Cup of China Short Dance

This event begins at 3:30am EST.
The skaters are on the ice and warming up.

Group 1

Samuelson/Gilles, USA: 22.51 TES + 21.13 PCS = 43.64

• They are wearing all black costumes which really sets them apart from the neon multicolored field
• She has very free movement through her hips and great arch in her back and use of her head
• Nice lift timed with the music with an over the head kick to a hold and a drop into a spread eagle position for him and an arched back position for her
• They have great speed and flow through their rhumba sequence
• She does an extra twizzle on the first set and they just lose the unison in the second two sets 
• Very nice edgework from her in the step sequence; his aren't as deep so it occasionally hurts their unison
• Their leg lines match each other well and they both have nice stretch through their legs
• Nice final rotational lift with her upside down hanging by her knees
• They still have a new look about them but very solid for how short they've been together

Yu/Wang, CHN: 27.58 TES + 21.78 PCS -1.00 = 48.36 and into 1st place

• They are wearing green, yellow and orange costumes and she has long feathers attached to her butt
• Nice performance quality from her in her face right from the top
• Nice unison on all three sets of twizzles and great speed in the first set
• They don't have very deep edges in their rhumba sequence and I'd like to see her do a bit more with her arm then just hold it in a V to the side
• I'd like to see her stretch through her free leg in the non touching step sequence but it has a nice flow to it and good unison
• I'd like to see more arch from her in the straightline lift with him in a spread eagle and her wrapped around his leg

Lichtman/Copely, USA: 18.79 TES + 21.47 PCS = 40.26 and into 3rd place

• She's in a hot pink dress and rocking the side pony tail
• Some of these movements at the top seem very forced and feels like they're just going through the choreography and not really performing the steps
• Nice edges and extension through the rhumba but Charlotte looks very unison
• Slight loss of unison in the twizzles
• I'd like to see her lose a little control and really go for some of these movements including the arches
• Good lift with a change of position
• He bobbles the footwork in the step sequence and has to catch up with her
• Their lines match each other very well in the rhumba
• Overall a fine performance but they seem a little nervous and tentative and still look very junior

Coomes/Buckland, GBR: 28.85 TES + 25.04 PCS = 53.89 and into 1st place

• She is wearing a gold bangly dress with a black sash
• Nice to see a team bringing the passion to these Latin dances!
• Their rhumba looks very placed and I'd like to see better flow
• Interesting entry into their lift--almost like a pairs overhead entry but they have a really difficult time with their exit
• The twizzles seemed very slow
• Nice change of positions for them in the step sequence but their arms are not together and they lose unison on one of their turns

Group 2

Huang/Zheng, CHN: 21.73 TES + 23.34 PCS = 45.07 and into 3rd place

• They are wearing bright yellow costumes with flowers and she has a huge head piece around the front of her head
• She bobbles the second set of twizzles but doesn't put her foot down
• It's really nice to see him getting into the performance
• I'd like to see more for her in the rhumba in terms of her free arm instead of just sticking it out to the side
• Rough entry into their lift and they have to abort
• He has really nice edgework in their step sequence and really uses his arms well
• Interesting attempt at a samba roll on the ice

Carron/Jones, FRA: 25.35 TES + 27.06 PCS = 52.41 and into 2nd place

• They are in blue costumes and she has a red and yellow skirt with a red flower in her hair
• They struggled with unison in all three sets of their twizzles
• Good speed, nice extension through their free leg on the rhumba but I'd like to see her do something with her arm besides leave it on her hip
• Flip over the shoulder into their lift and ends with a rotation
• I like how they use their edges in the rhumba section
• They lose unison in a few places in the step sequence

Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS: 32.50 TES + 33.23 PCS = 65.73 and into 1st place

• She is in an orange and black long sleeve dress--looks more Halloween than Latin especially with the hair ribbon in her ponytail
• Their moves at the top have more commitment than any of the other teams I've seen this morning
• She comes out of the first set of twizzles late and it looks like they get very close at the end of the second twizzles
• She has very nice lines and expression and really uses her whole body to express the movement
• Good speed, lines and edgework through the rhumba sequence
• Backwards cartwheel entry into their straightline lift with a change of position
• I like how deep they are in their knees in the step sequence, but they are so deep in plie that they sometimes forget to straighten the free leg when it's lifted

