I wouldn't be surprised if they are waiting to see how Cain/LeDuc does at Nebelhorn.
2016-2017 Grand Prix selections
- Thread starter Mrs. P
- Start date
I wouldn't be surprised if they are waiting to see how Cain/LeDuc does at Nebelhorn.
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- Jul 31, 2014
This is a very sad idea, but i wonder if they are waiting to see how Alexa Scimeca Knierim is doing illness wise. If it is bad enough that they may need to withdraw, the USFSA might be holding off on naming the Skate America TBD to see if C/T can get one of their spots instead. I think C/Ts odd of being asked to replace the Knierims is much higher than C/L, and likely pretty good over all. So if, sadly, it is looking like she may not be well enough to compete, holding off on naming the Skate America TBD could nap the USA another pairs spot on the GP. If C/T get one of S/Ks spots, then USFSA can give Skate America to someone else. If they gives C/T the spot now, than the replacements are more likely to come from another country.
I admit this is rather dark, but it could also be pragmatic. To be clear i am routing for Alexa to get better and kick engine on the GP. This should not be seen as me thinking she is too sick to compete... but rather acknowledging the possibility.
I admit this is rather dark, but it could also be pragmatic. To be clear i am routing for Alexa to get better and kick engine on the GP. This should not be seen as me thinking she is too sick to compete... but rather acknowledging the possibility.
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- Jun 22, 2015
Tangental... wow, I am very impressed at Cain/LeDuc. They've only been a pair what, five, six months? And they're already almost beating Castelli/Tran. I thought they had some potential when I saw clips of them a bit ago but now I'm really excited to see how things go for them.
I'm glad that they found each other. Cain was very promising with her previous partner, Joshua Reagan (who is now skating for Canada with a different partner), having made the JGPF back in 2012, IIRC and placing 7th at U.S. Nationals in their debut (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9-IzIVU9WQ). I admired Cain for continuing her singles career during her hiatus from pairs, but you got the sense that she wasn't really utilizing her skill set.
I think LeDuc is a fantastic pairs skater as well. The SP form him and DeeDee Lang was one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9PSLawQyY4
They both have really good skating skills, which is why I think they gelled quickly.
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- Jun 16, 2008
Please see the video Alexa's coach just posted of her and Chris. It seems like Alexa is feeling fine now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5oVrFAY6z/
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- Nov 7, 2011
That video appears to have been posted four weeks ago.
I wonder if the delay could also be related to Mervin's concussion, though it didn't stop USFS from assigning C/T to Autumn Classic, so it might also be a wait-and-see on C/T picking up a second spot via the subs list (as Cannuscio/McManus are also in possible position to do). I'd love to see the spot go to a team not already on the Grand Prix, though, whether Cain/LeDuc or Calalang/Sidhu or another pair, depending on club + Challenger results.
I wonder if the delay could also be related to Mervin's concussion, though it didn't stop USFS from assigning C/T to Autumn Classic, so it might also be a wait-and-see on C/T picking up a second spot via the subs list (as Cannuscio/McManus are also in possible position to do). I'd love to see the spot go to a team not already on the Grand Prix, though, whether Cain/LeDuc or Calalang/Sidhu or another pair, depending on club + Challenger results.
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- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
But that video is FOUR WEEKS OLD -- from Aug 9.
And has been previously posted elsewhere on GS ... in discussions of the months-long duration of Alexa's illness
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There are, but the U.S. had three teams in the top 5 on the replacement list. All three teams were already skipped over for the first two selections when Testa & Csolley withdrew. Cannuscio & McManus defeated the Germans last season--who finished 17th in the World, higher than anyone else on the replacement list. So while I appreciate the variety, three teams from other countries were selected. And C&M had the resume from last season to challenge all of them, plus defeated a couple teams--Hawayek & Baker and Agafanova & Ucar--that already had two spots on the GP.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2014
I knew it. Adian Pitkeev is out. 
http://www.isuresults.com/events/gp2016/gpsmen.pdf
But maybe Deniss Vasiljevs can get another spot now and my tears will stop.
http://www.isuresults.com/events/gp2016/gpsmen.pdf
But maybe Deniss Vasiljevs can get another spot now and my tears will stop.
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- Joined
- May 2, 2015
But Pogrebinsky/Benoit defeated no one, and still got two spots, while other teams not. USFSA could give C/M host spot earlier so that they'll have two. To be fair, it's not just problem with US teams, GP series is very heavily packed with skaters of host nations, which is never changing.... I don't have doubt that last spot of Cup of Russia will be given to another Russian couple too.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2004
I think after the Belarus team was selected for TEB, Cann/Mc moved up to number one on the substitution list. Last season there were lots of complaints about hosts ignoring the list and selecting teams far down in the rankings. I'm glad to see the hosts adhering to the appropriate rankings for a change. It's the fairest option, IMHO.
