2016 Team Challenge Cup - Gen Info/Pre-chat

[4everchan]

LOL of course the japanese federation embraces this competition gearing towards single skating yet being called a team challenge sorry my dear mathman, I just couldn't resist

It looks like Japan is enthusiastically embracing this competition. It sounds like the Japanese Federation will be naming the captain of team Asia. (Now we see why the team Asia captain was not announced at the same time as the North American and European captains -- Japan didn't yet have all its ducks in a row. I hope it is Shizuka Arikawa or Daisuke Takahashi.)

As per earlier report, the Japanese television crews came in a couple of weeks ago to inspect the facility, figure out the best placements for their cameras, etc.

I also see that the Event has a new naming sponsor (replacing the Spokane electric company). The event is now the Kose Team Challenge Cup, after the Japanese beauty product company of that name.

 

[ice coverage]

It looks like Japan is enthusiastically embracing this competition. It sounds like the Japanese Federation will be naming the captain of team Asia. (Now we see why the team Asia captain was not announced at the same time as the North American and European captains -- Japan didn't yet have all its ducks in a row. I hope it is Shizuka Arikawa or Daisuke Takahashi.)

As per earlier report, the Japanese television crews came in a couple of weeks ago to inspect the facility, figure out the best placements for their cameras, etc.

I also see that the Event has a new naming sponsor (replacing the Spokane electric company). The event is now the Kose Team Challenge Cup, after the Japanese beauty product company of that name.

And not incidentally (IMO), at least one photo or video of the newly constructed team benches at the arena shows that the green bench for Team Asia is down in front, whereas the orange bench for Team North America and the red bench for Team Europe are behind the green one for Team Asia.

The Kose sponsorship was announced a few weeks ago. Agree that it is part of Japan's embrace. Plus the TCC website is available in Japanese as well as in English. If I am not mistaken, the Japanese-language option was added soon after the Kose sponsorship was announced.

(I'm not complaining. Makes sense for the event to cater to Team Asia, given that a Japanese company stepped up to be the title sponsor. Avista was a big local sponsor that helped Spokane get chosen to host the comp, but Avista had not been given the status of title sponsor.)

 

[ice coverage]

I have lost track of whether 4everchan and MM are discussing only WTT (which was my first impression) or only TCC or both???

In any case, I will note:

If USFS had wanted to increase the chances of Team North America winning TCC, it should have given ice dance and pairs equal weight to men and ladies.

North America is the top continent for ice dance.
Duhamel/Radford are world champions in pairs.

North America hasn't had a world champion in men's since 2013. And let's not even mention ladies ....​

 

[yuzushenko]

do you think boyang jin might have a chance of being one of the 5 nominated people we can vote for for team asia?

though i really love shoma's FS, and he's probably more popular in japan/has the backing of the insanity of japanese fans lol


i wish mirai could be nominated to go for the ladies but only 2016 worlds competitors are allowed to be nominated
though that's probably a good thing because i can't imagine having to choose between her and ashley. kind of wish gracie weren't part of the team, she's the weakest link. id honestly rather see polina there lol.

i hope patrick chan is chosen by the fan vote.


does denis ten count as team asia or team europe? anyways, him and yuzuru should be the top asians if none of them withdraw (i can imagine yuzu withdrawing but i really hope not!). then shoma or boyang jin.... what a hard choice!

 

[4everchan]

my first post was about ALL formats .... even with Olympics I would like all 4 disciplines to be factored with the same weight, via mathematical formulas none of the formats so far do so, which means that singles are favoured.

I have lost track of whether 4everchan and MM are discussing only WTT (which was my first impression) or only TCC or both???

In any case, I will note:

If USFS had wanted to increase the chances of Team North America winning TCC, it should have given ice dance and pairs equal weight to men and ladies.

North America is the top continent for ice dance.
Duhamel/Radford are world champions in pairs.

