Skating in January

January is a busy month in figure skating as Powerhouse nations USA and Canada hold their nationals and the European Championships kick off the major international season.

The ISU has announced the provisional entries for the 2011 European Championships in Bern, Suitzerland, January 24-30th.

Key Names to look out for:

• The French men (Joubert, Amodio, Preaubert), facing off against the relatively inexperienced Russians (Gachinski, Menshov) and familiar Czech faces (Verner, Brezina) 
• Kiira Korpi will be the only familiar Finnish face, her main rivals being a rejuvenated Carolina Kostner, the Russians Alena Leonova and Ksenia Makarova (pictured).
• 3 strong Russian pairs will aim to challenge Savchenko & Szolkowy in the pairs event. 
• Italians Faiella & Scali are penned to return to competition, facing Pechalat & Bourzat, The Kerrs and Bobrova & Soloviev in the ice dance. 

The US nationals take place Jan 22-30 in Greensboro.  Unseen Skaters has a list of provisional entries. There will be no Evan Lysacek or Johnny Weir competing here but still a decent battle for world team places, particularly in ladies and men's event where the US is the deepest.

Canada's Nationals take place Jan 21-23 in Victoria, BC. Skate Canada has posted the starting orders here. Cynthia Phaneuf will be a clear favourite for the ladies event. Jessica Dube will also skate ladies whist her pairs partner Bryce Davison recovers from his leg injury. A strong pairs field will include grand prix medallists Moore-Towers & Moskovitch and promising new partnership Duhamel & Radford. Olympic champs Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are penned to compete, suggesting Virtue's recovery from surgery is going well. Patrick Chan will be expected to breeze to his 4th National title. Jeremy Ten will miss the competition following ankle surgery this week.