Skate America: Jumping phenoms take flight at Grand Prix opener
Uno, Jin ready for Chicago showdown
In the season before an Olympic year, the start of the six-event ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series reminds me a little bit of "moving day" in golf. Like the penultimate round on the links, now is the time to establish yourself as a contender if you want to get to that next (highest) level.
The series-opening Skate America event gets underway Friday night in Chicago, and some interesting rivalries will play out across the four competitions.
Let's start with the ladies.
Editor's note: CBCSports.ca will have live streaming coverage of every competition at Skate America, beginning with the ladies' short program Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Catch more action on CBC Television as our Road to the Olympic Games show begins its second season with Skate America coverage on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET and Sunday at 2 p.m. local time.
- WATCH LIVE STREAM: Skate America
- LIVE STREAM & BROADCAST SCHEDULE: Skate America
- Road to the Olympic Games premieres Saturday
Too soon for Asada
I would love to say that sentimental favourite and three-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Mao Asada is going to dominate the competition. But the truth is she's still finding her way back into top form and I don't think she's there yet.
Instead, I think we'll see one of two Americans on top of the podium: Ashley Wagner or reigning U.S. champion Gracie Gold. My pick is Wagner. The former American champion seemed to put it all together at worlds last season, where she finished second. I think Ashley's commitment to skating will include a commitment to consistency in competition that will start here.
Jump men
The men's event is going to be interesting for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the sheer number of talented jumpers.
China's Jin Boyang, the 2016 world bronze medallist, was the first man to perform a quad Lutz/triple toe jump in competition.
I think the 19-year-old's biggest test will come from fellow jumping phenom Shoma Uno of Japan, who is only 18 years old and just 18 months ago won the world junior title. Uno, who finished second at Skate America last year before adding gold in France and bronze at the Grand Prix Final, continues to evolve not only technically but artistically as well.
I'm also interested to see how seasoned competitor and current American national champion Adam Rippon will do. If the competition were based solely on artistry, he'd win hands down, and it will be interesting to see if he can hold up technically.
Canadian pair on the rise
Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau were missing from worlds while Julianne recovered from an ankle injury, but the Canadians are back in top shape and have everything they need to continue to climb the world rankings. They're fresh, talented and have the kind of charisma and charm that reaches all the way to the back row of the audience.
Their biggest competition will likely come from the pair that Russia is banking on to show strongly in the Grand Prix: Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, who were ranked fifth in the world and are two-time European bronze medallists. It will be a case of setting things up with a strong short program and following it up with an even stronger free.
Russians return
Although I think the dance event is Maia and Alex Shibutani's to lose, I'm really looking forward watching how the talented Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia will fare after missing worlds due to Bobrova testing positive for a banned substance at the 2016 European championships. Bobrova was later cleared and is again able to compete.
The brother and sister Shibutanis were riding high at the end of the season as the world silver medallists, and the Americans' musical interpretation and attention to technical detail should be enough to put them ahead of the pack in Chicago.
Pj's gold medal picks
Men: Shoma Uno (Japan)
Ladies: Ashley Wagner (United States)
Pairs: Julianne Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau (Canada)
Dance: Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani (United States)
Don't forget, we're doing another Facebook Live chat to recap all the action from Skate America on Sunday. Check the CBC Sports Facebook page for details.