Skate America Free Dance Results

Free Dance

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	112.53	53.92		58.61	9.71	9.68	9.82	9.82	9.89	0.00	#8
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	98.61	47.00		51.61	8.57	8.39	8.64	8.79	8.79	0.00	#7
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	93.21	47.00		47.21	7.86	7.75	7.93	7.96	7.93	1.00	#6
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	92.27	44.21		48.06	8.00	7.79	8.11	8.21	8.11	0.00	#5
5	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	81.85	41.58		40.27	6.82	6.46	6.82	6.79	6.82	0.00	#3
6	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	81.60	40.90		40.70	6.82	6.54	6.86	7.00	6.86	0.00	#2
7	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	81.50	40.27		41.23	6.89	6.68	6.89	7.04	7.00	0.00	#1
8	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	79.23	37.93		41.30	7.00	6.75	6.89	6.96	6.89	0.00	#4

Total

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SD	FD
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	188.23	1	1
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	168.49	2	2
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	154.47	3	3
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	152.98	4	4
5	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	136.13	6	5
6	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	135.70	7	6
7	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	134.67	8	7
8	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	133.76	5	8

Skate America Men's Free Skate Results

Free Skate

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	174.20	90.84		83.36	8.46	7.93	8.57	8.36	8.36	0.00	#8
2	Max AARON	USA	162.45	90.47		72.98	7.46	6.89	7.39	7.39	7.36	1.00	#3
3	Adam RIPPON	USA	160.98	79.90		82.08	8.11	7.89	8.29	8.32	8.43	1.00	#6
4	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	159.12	72.40		86.72	8.75	8.43	8.50	8.79	8.89	0.00	#4
5	Takahiko KOZUKA	JPN	153.20	72.28		80.92	8.29	7.96	7.96	8.21	8.04	0.00	#5
6	Jason BROWN	USA	147.25	68.69		79.56	7.71	7.86	8.07	8.00	8.14	1.00	#7
7	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS	138.35	70.35		68.00	7.04	6.50	6.75	6.89	6.82	0.00	#1
8	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	133.75	67.03		67.72	6.82	6.57	6.79	6.75	6.93	1.00	#2

Total

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	265.38	1	1
2	Adam RIPPON	USA	241.24	3	3
3	Max AARON	USA	238.36	6	2
4	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	236.21	5	4
5	Jason BROWN	USA	231.03	2	6
6	Takahiko KOZUKA	JPN	230.95	4	5
7	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	208.72	7	8
8	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS	208.16	8	7

Skate America Ladies Results

Short Program

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Mao ASADA	JPN	73.18	38.85		34.33	8.54	8.21	8.64	8.64	8.89	0.00	#10
2	Ashley WAGNER	USA	69.26	36.21		33.05	8.21	7.96	8.43	8.29	8.43	0.00	#9
3	Elena RADIONOVA	RUS	67.01	37.61		29.40	7.29	7.00	7.54	7.39	7.54	0.00	#3
4	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA	59.25	30.11		29.14	7.18	6.93	7.46	7.29	7.57	0.00	#6
5	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	58.80	29.94		28.86	7.29	7.04	7.21	7.29	7.25	0.00	#8
6	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	56.68	28.99		27.69	7.00	6.54	6.93	7.04	7.11	0.00	#4
7	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	55.84	29.79		26.05	6.43	6.21	6.64	6.61	6.68	0.00	#5
8	Samantha CESARIO	USA	53.51	27.54		25.97	6.50	6.36	6.50	6.46	6.64	0.00	#2
9	Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA	RUS	53.20	26.38		27.82	6.96	6.68	6.96	7.04	7.14	1.00	#7
10	Caroline ZHANG	USA	45.76	21.04		24.72	6.21	5.93	6.11	6.29	6.36	0.00	#1

