2018-2019 GP Assignments

[skatenewbie]

And then they only need to ensure one more extra invite for Evgenia whereas Alina is guaranteed hers

well Medvedva surely get 2... Even without guaranteed 2. She's #2 in top 24 SB and high there in WS. Skaters like Yura Matsuda are the one should be worried not getting 2nd assignment even though she's in top 24 SB (guaranteed 1 spot)

 

[moriel]

well Medvedva surely get 2... Even without guaranteed 2. She's #2 in top 24 SB and high there in WS. Skaters like Yura Matsuda are the one should be worried not getting 2nd assignment even though she's in top 24 SB (guaranteed 1 spot)

Yep i think so.
Also, several feds do not have a home competitor (china, france) or do not care about protecting their skaters (japan). For example, I wouldn't be surprised if Japan invited Med simply because japanese fans love her.

 

[Colonel Green]

Yep i think so.
Also, several feds do not have a home competitor (china, france) or do not care about protecting their skaters (japan). For example, I wouldn't be surprised if Japan invited Med simply because japanese fans love her.

If Evgenia is doing CoR, then I think NHK is out, due to proximity; France, likewise. CoC is the most likely now.

I guess the Russian Fed is aiming for NHK and France for Alina, then, since Alina can’t do SA or SCI. If the Russian Fed can make that happen, the knock-on would likely be Bradie at CoC and Gabby at CoR.

 

[Sorrento]

I've actually been thinking that maybe this season Medvedeva will choose same venues as Hanyu. Could benefit both of them. Canada and Japan. Less time for travelling and less jetlag. More time to build stamina for GPF. Also this means they'll both get a proper rest before GPF if necessary due to their past injuries.

 

[moriel]

I've actually been thinking that maybe this season Medvedeva will choose same venues as Hanyu. Could benefit both of them. Canada and Japan. Less time for travelling and less jetlag. More time to build stamina for GPF. Also this means they'll both get a proper rest before GPF if necessary due to their past injuries.

I dunno, after the latest round of rumors and Hanyu's and Med's reactions, maybe that wouldnt be a smart move.
Also I don't see how both of them getting same GPs will reduce traveling time and jetlag (maybe for the coaches only).

Overall, if the aim is to reduce travel time and jetlag, then the choice, for skaters based in Toronto is North America and Europe, NHK and CoC are the worst in that regard.
I mean, difference between Toronto and France is 6hrs, and between Toronto and Japan is like 13 hrs.

 

[Colonel Green]

I've actually been thinking that maybe this season Medvedeva will choose same venues as Hanyu. Could benefit both of them. Canada and Japan. Less time for travelling and less jetlag. More time to build stamina for GPF. Also this means they'll both get a proper rest before GPF if necessary due to their past injuries.

Neither Evgenia or Yuzuru can choose anything, strictly speaking. They’re dependent on invitations.

Now, in Yuzuru’s case, Canada/Japan is quite plausible (especially as the latter is his home event), though it’s potentially complicated by whatever juggling the Japanese are doing with Shoma.

If the Russian Fed is sending Evgenia to CoR, which Alina’s comment would suggest, then NHK is unlikely (it would otherwise probably be an easy sell, unless Japan started being more zealous in promoting its own skaters); and the Canadians won’t invite her, to improve their own prospects.

 

[yume]

Seems like Medvedeva will have the opportunity to get her full set of GPs.

 

[Sorrento]

I dunno, after the latest round of rumors and Hanyu's and Med's reactions, maybe that wouldnt be a smart move.
Also I don't see how both of them getting same GPs will reduce traveling time and jetlag (maybe for the coaches only).

Overall, if the aim is to reduce travel time and jetlag, then the choice, for skaters based in Toronto is North America and Europe, NHK and CoC are the worst in that regard.
I mean, difference between Toronto and France is 6hrs, and between Toronto and Japan is like 13 hrs.

What stupid rumors have to do with competitions? If you start to arrange your sports career caring about every rumor- I feel for you.
Yuzu will most probably do home event as a recuperation for last season. In between NHK and GPF there are three weeks. Great time to travel back to Canada and get rest and build stamina.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

If Evgenia is doing CoR, then I think NHK is out, due to proximity; France, likewise. CoC is the most likely now.

I guess the Russian Fed is aiming for NHK and France for Alina, then, since Alina can’t do SA or SCI. If the Russian Fed can make that happen, the knock-on would likely be Bradie at CoC and Gabby at CoR.

I agree and this is great! I want Zhenya to have her full set! And Alina will face a warm reaction in Japan, which is good.... France... ugh, do they even deserve a GP anymore??
So, I think Bradie would do SA and CoC and Gabby, SC and Rostelecom. This means Kostner will probably be invited to SC and I think she'll get an invite to Rostelecom. Then Wakaba could do SA and NHK and Satoko could do CoC and IdF

 

[Sorrento]

If the Russian Fed is sending Evgenia to CoR, which Alina’s comment would suggest, then NHK is unlikely (it would otherwise probably be an easy sell, unless Japan started being more zealous in promoting its own skaters); and the Canadians won’t invite her, to improve their own prospects.

