OFFICIAL ISU Grand Prix Assignments ARE UP on ISU site

[Lisa T]

http://www.isu.org/figure/events/0203/gp0203.html

[donnamarie]

Thanks Lisa. It looks like Sarah will defend her Skate Canada title after all 8)

[Josef]

So Michelle Kwan is iffy when it comes to the GP now?

Also wondering how Gregory/Petukhov are now down to one GP assignment (shouldn't the U.S. still be entitled to entries in both Germany and Russia, yet both of those events already have 12 entrants). ?????

Also, I still don't understand how Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze can be in two places at the same time during Skate Canada weekend (they are also headlining Kurt's special in Toronto).

[mkcrazy02]

Where do you see the assignments, I can't find them anywhere on the site.

[Catherine M]

[quote:291e375e70="Josef"]So Michelle Kwan is iffy when it comes to the GP now?

Also wondering how Gregory/Petukhov are now down to one GP assignment (shouldn't the U.S. still be entitled to entries in both Germany and Russia, yet both of those events already have 12 entrants). ?????

Also, I still don't understand how Berezhnaya/Sikharulidze can be in two places at the same time during Skate Canada weekend (they are also headlining Kurt's special in Toronto).[/quote:291e375e70]


I think G&P of the US didn't get multiple assignments cause they are unranked. Not sure how the ISU Rankings came into play with the invites but its my understanding that the old rule of being assured a spot in the other 5 events is not set in stone anymore.



And about B&S and Skate Canada, the last press notice about Kurt's Gotta Dance did not have them listed so it could be that they have bowed out of the event in Hamilton and will compete in Quebec City. Time will tell what they do this fall.


Catherine

[Scott]

Interesting list for sure. Very glad to see in pairs that Inoue/Baldwin were assigned to Skate America. Very disappointed to see Orscher/Lucash left off the list while Roth & Mcpherson got two assignments.

[haribobo]

Well if Kwan isn't on the list at this point, I think she won't be on the GP at all. So I would say she is even less than "iffy," it looks like she definitely will NOT do it. Which is great for for Angela who now gets 2 and AP who gets one. I guess the ladies assignments shifted from the list we had seen previously since Michelle wasn't going to be at Skate America and Skate Canada. But now only 2 American ladies are scheduled for Skate America and that ain't right...yet.

I also noticed Michael Weiss took 2 events instead of 3 so now Johnny Weir has 2 events instead of just one.

It's nice to see Inoue/Baldwin with a GP assignment. It will be an interesting matchup between them and R/M at Skate America. This looks like a fun year on the GP and hopefully we'll see a lot of new faces (or at least a few normally unseen ones) on the coverage. :)

[Marco]

I can't believe it...now that Maria is gone, it is Oblasova and Nelidina who took her spots, and somehow Sokolova got only 1 spot even though she placed 4th at Russian Nationals...

Wasn't there some kind of report saying that the Russian Federation wasn't happy with Oblasova bombing Junior Worlds?

:( :( :( :( :( :(

[bbtano]

What about Plushenko? If a skater's name is not on any of the lists at all, does that mean they will not be invited to any GP events......or are they still in negotiation about which ones they will be attending?

Hmm.....I found him on two events, towards the bottom but am still curious about skaters who aren't listed at all (like Kwan, for example)

[rack]

The map looks so different without Michelle, Maria, Elvis, Todd, S/P,
A/P, and F-P/M. What it looks like is a post Olympic year, which is ironic, since 3 out of the 5 Gold medalists are still competing.

Mens and ladies seem fairly weak in terms of head to head competitions (say Irina vs. Sarah, or Plushenko vs. Yagudin). I only see strong matchups in Skate Canda (Yagudin/Goebel) and maybe Russia (Irina/Sasha), unless the Japanese ladies really build on their 2001/2 successes.

Does anyone care to speculate as to who TBA will turn out to be in ladies at Skate America?

And finally, I am so grateful for any real skating news. Now we have something to speculate about!