Free Skate

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Mao ASADA	JPN	131.37	62.83		69.54	8.71	8.46	8.64	8.79	8.86	1.00	#10
2	Ashley WAGNER	USA	124.55	58.54		66.01	8.18	8.04	8.29	8.32	8.43	0.00	#9
3	Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA	RUS	123.55	64.30		59.25	7.39	7.00	7.71	7.43	7.50	0.00	#2
4	Elena RADIONOVA	RUS	116.94	59.04		58.90	7.32	7.18	7.46	7.39	7.46	1.00	#8
5	Samantha CESARIO	USA	114.47	56.98		57.49	6.93	6.82	7.39	7.36	7.43	0.00	#3
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	111.51	58.31		53.20	6.68	6.29	6.82	6.71	6.75	0.00	#4
7	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA	97.54	44.62		54.92	7.00	6.50	6.75	6.86	7.21	2.00	#7
8	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	93.54	41.91		54.63	6.96	6.71	6.54	7.00	6.93	3.00	#6
9	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	92.76	41.57		53.19	6.79	6.39	6.54	6.82	6.71	2.00	#5
10	Caroline ZHANG	USA	64.36	24.27		41.09	5.54	4.96	4.75	5.25	5.18	1.00	#1

Total

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Mao ASADA	JPN	204.55	1	1
2	Ashley WAGNER	USA	193.81	2	2
3	Elena RADIONOVA	RUS	183.95	3	4
4	Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA	RUS	176.75	9	3
5	Samantha CESARIO	USA	167.98	8	5
6	Mae Berenice MEITE	FRA	167.35	7	6
7	Valentina MARCHEI	ITA	156.79	4	7
8	Viktoria HELGESSON	SWE	152.34	5	8
9	Elene GEDEVANISHVILI	GEO	149.44	6	9
10	Caroline ZHANG	USA	110.12	10	10

Skate America Pairs Results

Short Program

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Maxim TRANKOV	RUS	83.05	44.99		38.06	9.43	9.29	9.64	9.61	9.61	0.00	#8
2	Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Dylan MOSCOVITCH	CAN	71.51	39.59		31.92	7.86	7.82	7.93	8.18	8.11	0.00	#6
3	Ksenia STOLBOVA / Fedor KLIMOV	RUS	64.80	35.21		29.59	7.39	7.14	7.43	7.54	7.50	0.00	#5
4	Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK	ITA	63.85	34.76		29.09	7.21	7.07	7.32	7.39	7.36	0.00	#7
5	Marissa CASTELLI / Simon SHNAPIR	USA	62.56	34.42		28.14	6.93	6.89	7.11	7.14	7.11	0.00	#3
6	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	62.06	34.60		28.46	7.14	6.86	7.07	7.29	7.21	1.00	#4
7	Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY	USA	55.83	31.71		25.12	6.25	6.11	6.29	6.46	6.29	1.00	#1
8	Margaret PURDY / Michael MARINARO	CAN	50.26	26.00		24.26	6.11	5.86	5.96	6.18	6.21	0.00	#2

Free Skate

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Maxim TRANKOV	RUS	154.66	77.35		77.31	9.54	9.39	9.82	9.71	9.86	0.00	#8
2	Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Dylan MOSCOVITCH	CAN	136.94	69.80		67.14	8.25	8.18	8.50	8.57	8.46	0.00	#7
3	Ksenia STOLBOVA / Fedor KLIMOV	RUS	122.55	60.86		61.69	7.71	7.57	7.64	7.82	7.82	0.00	#6
4	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	120.37	63.38		56.99	7.25	6.71	7.36	7.11	7.18	0.00	#3
5	Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK	ITA	116.42	57.62		58.80	7.39	7.11	7.29	7.50	7.46	0.00	#5
6	Marissa CASTELLI / Simon SHNAPIR	USA	114.55	57.46		57.09	7.36	7.04	6.96	7.25	7.07	0.00	#4
7	Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY	USA	112.59	60.63		51.96	6.50	6.36	6.50	6.61	6.50	0.00	#2
8	Margaret PURDY / Michael MARINARO	CAN	96.02	47.95		49.07	6.14	6.07	5.96	6.29	6.21	1.00	#1

