN: They are the reigning World silver medalists.  They sat out the majority of last season as she recovered from injury.  They are the 2010 Olympic Champions, 2010 World Champions, 2008 World Silver Medalists, 2009 World Bronze Medalists, 2008 Four Continents Champions, 2009 Four Continents silver medalists, 2006 and 2007 Four Continents bronze medalists, 2006 World Junior Champions and 2005 World Junior silver medalists.  Their personal best is 181.79.  She is 22 and he is 24.

Weaver/Poje, CAN: They finished 5th at Worlds and 4th at Four Continents.  They won silver at NHK Trophy and placed 4th at Skate America last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 5th.  They are the 2010 Four Continents Champions and 2007 Junior World bronze medalists.  Their personal best is 160.32.  She is 22 and he is 24.

Cappelini/Lanotte, ITA: They placed 8th at Worlds.  They finished 5th at NHK Trophy last season.  Their personal best is 153.77.  She is 24 and he is 26.

Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS: They are the reigning World Junior silver medalists.  This is their Grand Prix debut.  They won silver at JGP Japan and gold at JGP Czech Republic last season to qualify for the JGP Final where they placed 4th.  Their personal best is 136.80.  She is 19 and he is 20.

Riazanova/Tkachenko, RUS: They finished 6th at Europeans.  They placed 5th at Skate America and won silver at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 146.79.  She is 20 and he is 24.

Chock/Bates, USA: This is their first season together and their Grand Prix debut.  With Emily Samuelson, Bates is the 2009 Four Continents bronze medalist and 2008 World Junior Champion.  With Greg Zuerlein, Chock is the 2009 World Junior Champion.  She is 19 and he is 22.

Junior World Championships: Free Dance

1. Monko/Khaliavin, RUS: 38.43 TES + 45.11 PCS = 83.54 Total: 144.16
2. Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS: 36.92 TES + 41.96 PCS = 78.88 Total: 134.64
3. Lichtman/Copely, USA: 38.37 TES + 39.71 PCS = 78.08 Total: 133.36
4. Zahorski/Miart, FRA: 40.78 TES + 38.42 PCS = 79.20 Total: 128.16
5. Visnova/Csolley, SVK: 37.57 TES + 36.50 PCS = 74.07 Total: 126.07
6. Kosigina/Moroshkin, RUS: 36.04 TES + 38.51 PCS = 74.55 Total: 125.43
7. Cannuscio/McManus, USA: 35.36 TES + 36.60 PCS = 71.96 Total: 122.90
8. Orford/Williams, CAN: 36.65 TES + 35.76 PCS = 72.41 Total: 122.22
9. Hurtado/Diaz, ESP: 36.87 TES + 34.70 PCS = 71.57 Total: 120.41
10. Shtork/Rand, EST: 33.35 TES + 34.91 PCS = 67.41 Total: 117.50
11. Bonacorsi/Mager, USA: 33.35 TES + 35.28 PCS = 68.63 Total: 117.26
12. Papadakis/Cizeron, FRA: 35.85 TES + 35.74 PCS = 71.59 Total: 115.56
13. Galyeta/Shumski, UKR: 29.92 TES + 33.74 PCS = 63.66 Total: 112.11
14. Elsener/Roost, SUI: 31.26 TES + 31.93 PCS = 63.19 Total: 110.39
15. Oliveira/Hockley, CAN: 33.39 TES + 31.13 PCS - 64.52 Total: 109.66
16. Dieck/Zenkner, GER: 32.79 TES + 27.54 PCS = 60.33 Total: 102.68
17. Uzurova/Ali, KAZ: 31.30 TES + 28.98 PCS = 60.28 Total: 101.98
18. Aiken/Whidborne, GBR: 32.08 TES + 28.38 PCS = 60.46 Total: 101.42
19. Nosulia/Kholoniuk, UKR: 29.72 TES + 28.27 PCS -1.00 = 56.99 Total: 96.35
20. Sforza, Fioretti, ITA: 27.28 TES + 25.35 PCS -2.00 = 50.63 Total: 89.36