[Lee]

[quote:db6c452832="bbtano"]If a skater's name is not on any of the lists at all, does that mean they will not be invited to any GP events......or are they still in negotiation about which ones they will be attending?[/quote:db6c452832]

At this stage of the game, if a skater is not on the lists at all, I would assume they have stated their intention to NOT compete in the GP series.

Of course, it's still early and we all know how things have been known to change between the initial announcements and the actual events... :roll:

[ILoveAllSkaters]

I'll miss Michelle now. :(

[Caro]

HEY THEY DUMPED NADINE GOSSELING AND PUT MICHELLE CURRIE!

I wasn't expecting that!!!

[haribobo]

WOW! I just realized that Derrick Delmore and Angela Nikodinov now both have 2 events, while Jenny Kirk and APM only have one! I wonder if this will change. As things currently stand on the ISU site...the US team looks like this...

Goebel-2
Weiss-2
Savoie-2
Weir-2
Delmore-2

Cohen- 3
Hughes- 2
Nikodinov- 2
Kirk- 1
McDonough- 1

I/Zimmerman-2
S/Dulebohn-2
K/Parchem-2
R/McPherson-2
I/Baldwin-1

L/Tchernyshev-2
B/Agosto-2
G/Petukhov-1

Here's hoping that G/P, Kirk, and McDonough can find a way to squeeze in for a 2nd assignment....

Thrilled for Angela and Derrick though! :)

[Caro]

Didn't Marianne Dubuc finish ahead of Michelle Currie at Nationals? If Michelle Currie got an assignment and Dubuc didn't, is that due to monitoring sessions where Skate Canada decided Currie should go instead?

Also, in the pairs category, it says "marcouz and wirtz". Haven't they seperated?

Are these official and chipped in stone, meaning that Michelle Kwan officially will NOT be doing GP? [have to admit, I am very happy to be seeing more of Nikodinov!]

[mikey]

Anyone have any idea how they decided who the seeded stakers would be? It doesn't look like they used the ISU rankings after all, just last year's Worlds, as usual... I wonder why they decided to go that way?

[mikey]

Apparently Michelle Kwan has announced that she is taking a year off, so I wonder who the TBA spot will go to:

http://www.tsn.ca/figureskating/readstory.asp?story_id=2410821

"All skaters who finished among the top 10 in the four disciplines at the 2002 worlds have returned, except Kwan and Silvia Fontana of Italy."

[Marco]

Wow, so if Kwan later decides to do SA (and/or SC), does it mean 1 US girl has to give up her spot?

I wonder if USFSA told Tim and Mike not to take 3rd spots so that the younger ones can take some events...

[HSF]

Marco, I think there is little chance of MK changing her mind. She needs to find a coach and a choreographer and she is still performing on the COI tour.

There is an ISU "rule" that surfaced 3-4 years ago that any top seeded skater participating in the GP series MUST skate in two GP competitions and the GPF if they qualify. They do not have the option of skating in just one event.

HSF

[jp1andOnly]

I don't know how Michelle Currie gets a grand prix. She is a good skater, but skated dismally at Canadians. She looked so discouraged.

[purplecat]

The article says Michelle has done the Grand Prix circuit for nine years now, but didn't she take the 98 Grand Prix series off too after the last Olympics? That season she did come back to compete at Nationals and Worlds. It wouldn't surprise me if she did the same this season. Or do you suppose she'll take the entire competitive season off?

[essence_of_soy]

Oh, how cool.

Australia's Anthony Liu has been assigned Skate America and NHK.

Nick

[Scott]

I am so sorry to hear that we will not see Sylvia Fontana competing this year. I will miss her spirit on the ice!

[nymkfan51]

I think Michelle will still do Nationals and Worlds. I'm really not surprised about her skipping the Grand Prix ... given her schedule this year.

[Marco]

Nick, not only did Anthony get SA and NHK, Miriam also got SA!

[Artistic Skaters]

[quote:199928f41d="Caro"]Also, in the pairs category, it says "marcoux and wirtz". Haven't they separated?[/quote:199928f41d]
Here's the link to the update I read about them:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001706;p=

It's nice to see some new skaters like Derrick Delmore moving into the GP series!

