The ice dance field around the world continues to get deeper and more exciting every season. And at this week’s European Figure Skating Championships, as many as 15 teams could really figure into the top ten here. With the head-scratching technical panel calls this season, the levels that these teams receive this week will be of great interest to many. Not only that, but the musical chairs of the top teams this season will get another test here, as the scores and relative placements of the top teams here could foreshadow the dynamics of these teams in Milano Cortina.
Europeans predictions
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GOLD Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Guillaume Cizeron FRA - The favorites coming in, there’s always the question of how much more their pairing has gelled over the past few months. Their lack of experience as a team has led to some missteps in competition, but they started as a very strong team and continue to have some of the best skating in this field. There is a concurrent thread going on with the release of Gabriella Papadakis’ book this week; and Cizeron has already taken legal steps to prevent its release, or at least prevent statements from being released. So the possibility of this playing a part in their performance is real.
SILVER Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson GBR - With medals at their last three Europeans, Fear/Gibson are in line to make it four for four in this Olympic cycle. And as the reigning World bronze medalists and the Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, they will be wondering if they can translate success here to an Olympic podium finish. Scores will tell the tale here.
BRONZE Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri ITA - Have Guignard/Fabbri realigned their place in the pecking order after a very disorienting fall season. But it’s been improving over the last few months of the year, and they finally broke the 200 mark in early December at Golden Spin. Two questions here - will they beat Reed/Ambrulevicius? And if they do, can they get close to Fear/Gibson?
4. Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius LTU - One of the teams that have made the strongest statements here this season, Reed/Ambrulevicius actually had to qualify their spot for the Olympics in September before steamrolling their way to their first Grand Prix Final appearance. They have had the advantage of been the most prepared team most of the season, but now that we are nearer the end of the season, does that advantage go away?
5. Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud FRA - A year ago, Lopareva/Brissaud were the surprise silver medalists at Europeans. But this season has been decent but not nearly as successful yet for them. Their rhythm dance placement here will be key to how possible it will be for them to get onto the podium this week.
6. Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck ESP - Fifth here last year, Smart/Dieck have had trouble putting down clean rhythm dances this season,a nd that kept them from being more competitive during the Grand Prix. They come in having won their last international event at Tallinn Trophy.
7. Diana Davis/Gleb Smolkin GEO - After two wins at Challenger events early in the season, Davis/Smolkin’s Grand Prix series was less than ideal. And at Finlandia Trophy, they got the lowest score in the rhythm dance of their entire senior career. Levels will be critical for them this week.
8. Juulia Turkkila/Matthias Versluis FIN - Bronze medalists here three years ago, the six-time Finnish champions were getting dangerously close to not even being able to skate this season because of Versluis’ injury. But they finally made their season debut at the Finnish Championships in mid-December, and they will make their first appearance internationally since Worlds last March.
9. Loicia Demougeot/Theo le Mericer FRA - Top ten at Europeans the past three seasons, Demougeot/le Mercier took bronze at French Nationals behind Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron and Lopareva/Brissaud.
10. Katerina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek CZE - Mrazkova/Mrazek continue their bid to solidify their place as the top Czech ice dance team. They were third at Golden Spin in early December and beat Natalie Taschler/Filip Taschler for the national title at Four Nationals in mid-December.