Total

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Maxim TRANKOV	RUS	237.71	1	1
2	Kirsten MOORE-TOWERS / Dylan MOSCOVITCH	CAN	208.45	2	2
3	Ksenia STOLBOVA / Fedor KLIMOV	RUS	187.35	3	3
4	Caydee DENNEY / John COUGHLIN	USA	182.43	6	4
5	Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK	ITA	180.27	4	5
6	Marissa CASTELLI / Simon SHNAPIR	USA	177.11	5	6
7	Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY	USA	168.42	7	7
8	Margaret PURDY / Michael MARINARO	CAN	146.28	8	8

Skate America Short Dance

Group 1

Reed/Reed, JPN: 28.85 TES + 25.43 PCS = 54.28 and into 1st place

• A little off on their twizzles toward the end of the sequences
• Not a lot of flow and a bit choppy in the opening part of the Finnstep they seem to really be concentrating through the changes of hold and are very cautious with their arm changes
• Great unison through the non touching step sequence but her arms were a bit floppy in places and she could have stronger arm positions
• Rotational haircutter lift with her up on his shoulder
• Overall just a little stiff and choppy

Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU: 25.85 TES + 27.32 PCS = 53.17 and into 2nd place

• Twizzles very choppy but decent unison
• Choppy on the Finnstep and the changes of hold don't all look very secure; nice big pattern close to the boards though
• I'd like to see her channel Marilyn a bit more as she seems too over the top smiley for this program
• A loss of unison at the end of their non touching step sequence
• Upside down split lift--interesting variation but she needs more stretch through her positions
• Fun program but they seemed to be racing to keep up with it the whole time

Hubbell/Donohue, USA: 30.79 TES + 29.92 PCS = 60.71 and into 1st place

• Much smoother through the Finnstep, a little more secure in their changes of hold and more extension through their free legs
• Nice entry to their twizzles with good changes of position and transitions between the sets
• Great lift with a nice flip into his arms before the exit
• Nice deep edges on their non touching step sequence and good unison 
• Nice transitional move with her lifting him in a spin into their ending pose

Carron/Jones, FRA: 26.36 TES + 27.74 PCS = 54.10 and into 3rd place

• Nice edges in their non touching step sequence; a little close to the boards; some of their arms are not in unison and a few of the turns are bobbly
• Cartwheel up to a spread eagle lift with her upside down and balancing on his shoulder
• Very far apart on the twizzles, slow and big unison problems
• She's a bit stiff in the Finnstep hold and the whole sequence seems a bit slow

Group 2

Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: 26.43 TES + 28.10 PCS = 54.53 and into 2nd place

• Love the speed, flow and playfulness in the opening to this program
• Nice stretch through their free leg and overall good unison throughout the non touching step sequence; a few places where the arms were a little off
• Really slowing through the twizzles and they seem a bit unsteady
• Very playful take on the Finnstep, secure in the holds, nice speed and flow and strettch through the free legs
• Flip around to a rotational lift wrapped around his neck

Shibuani/Shibutani, USA: 30.30 TES + 30.96 PCS = 61.26 and into 1st place

• Nice unison through their twizzles and good distance between them
• The use of her hands throughout their transitions is to die for
• Good ease through the position changes in the Finnstep, nice fast footwork and good extension through their free leg with matching leg heights
• Nice edges and use of their music throughout the non touching step sequence; great unison 
• Nice one arm lift from behind--very unique

Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA: 36.50 TES + 33.38 PCS = 69.88

