luni, martie 25, 2013

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.





















2 comentarii:

Anonim spunea...

foarte interesanta competitia! abia o astept. sper ca nu ne ceri ca si noi sa comentam in engleza:)

Florentina spunea...

Asta mi-ar mai trebui :) Destul ca fac eu un efort sa fiu coerenta in limba engleza... Totusi, m-as fi asteptat ca trecerea asta de la romana la engleza sa fie mai dificila; dar n-a fost, iar asta e un semn imbucurator :). Da, si eu de-abia astept; si te astept in vizita.