Shibutani/Shibutani, USA: 27.71 TES + 30.08 PCS = 57.79 and into 2nd place

• They are wearing all black and her dress has an asymmetrical hemline, a cut out on one side and one shoulder strap
• She's really working that ponytail in the beginning
• I love that their Latin dance moves feel authentic and not cheesy
• Great speed and flow through the rhumba pattern with nice stretch through their legs and use of the upper body to accent
• The second and third set of twizzles seemed slow for them which is still fast compared to the field and all three sets were spot on for unison
• I like how they both use their head and upper body to accent points in the rhumba
• For being so young they have a great maturity on the ice and really look like a senior team
• The only error I saw in the step sequence was when Alex came out of a turn slightly earlier than Maia
• Rotational lift with good speed and a change of position

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CC	IT	Ded. -	StN.
1	Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	RUS	65.73	32.50		33.23	8.29	8.04	8.46	8.36	8.36	0.00	#7
2	Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI	USA	57.79	27.71		30.08	7.71	7.36	7.57	7.54	7.43	0.00	#8
3	Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND	GBR	53.89	28.85		25.04	6.29	6.04	6.43	6.46	6.11	0.00	#4
4	Pernelle CARRON / Lloyd JONES	FRA	52.41	25.35		27.06	6.71	6.57	6.96	6.89	6.71	0.00	#6
5	Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	CHN	48.36	27.58		21.78	5.43	5.18	5.68	5.46	5.46	1.00	#2
6	Xintong HUANG / Xun ZHENG	CHN	45.07	21.73		23.34	6.04	5.68	5.64	5.86	5.89	0.00	#5
7	Emily SAMUELSON / Todd GILLES	USA	43.64	22.51		21.13	5.43	5.14	5.25	5.32	5.25	0.00	#1
8	Charlotte LICHTMAN / Dean COPELY	USA	40.26	18.79		21.47	5.57	5.07	5.39	5.50	5.29	0.00	#3

Ice Challenge Junior Men's Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Deduction -	StN.
1	Peter James HALLAM	GBR	50.41	26.96		23.45	5.15	4.35	4.85	4.60	4.50	0.00	#5
2	Kamil DYMOWSKI	POL	45.29	23.04		23.25	4.75	4.30	4.80	4.60	4.80	1.00	#11
3	Carlo Vittorio PALERMO	ITA	42.98	22.08		20.90	4.35	3.85	4.30	4.25	4.15	0.00	#1
4	Nicola TODESCHINI	SUI	40.44	20.34		20.10	4.15	3.80	4.10	4.05	4.00	0.00	#7
5	Cameron HEMMERT	AUS	36.97	18.32		18.65	3.95	3.50	3.70	3.75	3.75	0.00	#6
6	Vincent CUÉREL	SUI	33.78	15.88		18.90	3.90	3.50	3.85	3.85	3.80	1.00	#2
7	Mislav BLAGOJEVIC	CRO	25.03	12.08		13.95	3.10	2.65	2.85	2.70	2.65	1.00	#8

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Deduction -	StN.
1	Peter James HALLAM	GBR	98.72	46.32		52.40	5.45	5.00	5.35	5.10	5.30	0.00	#7
2	Kamil DYMOWSKI	POL	90.31	43.61		47.70	5.15	4.35	4.90	4.70	4.75	1.00	#5
3	Nicola TODESCHINI	SUI	88.80	43.60		45.20	4.80	4.20	4.55	4.50	4.55	0.00	#4
4	Carlo Vittorio PALERMO	ITA	84.36	36.16		48.20	4.95	4.75	4.80	4.80	4.80	0.00	#6
5	Cameron HEMMERT	AUS	76.26	36.86		39.40	4.20	3.60	4.05	3.90	3.95	0.00	#2
6	Vincent CUÉREL	SUI	73.89	31.39		42.50	4.40	3.95	4.30	4.25	4.35	0.00	#3
7	Mislav BLAGOJEVIC	CRO	52.48	22.58		29.90	3.25	2.65	3.00	3.15	2.90	0.00	#1

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Peter James HALLAM	GBR	149.13	1	1
2	Kamil DYMOWSKI	POL	135.60	2	2
3	Nicola TODESCHINI	SUI	129.24	4	3
4	Carlo Vittorio PALERMO	ITA	127.34	3	4
5	Cameron HEMMERT	AUS	113.23	5	5
6	Vincent CUÉREL	SUI	107.67	6	6
7	Mislav BLAGOJEVIC	CRO	77.51	7	7
WD	Simon Gabriel IONIAN	AUT
WD	Alain SCHULER	SUI
WD	Yakov GODOROZHA	UKR
WD	Evgeniy OVCHINNIKOV	UKR

