JGP Assignments On USFSA Website

[chattykathy]

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

I think they didn't post this earlier because there are still so many TBDs.

[i:b78c6513d9]Title edited to remove all caps.[/i:b78c6513d9]

[Sassafras]

Thanks for the alert! I was working on my Adult Bronze freestyle on the same sessions when Nick Kole (Vise/Kole) was learning lifts and death spirals with his previous partner, so I follow him closely. And Larry Ibarra (Vise/Ibarra) is now landing back flips! Too bad he can't do it in competition!

[Smiley]

Wow, that's excellent to hear that DeSanctis got a JGP!! Congrats to her!!! :D
She is an amazing little skater with a BIG furutre keep a eye on her!!! Just 13 years old and all the triples cleanly and skates with such maturity. She has amazing triple axel attempts as well!!! :D

[Scott]

I think it is very interesting that the Steiglers have been assigned to Jr. Grand Prix Competitions. I guess this means that they will not be getting any assignments on the Sr. level. When will the Sr. List be out?

[mikey]

Okay- someone help me out here... When I click on the link, I get last year's assignments... Was something new up earlier but now they pulled it off for some reason? Or am I just losing it...? :)

[purplecat]

mikey...it works for me. Hope you can see it.

Anyway, what I noticed was that Nations Cup is now called BoFrost Cup. I don't know why, but that makes me laugh! :lol:

[allegria]

[quote:9ec89e5b36="Scott"]I think it is very interesting that the Steiglers have been assigned to Jr. Grand Prix Competitions. I guess this means that they will not be getting any assignments on the Sr. level. When will the Sr. List be out?[/quote:9ec89e5b36]

I also think it's interesting that they're being sent back on the JGP (it's easy to forget that they were only 12 and 14 when they won Jr Nationals!), but it doesn't mean that they won't do the senior GP or any other senior comps. Pairs can compete on both the Sr. and Jr. GP circuits according to the ISU. (More info about the JGP is here (http://www.isu.org/figure/events/0203/jgp0203details.html), if anyone is curious.) My guess is that since the Steigler's World Jr.'s placement from last year landed them a spot in the Team B envelope that they'll get at least one minor senior international, if not a Sr. GP.

I'm a little surprised that the Ganabas got an assignment since they're only on the reserve team, but maybe a lot of teams ranked above them are age-ineligible? It will be interesting to see how Donovan and Liang fare after doing so well at Jr Worlds.

[flipper]

It is my understanding that the Stieglers requested to do the Junior Grand Prix events and possibly one senior event. They made a nice showing in the free skate at Junior Worlds and are still very young. They love them in Europe!

[Trillian]

[quote:b3bea447fd="allegria"]My guess is that since the Steigler's World Jr.'s placement from last year landed them a spot in the Team B envelope that they'll get at least one minor senior international, if not a Sr. GP.[/quote:b3bea447fd]

I wouldn't bet on it. There are several teams who placed ahead of them at nationals who'd be in line for these assignments, and even if they were to go to Indy and win (which I frankly don't think is likely), they probably wouldn't get anything more than a minor senior event. They already have two internationals, for one thing. Personally, if I were in their position, I'd skip Indy entirely and get ready for the internationals I already had. I guess we'll see what happens.

[quote:b3bea447fd]I'm a little surprised that the Ganabas got an assignment since they're only on the reserve team, but maybe a lot of teams ranked above them are age-ineligible?[/quote:b3bea447fd]

The national team envelopes don't determine a skater's international assignments, but simply the amount of funding they get from the USFSA. Because the Ganabas weren't able to compete on the JGP and got injured before junior worlds, they didn't have the opportunity to qualify for anything higher than the reserve envelope. They are as good as (or substantially better than) most of the other teams who've already been assigned to the JGP, so it makes total sense for them to be assigned. I'm actually surprised they weren't given two assignments right away, since they've been JGP finalists in the past.

[BJY4EVR]

I'm glad to see Ralph-O'meara got two assignments this year. Hopefully that will make up for them not being able to do the JGPs last season since USFSA pulled all their Junior skaters from international competition. Good luck to them!