• Super nitpicky but if you're going to wear a white satin top there can't be a stain on your back
• Nice unison on their twizzles but they drop their smiles during their twizzles, pick it back up in between and then drop them again a little thing that can effect their PCS
• Great bouncy feel in the right places in the Finnstep with good flow and edges in the rest
• Nice one foot section in their midstep sequence and it's really evident here how nicely matched they are as partners as he has exception posture and performance as well
• Great split lift with her arched back over her leg
• Really nice program with great energy, flow and choreography throughout

Davis/White, USA: 37.43 TES + 38.27 PCS = 75.70 and into 1st place

• So much speed through their opening sequence
• Great flow and edge control in their non touching sequence with perfect unison
• Excellent twizzles with good distance between them, speed and unison
• Nice touches added to the Finnstep to carry the character of the program through
• Great ease in the changes of holds and really nice flow across the ice in the Finnstep--they truly make it look easy
• Nice split rotational lift into a falling leaf lift

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE	USA	75.70	37.43		38.27	9.50	9.36	9.64	9.57	9.71	0.00	#8
2	Anna CAPPELLINI / Luca LANOTTE	ITA	69.88	36.50		33.38	8.25	8.04	8.43	8.39	8.54	0.00	#7
3	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	61.26	30.30		30.96	7.89	7.64	7.71	7.82	7.64	0.00	#6
4	Madison HUBBELL / Zachary DONOHUE	USA	60.71	30.79		29.92	7.54	7.29	7.54	7.46	7.54	0.00	#3
5	Julia ZLOBINA / Alexei SITNIKOV	AZE	54.53	26.43		28.10	7.14	6.82	7.07	7.14	6.96	0.00	#5
6	Cathy REED / Chris REED	JPN	54.28	28.85		25.43	6.39	6.11	6.36	6.50	6.39	0.00	#1
7	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	54.10	26.36		27.74	6.96	6.64	6.93	7.14	6.96	0.00	#4
8	Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS	LTU	53.17	25.85		27.32	6.79	6.54	6.93	6.96	6.89	0.00	#2

Skate America Men's Short Program

Group 1

Max Aaron, USA: 41.37 TES + 35.54 PCS -1.00 = 75.91 and into 1st place

• No audio on the feed so it will be a little hard to judge connection to the music and timing
• Fall on the opening quad attempt but it looks like he slipped off the landing edge so he might get full rotation credit
• Triple lutz + triple toe
• Decent stretch through his position but he could be lower throughout his sit spin and losing a bit of speed at the end
• Big triple axel in the bonus with a nice landing
• Good position in the twisted camel spin but not a lot of flexibility through the catchfoot
• Good speed and intensity through the footwork with lots of intricate changes of direction and one foot sequences and it's nice to see him let lose and smile a bit
• Nice back entry to the sit spin with a good broken leg and back tuck variation ending right in his ending pose

Adam Rippon, USA: 43.23 TES + 37.03 PCS = 80.26 and into 1st place

• Quad lutz just a little bit down on the landing and has to put his hand down
• Lots of speed in his twisted sit spin with nice positions
• Decent camel position into a nice catch foot with good speed maintained throughout
• Triple axel a bit wonky in the air but he fights to hang on to the landing
• Triple flip + triple toe
• Nice expression and movement quality in the step sequence with lots of use of the full body and changes of direction; the crowd is really getting into it and he's flying across the ice
• Good speed in the camel spin into an even faster sit spin and a really nice layback

Artur Gachinski, RUS: 37.24 TES + 34.57 PCS -2.00 = 69.81 and into 3rd place

• Quad toe feel slid out from under him on the landing--it just seemed like he didn't have enough going into it
• Triple lutz + triple toe hand down on the landing
• Nice triple axel
• Twisted broken leg camel into a really weak catch foot position 
• Broken leg sit spin with good speed throughout
• The audio has come back and I'm not feeling this music for him...doesn't seem to suit his style at all
• A little choppy and on top of the ice in his step sequence and a few places where the edge changes are not clean
• Twisted camel into a sit position that seemed a bit out of control and ending with an upright y spin

