2016 Cup of China: Ladies & Ice Dance Preview
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With no fewer than eight skaters capable of standing on the podium, the ladies’ field at Cup of China might be the deepest and most unpredictable one on the Grand Prix this season. Medals and Grand Prix Final spots are on the line - come in and take a look at Cup of China’s ladies’ and ice dance competitors!
LADIES
In a field where the majority of the skaters have placed within the top five at recent Grand Prix events, Cup of China is nothing less than a competitive bloodbath, and will serve as a deciding point as to who will qualify for the illustrious Grand Prix Final. Headlining the field is 2016 World Silver Medalist and recently-crowned 2016 Skate America champion Ashley Wagner, who is looking to continue her medal streak in order to reach the Grand Prix Final for the 6th time in her career. Contesting Ashley are a number of Grand Prix medalists, including Elena Radionova, the 2016 Rostelecom Cup Silver Medalist who is hoping to make the Grand Prix Final for the fourth year in a row, and Kaetlyn Osmond, the 2016 Skate Canada Silver Medalist, who has a shot at qualifying for her very first Grand Prix Final this year. 2016 Rostelecom Cup Bronze Medalist Courtney Hicks and 2016 Skate America Bronze Medalist Mai Mihara are also in the running to take a medal, while Zijun Li, Rika Hongo, and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva have all had relatively strong showings (despite placing off the podium) at their respective Grand Prix events as well. With such a high level of ability in the Cup of China ladies’ field, it’s anyone’s game to take.
ASHLEY WAGNER
Representing: USA
Age: 25
ISU Personal bests: SP 73.16, FS 142.23, total 215.39
ISU Season’s best: 196.44
Notable titles: 2016 World Silver Medalist, 2012 4CC Champion, 3-time US National Champion
Programs: SP - Sweet Dreams; FS - Exogenesis Symphony Part 3
After winning Skate America, Ashley looks poised to qualify for the Grand Prix Final for the 6th time in her career with another medal at Cup of China. She will mainly be looking for solid performances in Beijing, avoiding the mistakes she made in the free skate at her last competition, as well as underrotation calls on her jumps, which could potentially cost her at higher-level competitions. She will also want to avoid a repeat of last season, which saw her win her first Grand Prix while faltering to 4th at her second one. Ashley’s strengths lie in her confidence, charisma, and dynamic performance skills, which give her an advantage in program component scores - but with a very strong field behind her, she will also have to deliver on the technical goods to clinch the title. With the ladies’ field becoming increasingly crowded at the top, strong performances here will establish Ashley’s position as the 2016 World Silver Medalist, and one of the top competitors in the world.
ELENA RADIONOVA
Representing: Russia
Age: 17
ISU Personal bests: SP 71.93, FS 139.53, total 211.32
ISU Season’s best: 195.60
Notable titles: 2015 World Bronze Medalist, 2-time European Silver Medalist, 2-time Grand Prix Final Medalist, 2015 Russian National Champion, 2-time Junior World Champion
Programs: SP - Porgy and Bess; FS - Turandot
Once one of Russia’s most consistent star ladies, growth spurts have taken a toll on Elena’s jumps in the last two seasons. Despite winning the silver medal a few weeks ago at Rostelecom Cup, she looked far from top form as her performances were marred by several shaky landings. Nevertheless, Elena’s perseverance and grit should not be underestimated, and she is still very much in the hunt for a medal at Cup of China. In Beijing, Elena will be hoping for stronger performances and more mileage on her programs as she seeks to qualify for the Grand Prix Final again, a competition where she has medaled for the past two seasons.
