So far over two events, like in the pairs we've had 15 teams compete, and so far there have been no real eliminations at all. The top fours from the North American leg of the series:
Skate America:
1. Madison Chock & Evan Bates: Need only medal in Russia. Actually might have a lot of trouble getting higher than bronze thanks to Russian Olympic Bronze Medalist Great Battle Royale scheduled to take place there, but even if both the teams involved in that live up to the expectations, outside them their only threats are Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin, who they should have no trouble beating if they skate clean, and of course even with 4th they hold onto a good chance.
2. Maia & Alex Shibutani: Need to win in China to seal it, where it'll be hard for them to beat Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte, and there's a good chance Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin will knock them down to bronze. But even then it would still be as the chips fall, and the only remote threat to their being knocked off the podium are Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron, and I don't *think* that's going to happen just yet.
3. Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin: Would have to win Russia to seal it, where, as noted above, they'll be up against it even for bronze, let alone silver and a chance, unless one of other two other Russian teams had a huge letdown.
4. Elizabeth Paradis & Francois-Xavier Ouelette: Both events complete, 7th in Canada indicates just making the top four here was their victory.
Skate Canada:
1. Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Pojé: Need only medal in Japan, where the only team possibly capable of beating them are Victoria Sinitsina & Nikita Katsalapov.
2. Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier: Would need to win in France to seal it, which probably isn't happening against Cappellini & Lanotte. But as in pairs, two silvers ought to be enough, and that they have a better shot at, especially as they've already beaten Hubbell & Donohue, but their bigger competition for it might be Papadakis & Cizeron, and on home ice for the latter they might have to hope they hold off Hubbell & Donohue for bronze and then it's as the chips fall.
3. Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue: Also probably not winning in France, and they actually need the silver, and may find it harder to get against the other two teams; they'll need to be at top of their game and even then cross their fingers, both at this event and then at the other ones.
4. Ksenia Monko & Kirill Khavalian: To have a chance would have to win in Japan, where between Weaver & Pojé and Sinitsina & Katsalpov even silver looks improbable.
Contenders yet to skate:
Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte
Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin
Victoria Sinitsina & Nikita Katsalapov
Current Standings in Ice Dance
http://www.isuresults.com/events/gp2014/gpsdance.htm
Skate America:
1. Madison Chock & Evan Bates: Need only medal in Russia. Actually might have a lot of trouble getting higher than bronze thanks to Russian Olympic Bronze Medalist Great Battle Royale scheduled to take place there, but even if both the teams involved in that live up to the expectations, outside them their only threats are Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin, who they should have no trouble beating if they skate clean, and of course even with 4th they hold onto a good chance.
2. Maia & Alex Shibutani: Need to win in China to seal it, where it'll be hard for them to beat Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte, and there's a good chance Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin will knock them down to bronze. But even then it would still be as the chips fall, and the only remote threat to their being knocked off the podium are Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron, and I don't *think* that's going to happen just yet.
3. Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin: Would have to win Russia to seal it, where, as noted above, they'll be up against it even for bronze, let alone silver and a chance, unless one of other two other Russian teams had a huge letdown.
4. Elizabeth Paradis & Francois-Xavier Ouelette: Both events complete, 7th in Canada indicates just making the top four here was their victory.
Skate Canada:
1. Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Pojé: Need only medal in Japan, where the only team possibly capable of beating them are Victoria Sinitsina & Nikita Katsalapov.
2. Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier: Would need to win in France to seal it, which probably isn't happening against Cappellini & Lanotte. But as in pairs, two silvers ought to be enough, and that they have a better shot at, especially as they've already beaten Hubbell & Donohue, but their bigger competition for it might be Papadakis & Cizeron, and on home ice for the latter they might have to hope they hold off Hubbell & Donohue for bronze and then it's as the chips fall.
3. Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue: Also probably not winning in France, and they actually need the silver, and may find it harder to get against the other two teams; they'll need to be at top of their game and even then cross their fingers, both at this event and then at the other ones.
4. Ksenia Monko & Kirill Khavalian: To have a chance would have to win in Japan, where between Weaver & Pojé and Sinitsina & Katsalpov even silver looks improbable.
Contenders yet to skate:
Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte
Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin
Victoria Sinitsina & Nikita Katsalapov
Current Standings in Ice Dance
http://www.isuresults.com/events/gp2014/gpsdance.htm
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