Alexander Majorov, SWE: 41.29 TES + 34.68 PCS -1.00 = 74.97 and into 3rd place

• Quad toe with a hard fall
• Triple lutz + triple toe with a lot of spring and height in the 2nd jump
• Decent positions in his spin but he needs more stretch through the free leg in his sit and camel positions
• Triple axel but I'd like to see a better landing position
• Really slow broken leg camel spin but a nice catchfoot position
• Interesting steps in his step sequence and the crowd seems to be enjoying it; a few bobbles here and there on the turns
• Back entry to a twisted sit position losing speed through the back tuck position
• Finishing a bit before his music

Group 2

Jason Brown, USA: 44.85 TES + 38.93 PCS = 83.78 and into 1st place

• Nice triple axel
• A lot of attention to detail in the in betweens in this program
• Triple flip was high and gorgeous but tight on the triple toe landing
• Great catch foot camel spin with his foot above his head and his free leg on his back
• Nice low sit spin position
• Triple lutz with the 'tano variation
• Nice step sequence with excellent edge changes, interesting variations on the movement and changes of direction 
• Camel spin with a twisted position into a nice sit spin and ending with a scratch spin
• Really solid Grand Prix debut from him!

Takahiko Kozuka, JPN: 38.15 TES + 39.60 PCS = 77.75 and into 3rd place

• Quad toe a little tight on the landing
• Nice triple axel
• Losing a bit of centering on the entrance to his camel spin but good low sit position and nice timing with the music
• Triple lutz stepped out of the first jump and can't tack on the combo
• Nice camel position
• Good flying sit spin but losing speed through the back tuck position
• Good speed and flow through the footwork sequence and he even seems to pick up speed toward the end--a bit of ice spray on some of the turns

Tatsuki Machida, JPN: 50.08 TES + 41.10 PCS = 91.18 and into 1st place

• Nice opening quad toe + triple toe
• Beautiful triple axel
• Good camel spin with a nice change of leg although a bit slow
• He has really nice connection and flow with his music
• He could use more stretch through his free leg in the sit spin
• Nice triple lutz but I would have liked to see him hold the landing a bit longer
• Nice flow through his step sequence although a bit bobbly on some of the turns and losing speed and flow toward the end
• Camel spin into a broken leg sit and ending with a back scratch spin

Daisuke Takahashi, JPN: 35.84 TES + 42.25 PCS -1.00 = 77.09 and into 5th place

• Quad toe two footed and then falls
• Nice camel but he could use more flexibility through the catch foot; after the change of foot he could use more height in his free leg as well
• Triple axel really tough landing and had to put his toe pick down after a half turn
• Triple lutz + double toe with no oomph behind it and he has to step back on the landing of the toe
• Finally he starts to look like Dai here at the end of his program--he seemed to be going through the motions the first half and didn't really connect with the music or the program
• A rough outing for Takahashi but he fought for everything

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Ded. -	StN.
1	Tatsuki MACHIDA	JPN	91.18	50.08		41.10	8.14	7.96	8.43	8.25	8.32	0.00	#7
2	Jason BROWN	USA	83.78	44.85		38.93	7.57	7.64	7.79	7.89	8.04	0.00	#5
3	Adam RIPPON	USA	80.26	43.23		37.03	7.57	7.18	7.50	7.39	7.39	0.00	#2
4	Takahiko KOZUKA	JPN	77.75	38.15		39.60	8.21	7.75	7.75	7.93	7.96	0.00	#6
5	Daisuke TAKAHASHI	JPN	77.09	35.84		42.25	8.57	8.32	8.18	8.54	8.64	1.00	#8
6	Max AARON	USA	75.91	41.37		35.54	7.18	6.89	7.11	7.18	7.18	1.00	#1
7	Alexander MAJOROV	SWE	74.97	41.29		34.68	6.86	6.71	6.93	7.04	7.14	1.00	#4
8	Artur GACHINSKI	RUS	69.81	37.24		34.57	7.11	6.61	6.89	7.00	6.96	2.00	#3

