- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
When the Japan Open started in 2006, Jeff Buttle and Joanie Rochette were regularly skating there. So I think that's where Team North America got its name and they just never bothered to change it.Thank you @KiraraChin and @rabidline for the explanations about the Japanese skaters' selection. Any idea why it's been several years since the last Canadian skater participated? I am not necessarily talking about this year = slim pickings... but it's been since 2015 since a Canadian skater competed at Japan Open. I am curious. If Canadian skaters are not marketable in Japan (which is strange because some do shows there) why bother with "North America" as a team? I think my issue with it is not even that Canadian skaters do not go, it's about the name of the team
And 2006-2015 = 10 years. 2016-2023 = 8 years minus 2 domestic Japan Opens. Maybe we can wait another 4 years, if only USA singles skaters get invited then maybe the name will change
Also I think IMG clients from the US / Canada gets prioritized and Kaetlyn was the only IMG Canadian singles lady? She won a Worlds medal in 2017, likely doesn't want to do a meaningless competition before an Olympic season, won Worlds 2018 and retired, with a couple interviews about her struggle since then. So it makes sense that she has never skated at Japan Open.