Who Are You Most Excited About This Season?

[Calgary88]

What skater are you the most excited about seeing this season?

For me, I am anxiously awaiting the return of Naomi Nari Nam and I'm also interested in seeing how Sasha Cohen does this year. I hope she can pull it together mentally this year.

[rudi]

Eman
Johnny Weir
Takeshi
Sasha (both Abt and Cohen)

Can't remember if Michelle is competing this year, but if so, I'm always excited about her skating.

Not sure if NNN will be on TV this year; I hope so, since I won't be attending any live events this season. I would really like to see her skate again

Oksana (I know she's not competing, but I'm anxious to see her "return to skating")

[danibellerika]

I can't wait to see what Plush, Timmy, Johnny, Eman and Stephane Lambiel will have in store this season. For the ladies, I can't wait to see NNN on the ice again. I hope that she can make it to nationals and does well enough to be aired. Of course since I'm a big Sasha fan I can't wait to see what progress she's going to have in store for us. She's been working really hard this summer and I hope it pays off for her.

[Steffi]

Bebe Liang, she's my absolute favorite. I can't wait to see how she does on the senior GP circuit and hopefully she can pull up at nationals! :)

Others:
Naomi Nari Nam
Langlois & Archetto
Signe Ronka, esp. at senior nats
Dubé & Davison

[WeBeEducated]

USA :
Cant wait to see new things from Derrick Delmore, Rohene Ward, Jordan Brauniger, and Evan Lysacek
Internationally:
Shawn Sawyer, Yagudin, the Chinese Pair teams, and Joubert

[Oracle]

Men:Johnny Weir, Evan Lysacek, Matt Savoie, Brian Joubert, & Sandhu.
Ladies: Sasha, AP, Jenny Kirk
Dance: Belbin & Agosto

[sk8er1964]

Johnny Weir - I have only seen him skate once - the short at Nats - and I was very impressed. Also, Sasha - she has so much potential. I hope they both stay injury free and skate clean this season.

[DancinDiva]

I can't wait to see Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov! I hear that they have made a lot of improvements over the summer.

[Isabelle]

Marie-France & Patrice!!! :mrgreen:

[Aaron W]

In the men's discipline, there are several skaters I'm excited about this season. For one, I'm always excited to see Matt Savoie. Hopefully he's had enough time to recover from his knee surgery and will be ready for the GP circuit and most importantly for Nationals. I'm also extremely excited to see how Stephane Lambiel does this season. I'm a big fan of his and can't wait to see his new programs. Here's hoping he's on the podium at Europeans after back to back top 5 finishes there. And a top 6 finish at Worlds would be great as well. :)

In the ladies discipline, I'll always be rooting for Michelle Kwan when Nationals and Worlds come around. However, in the mean time I'm anxious to see Sasha Cohen's new programs and hope she plows through the competition on the GP circuit. I'll also be hoping for the best for Jenna McCorkell from Great Britain.

In pairs, I'm most anxious to see how Don & Hunt have developed in the off season.

In dance, I'm excited to see if Belbin & Agosto can continue their upward movement in the ice dance rankings. From 17th in 2001 to 13th in 2002 to 7th in 2003, I'm hoping a top 5 finish is in their future this year at Worlds. Also am interested to see how Faiella & Scali do this season. I'm excited to see their new tango free dance.

[miranda]

I think up until Worlds, Sasha has it in the bag. Great win at MSG. However, I'm looking for the Japanese ladies to sweep Worlds. If Sasha medals at Worlds , I'll be happy, she has worked hard. It would be really great if Sasha won Worlds. I don't think any lady without the jumps will make it to Worlds. This is a new season and a whole new ball game, thank the skating Gods. Plushy is just the best, period, in my opinion. I look for Plushy to take it all.

[Orable]

most excited? well, I'm excited in general for the new season to friggin start already, but if I had to narrow it down :) :

Matt Savoie
Evegeny Plushenko
Stannick Jeanette
Ilia Klimkin
Jeffrey Buttle

Denkova/Staviyski
Dubrueil/Lauzon
Chait/Sakhnovski

Oksana Bauil
Ilia Kulik (always!)


I really do like all the skaters and obviously am excited to see them skate this season, but these are the ones I am *really* excited about seeing :)

[ShootTheDuck]

Sasha! Since she has a good start to her season, I'm curious to see if she'll do really good this season 8-)

[icenut84]

I just want the season to start, and the coverage on TV to begin! (Which will probably be a long wait :( ). I can't wait to see how the new judging system in the GP pans out, and also the other big competitions.

I'm most looking forward to seeing:

*Irina Slutskaya (I hope she'll be back to her best, fit & healthy)
*Michelle Kwan (just because)
*Sasha Cohen (love her skating and can't wait to see her this year. I hope she can keep her head on straight)
*Elena Sokolova (I hope she can carry on her form from last season)
*Jenna McCorkell (Go Jenna!!)
*Carolina Kostner (a rapidy rising star with everything)

*Evgeny Plushenko (he's simply the best!)
*Alexei Yagudin (if he returns to competing)
*Stephane Lambiel (love his style)
*Alexander Abt (here's to an injury-free season)
*Chengjiang Li (hopefully he can improve on last season, and on his stamina)

*Shen & Zhao (I hope they land the quad throw - also very interested to see their new LP, as it's rumoured to be the Nutcracker)
*Zhang & Zhang (were amazing in the SP at worlds last year, and very undermarked)

*All the dance teams and their new programmes (haven't got a current favourite). I also hope Lang & Tchernyshev are at Worlds, and I'm also interested to see Chait & Sakhnovsky, Belbin & Agosto and the top 2 teams (D&S and N&K)

[danibellerika]

Oh wow, I totally forgot about pairs and ice dance in my original post.