KAETLYN OSMOND
Representing: Canada
Age: 20
ISU Personal bests: SP 74.33, FS 132.12, total 206.45
ISU Season’s best: 206.45
Notable titles: 2-time Canadian National Champion
Programs: SP - Sous le ciel de Paris/Milord; FS - La Boheme
Having struggled with inconsistency and numerous injuries in the last few seasons, Kaetlyn surprised many skating fans when she won the silver medal at Skate Canada with personal best scores. Her combined total score of 206.45 vaults her into a position right below the world’s elite, and she actually comes into Cup of China with the highest season’s best score in the entire field. However, it remains to be seen whether she can capitalize on her momentum and capture another medal this week, as well as a berth at the Grand Prix Final for the first time. If she succumbs to nerves, as she has sometimes done in the past, it’s possible that she won’t finish on the podium. However, her high PCS will likely give her a reasonable cushion even if she makes some mistakes on her jumps.
MAI MIHARA
Representing: Japan
Age: 17
ISU Personal bests: SP 65.75, FS 125.92, total 189.28
ISU Season’s best: 189.28
Notable titles: 2016 Skate America Bronze Medalist, 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy Champion
Programs: SP - Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso; FS - Cinderella
Mai turned heads at Skate America, her senior Grand Prix debut, by winning the bronze medal with nearly clean performances. Though she is still a relative newcomer on the scene, she has the technical content to challenge for major podiums, and in a field of volatile competitors, her consistency may be what gets her another medal this week. Two more strong performances at Cup of China will help build her case going into Japanese Nationals, where the ladies’ field is incredibly deep and the battle for the World team is practically wide open.
Mai suffers from juvenile arthritis, which has at times threatened her skating career.
ELIZAVETA TUKTAMYSHEVA
Representing: Russia
Age: 19
ISU Personal bests: SP 77.62, FS 141.38, total 210.40
ISU Season’s best: 187.99
Notable titles: 2015 World Champion, 2015 European Champion, 2014 Grand Prix Final Champion, 2013 Russian National Champion
Programs: SP - Piano Concerto No. 23 (Mozart); FS - Peer Gynt Suite
After resurging in the 2014-15 season to win nearly all of her competitions, including the 2015 World Championships, Elizaveta (“Liza” for short) has fallen into another slump for the past season and a half. Though she has some of the best jumps in the ladies’ field when she’s on, and is one of the few women to have landed a triple axel in competition, she has struggled lately to find consistency. After failing to making the Russian team for Worlds last season and finishing 4th at Skate Canada this season, Liza will want a podium finish at Cup of China to show she’s back in the game. She might attempt the triple axel at this competition, depending on her condition. Liza has recently announced that she will no longer use her “Cleopatra” free skate and will instead return to last season’s free skate, “Peer Gynt”.
ZIJUN LI
Representing: China
Age: 19
ISU Personal bests: SP - 65.39, FS 127.54, total 184.52
ISU Season’s best: 181.83
Notable titles: 2014 Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 4-time Chinese National Champion
Programs: SP - Le diable matou; FS - Only For Love
After struggling with jumps and stamina for three seasons after her successful senior debut in 2012-13, Zijun seems to be back on the rise with her 4th-place finish at Rostelecom Cup, only a point or so off the podium. Although she still received a couple of underrotation calls - one of her main weaknesses, still - she looked stronger than she had in years, and another top-half placement at Cup of China is possible if she can improve on her Rostelecom Cup performances. But skating on home ice will be a test of her nerves, and in this deep field, it’s hard to predict where she might end up.
Usually known as a light and lyrical skater, Zijun is expanding her boundaries with a darker theme in her new short program, “Le diable matou”. She is active on social media and is good friends with almost all other skaters.
RIKA HONGO
Representing: Japan
Age: 20
ISU Personal bests: SP 69.89, FS 129.97, total 199.15
ISU Season’s best: 171.19
Notable titles: 2-time Four Continents Bronze Medalist, 2014 Japanese National Silver Medalist
Programs: SP - O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana); FS - Lawrence of Arabia
Rika delighted the audience with her clean programs at Cup of China last season, winning the silver medal, but she will have to perform better than she has so far this season in order to make the podium once again. Numerous underrotation calls in her free skate at Skate Canada left her in 6th place overall. With Japanese Nationals and the fight for the World team looming closer, Rika will have to produce consistent performances with fully-rotated jumps in order to improve her standing internationally and at home.
