ISU World Team Trophy 2013: these are the teams.

Update: WTT will be available on the ISU skating channel: http://livemanager.eurovision.edgesuite.net/isu/site/index.html

Photo: FB account of Yukari Moriike 

It's official; according to the ISU website these are the teams (and skaters) competing at the World Team Trophy 2013.

Canada 

Patrick CHAN	Men
Kevin REYNOLDS	Men
Gabrielle DALEMAN	Ladies
Kaetlyn OSMOND	Ladies
Meagan DUHAMEL / Eric RADFORD	Pairs
Kaitlyn WEAVER / Andrew POJE	Ice Dance

China

Nan SONG	Men
Han YAN	Men
Zijun LI	Ladies
Kexin ZHANG	Ladies
Cheng PENG / Hao ZHANG	Pairs
Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG	Ice Dance

France

Florent AMODIO	Men
Brian JOUBERT	Men
Lenaelle GILLERON-GORRY	Ladies
Mae Berenice MEITE	Ladies
Vanessa JAMES / Morgan CIPRES	Pairs
Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT	Ice Dance

Japan

Takahito MURA	Men
Daisuke TAKAHASHI	Men
Mao ASADA	Ladies
Akiko SUZUKI	Ladies
---	Pairs
Cathy REED / Chris REED	Ice Dance

Russia 

Maxim KOVTUN	Men
Konstantin MENSHOV	Men
Adelina SOTNIKOVA	Ladies
Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA	Ladies
Tatiana VOLOSOZHAR / Maxim TRANKOV	Pairs
Ekaterina BOBROVA / Dmitri SOLOVIEV	Ice Dance

United States of America

Max AARON	Men
Jeremy ABBOTT	Men
Gracie GOLD	Ladies
Ashley WAGNER	Ladies
Marissa CASTELLI / Simon SHNAPIR	Pairs
Madison CHOCK / Evan BATES	Ice Dance

Some thoughts on the teams: unlike the previous edition, when everyone that mattered in figure skating was here, World Team Trophy 2013 will have its huge absentees: the recent gold and silver medalists in London (Canada) - Meryl Davies and Charlie White, on one hand, and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, on the other. We all know Scott's opinion on WTT; last year, while waiting for the scores, he mumbled: "I hate this competition...". So, when it comes to ice dance, we'll have another duel to watch, between the French couple Pechalat&Bourzat and the European Champions (and bronze medalists at the Worlds), Bobrova&Soloviev. This will be their second encounter after the Worlds. But Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje will surely have their say in the ice dance competition; I'm curious to see whether they'll be placed between the French and the Russians or below.

Another interesting duel will be in pairs event - Tatiana Volosozhar&Maxim Trankov and Megan Duhamel&Eric Radford. I have already put my money on the Russians.

Girls-girls-girls. I believe Mao Asada will finish the season in force; but the Russian girls and Ashley Wagner are not to be underestimated. Gracie's programs are exquisite (though she's lacking consistency); as it is the free program of the Chinese wonder girl, that Zijun Li, made of porcelain.

Once again, in the men's event it will be Patrick Chan against Daisuke Takahashi. Last year, the Japanese won; and many considered the outcome as the real result of the Worlds in Nice. Mr. Takahashi pulled out an incredible performance at the World Team Trophy, achieving also his Season Best. One thing is sure: the men's event in WTT will have the characteristics of a World final, with Florent Amodio, Brian Joubert, Nan Song, the young Han Yan, Takahito Mura... It will be nice to see Jeremy Abbott and his beautiful programs in Tokyo, as it will be interesting to watch the young Mr. Kovtun performing; at the Worlds in London (Canada), Maxim was knocked down by responsability. One final word regarding Konstantin Menshov. It's a pity (and, in fact, a shame) the Russian Federation overlooked Mr. Menshov this entire season. Konstantin wasn't part of the team in Zagreb, as it wasn't in London. For him, WTT comes as a consolation prize - but, surely, this is not enough for a skater who had wonderful programs (and results) throughout the beginning of the season. Coming from a country that tries to make history by sending Evgeni Plushenko (31 years old) at the Winter Games in Sochi, Menshov should have benefited by the same treatment; he should have been allowed to compete internationally this season even if he's already 30 years old. 

Let the World Team Trophy begin. 

11-14 April 2013.

Until then, two memorable performances from last year.