Skate America Dance Preview

If there's one sure thing at this event it is that Davis and White will claim the gold medal.  The duo won every event they entered last season and are competing for their 4th consecutive Skate America gold medal.  They've also won the last four Grand Prix Finals.  Their Scheherezade free skate is very nuanced with lots of attention to detail along with some mindblowing lifts that had the crowd on their feet at the US International Figure Skating Classic.  They set a very good early season score at that event and look to break some of their own records this season.

Cappellini and Lanotte almost pulled off a major upset at Skate Canada last season and kept rolling from there.  They won the bronze medal at Europeans and finished just off the podium in 4th place at Worlds.  They are definitely in contention for a medal at the Olympics but should still be well behind Davis and White here.

The Shibutanis showed such promise in their freshman season winning medals at both of their Grand Prix events and winning the bronze medal at Worlds however they haven't been able to replicate those results.  Plagued with injuries and illnesses along with some lackluster choreography, they even dropped to 3rd place at US Nationals last season.  They withdrew from the US International Figure Skating Classic earlier this season due to a neck injury to Alex and are fighting an uphill battle to regain their place as the 2nd best US Ice Dancing team.  Regardless of their performances here, their twizzles are not to be missed and are some of the best in the world.

Hubbell and Donohue had a strong but disappointing season last year.  After finishing just off the podium at both their Grand Prix outings, they placed 4th at US Nationals and were left off the Worlds team in their sophomore season.  They've vowed to fight for an Olympics spot and started off their season with a come from behind win at Nebelhorn Trophy.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Davis/White
Silver: Cappellini/Lanotte
Bronze: Shibutani/Shibutani

Bios of the competitors:
Zlobina/Sitnikov, AZE: They placed 16th at Worlds and 7th at Europeans.  They finished 6th at Skate Canada and 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 144.83.  She is 24 and he is 27.

Carron/Jones, FRA: They placed 12th at Worlds and 10th at Europeans.  They finished 7th at Skate Canada and 8th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 145.98.  She is 27 and he is 25.

Cappellini/Lanotte, ITA: They placed 4th at Worlds and are the reigning European Bronze Medalists.  They won silver at Skate Canada and at Trophee Eric Bompard last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 4th.  Their personal best is 168.04.  She is 26 and he is 28.

Reed/Reed, JPN: They placed 20th at Worlds and finished 7th at Four Continents.  They finished 5th at NHK Trophy last season.  Their personal best is 141.75.  She is 26 and he is 24.

Tobias/Stagniunas, LTU: They placed 15th at Worlds.  Their personal best is 141.64.  She is 22 and he is 28.

Davis/White, USA: They are the reigning World Champions and Four Continents Champions.   They won gold at Skate America and gold at NHK Trophy last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they won gold.  They are the 2010 Olympic Silver Medalists, 2011 World Champions, 2010 and 2012 World Silver Medalists, 2009 and 2011 Four Continents Champions, 2008 and 2012 Four Continents Silver Medalists, and 2006 World Junior Bronze Medalists.  Their personal best is 189.56.  She is 26 and he is 25.

Hubbell/Donohue, USA: They placed 5th at Skate Canada and 4th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 147.11.  She is 22 and he is 22.

Shibutani/Shibutani, USA: They placed 8th at Worlds and 4th at Four Continents.  They finished 4th at Rostelecom Cup and won bronze at NHK Trophy last season.  They are the 2011 World Bronze Medalists, 2011 Four Continents Silver Medalists and 2009 World Junior Silver Medalists.  Their personal best is 163.79.  She is 19 and he is 22.  

