Sears Open confirmed skaters - S&P, Yags, Todd, more

[Jenny]

This press release was just issued by IMG:


Jamie Salé & David Pelletier and Alexei Yagudin in Red Deer at the Sears Figure Skating Open

TORONTO, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - Sears Open will feature some of the most notable
stars in figure skating including; Olympic Gold Medalists, World and Canadian
Champions Jamie Salé & David Pelletier, Olympic Gold Medalist, four-time World
champion and four-time European Champion, Alexei Yagudin, and five-time
Canadian Champion, Jennifer Robinson. These outstanding athletes are just a
few competing at the 2002 Sears Figure Skating Open, Red Deer Alberta at the
ENMAX Centrium on Friday December 6 and Saturday December 7, 2002.
Salé & Pelletier, the sweethearts of the 2002 Winter Olympics, have not
competed since that momentous event. "We're really looking forward to
competing again, especially in front of the home town fans," exclaimed Jamie.
"Bringing the top skaters together in front of the always-enthusiastic Red
Deer skating fans makes for a really dynamic and exciting competition".
Fan favourite and four-time World Champion, Kurt Browning, will skate a
special exhibition at the Sears Open on the night of Friday December 6th.
"Red Deer is the perfect location for the Sears Open. The audience will
have a chance to see so many talented World and Olympic competitors in their
backyard," says Browning. "There is nothing like performing in front of
Canadian skating fans. They are so knowledgeable and appreciate so much of
what we do. Personally for me, it will be great to be home once again."
Set to take place on Friday, December 6 and Saturday December 7, at ENMAX
Centrium, the event will also feature World Champion and six-time United
States National Champion Todd Eldredge, World Bronze Medalist and four-time
Japanese National Champion, Takeshi Honda, Canadian Silver Medalists Jacinthe
Larivière and Lenny Faustino, and Four Continents Champion and Canadian Bronze
Medalist, Jeffrey Buttle. Additional skaters will be named to the event in the
coming weeks.
The two-day event will host some of the world's best skaters going head
to head for more than $300,000 in prize money. The event will be divided into
two sessions starting with the short programs on Friday at 7:00pm and the
interpretive programs on Saturday at 3:00pm.
"We are delighted to once again be a sponsor of this great event", said
Mark Cohen, Chairman and CEO of Sears Canada. "For our fifth year in a row we
are so very proud to be associated with such a wonderfully graceful sport and
highly respected athletes."
"It brings us great pleasure to offer figure skating fans, many of which
are Sears customers, added value for two evenings full of exciting
entertainment for the whole family."
The Sears Figure Skating Open is sanctioned by Skate Canada. Proud to be
associated with Sears Open are Sears Canada, Walt Disney World Resort in
Florida, M&M Meat Shops and PharmAssist.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 19 and can be purchased by telephone
through Ticketmaster at 1-403-340-4455 or via the Internet at
www.ticketmaster.ca. Ticket prices range from $30 to $50. Two-day packages and
Sears Fun Pak are also available.

-30-

[jcspkbfan]

Thanks, Jenny! It's great to finally get some official confirmation about a lot of the skaters competing at Canadian Open this year...even though I admit I'll dearly miss Kurt (although he will be performing an exhibition this year, which I'll definitely take over not seeing him skate at all!) and Josée (I know she's still doing a few shows this year, but has she officially retired from competing?) at this year's event!

[Blade1]

Great to even see Jeffery Buttle in the mix. What a great experience that will be for him!

[Lark]

Isn't this one of those competitions where the seeded skaters (Top 6 at previous Worlds) must compete in the GP series or they lose eligibilty by being in this competition?

I guess that means that Yags will be definitely competing in the GP series? S&P are Pros and Todd is not seeded, so that is okay for them.

[Lee]

I have seen anyone say Yags is NOT competing in the GP series...therefore, there should be no *hint* of controversy over his participation in this event.

[Teenes]

A couple more skaters (info as of today, 11/5) - Steven Cousins, Jennifer Kirk, Angela Nikodinov, Victoria Volchkova, Sato & Dungjen...eh..here are the rosters as I know them now:

Men: Jeff Buttle, Steven Cousins, Todd Eldredge, Takeshi Honda, Alexei Yagudin

Ladies: Jennifer Kirk, Jennifer Robinson, Angela Nikodinov, Victoria Volchkova, TBA

Pairs: L&F, S&P, S&D

(info from IMG Canada)

[musicman]

Where can I find a complete up to date roster?

[Artemis]

I'm glad that since S&P are competing, B&S aren't. It would undoubtedly re-open the whole North American media circus, and shift the controvery back onto the skaters.

I'm delighted they're touring together ... but I hope they never compete against each other ever again. Or at least not until after the next Olympics!

[Teenes]

Um...that *was* an up-to-date roster that I just posted, and it's almost complete, except that they still need to add one lady.

[musicman]

Does anyone know if they have selected the additional lady yet and where I can find the official roster?

