2013 4CC- Ladies Podium Predictions

[NMURA]

I no longer see Mao as an automatic podium finisher, and I am a huge Mao fan. Her jumps have been unreliable for a long time now, and her PCS marks cannot make up for the marks lost in the jumps department anymore. I hope I am wrong about her.

Probably you're wrong. Asada is very reliable in Japan. Except for the bizarre case of 2010 NHK trophy, no foreign skaters have beaten her in Japan. In past seven years, Asada has only three losses in Japan (Ando twice, Suzuki once). Since Ando has practically retired, vast majority of the JSF's political resources will be placed upon her. My personal interest is how they are going to deal with her 3A.

I've found out that Japanese ladies have won 4CC in Asia five times in a row. And in all of these years, two Japanese ladies have won medals. Maybe such past records can't be neglected. My prediction is Asada-Gold-Murakami.

[euterpe]

C'mon. 4CC is in JAPAN. Remember NHK, where Mao basically bombed in the FS and won anyway? Mao will be on the podium, no matter what.

Skating is incredibly popular in Japan. As I understand it, the arena was sold out the day the tickets went on sale, and Mao is #1 to Japanese fans. All three Japanese skaters will get a tremendous reception, just as Canadian skaters do in Canada.

[briancoogaert]

My pick : Asada, Suzuki, Osmond.
But I really hope Gracie Gold will be on the podium.

[Cachoo]

My pick : Asada, Suzuki, Osmond.
But I really hope Gracie Gold will be on the podium.

I like these picks with Gracie as a dark horse in this event. I love Asada and Osmond but a sentimental part of me would like to see Suzuki win one.

[haribobo]

LADIES SP Comparison (to be taken lightly as scores can't be compared, blah blah) for 4CC and Euros ladies going to worlds -missing Yuna Kim and Ashley Wagner and possibly Alena Leonova. Gorry is not confirmed.

Mao Asada 74
Adelina Sotnikova 67
Akiko Suzuki 65
Kanako Murakami 64
Carolina Kostner 64
Gracie Gold 60
Valentina Marchei 58
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva 57
Kexin Zhang 57
Kaetlyn Osmond 56
Joshi Helgesson 55
Zijun Li 54
Viktoria Helgesson 54
Lenaelle Gilleron-Gorry 53
Nathalie Weinzierl 52 (probably Hecken will replace her)
Elena Glebova 51