Junior World Championships: Short Dance

1. Monko/Khaliavin, RUS: 32.57 TES + 28.05 PCS = 60.62
2. Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS: 28.70 TES + 27.06 PCS = 55.76
3. Lichtman/Copely, USA: 30.15 TES + 25.13 PCS = 55.28
4. Visnova/Csolley, SVK: 28.34 TES + 23.66 PCS = 52.00
5. Cannuscio/McManus, USA: 26.93 TES + 24.01 PCS = 50.94
6. Kosignia/Moroshkin, RUS: 26.86 TES + 24.02 PCS = 50.88
7. Shtork/Rand, EST: 28.42 TES + 21.67 PCS = 50.09
8. Orford/Williams, CAN: 26.22 TES + 23.59 PCS = 49.81
9. Zahorski/Miart, FRA: 24.22 TES + 24.74 PCS = 48.96
10. Hurtado/Diaz, ESP: 26.86 TES + 21.98 PCS = 48.84
11. Bonacorsi/Mager, USA: 25.56 TES + 24.07 PCS -1.00 = 48.63
12. Galyeta/Shumski, UKR: 24.72 TES + 23.73 PCS = 48.45
13. Elsener/Roost, SUI: 27.16 + 20.04 = 47.20
14. Oliveira/Hockley, CAN: 26.35 TES + 18.79 PCS = 45.14
15. Papadakis/Cizeron, FRA: 22.72 TES + 22.25 PCS -1.00 = 43.97
16. Dieck/Zenkner, GER: 25.22 TES + 17.13 PCs = 42.35
17. Uzurova/Ali, KAZ: 24.64 TES + 17.06 PCS = 41.70
18. Aiken/Whidborne, GBR: 21.64 TES + 19.32 PCS = 40.96
19. Nosulia/Kholoniuk, URK: 21.15 TES + 18.21 PCS = 39.36
20. Sforza/Fioretti, ITA: 22.64 TES + 16.09 PCS = 38.73
21. Zhang/Wu, CHN: 18.20 TES + 19.86 PCS = 38.06
22. Carroll/Gerber, POL: 20.96 TES + 16.25 PCS = 37.21
23. Kavaleva/Bieliaiev, BLR: 18.63 TES + 18.05 PCS = 36.68
24. Tremasova/Lichev, BUL: 16.53 TES + 16.03 PCS = 32.56

Prochazkova/Ceska of CZE withdrew as their skates did not arrive.

The top 20 teams (bolded) have qualified for the free dance.

Junior World Championships: Dance Preview

Monko and Khaliavin by far have the best scores of the season and easily won the Junior Grand Prix Final.  They are the only returning medalist from last season's Junior Worlds and they should easily win gold here.  I think they'll win by a comfortable margin that will set them up for a jump to the senior level and a tough Russian field.

Pushkash and Guerreiro from Russia have consistently scored behind their teammates but put up a big score at Russian nationals to make the team.  They have a great opportunity to set themselves apart from the other Junior teams by claiming a medal here.

Lichtman and Copely are the top U.S. team here.  They are coached by Zoueva and Shpilband, arguably one of the best coaching teams in the world.  I don't think this team looks as polished yet as some of the other teams they coach, but they've had a breakout season this year.  The U.S. Dance field is especially deep and they'll need a medal here to stay competitive as they move to the senior ranks next season.  I think the bronze is well within their grasp, but they tend to make small errors and if they can have two clean programs, they could definitely move up the podium.

Kosignia and Moroshkin will be looking to make this a Russian sweep, but there scores have been at both ends of the spectrum during the season.  If they perform like they did at Russian Nationals, they could be very competitive for a medal.

Orford and Williams of Canada and Galyeta and Shumski of Ukraine will also be in the hunt and should be able to pull together a top 10 finish if not better.  The Ukrainians were really consistent in their two JGP assignments but their score dropped considerably at the Final.  If they can take care of these problems, they may be looking at a possible medal.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Monko/Khaliavin
Silver: Pushkash/Bukin
Bronze: Lichtman/Copely

Russia's dance field is so deep that they are leaving behind three of the world's best junior teams, including two Junior Grand Prix Final medalists.  Stepanova and Bukin won two gold medals on the JGP and qualifed for the JGPF where they won bronze; Sinitsina and Zhiganshin won two silver medals on the JGP and qualified for the JGPF where they won silver; Antipova and Kudashev won a silver medal on the JGP and qualified for the JGPF.