Ice Challenge Junior Ladies Results

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Deduction -	StN.
1	Kristina ZASEEVA	RUS	50.36	27.28		23.08	6.00	5.65	5.90	5.70	5.60	0.00	#38
2	Elin HALLBERG	SWE	44.44	24.48		19.96	5.00	4.80	5.05	5.00	5.10	0.00	#2
3	Laura RASZYKOVA	CZE	40.72	23.96		16.76	4.30	3.90	4.30	4.25	4.20	0.00	#1
4	Nicole SCHOTT	GER	40.58	21.54		19.04	5.00	4.50	4.85	4.70	4.75	0.00	#37
5	Katie POWELL	GBR	40.00	19.96		21.04	5.15	5.05	5.40	5.25	5.45	1.00	#26
6	Gabriella JOSEFSSON	SWE	38.68	20.04		18.64	4.75	4.45	4.65	4.70	4.75	0.00	#18
7	Elizaveta UKOLOVA	CZE	38.08	21.44		16.64	4.45	4.00	4.25	4.05	4.05	0.00	#28
8	Emilia TOIKKANEN	FIN	37.38	18.02		19.36	5.05	4.90	4.90	4.60	4.75	0.00	#41
9	Jennifer PARKER	GER	37.22	21.66		16.56	4.25	3.80	4.35	4.10	4.20	1.00	#15
10	Caterina ANDERMARCHER	ITA	36.62	18.90		18.72	4.95	4.55	4.75	4.60	4.55	1.00	#35
11	Silvia MARTINELLI	ITA	35.84	17.24		18.60	4.85	4.40	4.75	4.50	4.75	0.00	#11
12	Timila SHRESTHA	FIN	35.12	17.80		18.32	4.85	4.35	4.35	4.70	4.65	1.00	#17
13	Juliette HÖHN	GER	35.08	18.88		16.20	4.15	3.85	3.95	4.10	4.20	0.00	#31
14	Jenny LIN	AUT	34.48	19.60		15.88	4.25	3.80	4.00	4.00	3.80	1.00	#22
15	Stina MARTINI	AUT	34.30	17.14		17.16	4.40	4.00	4.30	4.40	4.35	0.00	#36
16	Ksenya TABOLKINA	RUS	34.20	18.84		16.36	4.40	3.90	4.05	4.05	4.05	1.00	#19
17	Luisa WEBER	GER	34.04	19.12		15.92	4.30	3.80	4.05	3.80	3.95	1.00	#33
18	Viktoria CHIAPPA	HUN	33.66	17.14		16.52	4.15	3.80	4.25	4.15	4.30	0.00	#25
19	Laura FRITZSCHE	GER	33.52	17.68		16.84	4.45	4.00	4.15	4.20	4.25	1.00	#12
20	Anastassia KISTLER	SUI	33.52	16.32		17.20	4.35	4.15	4.30	4.35	4.35	0.00	#21
21	Andrina SIGRON	SUI	33.50	17.10		16.40	4.25	3.90	4.15	4.05	4.15	0.00	#13
22	Nanna FÖRSTER	FIN	33.02	17.58		15.44	4.05	3.70	3.95	3.95	3.65	0.00	#3
23	Anneli KAWELKE	GER	32.70	17.30		16.40	4.40	3.85	4.10	4.10	4.05	1.00	#24
24	Nina Larissa WOLFSLAST	AUT	31.88	17.88		14.00	3.75	3.20	3.60	3.50	3.45	0.00	#6
25	Justiina NIEMI	FIN	31.50	16.50		16.00	4.25	3.80	3.90	4.05	4.00	1.00	#5
26	Anne ZETZSCHE	GER	30.64	15.96		15.68	4.25	3.75	3.90	3.90	3.80	1.00	#40
27	Frances HOWELL	GBR	28.84	13.52		16.32	4.25	3.80	4.05	4.15	4.15	1.00	#39
28	Adela JELINKOVA	CZE	28.56	15.20		15.36	4.05	3.55	3.70	3.95	3.95	2.00	#14
29	Nika ZAFRAN	CRO	28.40	14.96		13.44	3.50	3.15	3.35	3.45	3.35	0.00	#7
30	Evelina ORASTE	EST	27.62	13.38		15.24	4.10	3.70	3.85	3.75	3.65	1.00	#30
31	Naja FERKOV	SLO	27.48	15.88		12.60	3.25	2.75	3.25	3.25	3.25	1.00	#8
32	Anna HOFMANN	AUT	27.26	13.62		14.64	3.85	3.45	3.65	3.70	3.65	1.00	#16
33	Lieselotte SWERTS	BEL	26.40	12.76		14.64	3.85	3.55	3.60	3.70	3.60	1.00	#27
34	Anais CLAES	BEL	25.32	12.24		14.08	3.65	3.30	3.50	3.55	3.60	1.00	#4
35	Anna PLANK	AUT	24.86	12.18		13.68	3.55	3.30	3.40	3.35	3.50	1.00	#32
36	Karolina ABDULKARIMOVA	UKR	22.28	10.52		11.76	3.25	2.70	2.95	2.95	2.85	0.00	#20
37	Ursa KRUSEC	SLO	21.46	11.26		10.20	2.70	2.40	2.60	2.50	2.55	0.00	#29
38	Izabela CERKUC	CRO	19.82	9.26		11.56	3.10	2.55	2.85	3.05	2.90	1.00	#34