Can Shoma sell the venue? Yuzu is reigning OGM and he missed his last GP assignment due to injury. Coming home next season would be glorious.
As per Alina- not sure. But Medvedeva is sure a home crowd darling. If anyone I would choose her to get the invitation.
Who would Canada try to promote? It's only Daleman they've got from the Ladies field now as Osmond took time off.

 

[LucyH]

I am hoping for Medvedeva and Hanyu at SCI selfishly because I am going. Ha ha

 

[Sorrento]

I am hoping for Medvedeva and Hanyu at SCI selfishly because I am going. Ha ha

You also get Autumn Classics which they are more likely to do both this season... Beautiful no jetlag home B event and everything. Now I don't think they'll attract huge crowd from Russia but Japan will get that venue crowded as they only can do.

 

[synteis]

I have tickets to ACI and SCI so I am crossing my fingers that between the two of them, I'll get to see some exciting match ups.

 

[Colonel Green]

Who would Canada try to promote? It's only Daleman they've got from the Ladies field now as Osmond took time off.

Yeah, precisely, they will try to promote Gabby.

Skate Canada doesn’t have a ton of realistic Finals contenders right now while they wait for some long-term prospects to grow. Gabby is near the top of a not-especially-long list. Only Kaitlyn/Andrew in ice dance are clearly ahead of her. Piper/Paul are probably at about the same level as Gabby, though oddly they have basically the opposite of her track record: reasonable success on the Grand Prix, but no Worlds medal and their 4CC silver was in an Olympic year.

There’s nobody in men’s who is a realistic Finals candidate (prove me wrong, Keegan!). Pairs is a big question mark; the talent is there (hell, Julianne and Charlie made the Final once before), but whether they’re quite ready right now is uncertain.

 

[yoloaxel]

Yeah, precisely, they will try to promote Gabby.

Skate Canada doesn’t have a ton of realistic Finals contenders right now while they wait for some long-term prospects to grow. Gabby is near the top of a not-especially-long list.

I understand what you're saying, but at the same time if they really wanted to protect Gabby they would have to not invite: Medvedeva, Zagitova, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Miyahara and Kostner at least. I love Gabby, but when she medaled at WC it was also because many of these skaters either underperformed\were absent\ecc. I hope she'll prove me wrong though because I like her!

 

[xeyra]

I understand what you're saying, but at the same time if they really wanted to protect Gabby they would have to not invite: Medvedeva, Zagitova, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Miyahara and Kostner at least. I love Gabby, but when she medaled at WC it was also because many of these skaters either underperformed\were absent\ecc. I hope she'll prove me wrong though because I like her!

Yes, I've been wondering this. Who would SC invite to give Gabby a better chance at the GPF? At least someone from seeds 1-3/4-6 would have to go.

 

[Colonel Green]

I understand what you're saying, but at the same time if they really wanted to protect Gabby they would have to not invite: Medvedeva, Zagitova, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Miyahara and Kostner at least

Zagitova is in the same bracket as Gabby, so she won’t be there.

Medvedeva and Sakamoto are unseeded, so the Fed doesn’t have to invite them either.

They only have to invite one of Miyahara/Higuchi/Kostner. And Gabby has beaten Higuchi and Kostner before. You note that that often involved them underperforming. That’s the nature of the game. How many events feature everybody skating at or near their performance ceiling (especially early in the year)? In the one great free skate Gabby had on international ice last year, she beat both Carolina and Kaori, and was only narrowly beaten by Mirai, who likewise had her best free skate of the season.

No Fed is capable of “protecting” a skater in the sense of excluding all viable competition. That’s not how the system is constructed. But the system does afford all the feds considerable power to shape the field, especially in regard to unseeded skaters. Not inviting unseeded people who would almost certainly win is the bare minimum a Fed can do in skater promotion.

It’s the same reason you won’t see Russia, France or Canada inviting Sui and Han.

Yes, I've been wondering this. Who would SC invite to give Gabby a better chance at the GPF? At least someone from seeds 1-3/4-6 would have to go.

Gabby herself is the sixth seed, so nobody else from that bracket will be there. They have to invite somebody from the first bracket. I expect they’ll try to arrange things to get Carolina (up to and including negotiating with the Japanese to steer their ladies elsewhere).

 

[LucyH]

Yes but Hanyu and Javi have both showed up at SCI when Patrick was competing there so I think they also look at who would generate buzz and interest for the event. This is where I have hope that Hanyu and Medvedeva May end up there

 

[composer]

I'm secretly hoping for a comeback from Alaine Chartrand.

Well not so secretly now I guess.

 

[yoloaxel]

Gabby herself is the sixth seed, so nobody else from that bracket will be there. They have to invite somebody from the first bracket. I expect they’ll try to arrange things to get Carolina (up to and including negotiating with the Japanese to steer their ladies elsewhere).

Hmm I think there's too many good Japanese ladies to keep them all away (Miyahara, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Mihara, Kihira, Honda...). This is the thing, ofc feds play their games to protect their best skaters, but either they'll have SC with one of the top seeds, Gabby and then a bunch of lower ranked skaters and have a terrible event, or they'll have to invite at least one or two more ladies who are threats to Gabby.