The big hitting matchups don’t often happen this early, as we see them from Grand Prix Final onward to championship season. But we got an early on this week at 2023 Skate America for the women between two-time World medalist Loena Hendrickx and US champion Isabeau Levito. They were third and fourth earlier this year at Worlds, and have already faced off at Japan Open, where Hendrickx bested Levito by five points. Their battle for gold this week will be fun to watch.
Skate America predictions
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GOLD Loena Hendrickx BEL - Now twice a World medalist, Hendrickx comes into this season no longer as up-and-coming talent, but as one of the ones to beat. She had a strong debut at Japan Open earlier, where she showed off a new free skate. Her issue early in the season tends to be putting together clean free skates, so her performance at Japan Open could be a sign of good things to come. What she gives away in base value in the free skate without the triple loop she will make up with components, but she has less room for errors than Levito does.
SILVER Isabeau Levito USA - The sophomore senior season is always a something of an indicator—this is often a test of where a skater is both in physical growth and in maturity of basics. For Levito, translating a very successful but sometimes trying rookie season into a longer-term trajectory is where she is this season. Hendrickx and Levito are at different times in their careers, but they are both ready to take another step forward in their success. For Levito, keeping up her consistency will go a long way to keeping up her confidence.
BRONZE Hana Yoshida JPN - My (maybe) surprise pick of this event. And I say maybe because there are plenty of people who would’ve had her this high in the standings. But Yoshida’s big competition results have not been terribly consistent, even though she’s got all the technical firepower to make it up there. She is one of two women competing the triple axel at Skate America, and she’s got a great look at the podium.
4. Amber Glenn USA - Speaking of triple axels, Glenn is the other of the two. She was recently sidelined because of a collision in practice, but by all accounts, she’s looking more prepared than ever early in the season. This is the first time in a while where we haven’t seen her on the Challengers before her first Grand Prix, so it’ll be curious to see where her competition mindset is early in this season. She’s got a shot at the podium—she’s the defending bronze medalist here.
5. Mana Kawabe JPN - It’s been a couple of seasons of ups and downs for Kawabe, from making it to the Olympics to the inconsistency that marred the rest of that Olympic season. Last season saw her confidence return a bit, and she’s started off this season looking much stronger, winning her regional qualifying competition a few weeks ago.
6. Young You KOR - After an emotionally draining past couple of years, You is hoping to start fresh this season, including a coaching change. She has taken the triple axel out of her repertoire (at least for now), and will have to rely on cleanness even more to get herself on the podium.
7. Ekaterina Kurakova POL - A coaching change this off season brought her back to Brian Orser, where she was originally training before the pandemic. And Kurakova has earned herself two fourth-place finishes in a couple of strong fields at Lombardia and Nepela. Her biggest obstacle will be the triple-triple in the short, which will set the tone for her chances this week.
8. Mone Chiba JPN - Sixth at Autumn Classic in September, and then silver at Kinki Regionals at home, Chiba is looking to capitalize on a superb last season, where she took bronze at Four Continents and fifth at Japan Nationals.
9. Niina Petrokina EST - After impressing the skating world two seasons ago at Europeans, a top ten finish at Worlds last season put Petrokina in a new category within the women’s field. She hasn’t yet lived up to that so far this season, but it’s still early and she’s got a couple events under her belt.
10. Clare Seo USA - If she puts it together, Seo has a great shot at the top six here. She has strong basics and musicality, but her jumps, especially earlier in the season, can be inconsistent. She most recently took bronze at Budapest Trophy, a strong step up from her seventh place at Cranberry Cup to start her season.
11. Seoyeong Wi KOR - Wi was 13th at Finalndia Trophy a few weeks ago, and she will need to be a lot more consistent to find herself in the top 10 here.
12. Xiangyi An CHN - A rising phenom during her junior days, An is in her first senior season. There is a lot to like about her skating, but she has struggled with consistency in the past few seasons.