Cup Of China

The skating season continues this week in Beijing, the same city the Grand Prix final will take place in just a few short weeks. Here's a quick preview on those hoping to qualify to come back soon!

Full starting orders and results can be found here.

Ladies

Mirai Nagasu (USA) will be hoping to erase some of the disapointment from the world championships and return to the form that made her 4th in the olympics. She will face off against Miki Ando and Akiko Suzuki of Japan as well as 'mini Yu-Na' Korea's Ming-Jung Kwak

Mens

Brian Joubert had somewhat of a disaster in Vancouver, leading him to once again question his situation and switch coaches. He has however showed a great return to form in some of the lead up competitions for this season and doesn't want to give up yet. He'll be competing against fellow europeans Samuel Contesti (Italy) and Tomas Verner (Czech Republic) as well as Takahiko Kozuka of Japan

Pairs

World Champs Pang & Tong will be looking to add more gold to their bag after their recent win at NHK and qualify for the grand prix final in their home town. Their closest competition may be from last week's Skate Canada winners Iliushenchkina & Maisuradze.  World junior champions Sui & Han will also look to emulate their mentors.

Dance
The favourites in the ice dance will be italian veterains Faiella & Scali. I must admit they have never been this bloggers personal favourites (mainly for their long term rivalry with the Kerrs) but they peaked at the right time in 2010 and look set to continue up the ice dance ladder. Their competition will be the crowd pleasing Pechalat & Bourzat of France, Russuians Bobrova & Soloviev and American siblings Madison & Keiffer Hubbell.

All That Skate Summer

Yu-Na's ice show is taking place in Korea later today. In an interview David Wilson said Yu-Na had been preparing for this almost like an international competition.

Rehearsals seem to have been going well and I'm sure with the cast of big names and Yu-Na fever still raging in Korea- photos and videos will be swamping the internet instantly.

See more rehearsal pictures here


With Mao having her own show, THE ICE, in Nagoya this weekend - maybe 'international competition' was right!

Brian's Gang.

The Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club is becoming a hotspot for skating talent. Brian Orser, 2 time olympic medallist wasn't sure he wanted to be a full time coach until his first and now star pupil, begged him to coach her full time. That pupil is of course Yu-Na Kim.

Given the success and popularity of Yu-Na, other young skaters flocked to Toronto. Brian coaches two american talents- Adam Rippon (2009 Junior world champion, 2010 Four Continents Champion) and Christina Gao (who pleasantly surprised everyone by finishing 5th at US nationals in her senior debut). Gao has already been compared by many to a young Yu-Na or Michelle Kwan.

















Also Brian has a growing collection of 'little Yu-Nas' teenage korean skaters Min-Jung Kwak (who finished 13th at the olympics as Korea's second entry) and recently 2008 Korean junior champion Yea-Ji Yun.


















Icenetwork also reported former world champ Brian Joubert is traning in Toronto for 6 weeks this summer. This isn't a permanent arrangement (yet...) but the frenchman is currently coach-less so we'll see.