Pl.	Name	Nation	TSS =	TES +		PCS +	SS	TR	PE	CH	IN	Deduction -	StN.
1	Elin HALLBERG	SWE	78.40	34.24		44.16	5.50	5.30	5.60	5.55	5.65	0.00	#35
2	Kristina ZASEEVA	RUS	74.98	34.30		41.68	5.60	4.85	5.15	5.30	5.15	1.00	#34
3	Gabriella JOSEFSSON	SWE	73.70	34.86		39.84	5.05	4.70	4.90	5.10	5.15	1.00	#33
4	Caterina ANDERMARCHER	ITA	73.66	35.30		39.36	5.05	4.70	4.85	5.05	4.95	1.00	#28
5	Timila SHRESTHA	FIN	68.79	32.67		37.12	4.90	4.40	4.75	4.65	4.50	1.00	#32
6	Katie POWELL	GBR	67.85	28.29		40.56	5.15	4.85	5.10	5.10	5.15	1.00	#38
7	Andrina SIGRON	SUI	66.19	32.43		33.76	4.45	4.00	4.25	4.15	4.25	0.00	#19
8	Luisa WEBER	GER	66.15	31.75		34.40	4.55	3.95	4.45	4.30	4.25	0.00	#23
9	Silvia MARTINELLI	ITA	64.81	26.09		38.72	4.75	4.70	4.85	4.85	5.05	0.00	#31
10	Anneli KAWELKE	GER	64.19	33.55		32.64	4.40	3.85	4.10	4.05	4.00	2.00	#17
11	Stina MARTINI	AUT	64.13	29.09		35.04	4.40	4.15	4.45	4.40	4.50	0.00	#25
12	Anais CLAES	BEL	63.89	32.05		31.84	4.10	3.75	4.15	3.90	4.00	0.00	#5
13	Jennifer PARKER	GER	63.61	29.69		33.92	4.40	4.05	4.25	4.30	4.20	0.00	#27
14	Elizaveta UKOLOVA	CZE	63.17	31.05		33.12	4.50	3.90	4.10	4.20	4.00	1.00	#29
15	Nicole SCHOTT	GER	63.03	26.11		37.92	5.05	4.40	4.75	4.80	4.70	1.00	#36
16	Nanna FÖRSTER	FIN	62.04	30.24		32.80	4.30	3.90	4.15	4.10	4.05	1.00	#16
17	Emilia TOIKKANEN	FIN	61.49	25.25		36.24	4.70	4.40	4.35	4.65	4.55	0.00	#30
18	Nina Larissa WOLFSLAST	AUT	61.37	30.77		31.60	4.00	3.70	4.05	3.95	4.05	1.00	#12
19	Viktoria CHIAPPA	HUN	60.71	27.79		33.92	4.45	3.90	4.40	4.10	4.35	1.00	#21
20	Laura RASZYKOVA	CZE	60.46	26.94		35.52	4.70	4.20	4.55	4.45	4.30	2.00	#37
21	Frances HOWELL	GBR	60.10	28.82		31.28	4.15	3.50	4.15	3.95	3.80	0.00	#14
22	Jenny LIN	AUT	58.38	27.70		31.68	4.30	3.70	4.00	3.90	3.90	1.00	#22
23	Juliette HÖHN	GER	58.11	26.67		31.44	4.15	3.75	3.95	3.80	4.00	0.00	#26
24	Adela JELINKOVA	CZE	56.61	25.93		31.68	4.30	3.65	4.05	4.00	3.80	1.00	#15
25	Anna HOFMANN	AUT	56.26	27.82		29.44	4.00	3.55	3.80	3.90	3.15	1.00	#9
26	Nika ZAFRAN	CRO	55.10	27.10		28.00	3.55	3.20	3.55	3.60	3.60	0.00	#7
27	Laura FRITZSCHE	GER	55.01	26.89		31.12	4.15	3.80	3.85	3.85	3.80	3.00	#18
28	Ksenya TABOLKINA	RUS	54.79	24.47		32.32	4.25	3.85	4.00	4.05	4.05	2.00	#24
29	Anna PLANK	AUT	53.55	28.31		26.24	3.35	3.00	3.30	3.35	3.40	1.00	#2
30	Naja FERKOV	SLO	52.63	24.47		28.16	3.70	3.15	3.60	3.60	3.55	0.00	#8
31	Anne ZETZSCHE	GER	51.68	24.20		30.48	4.30	3.60	3.65	3.85	3.65	3.00	#11
32	Evelina ORASTE	EST	51.36	23.44		27.92	3.65	3.30	3.35	3.55	3.60	0.00	#6
33	Anastassia KISTLER	SUI	50.99	19.75		32.24	4.35	3.85	3.90	4.05	4.00	1.00	#20
34	Lieselotte SWERTS	BEL	50.03	24.51		27.52	3.70	3.20	3.45	3.45	3.40	2.00	#10
35	Izabela CERKUC	CRO	48.08	24.08		24.00	3.20	2.75	3.10	3.00	2.95	0.00	#1
36	Justiina NIEMI	FIN	43.74	17.42		28.32	3.90	3.55	3.30	3.55	3.40	2.00	#13
37	Karolina ABDULKARIMOVA	UKR	38.73	17.29		21.44	2.95	2.45	2.60	2.80	2.60	0.00	#4
38	Ursa KRUSEC	SLO	37.00	17.84		20.16	2.75	2.35	2.55	2.50	2.45	1.00	#3

