Skate Canada 2014

Skate Canada, held in the Orchard City, aka Kelowna, British Columbia, is going to be a treat this year because none of the former gold medalists are competing. Even more, except for Julia Lipnitskaia, all of them have either withdrawn or broken up. That means that winning is anyone's game.

Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres, France's top pair
Photograph: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images Asia
This might not be good news for the hosts, who are used to keep the men's gold in Canada thanks to Patrick Chan. With him "taking a break" and Kevin Reynolds having had to withdraw due to skates problems, it is likely that they won't even have a skater on the podium. But the Canadians are such fans of figure skating that I'm sure they won't let their disappointment shine through. Instead, you can bet they'll cheer their hats off for every and any of these four favourite contenders: Javier Fernandez, Takahiko Kozuka, Michal Brezina and Konstantin Menshov.

Canada does, however, have Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford competing in the pairs' event and with the thrown quad Salchow they've been pulling off lately, they're a given for the gold. Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres have high chances of snatching any of the other two medals, but I'm having a hard time deciding on a third top pair. Normally I'd say Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch, but since she's now competing with Michael Marinaro, I've no idea what they can do together.

Speaking of together, the host has the ice dance gold in their back pocket as well, thanks to Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje. Nelli Zhiganshina/Alexander Gazsi might squeeze their way through and onto the podium, but only if they get past Four Continents Champions Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue.

Finally, we can only hope the ladies' competition will be every bit as good as the one we saw at Skate America. Coincidentally enough, we have the same formula (Russia, Russia, USA), but with different skaters. This time it's Alena Leonova versus Anna Pogorilaya versus Ashley Wagner.

So, with all these possibilities, who do you think will go home with this year's gold medals?

Comments

  1. Anonymous30 October 2014 at 10:28

    -Ladies single: I'd go for Pogorylaya, of course ) I've followed her ever since last year's Lexus cup of China, where she defeated SOtnikova :v (initially, I watched her only because she participated in the Bobrova/Soloviev's same event :))))) but after watching her last "Kiss of fire" I admire her triple loop immensely, she also has beautiful 3S-1/2Lo-3Lo (even better than Radionova :v ), beautiful spin (her donut spin makes me go like O______O) This year also features another "fire", the "Firebird", and do you know that Anna means "glory" and "fame? It suits her well :3 I also love Wagner (more than Gracie Gold), wish her good luck :3
    - Pairs: I don't like any of the pairs, I even dislike Duhamel/Radford (don't ask me why, I myself don't know either :)))) but... Vanessa James / Morgan Ciprès are enjoyable, they are - at least - not lame, and Van has beautiful figure :3
    - Dance: I think the dance result is quite transperent now :))) of course Weaver/Poje will win. Though honestly I thnk they're quite boring +_+ they do the same liffts, the same spin, the same step sequences every year. Of course technically they are good, but... er... you know... @_@ the same everything set in different music can't quite bring a good programme.
    -Men: Javier for the win!!!!!!! :v (at least I hope so :v )
    _The Gothiceme_

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