More International Assignments

[IceDanceSk8er]

The USFSA posted more international assignments for dance.

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

[Trillian]

We now have ten different teams assigned to the JGP, which means only six of those couples have a shot at earning a second assignment. Considering most of our teams won't likely be in contention to make the final anyway, it probably won't hurt anyone in that regard, but it's still interesting that the USFSA has already gone ahead and assigned so many couples. Otoh, considering that there are a couple of strong new teams out there, it's probably good to give them the opportunity.

When does the USFSA have to officially name their replacement for L&T at Skate America? If they can hold off until just before the event, it looks like most of the teams discussed as contenders will have a shot. Moxley & Kirsanov, Manon & O'Meara, Nussear & Forsyth, Navarro & Shmalo, and Gibbons & Pekarek all have earlier B events now. (Goodwin & Bommentre have a later one, but that seems reasonable to me because their Lake Placid showing doesn't indicate that they'd be frontrunners for the assignment anwyay.) And if they can shift Galler-Rabinowitz & Mitchell from NHK to Skate America, that would buy them even more time.

[IceDanceSk8er]

I wonder if the USFSA was too hasty in assigning Koob-Doddy & Antonelli a JPG, particularly since they are competing Novice this year?

[DancerFan]

I highly doubt G-R/M would give up NHK, nor has the USFSA ever taken away an International once given, (unless a team/skater wasn't ready yet.) But, a third US team should be added - and by all accounts will go - to SA, they'll probably just wait to see how the teams do right up until SA.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by DancerFan
I highly doubt G-R/M would give up NHK, nor has the USFSA ever taken away an International once given, (unless a team/skater wasn't ready yet.)

No, but the USFSA has moved skaters from one international to another to allow for less prepared skaters or teams (like the new couples who were at Lake Placid) to get ready for an event. Nowhere in my post did I suggest taking any international away from anyone--I just suggested that it might be easier on people all around if Loren and David competed at Skate America instead of NHK. They'd still have two GP events, the max they're allowed, it would just give someone else the chance to be more ready than they'd probably be otherwise. I have no idea what you found so offensive about the suggestion, especially since I wasn't the first one to make it on this board.

[DancerFan]

Sorry - wasn't meaning to sound offended. I just couldn't imagine why G-R/M would give up NHK, which at this point in time seems not to be a very power-packed event, for back-to-back internationals. I think most couples prefer not to have their only two international competitions one immediately after the other, and I have never seen the USFSA move couples around the GP events to allow for less prepared teams. I think it was fantastic of the USFSA to act so swiftly after Lake Placid in assigning competitions to those deserving to go!

[Sylvia]

August 21 update at:
http://www.usfsa.org/team/assign.htm

New SENIOR international assignments:
Finlandia: Ryan Bradley declined, Johnny Weir added, also Lindsey
Weber (2nd trip there in 2 years!) and Hinzmann/Parchem (ditto for
Hinzmann)
Golden Spin of Zagreb: Braden Overett, Vise/Trent and Evora/Ladwig

New JGP assignments:
Sofia: Castile/Okolski replace the injured Uhlig/Loomis
Mexico City: Colin Pennington replaces the injured Adam Aronowitz
Ostrava: Uhlig/Loomis & Varraux/Pelletier
Slovenia: Sandoval/Ibarra
Japan: Galleher/Coughlin

Each skater/team above will be now added to the Reserve team envelope (unless they're already in one of the team envelopes).