FPl.	Name	Nation	Points	SP	FS
1	Kristina ZASEEVA	RUS	125.34	1	2
2	Elin HALLBERG	SWE	122.84	2	1
3	Gabriella JOSEFSSON	SWE	112.38	6	3
4	Caterina ANDERMARCHER	ITA	110.28	10	4
5	Katie POWELL	GBR	107.85	5	6
6	Timila SHRESTHA	FIN	103.91	12	5
7	Nicole SCHOTT	GER	103.61	4	15
8	Elizaveta UKOLOVA	CZE	101.25	7	14
9	Laura RASZYKOVA	CZE	101.18	3	20
10	Jennifer PARKER	GER	100.83	9	13
11	Silvia MARTINELLI	ITA	100.65	11	9
12	Luisa WEBER	GER	100.19	17	8
13	Andrina SIGRON	SUI	99.69	21	7
14	Emilia TOIKKANEN	FIN	98.87	8	17
15	Stina MARTINI	AUT	98.43	15	11
16	Anneli KAWELKE	GER	96.89	23	10
17	Nanna FÖRSTER	FIN	95.06	22	16
18	Viktoria CHIAPPA	HUN	94.37	18	19
19	Nina Larissa WOLFSLAST	AUT	93.25	24	18
20	Juliette HÖHN	GER	93.19	13	23
21	Jenny LIN	AUT	92.86	14	22
22	Anais CLAES	BEL	89.21	34	12
23	Ksenya TABOLKINA	RUS	88.99	16	28
24	Frances HOWELL	GBR	88.94	27	21
25	Laura FRITZSCHE	GER	88.53	19	27
26	Adela JELINKOVA	CZE	85.17	28	24
27	Anastassia KISTLER	SUI	84.51	20	33
28	Anna HOFMANN	AUT	83.52	32	25
29	Nika ZAFRAN	CRO	83.50	29	26
30	Anne ZETZSCHE	GER	82.32	26	31
31	Naja FERKOV	SLO	80.11	31	30
32	Evelina ORASTE	EST	78.98	30	32
33	Anna PLANK	AUT	78.41	35	29
34	Lieselotte SWERTS	BEL	76.43	33	34
35	Justiina NIEMI	FIN	75.24	25	36
36	Izabela CERKUC	CRO	67.90	38	35
37	Karolina ABDULKARIMOVA	UKR	61.01	36	37
38	Ursa KRUSEC	SLO	58.46	37	38
WD	Viktoria PLUTALOVA	AUT
WD	Olga BELINSKAYA	UKR
WD	Anna PARTZKHALADZE	UKR