The teams (a D indicates a direct entry)

Hew-Low/Hemmert, AUS:

Kavaleav/Bieliaiev, BLR: They finished 9th at JGP Romania and 11th at JGP Czech Republic.

Tremasova/Lichev, BUL: They finished 15th in the preliminary round at Europeans.  They placed 13th and 16th at their two JGP assignments this season.  They finished 32nd at the World Junior Championships last season.

Oliveira/Hockley, CAN (D): They finished 5th at JGP Japan and 6th at JGP Germany.

Orford/Wiliams, CAN (D): They won bronze at JGP Great Britain and finished 5th at JGP Czech Republic.

Zhang/Wu, CHN: They finished 6th at JGP Japan.  They placed 25th at World Juniors last season.

Prochazkova/Ceska, CZE (D): They finished 9th at JGP Germany and 6th at JGP Czech Republic.

Shtork/Rand, EST: They finished 23rd at the Olympics.  They placed 21st at Europeans.  They finished 8th and 6th at their two JGP assignments this season.  They placed 28th at Junior Worlds last season.

Karmi/Lindholm, FIN: They finished 14th at JGP Great Britain.

Papadakis/Cizeron, FRA: They finished 4th at JGP France and won bronze at JGP Austria.  They placed 22nd at World Juniors last season.

Zahorski/Miart, FRA (D):  They finished 4th at JGP Romania and won silver at JGP Czech Republic.

Dieck/Zenkner, GER (D): They finished 8th at JGP Japan and 14th at JGP Germany.

Aiken/Whidborne, GBR (D): They finished 9th at JGP Great Britain and 11th at JGP Germany.  They placed 15th at World Juniors last season.

Bugrov/Rogov, ISR:

Rizzo/Manenti, ITA: They finished 17th at JGP Czech Republic.

Sforza/Fioretti, ITA (D): They finished 6th at JGP Romania and 8th at JGP Germany.  They placed 31st at Junior Worlds last season.

Komatsubara/Mizutani, JPN: They finished 11th at JGP Japan and 15th at JGP Germany.

Uzurova/Ali, KAZ:

Pecherkina/Jakushin, LAT: They finished 13th at JGP Austria and 17th at JGP Germany.

Vellrath/Pirogov, LTU: They finished 14th at JGP Austria and 12th at JGP Czech Republic.

Yitig/Speden, NZL: They finished 20th at JGP Germany and 13th at JGP Japan.  They placed 34th at Junior Worlds last year.

Carroll/Gerber, POL:

Kosignina/Moroshkin, RUS (D):  They won bronze at Courcheval and gold at Pokal der Blauen to qualify for the JGPF where they finished 6th.

Monko/Khaliavin, RUS (D): They are the reigning World Junior bronze medalists.  They won gold at Brasov Cup and J. Curry Memorial to qualify for the JGPF where they won gold for the second year in a row. 

Pushkash/Guerreiro, RUS (D): They won silver at SBC Cup and gold at Czech Skate to qualify for the JGPF where they placed 4th.  They finished 6th at the World Junior Championships last season.

Visnova/Csolley, SVK:  They finished 9th in the preliminary round at Europeans.  They placed 10th and 7th at their two JGP assignments this season.  They placed 19th at World Juniors last season.

Hurtado/Diaz, ESP:  They finished 15th at Europeans.  They placed 10th and 5th at their two JGP assignments this season. They finished 16th at Junior Worlds last season.

Elsener/Roost, SUI: They finished 19th at Europeans.  They finished 7th and 13th at their two JGP assignments.  They placed 27th at the World Junior Championships last season.

Demirsal/Akalin, TUR: They are the reigning national champions.

Galyeta/Shumski, UKR (D): They won silver at Brasov Cup and bronze at Czech Skate where they finished 7th.  They finished 8th at the World Junior Championships last season. 
Nosulia/Kholoniuk, UKR: They finished 5th at JGP Austria and 10th at JGP Germany.

Bonacorsi/Mager, USA (D): They won bronze at JGP Romania and finished 5th at Great Britain.

Cannuscio/McManus, USA (D): They won silver at JGP France and finished 4th at JGP Japan.

Lichtman/Copely, USA (D): They won gold at JGP Austria and bronze at Germany to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final where they finished 5th.