2016 Team Challenge Cup - Gen Info/Pre-chat

[ice coverage]

So the world team trophy
...
Is that never going to be held again, as it is being replaced by the team challenge cup?

World Team Trophy always was planned as an every-other-year comp.

It last took place in 2015, and barring something unforeseen, it will continue in odd-numbered years.

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Just one example of the differences btwn TCC vs. WTT:

TCC will be a competition among Team North America; Team Europe; and Team Asia.

WTT is a competition among countries: Team Japan; Team USA; Team Canada; Team Russia; etc.

teamchallengecup.com is the official TCC website. The format is explained in detail there, if you are interested.

 

[Mathman]

So the world team trophy
...
Is that never going to be held again, as it is being replaced by the team challenge cup?

The world team trophy is held every other year. There will be one next year. This event, the team challenge cup, is being held this year for the first time. If it is successful (a long shot, I fear) it could be held biannually in the years in which there is no WTT.

Edited to add: What golden411icecoverage said.

 

[brightphoton]

Okay, visited the site, interesting. 2 ladies, 2 men, 2 pairs and 2 dancers for each team, each team being a conglomerate of Asia, Europe and North America. Each team is captained by a celebrity skater from each region.

I wish NBC would've mentioned this at the closing of Worlds. Might've been nice to tell people that this event exists. Is this going to air on TV?

 

[CoyoteChris]

Team Challenge Cup is called a new ISU event because it IS a new event.

If you are assuming that TCC is the same competition as World Team Trophy, then Yes, you are imagining things.

TCC and WTT have big differences in format.

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Hi, Chris .

I too love Rika's Riverdance . Sorry to say that you are too late to vote for her again. The voting deadline has passed.

My Bad...I was so rushed before I left that I had only used one email address to vote for Rika and thought the voting would end 6 days AFTER worlds....so I could use my other four.
Oh well. My wife and I watched the NBC coverage on TV tonight with a fire in the fire place and laps full of dogs and it was still nice to see Rika, but you really have to see the
performance in Person IMHO to really appreciate the projection to the crowd that she does....

 

[CoyoteChris]

The world team trophy is held every other year. There will be one next year. This event, the team challenge cup, is being held this year for the first time. If it is successful (a long shot, I fear) it could be held biannually in the years in which there is no WTT.

Edited to add: What golden411icecoverage said.

It is unclear to me how much the following three facts will affect the attendance. 1. that people spent their event bucks on worlds (and wont come to Spokane), 2. the top skaters like Mao and Javier wont be there, and 3. The low skater count. I would have added another man and lady to each team and at least another pair and dance to each team. I guess we shall see. At any rate, I hope the Org folk give some tickets away on the local tv and radio stations and to local skater club members and fill some seats....or its gonna look like the short programs at Nats....bare....with the hotel prices dropping for Kansas City and looking at the un-crowded KC table at Worlds, I cant wait to see what attendance is like there.

 

[ice coverage]

Okay, visited the site, interesting. 2 ladies, 2 men, 2 pairs and 2 dancers for each team, each team being a conglomerate of Asia, Europe and North America. Each team is captained by a celebrity skater from each region.

I wish NBC would've mentioned this at the closing of Worlds. Might've been nice to tell people that this event exists. Is this going to air on TV?

Each team will have a third man and a third lady selected by fan voting, which ended today (meaning Mon Apr 4).

A highlights show for TCC will air on CBS. Thus it is justifiable that NBC did not make any mention.

IN will have streaming -- plus full-blown backstage coverage (Ice Desk, interviews, pressers, etc.), according to what Tanith said at the end of the last Ice Desk at Worlds.

BTW, Tanith and Scott Hamilton will anchor the CBS highlights show. They both have been involved in publicizing TCC, as have Kristi as captain of Team North America and Gracie as an "athlete ambassador" for the comp.

One of the Japanese networks ... Nippon TV, iirc? .... will have extensive coverage.

 

[sarama]

Spoiler alert: Team Europe will finish third thanks to the Koreans Yuna's bot.

No offence but:

Kuchvalska - Rodeghiero VS Gold - Ashley Wagner VS Satoko Miyahara - Rika Hongo

... there is no competition, how can this be an ISU event? it's not fair.

I don't think Kuchvalska would determine the demise of team Europe. The problem is that there are no strong European ladies apart form the Russians, and European men are struggling (Javi being the exception of course!)...so there isn't much that can be done about it!


Totally unrelated but can they hire an announcer that puts some effort in at least TRYING to say the skaters names right? It's impossible to get them all correct but at Worlds it was just ridiculous

 

[Tolstoj]

I don't think Kuchvalska would determine the demise of team Europe. The problem is that there are no strong European ladies apart form the Russians, and European men are struggling (Javi being the exception of course!)...so there isn't much that can be done about it!


