So Skate America and the beginning of the Grand Prix series are now just over a week away and the entry lists are out. Having looked over the new programme list and the entry list for each Grand Prix, I'm very very excited to see what these competitions are going to bring. So who is going where? And what impact will it have? Well let us begin at the beginning with Skate America...
Men's competition wise, Skate America gives us an early showcase of a tasty duel which I think in years to come is going to be a big deal. Yuzuru Hanyu and Michal Brezina. Two young, up and coming skaters who did extremely well last year and are coming out with new programmes this year. Both of them are exciting skaters and this could well be the time for them to step up. Adding further intrigue to this competition is the presence of both Jeremy Abbott and Takahiko Kozuka two skaters who are very solid and seem to do very well in a sort of quiet, low key way.They could be dark horses to pick up some major points early on in the series. And that's not all, Tomas Verner returns after a difficult season last year with a point to prove. The pairs contest promises an early heavy weight clash with China's Pang and Tong going up against Maxim Trankov and his partner Tatiana. That should be an absolute cracker to kick off the season. Ice Dance sees Meryl and Charlie kick off at home as do Scotty and Tessa in Skate Canada right afterwards. Both pairs will be accompanied by some up and coming talent with Meryl and Charlie taking on Bobrova and Soloviev and tessa and Scotty coming up against Luca Lanotte and Anna Cappellini. Its a simple story for pairs at Skate Canada with Aliona Savchenko and Robin Solkowy kicking off against Berton and Hotarek. But its the Men's competition in Canada that really stands out. Last season's winner of...well everything Patrick Chan takes on former European Champion Florent Amodio, one of last season's emerging talents Javier Fernandez and European silver medallist baby Plushenko Artur Gachinski. Just wow. The Cup of China sees another heavy weight clash with Brian Joubert going up against Daisuke Takahashi. In the pairs contest in Shanghai Pang and Tong return, this time joined in what promises to be an excellent contest by Kavaguti and Smirnov, Takahashi and Tran and last season's outstanding youngsters Sui and Han. The real headline grabber is the men's contest in Russia which sees the long awaited return of the fabulous Johnny Weir. Not only is Johnny back, he's also taking on Patrick Chan, Michal Brezina, Gachinski, Kozuka and Dennis Ten. I know its eaarly day but that seriously could prove to be the contest of the season. Maxim and Tatiana headline tthe pairs contest on home soil taking on fellow Russians Bazarova and Larionov. The dance contest looks pretty good too with Tessa and Scotty joined by Nikita Katsalapov and partner Elena and the Shibutanis. Johnny returns for another stellar contest, this time in Paris featuring the pride of French figure skating Brian Joubert and Florent Amodio. There's another top notch all star clash in the pairs with Robin and Aliona once again squaring up to old adversaries Kavaguti and Smirnov. While in the dance contest Gallic ing and Queen Fabian and Nathalie take on young pretenders Luca and Anna. And there's a strong finish all around in the NHK in Japan with an all star line including home nation heroes Daisuke Takahashi, Yuzuru Hanyu, Takahashi and Tran and Cathy and Chris Reed. Not to mention Javier Fernandez, Sui and Han, Meryl and Charlie and the Shibutanis. Wow. That was exhausting.
PS: If you're wondering why I haven't menntioned Evan Lysacek's comeback, Its because he had to pull out of his scheduled return at Skate America with a groin injury. Sad Face.
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