Cup of China Schedule and Liveblogs

All times are EST.  I'll be covering the events in bold live.

Friday, Nov. 4
3:30 a.m.: Short dance
5:00 a.m.: Ladies short program
6:45 a.m.: Men's short program
8:45 a.m.: Pairs short program

Saturday, Nov. 5
2:30 a.m.: Free dance
4:15 a.m.: Ladies free skate
6:15 a.m.: Men's free skate
8:30 a.m.: Pairs free skate

Cup of China Dance Preview

The Shibutanis had a record setting debut season, becoming the first ice dance team to medal at both their Grand Prix events in their first senior season and winning the bronze medal in the first North American sweep of the ice dance podium at Worlds.  They have a charming style on the ice and an infectious joy in their skating that is hard not to love.  In addition, they have amazing technical prowess, easily earning Level 4s on their elements with some of the fastest and cleanest twizzles in ice dance.  They're not quite at the level to catch their training mates Davis and White and Virtue and Moir but they're poised to take home their first Grand Prix gold.

Bobrova and Soloviev had a breakout season last year, earning their first Grand Prix medals, including one gold, and qualifying for the Grand Prix Final.  They also won the silver medal at Europeans and finished in the top 6 at Worlds.  They struggled to find the right packaging last season and while their free dance was nice it was also forgettable.  With so many top Russian junior dance teams making the climb into the senior ranks, they'll have to take some risks if they want to maintain their spot at the top.

Lichtman and Copely are making their Grand Prix debut at this event.  They were the lone American team in the Junior Grand Prix Final last season and won the bronze medal at Junior Worlds.  They have the same coaches as the Shibutanis but I don't expect them to have the same breakout season the Shibutanis had.  Lichtman has very long limbs and can create great lines but she doesn't always use all that length to her advantage by really stretching through her legs.  They scrapped their original free dance and have switched to Austin Powers which suits them perfectly and should be a real crowd pleaser.

This is a weaker field than some of the dance events and gives Carron and Jones of France a chance to win their first Grand Prix medal.  They changed their free dance at Worlds to a Gershwin medley which was the perfect program for them.  If they can find this momentum early in the season they could have a breakout year.

I don't think the Chinese teams will contend for the podium here, but they have been taking notes from the North American teams and I was impressed at their improvements at Four Continents.  They're really pushing this discipline and I can see them catching up to the rest of the world by Sochi.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Shibutani/Shibutani
Silver: Bobrova/Soloviev
Bronze: Carron/Jones

Bios of the competitors:
Huang/Zheng, CHN: They finished 17th at Worlds and 6th at Four Continents.  They placed 5th at Cup of China and Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 130.29.  She is 24 and he is 24.

Yu/Wang, CHN: They finished 7th at Four Continents.  They placed 9th at NHK Trophy and 8th at Cup of China last season.  Their personal best is 125.75.  She is 25 and he is 25.

Carron/Jones, FRA: They finished 12th at Worlds and 9th at Four Continents.  They placed 5th at Skate Canada and 4th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.  Their personal best is 140.86.  She is 25 and he is 23.

Coomes/Buckland, GBR: They finished 16th at Worlds and 14th at Europeans.  They placed 8th at NHK Trophy and Skate America last season.  Their personal best is 126.29.  She is 22 and he is 22.

Bobrova/Soloviev, RUS: They finished 6th at Worlds and are the reigning European silver medalists.  They won silver at Cup of China and gold at Cup of Russia last season to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where they finished 4th.  They are the 2007 World Junior Champions.  Their personal best is 161.14.  She is 21 and he is 22.