Totally unrelated but can they hire an announcer that puts some effort in at least TRYING to say the skaters names right? It's impossible to get them all correct but at Worlds it was just ridiculous

Yes (until next season) but the Russian Ladies are the strongest in the world in this season, in my opinion if you invite Gracie Gold and Satoko you should make sure that Evgenia or Elena will be there too.

European Men at Worlds were pretty good actually: Javi World Champion, Kolyada 4th , Brezina 9th, similar result to the Asians and better than North American Men.

I wouldn't mind it but, considering this is an ISU competition, it will affect the ranking, right?

 

[sarama]

I wouldn't mind it but, considering this is an ISU competition, it will affect the ranking, right?

I may be wrong but, if they apply the same rules as WTT, no ranking points will be awarded, but the scores can be used as SB/PB or even WR since lately is so easy to set new ones (kidding)

 

[Li'Kitsu]

Yes (until next season) but the Russian Ladies are the strongest in the world in this season, in my opinion if you invite Gracie Gold and Satoko you should make sure that Evgenia or Elena will be there too.

But they did go with a rule that would at least halfway ensure the best skaters were there - the world standings. And really, I think it's great we can see Liza again in this competition. Evgenia and Elena were just amazing at worlds, let somebody else have some spotlight again!

Also, I don't get the doom and gloom about team Europe, by the way. Liza wasn't at her best this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if she won this event.

 

[luenatic]

Boyang will be the 3rd entry for Team Asia. He's staying in the US for at least 2 weeks...

 

[moriel]

But they did go with a rule that would at least halfway ensure the best skaters were there - the world standings. And really, I think it's great we can see Liza again in this competition. Evgenia and Elena were just amazing at worlds, let somebody else have some spotlight again!

Also, I don't get the doom and gloom about team Europe, by the way. Liza wasn't at her best this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if she won this event.

Well, people would still want team europe to win though. And for ladies, you would need Med or Radio.

 

[Imagine]

Well, sucks about those shady cheaters ruining Team Europe's chances, but I want Team Asia to win this time anyway! Problem is, they also tried to bot-vote in the mediocre Park who wouldn't have helped much anyway. I'm glad Rika is going.

 

[MiRé]

lol @ this thread. Some people need to get a life

 

[Mathman]

So Rika Hango made it, right?

I have a question for people who saw her in person at Worlds. On TV her Riverdance program was totally captivating. But some of the reports from Worlds were not as enthusiastic. Do you think that this is one of those programs that comes across better on TV? I wondered if maybe seeing a lone skater doing the steps of an Irish jig from 200 feet away loses some clarity and detail. (?)

 

[karne]

So Rika Hango made it, right?

I have a question for people who saw her in person at Worlds. On TV her Riverdance program was totally captivating. But some of the reports from Worlds were not as enthusiastic. Do you think that this is one of those programs that comes across better on TV? I wondered if maybe seeing a lone skater doing the steps of an Irish jig from 200 feet away loses some clarity and detail. (?)

Oh no, I LOVED Rika Hongo! She was great and I think it came across even better live.

 

[solar]

So Rika Hango made it, right?

I have a question for people who saw her in person at Worlds. On TV her Riverdance program was totally captivating. But some of the reports from Worlds were not as enthusiastic. Do you think that this is one of those programs that comes across better on TV? I wondered if maybe seeing a lone skater doing the steps of an Irish jig from 200 feet away loses some clarity and detail. (?)

Rika's riverdance program in my eyes is 1000x better in person. Not that it's bad on TV, but in person it's absolutely amazing. I was smiling the whole time and was engaged throughout the entire 4 minutes! Rika does a fantastic job projecting her joy from the program into the audience. It's so infectious. It's awesome on television, but absolutely magical in person

 

[Arriba627]

It is unclear to me how much the following three facts will affect the attendance. 1. that people spent their event bucks on worlds (and wont come to Spokane), 2. the top skaters like Mao and Javier wont be there, and 3. The low skater count. I would have added another man and lady to each team and at least another pair and dance to each team. I guess we shall see. At any rate, I hope the Org folk give some tickets away on the local tv and radio stations and to local skater club members and fill some seats....or its gonna look like the short programs at Nats....bare....with the hotel prices dropping for Kansas City and looking at the un-crowded KC table at Worlds, I cant wait to see what attendance is like there.

The KC table was busy during Nationals in St. Paul. Many people were already buying their tickets in January, me included!

 

[winky97]

So Rika Hango made it, right?

I have a question for people who saw her in person at Worlds. On TV her Riverdance program was totally captivating. But some of the reports from Worlds were not as enthusiastic. Do you think that this is one of those programs that comes across better on TV? I wondered if maybe seeing a lone skater doing the steps of an Irish jig from 200 feet away loses some clarity and detail. (?)

I actually think it came across better live and I have not been a fan of her Riverdance this season mainly because the music annoys me.

 

[winky97]

The KC table was busy during Nationals in St. Paul. Many people were already buying their tickets in January, me included!

I did not bite for KC large because I am strongly considering Helsinki