[musicman]

Is Silvia not competeing at all this year or just not doing the Grand Prix. If she is not competing at all, what does this do to Kyoko and John's plans for the upcoming season? :?:

[Trillian]

[quote:e6d230a7bc="Artistic Skaters"]It's nice to see some new skaters like Derrick Delmore moving into the GP series![/quote:e6d230a7bc]

Derrick has actually been on the GP before--I think he had an assignment or two in the 1998-99 season. (He was fifth at the '98 nationals and won the '98 junior worlds, so it would make sense.) Unfortunately he had a rough couple of nationals after that, finishing 10th for several years in a row. But I agree, it's really nice to see him back on that level.

[cygnus]

[quote:a1f8401522="Caro"]HEY THEY DUMPED NADINE GOSSELING AND PUT MICHELLE CURRIE!

I wasn't expecting that!!![/quote:a1f8401522]

I notice on the Skate Canada site that Nadine is doing Nebelhorne in Sept (along with Fedor Andreev and Doherty/Myles). It doesn't seem fair though, given their results at Nat'ls, that Michelle gets a Grand Prix and Nadine doesn't.

[anital]

I'm so happy that Anthony got SA and NHK and Miriam got SA. Miriam found out yesterday morning and was thrilled.!! Good on them!! :)

[Lee]

[quote:38a0fdcd30="cygnus"] It doesn't seem fair though, given their results at Nat'ls, that Michelle gets a Grand Prix and Nadine doesn't.[/quote:38a0fdcd30]

My sources tell me the GP assignments were based on the ISU world rankings. Michelle was ranked higher than Nadine and that's why she got the assignment she did.

[Scott]

[quote:3365b93fd3="Lee"][quote:3365b93fd3="cygnus"] It doesn't seem fair though, given their results at Nat'ls, that Michelle gets a Grand Prix and Nadine doesn't.[/quote:3365b93fd3]

My sources tell me the GP assignments were based on the ISU world rankings. Michelle was ranked higher than Nadine and that's why she got the assignment she did.[/quote:3365b93fd3]

Lee I think that you are correct.

[hiliairyh]

[quote="haribobo"]



Here's hoping that G/P, Kirk, and McDonough can find a way to squeeze in for a 2nd assignment....

USA has a TBA assignment open, the question is will AP or Kirk receive this assignment.

[Trillian]

[quote:c0bdc73d55="hiliairyh"]USA has a TBA assignment open, the question is will AP or Kirk receive this assignment.[/quote:c0bdc73d55]

Well, chances are that the assignment is being held open while they try to get Kwan to compete. Since it doesn't look like that's going to happen, it'll probably go to one of the other ladies.

If it does end up going to Kirk or McDonough, there's really no decision to be made. Kirk beat McDonough at nationals and is well ahead of her in the ISU rankings; she won a senior ISU championship event last season and beat McDonough in the process. I can't think of any reason they'd give preference to McDonough.

Of course, ideally we'd be able to send both of these ladies to two events--I'm guessing that'll work out somehow.

[Josef]

Hmmmm....

This is all very interesting!

[purplecat]

[quote:33729ca230="hiliairyh"]USA has a TBA assignment open, the question is will AP or Kirk receive this assignment.[/quote:33729ca230]

But isn't the TBA assignment for Skate America? And Kirk is already going to Skate America.

Anyway, the list of skaters will inevitable change a lot as past year's have.

Looking forward to the new season! How long until October? ;)

[Polish]

It doesn't seem fair though, given their results at Nat'ls, that Michelle gets a Grand Prix and Nadine doesn't.

My sources tell me the GP assignments were based on the ISU world rankings. Michelle was ranked higher than Nadine and that's why she got the assignment she did.


And this is why Nicole Watt was relegated to only one GP (she was originally scheduled for two). Currie is ranked higher than Watt in the standings so they couldn't have given Watt two assignments and Currie none.

Fedor's poor ranking also affected his GP assignment (he was originally scheduled for CoR).

