Grand Prix Assignments list!

[sulin]

Just saw this at SkateFans.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkateFans/message/93644

I understand there may be some changes but still.....interesting! :D

[Rachael]

I'm surpised Sarah didn't get Skate Canada. Can't wait for Tim to 3peat at Skate America.

[roogu]

what I'm wondering is why sasha cohen got 3 spots while angela only got 1. I mean, even Kirk got 2 gp's.

And also why does Finland only give one gp assignment to Kettunen and Poikyo? They're both fantastic skaters and are oh so close to the top 10, I mean, they both gave top ten freeskates at worlds 2001 and 2002. I would imagine the finnish federation would want mnore exposure for both skaters.

[Dustin]

Am I missing something or does Sarah only have one? :?: :?

[sk8rzmom]

As much as I love Angela's skating, her incredible performance at the 2001 Nationals was uncharacteristic. She rarely has been able to put 2 dynamic programs together, and the powers that be have been seeing that for years. Kirk and Cohen are much more consistent (as long as Sasha doesn't blow up thinking of that quad!), so the chances of the US medalling are a lot better with them. When it comes down to it, medals are all that counts.

[AxelAnnie22]

Dustin -

Sarah has two spots - the other is Germany. Interesting assortments. Sarah is not in a very strong field there.

I thought B/S were going pro. Do we take this to mean that Michelle actually is competing?

I am sad for Angela (and me - since I love to watch her skate). It will be interesting to see how Jenny K. does, given she has a new coach, and will probably go through some adjustment time.

[Lucy25]

Just so everyone knows, this info came from the Russian skating site, which is usually pretty reliable, but nothing has been posted by the ISU or USFSA. or instance, a SOI stop is the same day as one of the competitions, and Yagudin is scheduled for that comp.

From what I understand, Sarah is only allowed two spots because she did not compete at Worlds. Angela did not go either, so she has no claim to two spots.

[adrianchew]

These are probably preliminary assignments - now if any skaters want out they'll probably say so and the assignments could be subject to changes.

Really glad for Sasha - she's worked hard this past year and continually improved throughout the season. This next one might be her breakthrough year.

Glad Jenny's got two spots - will be interesting to see how her new coaching arrangements work out and what results it produces.

Is AP even eligible for the GP series? If she is, I'd though the USFSA would have given her a spot.

Michelle/Irina do not go to any of the same events.

[Schmeck]

Ok, I must have missed an important announcement - where's Maria B's name?

[Rachael]

Maria went pro.

[LilRedRidingHood]

I don't know if I'd say Germany doesn't have a strong field. I don't think it's really any weaker if you look at the rest of events and the number of Oly and World medalists participating. I would say Lalique is the weakest followed by Cup of Russia.

SA - 1 Oly/world medalist; 1 oly medalist
SC - 1 Oly/world medalist; 1 world medalist
Lalique - no world or oly medalists
Germany - 1 world medalist; 1 Oly medalist
Russia - 1 Oly/world medalist
NHK- 1 oly/world medalist; 1 world medalist

I realize this is only 1 way to look at the depth of the field and is not the only way to look at it, but I think this way does have some merit.

I'm curious...in years past, has it not been until the final that Slute met up with any of the American contenders? Also, is Lalique traditionally the "weakest" field?

[Blue Ridge]

Irina competed at Skate Canada the past two seasons.
In 2000, she beat Kwan. At the 2001, she finished 2nd to Hughes and ahead of Kwan who placed 3rd.

[leap of faith]

I'd say COr is the weakest event usually followed by TL and NC.

SA and SC are normally the 2 biggest ones for depth.
Last year's SC had the ladies world podium and Suguri to boot.
Guys had Yags, Todd and Elvis.

[LilRedRidingHood]

BlueRidge-

Thanks for the info. If this schedule remains in tact, it should be an interseting season as we won't see transcontinental competition from the big guns until the end of the season.

Should make for interesting posts of debate on the net as to "who is better than who" when no one will see them head to head until GP Finals.

