Skaters try out new roles at Cup of China

With the Grand Prix traveling to Beijing this week, we’ll see a fresh batch of skaters make their season debut at the Cup of China. For most skaters, this week’s Grand Prix is about making their mark on the international scene. But for others, the Cup of China will serve as a testing ground to see how they’ll handle the pressure of their new roles, as either the conditioned pair, the matured skater, or the frontrunner.

Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang

Will Zhang & Zhang hold off Shen & Zhao?

For years, Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang stood in the shadows of their Chinese teammates, Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao. Zhang & Zhang watched Shen & Zhao win two world titles, before capitalizing on an injury Zhao suffered before the 2006 Olympic Games, sneaking in to win an Olympic silver medal. Their victory over their training mates in Torino was short-lived, however, when a healthy Shen & Zhao went on to win the world title a year later. In the years that followed, Shen & Zhao retired from the sport, got married, and Zhang & Zhang took over as one of the most competitive and formidable pair teams in the world.

This week, in a script reminiscent of Plushenko’s in Moscow, three-time world champions Xue Shen & Hongo Zhao will make their return to competitive skating on home ice. For Zhang & Zhang, the Cup of China will provide an opportunity to overtake their teammates and show that being the more conditioned pair–having spent the past two years in rigorous competition–now makes them the team to chase.

Although Zhang & Zhang lack Shen & Zhao’s maturity and polish, their technical abilities, particularly Dan’s air position on their split-triple-twist and the height on their throws, are arguably the best in the world. That said, Zhang & Zhang will have a tough time holding off the two-time Olympic bronze medalists if Shen & Zhao skate with the passion and consistency they displayed before retirement.

My bet? Shen & Zhao will probably show up in similar fashion to that of Plushenko last week and will blow the field away in Beijing, leaving Zhang & Zhang back in their previous role: as the second Chinese pair team waiting in the wings.

Can Mirai Nagasu leave her past behind?

Mirai Nagasu is coming off of a tough season. After winning the national title in 2008–at only 14–Nagasu struggled with inconsistency, injuries, and a growth spurt last season. She skated poorly on the Grand Prix and finished a disappointing 5th at the ‘09 U.S. Championships. Since then, Nagasu’s changed coaches, appears to have grown into her body, and she has completely reworked her jump technique. This week Nagasu will have to prove that last season’s hiccups are behind her, particularly now that she doesn’t have excuses of youth, injuries, and naivety to fall back on.

Nagasu will face some stiff competition in Beijing. Along with world silver medalist Joannie Rochette and two strong Japanese ladies, Nagasu will go head-to-head with her American teammate, Rachael Flatt. Flatt placed an impressive 5th at the World Championships last season, and she excels in her ability to skate consistency under pressure and rise to the competitive occasion.

Nagasu will have to emulate Flatt’s consistency and show that she’s learned from last season if she wants to embrace her new role as a more competitive, mature skater. If she does this, there’s a good chance she’ll not only beat Flatt, but Nagasu may also be looking at an upset.

Evan Lysacek

Can Evan Lysacek handle the pressure?

Like Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lysacek had a tough time on the Grand Prix last fall. He struggled with downgrades on his triple axels and failed to quality for the Grand Prix final.

Despite his early-season setbacks, Lysacek concluded the ‘09 season by winning his first world title last March, making him the one to beat heading into this Olympic season. Being the chased is a new role for Lysacek, and this weekend we’ll see how he responds to the pressure that comes from being the best in the world.

Lysacek’s toughest competition in Beijing will be Japan’s Nobunari Oda. Oda began his season with a win two weeks ago in Paris, which will undoubtedly give him confidence heading to China. Oda’s new programs are strong, but he lacks Lysacek’s passion and ability to connect with an audience. It will come down to which man makes the least mistakes this weekend, and my money‘s on Lysacek to take the win.

The Cup of China will probably be a mix of strong and weak performances. There’s a frontrunner in each discipline, but beyond those key players, the field is pretty open and medals are up for grabs. This availability creates a great opportunity for a skater like Mirai Nagasu to make her mark as a contender for Vancouver–particularly when all eyes and pressure will be on Joannie Rochette. As for Lysacek and Zhang & Zhang, this week the emphasis is on making a statement and setting themselves up as contenders for Olympic gold.

Ultimately, skating is a sport of adjustments: tweaking your body mid-air to land a jump, adjusting your focus after a pop, remaining flexible in a volatile environment. And along with these adjustments comes the necessity for a skater to evolve as their career progresses. This weekend we’ll see whether or not some of the biggest names in the sport have it in them to change with their circumstances.