[bcskater]

i dont see the list of competitors anywhere on the link provided at the beginning of the thread :(

[bcskater]

[quote:52b849f0cb="bcskater"]i dont see the list of competitors anywhere on the link provided at the beginning of the thread :([/quote:52b849f0cb]

nvm nvm i found it i found it :)

[loveskating]

Is it still a rule that you have to do at least 2 grand prix events to compete at Worlds? That was the rule as of 1999, I think.

[Lee]

Participating in GP events has NEVER been tied to Worlds; it was/is tied to participation in Pro/Am events.

[Artistic Skaters]

[quote:065d07234d="Trillian"]Derrick has actually been on the GP before--I think he had an assignment or two in the 1998-99 season. (He was fifth at the '98 nationals and won the '98 junior worlds, so it would make sense.)[/quote:065d07234d]
Yes, you are right. Sorry, I did not express that correctly. Derrick did both NHK & Skate America in 1998. Since then, he's done Nebelhorn twice & Four Continents last year.
But he is actually making a comeback to GP, so I guess I should say it's nice to see he's moving back into the GP, especially since he has been assigned the 2 NA GPs for the upcoming year so I might possibly get to see one or the other live! :D :D

Also great to see Johnny Weir get a second slot.

[Leela]

I wonder why the U.S. isn't sending any ice-dance team to Cup of Russia :?: Do you think USFSA is waiting until after Lake Placid competition to see if any new teams will qualify?

[Scott]

[quote:367a103eef="loveskating"]Is it still a rule that you have to do at least 2 grand prix events to compete at Worlds? That was the rule as of 1999, I think.[/quote:367a103eef]

Isn't participation at worlds determined by each country depending on the results of its natrional competition? Grand Prix Events have no bearing on who competes at worlds. The number of spots open to each country is actually dependent upon how skaters placed in the previous worlds competition.

[AxelAnnie22]

[quote:7f1b692b69]Well, chances are that the assignment is being held open while they try to get Kwan to
compete. Since it doesn't look like that's going to happen, it'll probably go to one of the
other ladies. [/quote:7f1b692b69]

[color=indigo:7f1b692b69]Trillian - isn't there an ISU rule that you have to do two GP's if you are a ranked skater? I seem to remember some flak in '98 when Michelle did only Skate America. The ISU then closed that option off for the ranked skaters, demanding that if they want to participate in the GP at all, they have to do the whole enchilada.[/color:7f1b692b69]

[Ellyn]

[quote:df01e23401]Derrick has actually been on the GP before--I think he had an assignment or two in the 1998-99 season. (He was fifth at the '98 nationals and won the '98 junior worlds, so it would make sense.) [/quote:df01e23401]

Delmore competed at 1998 Skate America and finished 5th in both short and long programs. Considering that the first four were Yagudin, Weiss, Urmanov, and Stojko, 5th was really the highest he could have expected, so good GP debut. His LP was televised on ABC -- he attempted a quad toe, unsuccessfully, but more recently he's been going for quad salchow instead.

I don't remember whether he had another GP assignment that season, so that may have been his only one. But he certainly did better that fall than, say, Clark who had always been ahead of him before that or Goebel who has been ahead ever since.

[Dave Amorde]

[quote:c12aa3723f="AxelAnnie22"][quote:c12aa3723f]Well, chances are that the assignment is being held open while they try to get Kwan to
compete. Since it doesn't look like that's going to happen, it'll probably go to one of the
other ladies. [/quote:c12aa3723f]

[color=indigo:c12aa3723f]Trillian - isn't there an ISU rule that you have to do two GP's if you are a ranked skater? [/color:c12aa3723f][/quote:c12aa3723f]

The rule you are talking about applies to those skaters who wish to participate in ISU santioned "pro-ams" (cheesefests.)