Funny part is, I can almost predict who will be proclaiming what.....LOL.

[Schmeck]

Rachael, thanks! I knew something was up with Maria, rumors of her going pro after Worlds (or even after Olys) but I must have missed the official announcement. I really did expect her to do GP this year!

Schmeck

[Blue Ridge]

LOL, LilRed, and I've already written my why Irina is better email the easier to post the quickest. :lol:

If things go the way this lineup has it, then the only head to heads including the top American ladies, will be Sarah and Michelle at Skate America, Irina and Sasha at Cup of Russia. Those should be interesting.

[mkcrazy02]

Didn't Malinina go pro, she has a assignment. Why did Roth and Mcpearson get two. Shouldnt Inoue & Baldwin Jr. or Orscher & Lucash get one befor they do. They both were in the top 5 at nationals, and competed at four continents.Roth and McPhearson hadn't competed since 01 junior worlds. Also AP didnt get one. Jr world champions always get one.

[sk8rzmom]

I wondered about AP McD also. Is she being kept on the JPG sircuit because of age maybe?

[Trillian]

[quote:148d242c9d="mkcrazy02"]Why did Roth and Mcpearson get two. Shouldnt Inoue & Baldwin Jr. or Orscher & Lucash get one befor they do. They both were in the top 5 at nationals, and competed at four continents.Roth and McPhearson hadn't competed since 01 junior worlds.[/quote:148d242c9d]

Well, that was the way some of us looked at it. Evidently, not the way the USFSA looked at it. I wouldn't worry too much about I&B and O&L, though. Things are uncertain enough with at least one of these pairs, and there's usually at least one injury, that I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of these teams get an event or two.

[quote:148d242c9d]Also AP didnt get one. Jr world champions always get one.[/quote:148d242c9d]

No, they don't "always." They get one (or two) if they happen to rank that high within the country. AP is still ranked behind the five skaters who got assignments, both nationally and internationally, and the U.S. didn't have any more spots to hand out. But if one of these ladies doesn't compete for whatever reason, or the U.S. gets any extra spots, she's obviously next in line.

As for those wondering about her eligibility, there's no way AP could have competed at 4CC this past year if there were age issues. 4CC has the same requirements as the Olympics and worlds: 15 by July 1st of the previous year. AP just turned 17 in May.

[hiliairyh]

No, they don't "always." They get one (or two) if they happen to rank that high within the country. AP is still ranked behind the five skaters who got assignments, both nationally and internationally, and the U.S. didn't have any more spots to hand out.

Poor AP, maybe she should skate for Korea, what a shame the jr world champ does not have any GP assignment. BTW, how come Cohen had 2 -3 GP assignment in the season of 01 - 02. She sat out the previous year, so she was not the reigning us silver medalist, and she definiely was not jr world champ approaching the 01 - 02 season.

[Cerulean]

Not to discredit anyone, but I have a sort of hard time believing that all of these assignments can be correct. As far as I know some of the dance and pairs Teams don't exist anymore.


Also, the U.S. should be able to at least have a 2nd spot for Nikodinov, if not 2 for McDonough as well, and if Oblasova was left off the National Team of Russia I have a hard time believing that they'd choose her over Sokolova. And Roth and McPherson have done nothing in the last 12 months to merit 2 assignments, sorry. Interesting, but I taking this with a grain of salt.

[Lise]

I tend to agree with the previous poster regarding the assignments...I mean, I honestly beleive that Rochette is going to skate Canada-it's ion her home province. They did the same with Nicole Watt last season with Skate Canada being in Saskatoon.

[kara]

Thanks for posting the list!

It's true that SOI skaters can't compete in these assigned events if they conflict with a show, and also that teams who are no longer together will be replaced. But, besides that, I think the final assignments will look *very* similar to what we're seeing here. The list that came out last year, and then disappeared, ended up being pretty much on target and I bet the same will happen again.