North America hasn't had a world champion in men's since 2013. And let's not even mention ladies ....​

 

[Mathman]

I have lost track of whether 4everchan and MM are discussing only WTT (which was my first impression) or only TCC or both?

my first post was about ALL formats .... even with Olympics I would like all 4 disciplines to be factored with the same weight, via mathematical formulas none of the formats so far do so, which means that singles are favoured.

I think we are misunderstanding the nature of this cheesefest. (Remember the old pro-am "USA versus the World" shows?) Fan votes? Do fans get to vote for which two football teams get to play in the Super Bowl?

The organizers want to make money. They think that people would rather see singles skaters than pairs or dancers. The ISU insisted on using ISU rankings as the price for ISU sanction.

To tell the truth, any team event in figure skating is bogus. Each skater does an individual performance and you add up the points by some formula or other. Where's the team? Even in gymnastics at least there is the option of including specialists on individual apparatuses.

Does anyone really desire to have continental bragging rights -- ha, ha, my continent is better than your continent? Or do we just want to see some good skating?

 

[4everchan]

^^ now we are talking

so they should revert to presenting pro-am competitions like japan open or pro competitions with the technical and the artistic programs.... was watching some from the mid 90s and they were great.

and let the skaters rest a bit these events are such a low point in the season after the high that we get at WC

 

[Celine]

Plus lots of the top skaters talk about how it is an additional source of fatigue, training programs that they already "peaked" a month before, when other competitors are either resting or moving on with their preparations for next season. I recall there was a team event with some unfortunate injuries (Russian men's skater? dislocated shoulder?)

 

[silverfoxes]

Plus lots of the top skaters talk about how it is an additional source of fatigue, training programs that they already "peaked" a month before, when other competitors are either resting or moving on with their preparations for next season. I recall there was a team event with some unfortunate injuries (Russian men's skater? dislocated shoulder?)

That was Konstantin Menshov. But nobody is being forced to participate in the TCC. If they don't want to go, then by all means, decline the invitation, stay home & give someone else the opportunity.

Some people are complaining that so-and-so isn't invited, some are complaining that the event exists at all. Good grief...is it really that serious? Some of these skaters can really use the money, some have to miss out on Worlds anyway, some genuinely enjoy competing no matter the format. Plus there is a novelty factor with this being the inaugural competition which is somewhat intriguing.

 

[Nathan13]

I understand all the complaints, but I think in the end it will still be fun to give people like Nam, Jason, Liza, etc. a chance to redeem themselves. (Also I feel inclined to defend this because its my first international skating competition that I'll be attending live and I've been counting down the days for several months now. Guess I'm a just a sucker falling prey to ISU's money grab )

 

[CoyoteChris]

It looks like Japan is enthusiastically embracing this competition. It sounds like the Japanese Federation will be naming the captain of team Asia. (Now we see why the team Asia captain was not announced at the same time as the North American and European captains -- Japan didn't yet have all its ducks in a row. I hope it is Shizuka Arikawa or Daisuke Takahashi.)

As per earlier report, the Japanese television crews came in a couple of weeks ago to inspect the facility, figure out the best placements for their cameras, etc.

I also see that the Event has a new naming sponsor (replacing the Spokane electric company). The event is now the Kose Team Challenge Cup, after the Japanese beauty product company of that name.

I think you are right. I have been told that Japanese fans can attend an international event on our west coast about as cheeply as they can attend one in their own country. I am sure we shall see many Japanese fans here and the fact that Kose upped some bucks means that there will be high TV ratings in Japan....Me? I figure I will either see Shizuka as a commentator or team capt. Win -Win! I last saw her live at 2009 worlds commentating and I am sure she still is a great skater and a very lovely lady....great to see past skaters doing well professionally and in their personal lives....

 

[el henry]

I understand all the complaints, but I think in the end it will still be fun to give people like Nam, Jason, Liza, etc. a chance to redeem themselves. (Also I feel inclined to defend this because its my first international skating competition that I'll be attending live and I've been counting down the days for several months now. Guess I'm a just a sucker falling prey to ISU's money grab )

I understand what your are trying to say, but...