Skate America Pairs Preview

Volosozhar and Trankov started off their season with a bang setting new World Records at Nebelhorn Trophy and scoring six points higher than they did at Worlds last spring.  They won every event they entered last season and soundly defeated their rivals Savchenko and Szolkowy.  There seems to be nowhere to go but up for this team and it will be interesting to see if they can keep the pace they've set for themselves.

Moore-Towers and Moscovitch are creeping closer and closer to the World's podium and are aiming for an Olympic medal this season.  After toying with a new short program, they decided to keep last year's program which has been received well by the judges and went with just a new free skate.

Denney and Coughlin are back on the international scene after sitting out the majority of last season while he had surgery to repair his hip.  They tried to make it back in time for Worlds but weren't able to be fully rehabbed in time.  They scrapped their programs earlier this summer and went for more powerful music to bring out their strengths as a team and it seemed to work at the U.S. Figure Skating Classic.  After a disappointing short program, they rallied in the free skate to claim the silver medal.

Berton and Hotarek had a somewhat disappointing end to their season last year.  After winning bronze at both of their Grand Prix events and at the European Championships they finished just 10th at Worlds scoring nearly 16 points below their personal best.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Volosozhar/Trankov
Silver: Moore-Towers/Moscovitch
Bronze: Denney/Coughlin

Bios of the competitors:
Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, CAN: They placed 4th at Worlds and are the reigning Four Continents Silver Medalists.  They placed 4th at Cup of China and won silver at NHK Trophy last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 5th.  Their personal best is 199.50.  She is 21 and he is 29.

Purdy/Marinaro, CAN: They are the reigning World Junior Silver Medalists.  This is their Grand Prix debut.  They won gold at JGP USA and gold at JGP Croatia last seasonto qualify for the JGPF where they finished 4th.  Their personal best is 154.70.  She is 18 and he is 21.  

Berton/Hotarek, ITA: They finished 10th at Worlds and are the reigning European Bronze Medalists.  They won bronze at Skate Canada and at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 187.45.  She is 23 and he is 29.

Stolbova/Klimov, RUS: They finished 6th at Europeans.  They won bronze at Cup of China and placed 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  They are the the 2012 European Bronze Medalists, 2011 World Junior Silver Medalists and 2010 World Junior Bronze Medalists.  Their personal best is 172.55.  She is 21 and he is 23.

Volosozhar/Trankov, RUS: They are the reigning World Champions and European Champions.  They won gold at Skate America and Rostelecom Cup last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they won gold.  They are the 2011 and 2012 World Silver Medalists and 2011 European Champions.  Their personal best is 231.96.  She is 27 and he is 30.

Castelli/Shnapir, USA: They finished 13th at Worlds and are the reigning Four Continents Bronze Medalists.  They placed 5th at Skate America and won bronze at NHK Trophy last season.  They are the 2009 World Junior Bronze Medalists.  Their personal best is 174.51.  She is 23 and he is 26.

Denney/Coughlin, USA: They won bronze at Skate America and bronze at Rostelecom Cup last season.  They are the 2012 Four Continents Silver Medalists.  Their personal best is 185.42.  She is 20 and he is 27.

Zhang/Bartholomay, USA: They placed 4th at Four Continents.  This is their Grand Prix debut.  Their personal best is 167.30.  She is 20 and he is 24.

Skate America Ladies Preview

Ashley Wagner is the reigning Skate America Champion and will be seeking to defend her title.  She claimed two gold medals on the Grand Prix last season but injuries, illness and jump issues plagued her the rest of the season and she finished 5th at Worlds.  She didn't put the triple + triple out for most of the season last year and has stated that she knows that she needs the combination to be competitive for the Olympic podium.  She split from her choreographer after the end of last season and John Nicks is no longer traveling with her so she's splitting her training time.  Her "Bedroom Juliet" free skate got mostly positive reviews at the Japan Open but she still had a few kinks to work out.

