Who's the Darkhorse To Look Out For Next Year?

[Calgary88]

Just wondered who you think the darkhorse will be next year on the international scene of skating. Is it Kostner from Italy? Who?

[icenut84]

Carolina Kostner was the first person I thought of when I saw the thread title :)

[Tony Wheeler]

Joannie Rochette!

[Aaron W]

Don & Hunt :)

[BittyBug]

Galina Maniachenko.

[Debbie S]

I also thought immediately of Kostner. But there's also Stephane Lambiel, who had a great QR at Worlds. Don/Hunt could definitely shake things up in U.S. pairs. And with the top 2 dance teams in the world retiring, I think B/A could also make some noise.

[nahschoir]

ANGELA NIKODINOV

She is going to come from nowhere...everyone will be thinking she is done for. Her injury will keep her down. She wasn't consistent so after the injury...she is sure to be more inconsistent. AND THEN>>>

WHAM BAM THANK YA NARI NAM! :-)

Angela medals at US nationals and then Gives EVERYONE a run for their money at Worlds. Watch out world....Angela ain't done yet!!!

[Angel01673]

I don't really think B/A or Kostner could be considered dark horses since they have some nosie already. But I think Dan Fang could really be a dark horse, she was really undermarked at worlds, and the chinese skaters are really coming up.

[Ximena]

Stephane Lambiel and Carolina Kostner

[Oracle]

Ann Patrice McDonough & Johnny Weir

[Alexeiskate]

Originally posted by Angel01673
But I think Dan Fang could really be a dark horse, she was really undermarked at worlds, and the chinese skaters are really coming up.


I though Dan was marked appropriately at Worlds. Dan was charming in qualifying and short but she was painfully slow. She practically raked her toe-pick to a complete stop before launching into the 2axel. The free program was also lacking choreographically, e.g. all of her spins were done at one end of the rink. I can definitely see her as the future of Chinese lady skating though if she can learn to develop more power in her basic skating.


If Kevin Van Der Perren can at least get a 3axel then I think he can make top 10 at Worlds. His spins were on the weak side but he was charismatic and his 3-3-3s were awesome. Also like Lambiel's skating a lot.

[Dilng]

Beatrice Liang. This girl has speed, spins, jumps and presentation. I think she is going to make a huge impact at Nationals. I predict that she will be another Tara Lipinski!!!!!

[bcskater]

i think that carolina kostner is already a contender, it seems to me that she was the dark horse this past season, bursting onto the world stage with her 3/3's in the short and long programs. but i would say beatrisa liang or even joannie rochette.

[DORISPULASKI]

Yebin Mok!

[adrianchew]

Jennifer Don & Jonathan Hunt! 8-)

[SkaterBrett]

Joannie Rochette all the way!

[abrd]

I hope it will be Jenny Kirk's year.

[Arsenette]

Stephane Lambiel, Carolina Kostner, Yebin Mok, Ann Patrice McDonough & Johnny Weir.

BTW - any new Japanese skaters going from Junior to Senior (age wise) yet? That ought to be interesting!

[Greg D]

Jenny Kirk!!!
One more summer of hard work in Detroit with RC, and Jenny will land the 3-3s all season

[rudi]

Jenny, Bebe, and AP for the ladies.

Johnny Weir, Eman, and Elvis for the guys :)

Go USA & Canada!

[sk8ing is lyfe]

i thought of joannie and carolina kostner when i saw this

[vesperholly]

I am not impressed with Carolina Kostner, though most I see rave about her. To me she is all elbows and knees.

I dare not tempt the SkateGods with my darkhorse predictions. I was quiet all last year about Ryan Jahnke and look what happened! :-)

Jocelyn

[aservin]

Lina Johansson of Sweden!! She will make a great impact on the senior scene this year!

[GreekGoddess85]

Kostner, Weir, Lambiel, Kirk, Nikodinov

[fsfan]

Elvis Stojko!

[junkety]

Another vote for Don & Hunt . . . very promising!! . . . and here's hoping for a good pairs competition next year at Nationals (this year's was hard for a pairs fan to watch)!

[Aimless]

Originally posted by fsfan
Elvis Stojko!

I'd say he was a war horse, but not a dark horse. :)

[hebequeen]

Yukina Ota.