Skate America Preview

[gsk8]

Hi all!

For those interested, here is a preview. Let the feedback and foodfights commence!

[iloveaxel]

Hi all!

For those interested, here is a preview. Let the feedback and foodfights commence!

Emily has zero chance. A lot of skaters are much stronger than her. I don't understand why you picked Emily as a potential medalist.

[Theatregirl1122]

Emily has zero chance. A lot of skaters are much stronger than her. I don't understand why you picked Emily as a potential medalist.

The article was pretty clear on that I thought. Emily placed above every lady on the list at either worlds, the Olympics, or US nationals except the Asadas who did not compete at those competitions and Meissner. I'm not a big fan of Emily but there's no reason to be so dismissive of her.

[Tonichelle]

someone sounds bitter oh well to each their own... Emily is a dark horse like it or not. It really amazes me that animosity that is aimed towards her... it's like everyone just jumped from one Hughes to the other just because it was easiest...

/off soap box

anywho... I'm most excited for Ice Dance... Melissa and Denis are going to bring down the house! I've read nothing but great things about their FD and I sooooooooooooooooooo want to see it... if ABC chacks them there will be h-e-double-hockey-sticks to pay!

[slutskayafan21]

It is amazing to be reminded Oda lost the Japanese title and his trip to the Olympics due to violating the jump regulation rules, and then repeated the mistake at Worlds which cost him the bronze to Lysacek. I wonder if something more of that kind of error is in store this year.

[Joesitz]

Very well written and can be used in future when questions come up about a particular figure skating era.

Joesitz

[Mathman]

Outstanding article.

About the predictions, I thik there will be some surprises. I think Sara Meier could make the podium, and also vanderPerren.

What about Matthews and Zavosin? They are on the rise and might take a great leap forward this year.

[purplecat]

A little off topic, but I was wondering if there were going to be any prediction contests this year for the Grand Prix as there have been in previous years? I'm talking about the official Golden Skate ones that offered prizes to the winners of each contest.

[Joesitz]

Emily is an Olympian, hardly a dark horse.

[Mathman]

If the new system had been in place last season, Elena Sokolova wouldn't have made the final.

Are you sure about that? Sokolova did finish ahead of Rochette, Arakawa and Onda (and also Ando, who made the final on the tie-breaker.) But even without that first place bonus it would have been a five way tie, and Sokolova would have won the first tie-breaker (best placement).

Under this year's system it would have been Sokolova 15+7, Ando 13+9, Rochette 13+9, Arakawa 11+11 and Onda 11+11.

In fact, I can't think of a scenario where it would make any difference, whether you give a one-point bonus for a first place or whether you give the first tie-breaker to the one with a first place finish.

[chuckm]

Sokolova finished 6th at TEB, and she would have gotten only 5 points for that.

Here is how the GPF would have played out:

Slutskaya: two 1sts = 15+15 = 30
Asada: 1st and 2nd = 13 + 15 = 28
Czisny: 1st and 2nd = 13 + 15 = 28
Nakano: 3rd and 1st = 11 + 15 = 26
Ando: 2nd and 4th = 13 + 9 = 22
Rochette: 2nd and 4th = 13 + 9 = 22 (behind Ando on points)
Arakawa: two 3rds = 11+ 11 = 22
Onda : two 3rds = 11+ 11 = 22 (behind Arakawa on points)
Sokolova: 1st and 6th = 15 + 5 = 20

Instead of going to the GPF, Elena would have been 3rd alternate.

[Fossi]

Emily has a lot of spunk, like Sarah, and has the dedication to skating that will make her a force to be reckoned with. Don't count her out. Everyone counted Sarah out at SLC, and she got it done.

Don't count out Emily!!

[Vodka Shot]

U.S. champion Johnny Weir elected other Grand Prix events, leaving two-time World bronze medalist Evan Lysacek as the leading American entrant.

I didn't think they had an option which GP assignments they got? I doubt Johnny would have "elected" to get Canada. He thinks he's cursed there?


I think after Kimmie and Mao Asada, Emily is one of the top contenters; I could easily see her pulling bronze.

[Mathman]

Sokolova finished 6th at TEB, and she would have gotten only 5 points for that...

That's very interesting. So not only did Elena benefit from the first place bonus, she also benefitted from the leveling off of the scale at the low end.

I can see why they changed it. But the latter feature is still present. A first and a seventh beats a 2nd and 6th, 19 to 18, even without the tie-breaker.

[Mathman]

I didn't think they had an option which GP assignments they got? I doubt Johnny would have "elected" to get Canada. He thinks he's cursed there?

I think they do have an option, at least in the case of the spots selected by the host country after the ISU seeding is done. Belbin and Agosto said flat out that they passed up Skate America because they were too worn out from touring all summer and needed the extra time to get their programs together.