As far as the US ladies go, I'd love to see AP with at least one event and Angela with two. AP could improve her consistency on the JGP, but not getting the sr. international exposure of the other girls will, IMO, hurt her chances at making the world team this year and in the future. I think she's too good to be overlooked. Seeing her in person makes that clear. I can see why they gave Angela only one, although I don't like it. So many of us love her skating, but she's going to have to realize that it's now or never b/c there are just too many skaters. She's one of the most talented, but she needs to skate through complete programs if she expects to be given more chances.

I could be wrong, but I bet we'll end up with Michelle 1, AP being given the 1 that I have a feeling MK will give up at SC, Angela 1, Sarah 2, Jenny 2, and Sasha 3. Skate America looks like a great event. Is anyone here going? I'm already excited for new program/practice reports. :D

Does anyone know *why* we're getting less spots this year? Is there a possibility of more invitations being given out to people like Angela and AP? How many dance spots do you believe we have to fill? Go S&F! Thanks.

[Josef]

The USFSA's assignments are not complete. Apparently they will be finished and confirmed in a week or so.

[Scott]

[quote:4c3b845507="mkcrazy02"]Didn't Malinina go pro, she has a assignment. Why did Roth and Mcpearson get two. Shouldnt Inoue & Baldwin Jr. or Orscher & Lucash get one befor they do. They both were in the top 5 at nationals, and competed at four continents.Roth and McPhearson hadn't competed since 01 junior worlds. Also AP didnt get one. Jr world champions always get one.[/quote:4c3b845507]

Well, I agree with you. To leave out two top five teams is shocking and would be a slap in the face. I can't believe that this is the actual list. If it is shame on the USFSA because it takes away from the credability of the sport and points to the politics that dominate how skaters are chosen. I sure hope this is not the case. Inoue/Baldwin and Orscher/Lucash worked hard to make the top five last year and nothing should be allowed to take away from their accomplishment. I really hope that this is not true. How would anyone get a hold of such a list before being posted by the USFSA? 8O

[IgglesII]

[quote:41037757e1="Trillian"]Things are uncertain enough with at least one of these pairs, and there's usually at least one injury, that I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of these teams get an event or two.

[/quote:41037757e1]


I'm assuming you mean uncertainty with a team that got GP assignments, not uncertainty with O/L or I/B.


Also - since this has been brought up twice now and no one has answered those that asked...Sasha Cohen got three GP assignments because she's top six in the World (review the results from Nagano). Top six are automatically seeded by the ISU at two GP events, and given the option for a third (which she's apparently taking). It's not based on lifetime achievement, it's based on last year...and she is getting what she earned.

Ann Patrice shouldn't be worried or concerned about this list. Sarah didn't compete in senior internationals during 98-99 until Worlds that season, and things seemed to work out just fine for her by Feb. 2002.

[Trillian]

[quote:2bc33cca14="IgglesII"]I'm assuming you mean uncertainty with a team that got GP assignments, not uncertainty with O/L or I/B.[/quote:2bc33cca14]

Oh, of course. I was mostly talking about the fact that I'm not 100% convinced that either of our two pairs from the Olympics will be competing next season, but I didn't want to come right out and say that since both seem to be talking about continuing so far (I figured someone would immediately jump on me for that). :) Also, regardless of how good Roth & McPherson may be looking to the USFSA right now, as far as I'm concerned, nothing is a guaruntee when someone's coming off a serious injury. It also seems to me that the USFSA might be able to get at least one more assignment anyway, considering how few pairs there are in the world to begin with.

No, when it comes to "uncertainty", I'd consider both O&L and I&B to be at the opposite end of the spectrum among U.S. pairs right now as far as the stability of their partnerships. It seems pretty clear that neither couple is going to split or retire anytime soon. And O&L have the added bonus of having, so far, no major injuries to worry about.

[kara]

[quote:a057e4f8a8="Josef"]The USFSA's assignments are not complete. Apparently they will be finished and confirmed in a week or so.[/quote:a057e4f8a8]



Thanks, Josef. Any idea if they include ladies :) ?