International Challenge Cup/The Hague, March 8-11

Is anyone in the Netherlands going to be attending this competition in The Hague this week?

More info, including starting orders, at:
http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/index_eng.asp

USA has sent 3 junior ladies -- Rachael Flatt (5th in her senior debut at 2007 Nationals), Alexe Gilles (5th in jr.) and Chrissy Hughes (6th in jr.) -- and 1 novice, Angela Maxwell (2007 novice champ).

USFS published a short preview article on Team USA earlier today:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=37905

Results are up.

Junior Ladies SP: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/SEG275.HTM
(All 3 USA girls had one -1 deduction.)

ETA: I heard that Rachael Flatt went for the 3lutz-3toe and fell on the toe. Alexe Gilles went for the solo 3flip and fell. Good for both of them for not holding back!

Novice Ladies SP: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/SEG273.HTM

Debs SP: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/SEG271.HTM

The detailed protocols for the SP are online below the results table:
http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/index.htm
The links are titled:
> Gedetailleerde uitslagen Debs (.pdf)
> Gedetailleerde uitslagen Novice (.pdf)
> Gedetailleerde uitslagen Junioren (.pdf)

Flatt's 3toe at the end of her 3z-3t combo was downgraded and Chrissy Hughes' deduction was for a fall on her triple salchow combo.

There are also action photos of the top 3 from the SP (Debs, Novice, Junior) if you click on the "Pictures" link at the top:
http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/index_eng.asp

Junior Ladies final standings:
1 Rachael FLATT USA 146.42 1 1 (scored 100.42 in FS)
2 Alexi GILLES USA 133.62 2 2 (scored 90.02)
3 Chrissy HUGHES USA 123.74 4 3 (scored 83.94)
4 Sofia OTALA FIN 110.28 5 4 (scored 72.06)
5 Melanie EGELHOFER SUI 107.40 3 5
6 Francesca RIO ITA 104.67 6 6
7 Alice GARLISI ITA 97.79 11 7
8 Katrin KUNISCH AUT 91.97 8 10
9 Oona LINDAHL FIN 90.96 10 8
10 Marianne JOKINEN FIN 87.97 15 9
11 Eva LIM NED 87.04 9 14
12 Belinda SCHÖNBERGER AUT 86.72 17 12
13 Debora SACCHI ITA 86.30 7 15
14 Nathalie van UFFELEN NED 85.86 14 13
15 Martina PFIRTER SUI 85.31 19 11
16 Kaat Van DAELE BEL 79.93 12 17
17 Anna MANKEVICK RUS 79.48 16 16
18 Laurie LOUGSAMI BEL 69.41 13 19
19 Louise WESSBERG DEN 67.75 18 18
20 Christel de HAAN NED 66.02 20 20

FS results: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/SEG276.HTM

FS protocol: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2...ecup/content/uitslagen/Junioren_FS_Scores.pdf

Flatt was credited with landing 7 triples (including 3lutz-3toe) but had 2 spins discounted. Gilles fell on the 3flip again (new jump in comp. since Nationals for her) and landed her other 4 triples (sal and toe). Hughes also landed 4 triples (first sal had -GOE) and received one +3 for her spiral sequence.

Angela Maxwell won the gold in the Novice Ladies event yesterday, with Miriam Ziegler 2nd and Alessandra Laurencik 3rd (both from Austria). Maxwell didn't skate quite as well as she did at U.S. Novice Nationals (she landed the 3T-2T-2R combo in Spokane but fell on her 2nd planned 3T combo here), but it's still a solid win for her.