I want to see Shen and Zhoa win another world title and master their quad throw. I also want to see their new program and see how they've matured even more artistically.

For Ice Dance, B&A are interesting so I want to see improvements they've made and hopefully see them move up in world standings which they most likely will since the 2 top teams retired.

Navka and Kostomorov are a team I'd like to see as well. I was really into their free dance last season and am kinda sad that they didn't medal at worlds. Hopefully they can this season.

[loveskating]

Originally posted by miranda
I think up until Worlds, Sasha has it in the bag. Great win at MSG. However, I'm looking for the Japanese ladies to sweep Worlds. If Sasha medals at Worlds , I'll be happy, she has worked hard. It would be really great if Sasha won Worlds. I don't think any lady without the jumps will make it to Worlds. This is a new season and a whole new ball game, thank the skating Gods. Plushy is just the best, period, in my opinion. I look for Plushy to take it all.

Despite how some pick on Sasha's mistakes to claim her technique is bad (while the mistakes of others are simply mistakes), Sasha has the jumps...except for a slight flutz, she has great technique and one of the best air positions on all her jumps (proper backspon position...I do not mean the pointed toes) and lovely arc right up there with Irina. Her 2 axel is quite exceptional, probably the best one in this field of skaters...great speed into it and out of it, she really steps up into it, often has difficult entries and its huge and there is that great air position. The new system seems to be rewarding such things.

[miranda]

I totally agree about Sasha. She is perfection on ice. I hope so much that she wins Nats and Worlds.

[Lark]

I am hoping that Yoshie and Michelle win everything! I want Michelle to win her 6th World title and Yoshie to finish 2nd. I want Irina to retire, I am tired of seeing the same program and costume from her skated to just slightly different music.
I want Tim to win Worlds, which he should have last season. I want to see Yags come back. And Plushy to up the ante.
I want an American team to medal in Ice Dance at Worlds.
That is about it. For now.

[wesrc5706]

I'm looking forward to seeing last year's Jr. World champ. Yukina Ota. She is completely incredible!

[miranda]

Ota is great too!

[Lise]

I'm hoping foer Canada the best for Eman,Jeff, Joannie Rochette, Cynthia Phaneuf, JRO, Putnum and Wirtz..I have all have a great season!!! I can hardly wait for the head to head competition for our ladies at SC!!!

[peaches]

Sasha Cohen!

From a Regionals perspective I'm rooting for hometown people like Alex (Alexandra) Tregre (Sr. ladies), Brad Griffies (Sr. Men), and Melissa Amonds (Novice ladies). Elsewhere I'm pulling for Felicia Beck because I think she's awesome.

[WeBeEducated]

Brad is competing this year?
Yeah! GO BRAD!!!!!!

[Schmeck]

I'm hoping we get to see NNN at Nationals this year as well!

[Skatingsarah]

SASHA, Sasha and sasha! Its always a battle and I'm hoping that TT has maybe smoothed out the nicks in her mentally. Also can't wait to see NNN! It should be interesting with her and the rest of the country and nats. Remember when she was I think silver at nats and sasha was in jr. I think its interesting now the two old friends are back. Can't wait to see E mans programs and hopefully consistant programs. Oh and how can I forget Elena S I definetly cant wait to see her! All of them and so much more. Most of all I want to see Sasha on top and also want to see a dark horse come up and shake things up!! ;)

[Klimkinfan]

I am excited about seeing
SCOTT SMITH (Was fun to watch at Nationals)
NAmomi Nari Nam( I have missed her skating)
Ilia Klimkin (Hoping he can skate as well as last year)
Brian Joubert( Have always liked his skating)
Elena Sokolova(was glad to see her bake on top last year)

[Beth2000]

Sasha is a beautiful skater but, her problem is herself. She puts so much pressure on herself. I think if she lets up and skates without thinking about each jump she will be fine. It seems the more the skater's think their way through the more they make mistakes. But, when a skater goes out and skates from their heart and their soul they end up doing great.

I hope that doesn't sound like I am bashing Sasha b/c I am not. I like Sasha.

I am also excited to see Michelle Kwan this year b/c well, this is my first time ever going to a LIVE competition and I can't wait!!!!

[SkateFan123]

Originally posted by Beth2000
Sasha is a beautiful skater but, her problem is herself. She puts so much pressure on herself. I think if she lets up and skates without thinking about each jump she will be fine. It seems the more the skater's think their way through the more they make mistakes. But, when a skater goes out and skates from their heart and their soul they end up doing great.

I hope that doesn't sound like I am bashing Sasha b/c I am not. I like Sasha.

I am also excited to see Michelle Kwan this year b/c well, this is my first time ever going to a LIVE competition and I can't wait!!!!

I was anxious to see Scott/Dulebohn's free skate from Skate Americia yesterday on tv. But my local ABC station decided to air Jack Hanna's show and only the last hour of Skate America!

Scott and Dulebohn's short program looked pretty good (except for the fall). I am curious what other new things their new coaches, Rockey, Isabelle and Lloyd, have added to this team. It's an interesting coaching change for this pair! I just wish I got to see them skate!

Sasha has greatly improved! It was quite pleasant to watch her Skate America performances. I just wonder if she will keep it up!

[Lindsay]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Sasha! umm Dubé and Davison, Signe Ronka, Jericho Boulin and Jesse Sturdy, seeing what Jeff Buttle does, *Nicole Watt* Kelsey Murphy and her parter, i can't remember his name, Joannie Rochette...gotta love her.

[gandalf]

After SC, I'm most excited to see how Yukina Ota progresses through the ranks. She's awesome.