Mao Asada won every event she entered last season until Worlds and made the podium for the first time since 2010.  Her triple axel has still been hit or miss and when she hits it she has a large advantage over the field although missing it can often take the wind out of her program.  She crossed the 200 point mark at Four Continents and is only one of a handful of female skaters capable of doing so.

Elena Radionova is making her Grand Prix debut after sweeping the junior circuit last season.  She won gold at Nebelhorn Trophy in her senior debut and is well known for her triple + triples.  She is too young to compete at Europeans, Worlds or the Olympics but she is set to continue the Russian tradition of young promising skaters making their mark on the senior circuit.

Elizaveta Tuktamisheva had a more difficult sophomore season on the Grand Prix but still managed to qualify for the Final.  She won the bronze medal at Europeans in her first trip and finished in the top 10 at Worlds.  She had an up and down season and her normally sturdy jumps seemed to fail her at times.

Valentina Marchei and Mae Berenice Meite are perennial Skate America competitors and are both a joy to watch.  Marchei had moments of brilliance mixed with subpar performances.  Meite has long been known for her athleticism and jumps and has vowed to work on her artistry this season.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Mao Asada
Silver: Elena Radionova
Bronze: Ashley Wagner

Bios of the competitors:
Mae Berenice Meite, FRA: She placed 11th at Worlds and 10th at Europeans.  She finished 6th at Skate America and 5th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Her personal best is 165.03.  She is 19 years old. 

Elene Gedevanishvili, GEO: She finished 29th at Worlds and 14th at Europeans.  She placed 5th at Skate Canada last season.  She is the 2010 and 2012 European Bronze Medalist.  Her personal best is 165.93.  She is 23 years old.

Valentina Marchei, ITA: She finished 18th at Worlds and 4th at Europeans.  She placed 4th at Skate America and 9th at Rostelecom Cup.  Her personal best is 171.06.  She is 27 years old.

Mao Asada, JPN: She is the reigning World Bronze Medalist and Four Continents Champion.  She won gold at Cup of China and NHK Trophy last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won gold.  She is the 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2008 and 2010 World Champion, 2007 World Silver Medalist, 2008 and 2010 Four Continents Champion, 2011 and 2012 Four Continents Silver Medalist, 2009 Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 2005 World Junior Champion and 2006 World Junior Silver Medalist.  Her personal best is 205.50.  She is 23 years old.  

Elena Radionova, RUS: She is the reigning World Junior Champion.  This is her Grand Prix debut.  She won gold at JGP France and gold at JGP Austria last season to qualify for the JGPF where she won gold.  Her personal best is 188.21.  She is 14 years old.  

Elizaveta Tuktamisheva, RUS: She placed 10th at Worlds and is the reigning European Bronze Medalist.  She placed 4th at Skate Canada and won silver at Trophee Eric Bompard last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she placed 5th.  She is the 2011 World Junior Silver Medalist.  Her personal best is 188.85.  She is 16 years old.  

Viktoria Helgesson, SWE: She finished 14 at Worlds and 5th at Europeans.  She placed 8th at Skate America and 8th at Rostelecom Cup last season.  Her personal best is 161.79.  She is 25 years old.

Samantha Cesario, USA: She finished 4th at Junior Worlds.  This is her Grand Prix debut.  She won bronze at JGP Austria last season.  Her personal best is 157.72.  She is 20 years old.  

Ashley Wagner, USA: She finished 5th at Worlds.  She won gold at Skate America and Trophee Eric Bompard last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won silver.  She is the 2012 Four Continents Champion and 2007 and 2009 World Junior Bronze Medalist.  Her personal best is 192.41.  She is 22 years old.  

Caroline Zhang, USA: She finished 9th at Skate Canada and 10th at Rostelecom Cup last season.  She is the 2010 and 2012 Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 2007 World Junior Champion and 2008 and 2009 World Junior Silver Medalist.  Her personal best is 176.48.  She is 20 years old.