Jason is not quite "redeeming" himself. He was injured and unable to compete for much of the season; he medalled in his only GPF. Nam and Liza, on the other hand, did not have their best seasons.

I think it's great that skaters who might not have end of season skates are going, and I don't blame you for counting down the days

 

[ice coverage]

On the Saturday night of TCC, Patrick Chan already is scheduled to skate in a show in Canada -- as reported by vivley in his fan thread.

http://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?35721-Patrick-Chan&p=1382863&viewfull=1#post1382863​

So unless Patrick's schedule changes, it seems unlikely that he would want to be nominated for the fan vote.

---

I understand what your are trying to say, but...

Jason is not quite "redeeming" himself. He was injured and unable to compete for much of the season; he medalled in his only GPF ...

GP, not GPF.

But I get your point, and I'm glad that Jason will be skating at TCC.

 

[sabinfire]

So now we know that no one declined an invitation to be on Team North America.

Seems like a good sign, but not surprising. There are still lots of TCC tickets to sell and more promoting to do -- would look bad if some of the initially selected skaters declined the event immediately.

More likely (as with most of the Americans during 4CC), we will hear of WDs about a week before the event begins.

 

[ice coverage]

Seems like a good sign, but not surprising. There are still lots of TCC tickets to sell and more promoting to do -- would look bad if some of the initially selected skaters declined the event immediately.

More likely (as with most of the Americans during 4CC), we will hear of WDs about a week before the event begins.

Don't know what you mean by declining the event "immediately."
The invitations based on World Standings were issued the first week of January.
And the skaters were given until Feb 10 to decline or accept.

(The real question is why the announcements for all teams are not taking place until weeks after the RSVP deadline. I suppose the answer is to build up interest closer to the start of the fan voting on Mar 9.)

And BTW, Polina was the only American who withdrew a week before Four Continents.
Ashley withdrew the same day that the team was announced. Adam withdrew two weeks before Four Continents.

That said, it is true that withdrawals always are possible closer to the event.
And unlike for WTT, the Announcement for TCC does not have any language intended to discourage skaters from not participating.

All bets (in either direction) are off, given that it is the first year of TCC.

 

[shyne]

I understand what your are trying to say, but...

Jason is not quite "redeeming" himself. He was injured and unable to compete for much of the season; he medalled in his only GPF. Nam and Liza, on the other hand, did not have their best seasons.

I think it's great that skaters who might not have end of season skates are going, and I don't blame you for counting down the days

Jason asked for petition for test skate because he wasn't recovered by the time of the Nationals.
USFSA didn't grant him that chance and announced their pick for the men's team right after Nationals.
Yes he doesn't have the Michelle Kwan status, but to me, this is the opportunity for Jason to show the USFSA that they made the mistake by not giving him a chance.

 

[CoyoteChris]

More big real estate given to event, Canadians, and Scott Hamilton in the Spokesman Review Sports section this morning.
http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/CoyoteChris303/media/Teamcup/team_zpszxzmqgqz.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

 

[sabinfire]

Don't know what you mean by declining the event "immediately."
The invitations based on World Standings were issued the first week of January.

Declining immediately would mean a qualifying skater declined the invitation prior to the publicizing of their name as an official participant in the event.

 

[Mathman]

Here is the text to the online version of the article that Coyote Chris just posted.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/29/team-north-america-has-all-the-heavy-hitters/

 

[ice coverage]

The only uncertainty re invitations based on World Standings that I see is whether Team Asia in fact will or will not encompass the non-Asian country of Australia.

---

... to me, this is the opportunity for Jason to show the USFSA that they made the mistake by not giving him a chance.

Hope Jason skates well at TCC.
But ... assuming that he does, it does not mean (IMO) that USFS made a mistake to deny his petition re Worlds.
TCC gives him an extra three weeks of training time that he would not have had for Worlds. Seems that he returned to the ice only last week, so an extra three weeks of training for TCC could make a big difference for Jason.