[11yrskate]

The Ganabas getting a JGP assignment is not a surprise. I would have thought they would have recieved two also, but since they have not been seen yet this season, maybe the the USFSA are waiting to see how they do. It would not surprise me to see if the rest of the assignments are made after Indy. They are leaving their options open. There are alot of new Junior Pair teams who could be stronger than what we have out there right now, and I think they are just playing wait and see.

As for as the Steiglers getting a Senior GP, there are not as many of those to go around as there are Juniors. Atleast it gives them international exposure.

[Hidden Agenda]

[quote:fb2f5d7359="11yrskate"]It would not surprise me to see if the rest of the assignments are made after Indy. They are leaving their options open. There are alot of new Junior Pair teams who could be stronger than what we have out there right now, and I think they are just playing wait and see. .[/quote:fb2f5d7359]
I agree. The Junior Pairs field is unusually crowded this season! Strong teams moving up from Novice, teams staying Junior another year, and brand new teams of strong skaters who are also going Junior. Too bad some of these teams can't make the jump to Senior to spread the quality around. Indy is the competition to watch, definitely. :lol:

[11yrskate]

Most of the teams are playing it smart. It is too hard to come out and make your mark as a senior. But with last years juniors being so weak, it is really anybody's ballgame in juniors this year. Steigler's and Ganaba's are a perfect example of what happens to a team who goes senior too soon. Plus there are just a whole lot more JGP then GP events, more opportunity. You also still have alot of the strong pair partners guys and girls both who have not paired up yet, who could skate junior or senior and with the right partner, could make a big difference.

[Hidden Agenda]

Off the top of my head I can think of several teams who may be strong contenders this year if all skate Junior
Vise/Kole
Howerton/Pottenger
Harkaway/Larcom
Castille/Okolski
Boxwell/Sears
Galleher/Coughlin
Jiminez/Burgess
Harris/Sanders


I know there are more, too, and I am assuming Vise/Ibarra and Appel/Harris will move up.

And does anyone know if Jayne Mayne found a partner? Add her with whoever to the list.

[Scott]

Generally I think that the US Jr. Pairs situation is very weak. I was not very impressed with what occured at US Nationals this year. I wonder if that is the reason that the Steiglers and the Ganabas are being given Jr. Assignments. To help strengthen a weak field.

If the Steiglers are skating two international assignments I wonder if it would be advisbale to even concsider a lower lever Sr. Competition. This would take time away from training, which they despertly need.

[Sassafras]

The last time I saw Vise/Ibarra's coach, she said they were moving up to Senior. Tiffany posts here, so maybe she'll fill us in with more info.

[Scott]

[quote:2a8f027a11="Sassafras"]The last time I saw Vise/Ibarra's coach, she said they were moving up to Senior. Tiffany posts here, so maybe she'll fill us in with more info.[/quote:2a8f027a11]

This is a major mistake. Much too early. This team will not be able to compete with the Sr. level teams already in the field. Another year as Jr. would be the best bet. Why the rush?

[Trillian]

[quote:423372fca2="Scott"][quote:423372fca2="Sassafras"]The last time I saw Vise/Ibarra's coach, she said they were moving up to Senior. Tiffany posts here, so maybe she'll fill us in with more info.[/quote:423372fca2]

This is a major mistake. Much too early. This team will not be able to compete with the Sr. level teams already in the field. Another year as Jr. would be the best bet. Why the rush?[/quote:423372fca2]

While I don't think another year in juniors would hurt Vise & Ibarra, I don't think they'll necessarily be completely lost in seniors, either. I've seen a tape from nationals, and a strong team just out of juniors should have no trouble contending for the top ten. The teams we already have in seniors weren't exactly brilliant at nationals last season. They may find themselves in the position of the Ganabas, though, who really haven't skated too badly in the last two years but just weren't at a level to contend yet. If that happens, as we've seen, the USFSA will still reward them with JGP assignments.