Lichtman/Copely, USA: They are the reigning World Junior bronze medalists.  They won gold at JGP Austria and bronze at JGP Germany last season to qualify for the JGPF where they finished 5th.  Their personal best is 133.36.  She is 18 and he is 22.

Samuelson/Gilles, USA:  This is their Grand Prix debut.

Shibutani/Shibutani, USA: They are the reigning World bronze medalists and Four Continents silver medalists.  They won bronze at NHK Trophy and Skate America last season.  They are the 2009 World Junior silver medalists.  Their personal best is 163.79.  She is 17 and he is 20.

Cup of China Pairs Preview

Kavaguti and Smirnov are making the first of their three appearances on the Grand Prix at this event.  They are not my favorite team as they lack the finesse and grace that is typically associated with Russian pairs but they do have big elements.  They also tend to get in their own way and that has cost them spots on the podium at major events.

Sui and Han are attending their second Grand Prix event of the season.  They took home a silver medal last week at Cup of China and have already qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final.  They have quad twists and throws and amazing lifts but she is still very young and their programs can look immature.  If they can medal here, they'll likely secure themselves a spot in the Grand Prix Final for the second year in a row.

The Zhangs won the short program in their first competition back after sitting out last season due to injury.  They faltered in the free skate but hung on to win the silver medal at Skate America.  They won Chinese nationals ahead of Sui and Han but their scores on the Grand Prix put them below their countrymates.  They'll also be looking for a medal in front of the home crowd and a trip to the Grand Prix Final.

Moore-Towers and Moscovitch had a personal best total score to take home the bronze medal from Skate America.  They set their highest score at their first event of the season last year and never matched that mark again.  With a new refined style and high technical content, they'll be looking to improve at every competition this season.

Evora and Ladwig won their first Grand Prix medal last season and have the best lifts in the business.  This is their highest scoring element and is always a big crowd pleaser.  They struggled last season with their jumps and finding the right fit in their short program.  If they can put together the whole package, they can be very competitive.  

My podium predictions:

Gold: Kavaguti/Smirnov

Silver: Sui/Han

Bronze: Zhang/Zhang

Bios of the competitors:

Moore-Towers/Moscovitch, CAN: They finished 8th at Worlds and 5th at Four Continents.  They won bronze at Skate America.  They qualified for the Grand Prix Final last season and finished 6th.  Their personal best is 177.43.  She is 19 and he is 27.

Steele/Schultz, CAN: They finished 4th at JGP Great Britain and 6th at JGP Czech Republic last season to qualify for the JGPF where they finished 4th.  Their personal best is 133.08.  She is 19 and he is 22.

Sui/Han, CHN: They are the 2010 and 2011 World Junior Champions.  They won silver at Skate Canada.  They won gold at JGP Latvia and Austria.  They qualified for the GPF last season and won bronze.  They qualified for the JGPF last season, but withdrew to focus on the senior competition.  Their personal best is 180.82.  She is 16 and he is 19.

Yu/Jin, CHN: They finished 7^th in their Grand Prix debut, Skate Canada.  They took home the silver from JGP Latvia and Austria.  They qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final last season and won bronze.  Their personal best is 158.36.  She is 15 and he is 17.

Zhang/Zhang, CHN: They won silver at Skate America.  They are the 2006 Olympic silver medalists; 2009, 2008 and 2006 World silver medalists; 2005 World bronze medalists; 2010 and 2005 Four Continents Champions; 2008 and 2004 Four Continents silver medalists; 2009, 2003 and 2002 Four Continents bronze medalists; and 2003 and 2001 World Junior Champions.  Their personal best is 197.92.  She is 26 and he is 27.

Kadlecova/Bidar, CZE: They finished 15th at Worlds, 7th at Europeans and 8th at Junior Worlds.  They placed 8th at JGP Austria and 5^th at JGP Estonia.  They placed 6th at Trophee Eric Bompard last season.   Their personal best is 139.94.  She is 16 and he is 20.

Kavaguti/Smirnov, RUS: They finished 4th at Worlds and are the reigning European silver medalists.  They won gold at Cup of Russia last season.  They are the 2009 and 2010 World bronze medalists, 2010 European Champions, 2009 European silver medalists and 2008 European bronze medalists.  Their personal best is 213.15.  She is 29 and he is 27.

