Japan Open

[SkateFiguring]

Teams' Members.

Note worthy: Plushenko, Rochette, and Buttle are in the line-ups.

Mens are exciting with Chan, Kozuka, Takahashi, and Plushenko.

Among the participants are two reigning and 3 former World Champions. Almost all are current or former World medalists.



Japan: Ando, Suzuki, Kozuka, Takahashi.

N. America: Czisney, Rochette, Chan, Buttle.

Europe: Korpi, Meier, Plushenko, Gachinski.

[Joesitz]

I'm not sure what the Japan Open is all about. Is it about a team of 4 Japanese skaters against a team of 4 N.American skaters, and 4 European skaters? Are there individual winners?,

Has Meier agreed to come out of retirement?

What are the dates of this Open? It would seem long trips to and from and then on to GPs.

[SkateFiguring]

Joe, Japan Open is an invitational event, taking place Oct.1 this year and consisting of 3 teams - Japan, Europe, and North America. It's a Singles event with 2 Ladies and 2 Men in each team. I think it is a showcase for Japan to flaunt their strangth in Singles and maybe there will be Pairs and Ice Dance when Japan has great skaters in those disciplines. It's also nice to have some retired and undecided skaters taking part and it's especially nice that there are very attractive cash prizes to be won. Plushenko was there last year and Rippon did the best of all Men, raising the hope and hype which then fizzled out over the ISU season.

Besides the competition, there are guest skaters and Carnival On Ice at the same event.

It's like a Japan Pro-Am. What I don't get is why it is called Japan Open when it is invitational.

Czisny and Kozuka will have a couple of weeks before going to Skate America (Oct.21 -23).

I am interested to see new programs unveiled.

[Mathman]

Thanks for starting this thread, SkateFiguring.

This will be an interesting competition. I assume that the skaters who will be competing in the Grand Prix will show their programs.

Do you know what has become of the ISU team championship? There was some talk that they would try to hold that some time in the fall.

[Joesitz]

SkateFiguring - Thanks for the date. I do think it is too close to the SA if not the SC, although I am a firm believer that an athlete enters a competition knowing full well what problems he may face.

The Open has a limited number of entrants, and the round trip travel distance will be arduous. I presume the Japanese Fed are paying the skaters a stipend aside from the podium prizes.

I think the skaters concerned will not show their new programs until their GP and even then only if they are ready.

[SkateFiguring]

The Open has a limited number of entrants, and the round trip travel distance will be arduous. I presume the Japanese Fed are paying the skaters a stipend aside from the podium prizes.

I am sure all participants get paid, with the biggest prize going to the winning team.

I think the skaters concerned will not show their new programs until their GP and even then only if they are ready.

Au contraire, this is an opportunity to test their new programs in front of judges before the real competitions of the new ISU season.

[ImaginaryPogue]

Joe, Joannie Rochette debuted her Samson and Delilah LP their during the Olympic season, and we also saw Asada's LP as well.

I'm more curious about Rochette's fitness.

[lionmilk]

Here's the link to the other japan open programs...

http://www.youtube.com/user/Miruna1990#g/u