Very little update after the Grand Prix of Bratislava (junior event), where Gureeva/Serov (RUS) got the TES for Junior Worlds and Hagara (SVK) the SP TES only.
And now the race to Europeans' TES is over and some national championships already skated, we have an idea about how much skaters will compete in Graz.
And the very good new is for pair skating. Do you remember this year, when only 10 pairs took part at the Free Skating, which was not seen than 1989? Forget about it, next month we could see 21 entries!
France, Italy and Russia have more than 3 eligible pairs for their 3 spots, Germany has 3 eligible pairs for 2 spots, Spain has 2 pairs for 2 spots. Only Croatia and UK will use only of their 2 spots. Austria, Hungary, Israel, Ukraine and Switzerland all have one eligible pair and Netherlands already announced Danilova/Tsiba as their selected pair. And from the senior pairs who competed this season, only Zhuk/Bidar won't be in Graz (release issue?) after not having competed internationaly for the moment.
We could see 27 dance teams (25 last season), France and Russia will have a large choice for their 3 spots. Italy, Poland and Spain have 2 eligible pairs for their 2 spots, UK already announced its team (2 spots). Finland, Germany, Hungary and Ukraine have the choiche for their only spot, Switzerland already announced its selection. For Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey, there's no suspense.
At the men event, we'll see probably 36 skaters (37 this year). Italy and Russia can chose between many skaters for their 3 spots, the same for Czech Republic, France, Israel and Sweden for their 2 spots. Georgia has 2 eligible skaters for 2 spots and Spain only 1 skater for 2 spots... Unless if Javier Raya decide to go back to competition. For the other spots, there's only a "?" for Poland, as Igor Reznichenko didn't compete this season and no other skater reached the TES.
It's more complicated to say how many ladies will take part. Last season they were 36, this season probably between 37 and 41. Sorensen and Sauter are the only eligible skater for Denmark and Romania, but didn't compete this fall. Slovakia has 2 eligible skaters for 2 spots, but Rajicova didn't compete too. Hendrickx was injured but announced her intention to enter, she's the only eligible skater for Belgium.