Evora/Ladwig, USA: They finished 11th at Worlds and 6th at Four Continents.  They placed 5th at Cup of China and won bronze at Cup of Russia last season.  Their personal best is 171.92.  She is 26 and he is 31.

Cup of China Ladies Preview

No lady had ever won a gold medal in her Grand Prix debut until last week when Elizaveta Tuktamisheva took home the gold medal.  The only lady to defeat her last season was reigning World Junior Champion Adelina Sotnikova of Russia.  This Russian wonderbaby has triple+triple combinations and her jumps are always solid.  She'll be making her Grand Prix debut here.  Tuktamisheva finished tenths of a point behind Alissa Czisny and Sotnikova has the possibility to take the top score of the season here.

Another young skater making her Grand Prix debut is Christina Gao.  She trains under Brian Orser and has a style very similar to Yuna Kim with her long lines and graceful execution.  She struggled last season with a growth spurt where she shot up several inches and had to readjust her technique.  She also has the triple+triple combinations and finished 4th at the Junior Worlds last season.  If she has better control of her new height she can really make a run at the podium.

Mirai Nagasu showed last week at Skate Canada that her nerves are still plaguing her as she botched another spin in her free skate and had her lowest finish on the Grand Prix since 2009.  She is capable of great things when there is no pressure on her and with the Final out of the question, hopefully she can settle into her programs and really deliver.  She's also competing in back to back events so she'll have to shake off the nerves quickly and make some fast adjustments if she wants to claim her second Grand Prix medal of her career.

Kanako Murakami, the 2010 World Junior Champion is making her season debut here.  She took home two medals on the Grand Prix last season and took home the bronze medal from the Grand Prix Final.  She also has triple+triple combinations and an infectious personality when she skates.  She fizzled out a bit at the end of the season and finished 8th at Worlds.  The Japanese field is so deep and she'll need good results on the Grand Prix if she wants to return to Worlds this season.

Carolina Kostner is the veteran in the field and is back for her second event of the season.  I didn't love her last season, but her programs this season fit her perfectly and are very entertaining.  She had one of her best free skates at Skate America and put a triple+triple into her program.  If she can repeat those performances she could hold off all the youngsters at this event.

My podium predictions:
Gold: Adelina Sotnikova
Silver: Carolina Kostner
Bronze: Kanako Murakami

Bios of the competitors:
Bingwa Geng, CHN: She finished 18th at Worlds and 13th at Four Continents.  She placed 5th at Cup of China last season.  Her personal best is 142.48.  She is 17 years old.

Kexin Zhang, CHN: She won bronze at JGP Japan and finished 11th at JGP Germany last season.  Her personal best is 134.08.  She is 16 years old.

Qiuying Zhu, CHN: She finished 14th at Four Continents.  Her personal best is 102.38.  She is 17 years old.

Carolina Kostner, ITA: She is the reigning World bronze medalist and European silver medalist.  She won silver at Skate America.  She qualified for the Grand Prix Final last season and won silver.  She is the 2008 World silver medalist and 2005 World bronze medalist; 2010, 2008 and 2007 European Champion; 2009 European silver medalist; 2006 European bronze medalist; and 2003 World Junior bronze medalist.  Her personal best is 184.68.  She is 24 years old.

Valentina Marchei, ITA: She finished 10th at Europeans.  She placed 9th at Skate America.  Her personal best is 153.71.  She is 25 years old.

Kanako Murakami, JPN: She finished 8th at Worlds.  She won bronze at NHK Trophy and gold at Skate America to qualify for the Grand Prix Final where she won bronze.  Her personal best is 178.59.  She is 16 years old.

Ksenia Makarova, RUS: She finished 7th at Worlds and 4th at Europeans.  She placed 5^th at Skate America.  Her personal best is 171.91.  She is 18 years old.

Adelina Sotnikova, RUS: She is the reigning World Junior Champion.  She won gold at JGP Austria and JGP Great Britain last season to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final where she won gold.  Her personal best is 178.97.  She is 15 years old.

Christina Gao, USA: She finished 4th at Junior Worlds.  She won silver at JGP Austria and Germany last season to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final where she finished 6th.  Her personal best is 167.14.  She is 17 years old.

Mirai Nagasu, USA: She is the reigning Four Continents bronze medalist.  She finished 5th at Skate Canada.  She is the 2007 World Junior silver medalist and 2008 World Junior bronze medalist.  Her personal best is 190.15.  She is 18 years old.