Finally skating season starts..

[Excidra]

I can't wait for this weekend, Campell's should be a great competition.
Anyone want to guess who is going to win?

Ladies
1-Michelle kwan
2-Sarah Hughes
3-Sasha Cohen
4-Vicktoria
5-Jeniffer Robinson

Men.
Yagudin will take it all.

[Emanfan]

Originally posted by Excidra
IMen. Yagudin will take it all.

I'll go with Plushenko. And if I'm wrong, I'm not coming in to work next week!!!

Couldn't care less about the women - Irina's not there.

[nits]

I'm not going to make any predictions with the ladies. The US ladies field is so deep and each brings their own talent and strength. I just can't wait for the season to begin to see what they're going to do.
I'd like Michelle to win, however she hasn't had much time to prepare and Sasha is going into this season well prepared. Sarah has the consistent 3/3's. I guess it depends on what the judges are looking for. I've read it's an interpretive freeskate, so let's see what happens. This is going to be such an exciting season. :)
I agree that Yagudin will win mens.

edited to add: didn't mean to slight Victoria or Jennifer, but I don't expect them to defeat Michelle, Sarah, or Sasha...but stranger things have happend, so you never know ;)

[danibellerika]

Oh, I soooo want to see Plush and Yags skate brilliantly. And I hope that Plush uses Carmen. I really like that prgoram. Both of them skating well will back the judges into a corner alright. I think Plush may get this one though. Yags is kinda torn here and there with SOI and stuff. That has to be tiring. And I've heard that Plush has been looking really good.

For the women, I want Sasha to win, but I think Michelle will. The only other person I remotely care about in the women's feild is Viktoria. I hope Fumie is going to be ok because I would have liked to have seen her.

[kwanette]

I never make predictions, because I am rarely right. I would love Michelle to win, but I agree that the depth of the ladies field is amazing.

Re: the men, well, I love Yagudin, but I also like Plushenko and I have a soft spot for Tim.

I am just thrilled that the season is finally here.

[Koala]

Is this event being televised in Canada?

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by nits
I've read it's an interpretive freeskate, so let's see what happens.


Actually, my understanding is that the competitors will be performing a standard LP, not an interpretive. I think this is a subtle change by the USFSA to make the comp into an int'l, rather than an open, event. This allows Michelle to compete, b/c ISU rules say that a seeded skater (which MK technically is this season) must compete in the GP series to compete in (int'l) opens and maintain eligibility while doing so. By having the competitors do a LP, the comp becomes an ordinary int'l event (minus the SP), so the open rules don't apply.

Of course, the ISU rule doesn't apply to USFSA events, featuring only Am. skaters and judges. So my sense is that the USFSA's December open event will be an open, but not an int'l, to get around the rule and allow MK to compete there.

(This rule is yet another stroke of genius by the ISU - sarcasm off)

nits, I would love MK to win, too. Unfortunately, b/c it's an LP, not an interpretive, comp., I think the advantage goes to Sarah or Sasha, simply b/c they've had more time this summer to train and are in competitive shape (meaning 3/3s) for the GP events. I don't expect we'll see Sarah do 2 3/3s in her program, but I could see her and Sasha doing one, or just a 6 or 7 triple program w/ no 3/3s, and MK doubling one of hers - making Sarah or Sasha come out ahead. I'm crossing my fingers for MK, though.

[LAVENDER]

I hope Michelle wins of course. If not then AP or Sasha. Well we will have to see all the types of programs but if all the programs are good and everyone skates clean I think Michelle should win but it will probably be Sarah. She is the new face for Campbells.

[skatingfan3]

ITA, kwanette! I'm kind of tired looking at my old skating tapes, from '92 Olympics to this year's Nationals. I'm so ready for the new season to start.

Dani, I think you're right. Yagudin is currently working hard in SOI rehearsals, this competition is a day after rehearsals and it's LP not the usual interpretive free, so I think it's in Plushenko's favor. I like both skaters so whoever skates the best!!

As for the ladies, I'm kind of surprise most of you think Michelle will win, I'll go for Sarah (who's riding high with the Olympic title) with Sasha close behind. I'm dying the see Sasha's new program. I have a feeling Sarah & Michelle will use one of their old LPs.

Deborah

[Emanfan]

Originally posted by Koala
Is this event being televised in Canada?

It will be televised on ABC (I believe) on Sunday, October 6 (not brought by a "Canadian" network).

[Koala]

Thanks Emanfan!!!

[kwanette]

Just a reminder to those of you who get Ch 6 from Philadelphia...You will NOT see the competition from 2-4, but at 12:05 AM..actually Monday morning...What a bummer, I wanted to share with friends, but instead I will tape and set my alarm.

[LAVENDER]

I don't particularly think Michelle will win. I think if all is clean and they all skate well then I think Michelle should come out on top at this point. I think Sasha has improve but I'm not sure by how much. I'm just hoping it's Michelle and if not then AP or Sasha.

However I think if all are clean Sarah will win because she won the Olympics.

[nymkfan51]

I agree that it's great to have the start of the skating season finally get here! As far as who will win ... well, of course you know where my heart is, LOL. Having said that ... I really think this is such a hard prediction to make. Forget the fact that the ladies field is so deep ... there is so much we don't know. First of all, how much quality training time has Michelle had and how far along has she gotten. Second ... obviously Sasha has made some big moves to improve ... will they manifest themselves this soon? The biggest question is, IMO, what has been happening with Sarah? We have heard virtually nothing about her new programs for this year ... or ... how her training has been going. I find the lack of news to be quite baffling. We will just have to wait and see, I guess.
The men's comp should be equally interesting. I love Yags, and like kwanette, have a soft spot for Timmy. Add Plushy to that mix and who knows!
Enjoy everyone!!!

Norma