Predictions (A.K.A Hopes) for next season
It feels like I just did this. Insane how time flies.
I have a feeling Savchenko/Szolkowy will dominate next year now than Shen/Zhao are retiring. If Aliona can land her triples, then they will be untouchable, because they have something that the Chinese power houses Pang/Tong don't have - artistry. The Chinese have made milestones in the area of artistry, but with their anorexic pair girls matched with brute, strong guys, they're able to do lifts and throws the Europeans can only dream of. No offense to the 5'2", 95lb Savchenko, but when Qing Pang looks as though she hasn't had a decent meal in four years, there is an obvious difference in weight.
Please, someone give Qing Pang a sandwich.
Worlds prediction:
1. Savchenko/Szolkowy (Germany)
2. Pang/Tong (China)
3. Kawaguchi/Smirnov (Russia - I have a feeling they'll be a dark horse next year)
Onto the ladiezzzzz.
Can I use the term Asian Invasion? Or is that un-PC? Remember the good 'ole days of watching figure skating and seeing the token Asian chick and without taking a second glance knowing it was either Michelle Kwan or Kristi Yamaguchi? Well, those days are over. Figure skating has finally realized the art of diversity! It has gone from being 95% White in 1995 to being just 91% White in 12 years!
Well, un-PC or not, the top ladies are strictly Asian. Toss in an Italian an American for affirmative action purposes (we don't want them to feel left out) and you've got Miki Ando, Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano of Japan, Yu-Na Kim of South Korea, Carolina Kostner of Italy and Kimmie Meissner of the U.S.
But realistically, unless Meissner can buckle down, stop underrotating her triple-triples and stop her incessant arm flapping, she's going to remain in perpetual fourth-place. Carolina Kostner probably should consider a career in speed skating, as she skates about 100 miles per hour, often rushing herself into huge combinations (that she sometimes lands, and sometimes doesn't). She could challenge Kim, Asada and Ando if she can keep her head straight.
Worlds predictions:
1. Mao Asada (Japan)
2. Yu-Na Kim (Japan)
3. Meissner/Kostner
(I think Ando will suffer from the Meissner post-Worlds win fourth place syndrome and choke at Worlds)
I'll think about the men later. And, honestly, I know nothing about ice dancing. That's for the Europeans.
I have a feeling Savchenko/Szolkowy will dominate next year now than Shen/Zhao are retiring. If Aliona can land her triples, then they will be untouchable, because they have something that the Chinese power houses Pang/Tong don't have - artistry. The Chinese have made milestones in the area of artistry, but with their anorexic pair girls matched with brute, strong guys, they're able to do lifts and throws the Europeans can only dream of. No offense to the 5'2", 95lb Savchenko, but when Qing Pang looks as though she hasn't had a decent meal in four years, there is an obvious difference in weight.
Please, someone give Qing Pang a sandwich.
Worlds prediction:
1. Savchenko/Szolkowy (Germany)
2. Pang/Tong (China)
3. Kawaguchi/Smirnov (Russia - I have a feeling they'll be a dark horse next year)
Onto the ladiezzzzz.
Can I use the term Asian Invasion? Or is that un-PC? Remember the good 'ole days of watching figure skating and seeing the token Asian chick and without taking a second glance knowing it was either Michelle Kwan or Kristi Yamaguchi? Well, those days are over. Figure skating has finally realized the art of diversity! It has gone from being 95% White in 1995 to being just 91% White in 12 years!
Well, un-PC or not, the top ladies are strictly Asian. Toss in an Italian an American for affirmative action purposes (we don't want them to feel left out) and you've got Miki Ando, Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano of Japan, Yu-Na Kim of South Korea, Carolina Kostner of Italy and Kimmie Meissner of the U.S.
But realistically, unless Meissner can buckle down, stop underrotating her triple-triples and stop her incessant arm flapping, she's going to remain in perpetual fourth-place. Carolina Kostner probably should consider a career in speed skating, as she skates about 100 miles per hour, often rushing herself into huge combinations (that she sometimes lands, and sometimes doesn't). She could challenge Kim, Asada and Ando if she can keep her head straight.
Worlds predictions:
1. Mao Asada (Japan)
2. Yu-Na Kim (Japan)
3. Meissner/Kostner
(I think Ando will suffer from the Meissner post-Worlds win fourth place syndrome and choke at Worlds)
I'll think about the men later. And, honestly, I know nothing about ice dancing. That's for the Europeans.
posted by Bethanie at 12:30 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home