Rika is known for her energetic performances when she’s on. Her free skate this season was choreographed by 2012 World Bronze Medalist Akiko Suzuki.
COURTNEY HICKS
Representing: USA
Age: 20
ISU Personal bests: SP 65.60, FS 119.30, total 183.12
ISU Season’s best: 182.98
Notable titles: 2015 NHK Trophy Silver Medalist, 2016 Rostelecom Cup Bronze Medalist
Programs: SP - Maleficent; FS - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Barely beating Zijun Li for the bronze medal at Rostelecom Cup a few weeks ago, Courtney has podium potential again at Cup of China if she skates well. Though the quality of her skating leaves something to be desired and she will be at a slight disadvantage with regards to program component scores, Courtney’s powerful jumps are her greatest asset and could win her another medal depending on the performances of the field.
KAREN CHEN
Representing: USA
Age: 17
ISU Personal bests: SP 64.46, FS 118.53, total 179.08
ISU Season’s best: 162.08
Notable titles: 2015 US National Bronze Medalist
Programs: SP - On Golden Pond; FS - Tango Jalousie
A promising junior, Karen took US Nationals by storm in 2015, when she won the bronze medal at her very first senior Nationals before she was even old enough to compete in senior international competitions. Hopes were high for her senior debut last season, but persistent skate boot issues affected her training and she dropped to 8th place at 2016 US Nationals after a decent Grand Prix run. Karen looks to be working her way back up this season, taking a bronze medal at US International Skating Classic after a fairly strong free skate. Though it’s unlikely that she will win a medal in Cup of China’s deep field, Karen will be looking to defeat her inconsistency, improve upon her performances, and get her second Grand Prix season off to a good start.
Karen is known for her dramatic and expressive style, as well as her exquisite spiral and spins, boasting one of the best layback spins in the ladies’ field. Her younger brother, Jeffrey, competes as an ice dancer. She was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and immigrated to the USA with her family when she was a child. She also enjoys painting.
ICE DANCE
With only two competitions left, the race to the Grand Prix Final is getting tight. The gold medal this week will likely be a fight between 2016 World Silver Medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani, and 2-time Grand Prix Final Champions Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje. The Shibutanis come in with more momentum and a Skate America win already under their belts, but if Weaver/Poje can improve on their Rostelecom Cup performances, the final result at Cup of China may still be difficult to call. Meanwhile, two Russian teams - Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov and Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin - will battle for the bronze medal and their spots in the Russian ice dance pecking order.
MAIA SHIBUTANI / ALEX SHIBUTANI
Representing: USA
Ages: 22/25
ISU Personal bests: SD 74.70, FD 113.73, total 188.43
ISU Season’s best: 185.75
Notable titles: 2016 World Silver Medalists, 2016 US Champions, 2016 Four Continents Champions, 2011 World Bronze Medalists
Programs: SD - That’s Life, FD - Evolution
After a fantastic resurgence last season that saw them win the World silver medal even though many people had written them off, the Shibutani siblings (fondly known as the Shibs or ShibSibs) are ready to fight to retain their spot as one of the top dance teams in the world this season. Starting off their season with a convincing win at Skate America, Maia and Alex enter Cup of China as the favorites, but strong competition from Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje means that they will need to be at their best in order to win another gold medal en route to qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. Any podium finish will net them a spot at the Final next month, but to prove they have what it takes to win a medal there, they’ll be looking for at least a gold or a silver here at Cup of China.
Maia and Alex are very active on social media, often posting vlogs and other videos from skating events on their Youtube channel.