[Lee]

I'm not holding my breath about Yags competing, not with the injury, and not with SOI starting shortly thereafter (or is it earlier?). Still, it's gonna be great to see live! :)

[luckiest1]

Just read an article which confirms Elvis' participation in this event.

Editted to correct: Elvis just denied participation in this event during an online chat. He is planning on doing no pro-ams at all this season. :(

[adrianchew]

http://pub76.ezboard.com/falexeidiscussiongroupdiscussionsonalexei.showMess age?topicID=4959.topic

Sasha Cohen has been added. 8-)

[jcspkbfan]

Anyone else notice that Todd, Alexei, S&P and S&D are the only skaters on this list who didn't compete at Skate Canada last month? ;)

I'm kind of disappointed there's only one Canadian listed in the men's event so far--any chance Emanuel Sandhu might be there?

[Teenes]

Whoops, I think I goofed and put event info in the news section. I keep thinking this page is for results, and thinking that skater listings and TV airdates belong in news. Sorry.

Anyway, I posted the info that Adrian linked to at the Alexei board in the Skating News section of this board as well, along with a bunch of other competition/event skater and TV info.

I know Skate Canada had one entry in each discipline for Canadian Open, and I think Jeff Buttle was the entry for the men's discipline. I'm guessing Jennifer Robinson and L&F were the other two...but yeah, this is an unusually Canadian-less Canadian Open roster...maybe that's why Ticketmaster now calls it the Sears Figure Skating Open instead of the Canadian Open =P. It's ironic...no Brian O, no Elvis, no Kurt, no Emanuel...they went from having 4 generations of Canadian men last year to only 1 this year.

[Lee]

Originally posted by adrianchew
http://pub76.ezboard.com/falexeidiscussiongroupdiscussionsonalexei.showMess age?topicID=4959.topic

Sasha Cohen has been added. 8-)

See, Adrian???? You could have been here!!!! :P

[adrianchew]

Here's some more confirmation of participants...

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/November2002/28/c7706.html

[jcspkbfan]

Thanks for the link, Adrian! I wonder whether this means Kurt will skate two different exhibition programs on Friday and Saturday or performing the same number both days? Either way, I can't help but wonder what Ottavio Cinquanta would think about that news release...especially the fact the skater chosen to headline the story lost his eligibility almost a decade ago, was barred from skating the last time he was scheduled to perform an exhibition at an ISU-sponsored event in his home province (1996 Worlds) and isn't even competing in the event! ;)

[Lee]

Given that the major sponsor is Sears Canada, and the sanction fees have probably already been paid to the ISU, I don't imagine Speedy cares one way or the other who headlines the press release. Of course, the next question is whether or not the ISU gets any cut of the profits.

Having Kurt skate both Friday and Saturday will likely boost ticket sales for the Saturday show. I imagine they might be sagging a bit because it's scheduled for 3 pm (probably to accommodate Eastern CTV broadcast times).

I was looking forward to seeing some quality skating live -- and to seeing Kurt live again. Now I've got even more to look forward to! :)

Anyone else going?

[Gail]

Thanks for the info. Now that Kurt is going to be skating both nights, I am really looking forward to seeing it. Yippee

[lutzskate]

Why just the exhibitions? That's disappointing :( Why is he not competing:?: :?: :?:

The men's event will be very easy to predict. 1. Yags, 2. Takeshi, 3. Todd 4 & 5 might be a toss up, but I'll go ahead and give 4th to Steven and 5th to Jeff.

The lady's event is less predictable, other than Sasha winning it.

The pairs -- that too will be an easy prediction for the winner: Jamie and David.

[jcspkbfan]

Here's a direct quote from Kurt published in a recent Hamilton Spectator article:

"I just feel like I'm not competitive in the (2002 Canadian Open) short program. And it's a competition. It would be a great paycheque but I always told myself to be brave enough to know when it's time not to do things. I'm not confident I could win the short...and that bugs me."

Kurt has said before that he dislikes performing short programs as a professional skater because he thinks the rules are too restrictive and don't give him enough time to skate an entertaining program. Sadly, I suspect he's not the only pro skater who feels this way. :(

Kurt's also not the only skater who has performed an exhibition at Canadian Open instead of competing--B&K performed their FD as an exhibition at the 2000 Canadian Open (they couldn't compete that year because there was no dance event). And seeing him skate an exhibition (possibly two different programs, no less!) at Canadian Open is a lot better than not seeing him skate at all, as far as I'm concerned! :D

[lutzskate]

Thank you. And I do agree that seeing Kurt skate an exhibition is better than nothing, but I enjoy cheering him on in a competition so much.

Is he skating in the World Pro Championships? Anyone know?

[jcspkbfan]

Kurt hasn't been confirmed for this year's "event formerly known as World Pros" yet (Hallmark Championships), and since this event has become a pro-am again this year, it doesn't look like he'll be competing there, either...of course, I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be too surprised not to see him there. :cry:

[lutzskate]

It's a PRO-AM??:( That stinks! I want to see just a completely PRO competition where it isn't about the jumps but about the presentation. I'm sure he's frustrated with this as well. thanks jcspkbfan!