[haribobo]

Derrick finished 10th out of 12 in the NHK Trophy the same year he was 5th at Skate America. That was a little deeper field and probably Derrick was a little off on his jumps as opposed to Skate America. Anyway, that 5th place is extremely impressive.....I look forward to seeing more of him on tv this year, and next week at Liberty Open! YAY! :)

[blue111moon]

Just a note on Shep Clark: that 98 Skate America was the one where fe found out that his father had died just before the start of the competition. He elected to stay and skate but obviously his heart wasn't in it at the time.

[loveskating]

Ok, so basically, if you don't participate in the GP, you can't participate in the ISU Pro Ams...therefore, substantially, effectively, you don't compete with the elite skaters at this time.

How does one qualify to skate at U.S. Nationals? Didn't Eldredge have to qualify at a regional level or something one year because he didn't skate in the GP? Isn't there some connection?

Also, isn't it the case that the USFSA has the ultmate right to determine who goes to Worlds, although they usually send the Nationals podium (provided, of course, that there are 3 slots for U.S. skaters). Theoretically, its been posted, they could refuse to send someone on the podium. Is that so?

[Lee]

Skaters who finish at a certain level at both US and Canadian Nationals receive byes through varying levels of qualifying events the next year, depending on just where they finished the previous year.

If a skater doesn't compete at Nationals one year (for whatever reason), they usually have to go through the whole qualifying process the following year.

As for who goes to Worlds, yes, both the US and Canada 'generally' use the results of their respective nationals to determine this, but it seems both the USFSA and SC have 'loopholes' in their policies and procedures to allow for changes (eg. SC using finishes at 4CC to determine a second spot on the World team).

If the federations do use participation in GP events as criteria for anything, they certainly haven't been vocal about it.

[kara]

Just checking in to add my happiness about Angela :D! I'm thrilled that she got 2 spots...yeay!!

Now she has a chance to make the GPF and, if she doesn't, she (and we) won't have to wonder what might've been. She'll be doing full run-throughs with Frank and that will really make a difference as long as she just stays in there mentally, which I think she can. I hope she works with Lori or someone spectacular and gets great programs again like Giselle. Also, she'll be more in the public eye and that never hurts come Nationals...*and* we'll actually get to see her skate...I didn't know if we would other than twice or so all season. Now she'll definitely be in the pro-ams, so I hope she keeps that awesome Alicia Keys exhibition. Best wishes, Angela!

I think MK is playing it smart with no GP this year...skating competitively that soon after touring all summer would be a bad idea, IMO. I think they should give AP the SA spot, or if they want Jenny to have 2, then switch the girls' assignments and give JK 2 and APM 1 (SA). Is there any small chance that Liang would get the extra SA spot, and then she, JK, and APM would each have one? I doubt it, but it crossed my mind. Thanks :D .

[bcskater]

so who do u think is gunna make the GPF? anyone think jenn has a chance? the roster for SKATE CANADA and GERMANY look tough. im sure fumie will get in this year and that the final will include atleast 3 american ladies. anyone?

[Rob]

I was thinking that they might have given Jenny just one spot until they see how her injury has healed, but then I am surprised that they would not send both Jenny and A-P to SA and then see who holds up for a second assignment.

[adrianchew]

http://www.usfsa.org/team/assign.htm

Not sure when this update took place, but if you look, Skate America is listed as to be announced.

The interesting difference between the USFSA list and the ISU list is Sasha - she's only listed for 2 events on the USFSA list. In the event that Michelle does not skate the GP, I suspect Sasha will be at Skate America, instead of Cup of Russia.

[Arsenette]

[quote:1a606ecf6a="AxelAnnie22"][color=indigo:1a606ecf6a]Trillian - isn't there an ISU rule that you have to do two GP's if you are a ranked skater? I seem to remember some flak in '98 when Michelle did only Skate America. The ISU then closed that option off for the ranked skaters, demanding that if they want to participate in the GP at all, they have to do the whole enchilada.[/color:1a606ecf6a][/quote:1a606ecf6a]

Isn't this only referring to "Seeded" skaters only? Someone might be able to elaborate.. everyone at GP is "ranked" but not all are "Seeded"..

