Figure skatingYouth will be on display at Skate Canada

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First things first. I am just as disappointed as you that Canada’s world silver medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won’t be competing. They were forced to withdraw last week due to a training-related leg injury to Virtue. She underwent surgery to relieve pain in her shins and is on the road to recovery. The good news for the ice dancers is that they should be ready to go later in the season.

The other good news is for the skaters who are competing.

Winning gold at a Grand Prix event is worth 15 points. This will give the winners in Ottawa a leg up in the points race to be in the top six to qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Korea in December.

Ice dance field opens up

With only eight ice dance teams competing here instead of 10, and with the favourites out, this definitely becomes the silver lining for someone. The ones to watch here will be France’s Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, who were seventh at the worlds, just behind American competitors Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

These two teams are very close in ability, which means it will come down to the programs. The other noteworthy competitors are 2008 world junior silver medallists Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier of Canada, and 2007 world junior champions Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia. Both of these young teams have beautiful qualities of edge and expression and demonstrate maturity far beyond their years.

The men’s event, with the exception of American champion and two-time world bronze medalist Evan Lysacek, is really about the juniors coming of age. Skate America’s result last weekend with Lysacek taking the bronze behind Japanese up-and-comer Takahiko Kozuka showcased just how strong the skating is from this new crop of seniors.

Canadian men’s champion Patrick Chan will be competing against former world junior nemesis Sergei Voronov of Russia as well as American junior, Brandon Mroz. There was a time when juniors would take two or more seasons to really make their presence known in the senior ranks. That’s not the case any longer as many of these talented juniors end up in the top 10 in their first year in senior. Chan’s ninth-place result at the 2008 worlds is one case in point.

In the pair’s competition, the fight for the gold will be between Canada’s world bronze medallists, Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison, and Russia’s Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov. There should be no contest as the Canadian team is head and shoulders above their rivals in presentation, style and quality of skating. And, with the inclusion of their triple twist, Dubé and Davison will stay neck and neck with them in terms of tricks.

Also competing at Skate Canada is American pair champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker. They should not be discounted, especially on the heels of their silver medal at Skate America.

Rochette ready for season debut

Canadian champion Joannie Rochette should lead the pack with the women with solid programs and performances. Her closest rival is Italy’s Carolina Kostner who seems to only be able to skate one brilliant program per event.

The exciting part of the women’s event will be the wild cards, like American 2007 world junior champion Caroline Zhang. Although too young for worlds, she already has a successful senior Grand Prix season under her belt, qualifying for the Grand Prix final last year. Her teammate, Alissa Czisny, won this event two years ago and is looking to do the same in Ottawa as is former Canadian champion Cynthia Phaneuf. Both of these skaters have elegance and ease on the ice that is hard to match.

Pj’s picks:

Dance: Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA)
Men's: Evan Lysacek (USA)
Pairs: Jessica Dubé and Bryce Davison (CAN)
Ladies: Joannie Rochette (CAN)

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