They defeated Lauriault & Le Gac, who got two spots also. (And if Evdokimova & Bazin get the TBD at Rostelecom, P&B defeated them as well). P&B also defeated Min & Gamelin, who are on the replacement list. (And M&G defeated Kim & Minov, who have a spot, and Wang & Liu--who have 2 GP spots--at 4CC's. And W&L defeated Kavaliova & Bieliaiev, who have 2 GP spots, and Mansour & Ceska, who have one). There is no clear way to compare the junior teams with the senior teams, unless those senior teams choose to enter the same minimum qualifying score competitions or the junior teams move up early and compete with a senior SD pattern (not exactly fair either when they have to train another one for juniors). If you disagree with the existence of host spots in general, then I agree. They aren't fair. I would have no problem with removing them. But that has nothing to do with who deserves to be invited off the replacement list.
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- Joined
- May 2, 2015
Yes, I'm not happy with the way the host spots are used. And there teams in last years who were competing in both juniors and seniors, like Polish couple in season 2014/15. And I think Nazarova/Nikitin too. Sure the results weren't great but you get the experience at least. I do agree that it's hard to compare juniiors to seniors, I only wanted to notice that some juniors have an easy way to GP, because of host spots. Lauriaut/Le Gac were in top 24 of SB list, so they would get one spot anyway. P/B not. And I know P/B were better at JWC, but L/L made it easy for many teams to pass them by in that competition...
Edit: What happened to Aidan Pitkeev?
Edit: What happened to Aidan Pitkeev?
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- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
He is still recovering from a back injury
I'm not a fan of Pogrebinsky & Benoit or their scores, but they earned their non-host spot by having a higher SB than any of the teams currently remaining on the replacement list. All the teams that filled the extra GP spots were selected from top to bottom based on scores. That only changed when Testa & Csolley dropped out, at which point the Belarussian & U.S. teams were skipped in order for Canada to select Torn & Partanen and France to select Mansour & Ceska. So if you do not think GP spots should be filled based on PB scores, what alternative objective criteria do you propose? And why do you feel it would be better?
N&N and K&S only competed in seniors during a junior season because there was room for them on their senior national world/European teams. They would not have qualified for a world/European/4CC senior team if they competed for a country that was deep in dance.
You could even argue that no teams have been skipped thus far, as the first two replacement selections went to the next team with zero invitations, except for Biechler & Dodge who may not have been available for selection at the time of Testa & Csolley's withdrawal, since the U.S. was late in adding B&D to the U.S.'s international selection pool. (They are on the ISP now and are now the second highest team remaining after the Finns and the highest of the teams with zero invites).
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- Joined
- May 2, 2015
Good point about K/S and N/N, I always forgot some skaters have easier way for ISU championships.
I'm not saying going by PB is a bad way, but I thought that Challengers were made so that teams who did well there have a chance to take a GP spot as well. And NHK is so late that Fed could easily wait some time to fill that spot and decide by both PB and Challengers results. Now I feel that these Challengers has literally not more meaning than any other international competition since no Fed is using the results for spots. Why even call it Challenger then? And since ID had 10 spot per event now I hoped someone will give a chance to the teams that compete in them, that may have not be earlier around (last year I thought Tobias/Tkachenko should get spot based on Challnegers, but there were less spots then) or just improved by much only recently, but significantly. And it looks that all Feds are going the same way: fill host spots with your own teams and then by PB, completely disregarding third way: Challengers. I may be wrong, but I think every year there's a team that's really good, on not necessarily from any host fed, so without chances to get spot in other way.
I'm not saying going by PB is a bad way, but I thought that Challengers were made so that teams who did well there have a chance to take a GP spot as well. And NHK is so late that Fed could easily wait some time to fill that spot and decide by both PB and Challengers results. Now I feel that these Challengers has literally not more meaning than any other international competition since no Fed is using the results for spots. Why even call it Challenger then? And since ID had 10 spot per event now I hoped someone will give a chance to the teams that compete in them, that may have not be earlier around (last year I thought Tobias/Tkachenko should get spot based on Challnegers, but there were less spots then) or just improved by much only recently, but significantly. And it looks that all Feds are going the same way: fill host spots with your own teams and then by PB, completely disregarding third way: Challengers. I may be wrong, but I think every year there's a team that's really good, on not necessarily from any host fed, so without chances to get spot in other way.
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
Pairs: Castelli/Tran are added to SA (finally!)
Ice Dance: Edovkimova/Bazin are added to CoR
Men: Gordei Gorshkov added to CoR
No replacements for Aidan Pitkeev yet. I wonder why Sui/Han are still not crossed of their assigments, even though everyone knows they won't be able to compete.
Ice Dance: Edovkimova/Bazin are added to CoR
Men: Gordei Gorshkov added to CoR
No replacements for Aidan Pitkeev yet. I wonder why Sui/Han are still not crossed of their assigments, even though everyone knows they won't be able to compete.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Hooray for Marissa and Mervin! Finally!
A team can earn their SB at a Challenger. (I&Z did so last season as did several other athletes). However, in order for a team to be inserted onto the replacement list mid-season, I believe that technically the rule is that a team must have a win at a Challenger. Not certain if this rule was overturned or just ignored in the past, but it is listed for this season and was listed previously. (The only team with a win at the moment is already on the GP so there is no reason to insert G&F onto the replacement list). Of course Challengers also help teams win points in order to raise their World ranking and qualify among the top 24. World ranking is how Nazarova & Nikitin and Kim & Minov earned their GP spots.
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