The Rostelecom Cup (formerly known as the Cup of Russia) takes place this weekend and I am secretly wondering
what surprises will be revealed in a Grand Prix season that has had more
than its fair share so far.
The men's competition is going to be the most interesting, with the matchup between Canada's Patrick Chan and Skate America winner Takahiko Kozuka front and centre.
The Rostelecom Cup (formerly known as the Cup of Russia) takes place this weekend and I am secretly wondering
what surprises will be revealed in a Grand Prix season that has had more
than its fair share so far.
The men's competition is going to be the most interesting.
Front and centre is the matchup between Canada's Patrick Chan and Skate
America winner Takahiko Kozuka. On a good day, I think it would go to
Chan. The problem is, Chan is off to a slow start this season while Kozuka looks poised and ready.
Toss
into the mix Johnny Weir, Nobunari Oda, Konstantin Menshov and Denis
Ten and I think we have all kinds of scenario possibilities in the race
for the podium.
Dance: Virtue & Moir sensational
I have no doubt that Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are headed to their second Grand Prix title this season. Their short dance is sensational. Their free dance, to Carmen, is beyond description it is so good. I guess what I'm saying is, "Does it really matter who else is competing?"
If I had to pick who else might be looking for a podium finish, I would say that I'm hoping that American ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani have upped their technical ante this season and can hold up against Russians Elena Ilynikh and Nikita Katsalapov.
Pairs: Lawrence & Swiegers intriguing
I feel the same way about the pairs event. Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia are the thoroughbreds in this race and will take the title.
There are two other teams that I want to see in competition - Canada's Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers, with their athleticism and speed, versus Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov and their classical Russian style. Both teams bring something interesting and a little different to the table.
Ladies: Leonova seeks redemption
In looking at the ladies' field, there are two names that jump off the page at me right way - Russia's Adelina Sotnikova and Japan's Kanako Murakami. Both have competed in one Grand Prix event already. Both earned bronze medals. Both are former world junior champions.
Yet neither had the skate she was looking for in her first outing and, presumably, would like to go on record as being able to compete with the "big girls."
I don't think it will be a walk in the park, if American skaters Gracie Gold or Agnes Zawadski have anything to say about it.
Kiira Korpi cannot be relied on to keep her nerves under control. But wouldn't it be great if she put together two solid performances back to back?
The other woman looking for redemption is the 2012 world silver medallist Alena Leonova. In her first outing of the season at Skate America, she was shaky, resulting in a disastrous seventh-place finish. Hopefully, up is the only way for her to go.
Pj's gold medal picks Men: Takahiko Kozuka, Japan Ladies: Adelina Sotnikova, Russia Dance: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada Pairs: Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, Russia
PJ KwongPJ is a self-proclaimed Word Broker who goes by the motto: I read them. I write them. I speak them. A degree from the University of Toronto studying Modern Languages has been put to good use as a bilingual PA announcer for, among other things, the last 5 Olympic Games, the FIFA U-20 2007 Men's World Cup and numerous international figure skating events since 1993.
Working as a figure skating coach for the last 25+ years led to commentating opportunities from CTV/TSN, ABC, Tokyo Broadcasting, CBC, Fuji TV, Seoul Broadcasting and CCTV among others. CBC has been home to Pj's skating voice, writing and commentary opinions since 2007. She would tell you that although working in skating is where her passion lies; she is the voice of lots of commercial projects, a blogger on her own site, a public speaker and with "Taking The Ice: Success Stories from the World of Canadian Figure Skating" a published author. You want opinions? She's got them. Follow her on Twitter to see.
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Canada's Patrick Chan returns to action at this week's Grand Prix event in Moscow. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)
PJ Kwong
PJ is a self-proclaimed Word Broker who goes by the motto: I read them. I write them. I speak them. A degree from the University of Toronto studying Modern Languages has been put to good use as a bilingual PA announcer for, among other things, the last 5 Olympic Games, the FIFA U-20 2007 Men's World Cup and numerous international figure skating events since 1993.