KAITLYN WEAVER / ANDREW POJE
Representing: Canada
Ages: 27/29
ISU Personal bests: SD 73.14, FD 110.18, total 182.93
ISU Season’s best: 178.57
Notable titles: 2014 World Silver Medalists, 2015 World Bronze Medalists, 2-time Grand Prix Final Champions, 2-time Four Continents Champions, 2-time Canadian National Champions
Programs: SD - The Way You Make Me Feel/Michael Jackson Medley; FD - Concierto de Aranjuez
Grand Prix Final Champions for the past two seasons in a row, Kaitlyn and Andrew have nevertheless lost some ground in the world of ice dance lately, finishing off the podium at the last World Championships and starting off the new season with a bronze medal at Rostelecom Cup. Although they are a talented team with strong technical skills and fantastic chemistry, a few inconsistent performances can take a hard hit in the cutthroat field of ice dance. Weaver/Poje changed their coaching team during the off season to include the controversial Nikolai Morozov, and are still in the stages of adjusting to their new programs and training plan. With the ice dance field as deep as it is, they will need to win Cup of China in order to qualify for the Grand Prix Final.
VICTORIA SINITSINA / NIKITA KATSALAPOV
Representing: Russia
Ages: 21/23
ISU Personal bests: SD 68.33, FD 104.32, total 172.65
ISU Season’s best: N/A
Notable titles: 2015 Russian National Silver Medalists
Programs: SD - Duke Ellington Medley; FD - Astor Piazzolla Medley
With former partner Elena Ilinykh, Nikita is the 2014 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 3-time European medalist. Ilinykh/Katsalapov seemed primed to take the ice dance world by storm after their Olympic medal, but internal drama caused the team to split up not soon after. Nikita decided to leave Elena and partner with Victoria Sinitsina, while Elena partnered with Victoria’s former partner, Ruslan Zhiganshin. Sinitsina/Katsalapov were coached by famous ice dance coach Marina Zueva during their first two seasons together, and although they struggled in their first season, they posted solid results last season, placing second at Russian Nationals and 4th at the European Championships. Cup of China will be their first competition of the season, giving fans a first look at their new programs and their condition. Looking forward to Russian Nationals and the fight for the European and World teams, Sinitsina/Katsalapov will want to place ahead of fellow Russian team Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin in order to solidify their standing at home and on the international stage.
ALEXANDRA STEPANOVA / IVAN BUKIN
Representing: Russia
Ages: 21/23
ISU Personal bests: SD 69.63, FD 103.20, total 172.83
ISU Season’s best: 172.83
Notable titles: 2015 European Bronze Medalists, 2-time Russian National Bronze Medalists, 2013 Junior World Champions
Programs: SD - At Last/Bills; FD - Astor Piazzolla Medley
Stepanova/Bukin have risen steadily in the ranks of Russian ice dance in the last few seasons, placing third at Nationals for two seasons in a row and winning the bronze medal at the European Championships in 2015. Coming off a gold medal at Finlandia Trophy and a solid 5th place finish at Skate Canada, Stepanova/Bukin will be looking for a podium spot at Cup of China over Sinitsina/Katsalapov in order to shake up the rankings going into Russian Nationals.
Ivan is the son of Andrei Bukin, the 1988 Olympic Champion in ice dance.
Other skaters to watch:
Alexandra Paul/Mitchell Islam (CAN): 3-time Canadian National Bronze Medalists. Known for their light and lyrical style. Placed 8th at Skate Canada.
Natalia Kaliszek/Maksym Spodyriev (POL): 2-time Polish National Champions, 2015 Warsaw Cup Silver Medalists. Cup of China is their first Grand Prix of the season.
Anastasia Cannuscio/Colin McManus (USA): 4th at 2016 US Nationals. A fun and musical team. Cup of China is their first Grand Prix of the season.
Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN): 2014 Chinese National Champions. Known for their huge height difference and Shiyue’s personality. Placed 9th at Skate Canada.