As many skating observers know, for much of the past few years (with the exception of the return of Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir), it’s been an ice dance scene of Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron and then everyone else. This week’s Grand Prix Final will be no different. The intrigue will be with the other five teams, all of whom can make a case for themselves to be on the podium. Needless to say, the storylines here will be super intriguing. These five teams are so close that it wouldn’t at all be a surprise if they all finished within five points of each other.
Grand Prix Final predictions
Official hashtags: #GPFTurin2019 #Torino2019 #GPFigure
GOLD Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron FRA - The level of camp they are bringing in their Fame rhythm dance has been the talk of the town this season - it represents a huge departure for them and shows them as more than just the sublime free dancers that they have always been known for. Papadakis, especially, has been able to use that program to show her personality, which, as we’ve seen from her in real life, is goofy and endearing. It’s what’s made this program successful, and it’s what will help them continue to grow as a team.
SILVER Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov RUS - Their two programs this season have not only shown off their strength as a dance team, but have also provided coherent artistic vehicles for them. Their big breakthrough was their silver medal at last season’s Worlds, and they are looking to capitalize on that and keep up their status as the second-best dance team in the world. But it will absolutely be a close one - their standing in that second spot is nowhere near guaranteed.
BRONZE Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier CAN - They’ve always skated to their own tune, and it’s what’s made them endearing to the skating community. Their unique brand of skating has given them a platform that they have really built upon the past couple of seasons as their skating has improved, and this competition is an opportunity for them to make a huge statement for the rest of the season. They beat Hubbell/Donohue at Skate Canada on the strength of their brilliant free dance, and they will need to be convincing and precise in their rhythm dance to get themselves onto the podium. It’s not a long shot.
4. Madison Chock/Evan Bates USA - The former US champs have looked to have been on an upswing since a disappointing Olympics two seasons ago. The coaching change and the new environment have spurred on that upswing, and it’s really paying off in both their components and some of their traditionally weaker elements, like their twizzles. Their component scores have finally looked to match those improvements, and they will need those this week to have a shot at the podium. Like Gilles/Poirier, they are strong in the free dance, so staying close in the rhythm dance will be crucial.
5. Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue USA - Knowing how they like to operate, they have most certainly spent the past month since their last Grand Prix event reshuffling their programs to take the feedback and improve on them ahead of the Final. But that also means that they will be bringing in potentially fresh content and untested elements that could lead to levels and execution issues. As much as they would love to be on the podium this week, their focus is on peaking at Worlds, and the program changes will be a necessary step for that.
6. Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin RUS - They’ve flown a bit under the radar this season so far, and it’s perhaps because their programs haven’t yet resonated as much as some of their previous seasons’ programs have. They’ve always run either hot or cold at competitions, and you can see them on the podium or off - just depends on how cleanly they can skate here this week.