Personally, based on junior worlds and their technical content in general, I think Appel & Harris might have a tougher time in seniors. Their solo jump in the short last year was the [i:423372fca2]double loop[/i:423372fca2]--unless they can make a gigantic leap next season, they're likely to get buried if they move up. As far as I'm concerned, they need another year in juniors more than Vise & Ibarra do. Their coach has been somewhat conservative in that regard in the past (he was going to keep Nussear & Forsyth in juniors in 2000-01, for example), so maybe he'll keep these two back another year. It would be the smart thing to do IMO.

[Scott]

[quote:b60705ccde="Trillian"][quote:b60705ccde="Scott"][quote:b60705ccde="Sassafras"]The last time I saw Vise/Ibarra's coach, she said they were moving up to Senior. Tiffany posts here, so maybe she'll fill us in with more info.[/quote:b60705ccde]

This is a major mistake. Much too early. This team will not be able to compete with the Sr. level teams already in the field. Another year as Jr. would be the best bet. Why the rush?[/quote:b60705ccde]

While I don't think another year in juniors would hurt Vise & Ibarra, I don't think they'll necessarily be completely lost in seniors, either. I've seen a tape from nationals, and a strong team just out of juniors should have no trouble contending for the top ten. The teams we already have in seniors weren't exactly brilliant at nationals last season. They may find themselves in the position of the Ganabas, though, who really haven't skated too badly in the last two years but just weren't at a level to contend yet. If that happens, as we've seen, the USFSA will still reward them with JGP assignments.

Personally, based on junior worlds and their technical content in general, I think Appel & Harris might have a tougher time in seniors. Their solo jump in the short last year was the [i:b60705ccde]double loop[/i:b60705ccde]--unless they can make a gigantic leap next season, they're likely to get buried if they move up. As far as I'm concerned, they need another year in juniors more than Vise & Ibarra do. Their coach has been somewhat conservative in that regard in the past (he was going to keep Nussear & Forsyth in juniors in 2000-01, for example), so maybe he'll keep these two back another year. It would be the smart thing to do IMO.[/quote:b60705ccde]


Are Appel/Harris moving to Srs? Another mistake if this is true.

The reason that I say these are mistakes is because I believe that these pair teams need to develop more before they throw themselves into competitions that are over their heads. This has been a major problem in US pairs skating. Everyone thinks that they can move into the big time. Problems is they are pitifully prepared and simply do not have the capabilites to be on such a stage. This results in teams becoming frustrated and then breaking up. Everyone wants instant results and unfortunately, this usually doesn't happen.

[11yrskate]

The likely reason why Vise/Ibarra are moving up is because Vise/Cole want to move up to Junior. I don't beleive they want two sisters competing at the same level. I agree with Scott entirely on moving up to soon. Everyone saw this year how poorly our Junior and Senior teams performed this year, so it seems like there is this opinion that anyone can pair up with anyone and do better. It is not that easy. To much is involved, and to put the right two people together it takes alot of effort and alot of money.

[flipper]

It is my understanding that Appel and Harris will do one more season as Juniors.

[icetiff]

Hi, Larry and I are moving up to senior. We and our coaches feel that we are ready. We have all the elements and have worked 100% more on our 2nd mark and have improved our in between stuff. We have figured that if we stay jr. or go to senior that it won't make a big difference on if we would maybe get a jgp's next year. And also atleast this way, my sis and I won't have to compete with eachother for anothor couple years. :halo:

[purplecat]

Good luck icetiff! :)

[sitter]

[quote:4569ca8091="flipper"]It is my understanding that Appel and Harris will do one more season as Juniors.[/quote:4569ca8091]
I believe Flipper is right about Appel and Harris staying Junior. And, we shouldn't underestimate them, even if their side by side jumps last season were double loop. My understanding is that they had the look of a true "pair", and that is not a quality to be easily dismissed. If pair skating was all about jumps, any strong singles skater could take it up on a whim and immediately medal. I think we all recognize there is more to it than that.
I do wish all the new Junior teams good luck, however, and won't be surprised to see some of them pushing hard to make their debut at Indy such that they will be considered serious contenders.
8)