Senior Ladies final standings:
1 Karen VENHUIZEN NED 121.97 2 1
2 Kathrin FREUDELSPERGER AUT 108.92 1 2
3 Viviane KÄSER SUI 101.08 3 3
4 Henriika HIETANIEMI FIN 95.87 4 4
5 Katarina GERBOLT RUS 90.27 6 5
6 Elina VESAMÄKI FIN 89.61 5 6
7 Sarah MOOSLECHNER AUT 76.46 7 9
8 Niina LAKSOLA FIN 76.18 8 10
9 Kirsten VERBIST BEL 75.81 11 7
10 Isabelle PIEMAN BEL 74.35 9 12
11 Jacqueline VOLL NED 73.38 10 11
12 Sharon RESSELER NED 71.50 12 8
WD Jenna MCCORKELL GBR

FS results: http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/SEG278.HTM

FS protocol is not online yet. Check for it on the results index page later:
http://www.challenge-cup.com/live-2007/kunstrijden/challengecup/content/uitslagen/index.htm

What happened that Rachael got 0 points for two of her spins?

Obviously she made a mistake on the CCSp, and it got called as 2 camel spins. Jr's are required to do Combination spin, Flying Spin and a third spin. Camel spin counts as the third spin, the second Camel spin doesn't fit into the criteria of the other 2 spins but takes a scoring box( so no points). So by the time she does the FCSp she has used all 3 spin boxes and it doesn't count and also scores no points.

mumboman said:

Obviously she made a mistake on the CCSp, and it got called as 2 camel spins. Jr's are required to do Combination spin, Flying Spin and a third spin. Camel spin counts as the third spin, the second Camel spin doesn't fit into the criteria of the other 2 spins but takes a scoring box( so no points). So by the time she does the FCSp she has used all 3 spin boxes and it doesn't count and also scores no points.

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Flatt's first spin is a CCSp (rec'd level 4 at US natls), camel spin in one direction, then step down and into opposite direction. Tech panel did not realize that it is a difficult variation, rather than two spins (she rec'd level 1 on the first portion). So, then she lost the last spin box, and about 6 additional points to her score.

Nigel said:

Flatt's first spin is a CCSp (rec'd level 4 at US natls), camel spin in one direction, then step down and into opposite direction. Tech panel did not realize that it is a difficult variation, rather than two spins (she rec'd level 1 on the first portion). So, then she lost the last spin box, and about 6 additional points to her score.

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Stupid Caller. This position has too much power and should be rethinked.

Joe

She has had some bad luck. She was also marked down (incorrectly, in the oponion of many) on her triple-triple at U.S. Nationals. When she becomes more famous all those calls will start going her way.

Maybe the step was too far and it looked like 2 distinct spins. A definate exit from one and entry to the other can be called as 2 spins, read the rules before you blame the tech panel.

mumboman said:

Maybe the step was too far and it looked like 2 distinct spins. A definate exit from one and entry to the other can be called as 2 spins, read the rules before you blame the tech panel.

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If anyone has video from the Netherlands event, maybe it will be posted somewhere before further comments are made pro/con the skater or tech panel.

Unfortunately they will only broadcast the Gala and not the rest of the competition. I didn't have a chance to go to the competition myself.

aphrodite_xl said:

Unfortunately they will only broadcast the Gala and not the rest of the competition.

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Too bad about the competition not being televised, but I did hear that Kevin van der Perren was supposed to have performed in the gala? It would be cool if videos from the televised gala could be shared at fsvids, for example.

Sylvia said:

Too bad about the competition not being televised, but I did hear that Kevin van der Perren was supposed to have performed in the gala? It would be cool if videos from the televised gala could be shared at fsvids, for example.

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Yeah that's right, Kevin skated in the gala. I notified the people who can record it about the broadcast, so hopefully they'll post some videos.

additional info at
http://www.knsb.nl/KNSB-nieuws/vervolg.asp?KNSBNieuwsID=758
if you read dutch

Sylvia, thank you so much for posting this, as well as the results for the European Youth Olympic Festival. I usually try and post results of competitions of this nature as soon as they're over, but the last several weeks have been insane and so haven't had time to even post ANYTHING. And you saved me the search!! Thanks!!