2009 World Figure Skating Championships

The biggest figure skating stars in the world will try to shine this week at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles.

They competing not only for World Championship medals but also for qualifying spots for next year's Vancouver Winter Olympics. This is were skater start jostling for position heading into the games. The countdown to the games are definately on.

Canada's medal prospects are the strongest they've been in years. After years of rebuilding Canada has medal prospects in all four disciplines.

Ice Dance

The Ice Dance competition this year has been rattled by a string of injuries to the top ranked teams.

After going 3-0 this year, reigning champs Isabel Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA), have withdraw due to her injured shoulder.

Tessa Virture and Scott Moir (CAN), last year's silver medalists, have been sideline for most of the year with Tessa's shin issues. The returned to the ice and defended their Canadian title. At the Four Continents they lost to the US team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White. The question with Tessa and Scott is whether they have had enough time to polish the technical programs that they have only recently debut.

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (USA), the 2006 Olympic Silver medalists are also battling back from injury. Belbin and Agosto missed the Grand Prix final and the US championships due to his back injury. They are also battling back after a disastrous showing at last year's World Championships. It will be interesting to see which US team comes out on top.

Never count out the Russia ice dancers. Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, were favored last year but had to pull out due to Maxim's knee injury. They dropped out of this year's European championships when his knee once again acted up. The second place finishers at this year's Grand Prix finals are still a threat if he can manage to skate on two legs.

Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski may fill the Russian void if Oksana and Maxim faulter. This years Russian and European Champions and last year's World bronze medalists have what is needed to carry them to the podium.

The US team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White could be the team to watch. They have momentum after winning their first US Championship and betting Virtue and Moir for the Four Continents title. Their lack of injuries this year has been a key to their success and could propel them to a podium finish.

Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier (CAN) are also a team to watch. The 2008 Jr silver medalists narrowly missed qualifying for the Grand Prix final in their first year as seniors. They will be competing at their first World Championship.

Medal Predictions:

Gold: Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski (RUS)
Silver: Tessa Virture and Scott Moir (CAN)
Bronze: Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA)

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