[adrianchew]

[quote:da87cde090="Arsenette"][quote:da87cde090="AxelAnnie22"][color=indigo:da87cde090]Trillian - isn't there an ISU rule that you have to do two GP's if you are a ranked skater? I seem to remember some flak in '98 when Michelle did only Skate America. The ISU then closed that option off for the ranked skaters, demanding that if they want to participate in the GP at all, they have to do the whole enchilada.[/color:da87cde090][/quote:da87cde090]

Isn't this only referring to "Seeded" skaters only? Someone might be able to elaborate.. everyone at GP is "ranked" but not all are "Seeded"..[/quote:da87cde090]

Seeded skaters is right - and from what I keep reading - this applies to eligibility to skate in pro-am events requires a seeded skater to participate in 2 GP events. There were no rankings back in 98-99 season.

[what?meworry?]

[quote="
Here's hoping that G/P, Kirk, and McDonough can find a way to squeeze in for a 2nd assignment....:)[/quote]

Well, i understand that in order to get another gp a skater/team must now be "ranked" hence those without previous g/p experience must skate in a non-gp competition.

acording to a local midwest source who is usually very reliable, that's why g/p have been assigned the germany competition. she also reports that they are training with oleg exclusively in the chicago area, and contrary to the usfsa article, sandy hess has very little to do with their training. can anyone out there shed more light on this info, in that there is too much contadiction in the circumstances?

[mikey]

[quote:ce602e3b8b="what?meworry?"]Well, i understand that in order to get another gp a skater/team must now be "ranked" hence those without previous g/p experience must skate in a non-gp competition.[/quote:ce602e3b8b]

Is this true? There is nothing about this in the 2002/2003 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Technical Announcement... But then, the rules for the Grand Prix seem to change faster than I can keep up with them, so it wouldn't surprise me...

http://www.isu.org/figure/events/0203/gp0203tech.html

[Lee]

Here's what host GP federations are using as their guidelines in inviting unseeded skaters to their events (home feds are also using this as well, it seems):

[quote:e6934cbf2e][b:e6934cbf2e]2.2 Invited skaters/couples [/b:e6934cbf2e]

a) Each organizer of the six events of the "Grand Prix of Figure Skating" may invite additional skaters/couples at their discretion [i:e6934cbf2e]taking into account the ISU World Standings by giving as much as possible preference to the best ranked skaters therein (emphasis added)[/i:e6934cbf2e]. The maximum number of entries per event is set as follows:
[list:e6934cbf2e]Men, Ladies and Ice Dancing -- not more than 12 but not less than 10 entries
Pairs -- not more than 10 but not less than 8 entries[/list:u:e6934cbf2e]
b) No invited skaters/dance couples (except seeded skaters/couples in accordance with para 2.1) may compete in more than two events of the "Grand Prix of Figure Skating". These events will count for points and prize money will be awarded according to the placement. Exception is given to Pairs.

c) Pairs may compete in a third event, which will not count for points, but prize money will be awarded according to the placement. This additional third event must be declared through the Member concerned as the "non scoring event" by August 1st, 2002. If a pair fails to announce the additional non-scoring event until the a.m. deadline, the Chairman of the ISU Management Commission is entitled to decide.

d) No skater/couple, seeded, invited or alternate, may skate only in the exhibition of an event without having participated in this event itself.

e) A maximum of three skaters/couples of the same ISU Member may compete in the same category of any individual event of the "Grand Prix of Figure Skating" [/quote:e6934cbf2e]

[Josef]

what?meworry,

Melissa and Denis are stilling making trips out to Colorado to train with Sandy, Renee, etc. in addition to training with Oleg in Chicago. They are training in Chicago more often, probably because they have family in the area and they also live there now. Also, I feel that it is good for them to get the best of both worlds so to speak.. more influences on their skating.

Some people would save themselves much stress if they didn't read into everything when there is nothing to read into.

[what?meworry?]

thanks. they're such a fine match and i understand oleg was denis' coach in russia, i think they could make great progress this season. they were impressive last year. i only hope splitting time too much with different styles won't hold them back.