Any information on the "International Challenge" ?

[sorcerer]

Does anyone have recent information on what they say will probably be the Campbell's? ...Are tickets already sold?
On ISU site it's still written as:
10 - 14 Oct
US Figure Skating International Challenge
Ladies, Men, Pairs, Ice Dance(Invitational)
TBD, USA

Whereas the contents of last year's Campbell's is supposed to be held between US and Japan back and forth, so this year it's Japan's turn:
6 - 7 Oct
International Counter Match Competition
Ladies, Men (Invitational)
Yokohama, Japan

This also, is still mysterious with no confirmed information aside from the fact that the arena (the annex to the New Yokohama Prince Hotel) is indeed reserved by the organizer (no name disclosed). No sales ads yet anywhere here.

These two events are very close to Skate America. Which skater would participate in both?

 

[sorcerer]

self response

The JSF told me on the phone that everything is TBD about the "International Counter Match Competition" but that the details including the ticket information will be announced around Sept 10th.

So as to the "International Challenge (Campbells?)" the following week, with the skaters' schedules to be arranged between the two rosters, this also seems to stay TBD till mid September.

Mao is said probable to show herself in Yokohama. Not so sure about Miki.
Mao, Yu-Na and Miki they all train in NA, so the Campbells(?) should be easier to participate in, to check up their new programs on ice prior to the coming GPs.

In Yokohama, why not team up Nakano, Sawada, Ota? And Czisny, Bebe, Mirai for the States?

 

[Mathman]

In Yokohama, why not team up Nakano, Sawada, Ota? And Czisny, Bebe, Mirai for the States?

That would be a great show! Is Ota fully ready to compete this season?

But I don't know how the promoters would like not having a big headliner like Mao, Miki or Kimmie Meissner.

Anyway, thanks for the information. I was hoping someone would post more details to this thread, but I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[Sylvia]

Does anyone have recent information on what they say will probably be the Campbell's? ...Are tickets already sold?
On ISU site it's still written as:
10 - 14 Oct
US Figure Skating International Challenge
Ladies, Men, Pairs, Ice Dance(Invitational)
TBD, USA

I have reliable information that the above USFS event is not taking place (the ISU listed it in error - probably based on when ABC's TV contract was still in effect).

 

[Sylvia]

Is Ota fully ready to compete this season?

She's currently scheduled to compete at the Golden Spin of Zagreb, November 8-11 -- just started a thread on Yukina Ota:
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17347

 

[R.D.]

I have reliable information that the above USFS event is not taking place (the ISU listed it in error - probably based on when ABC's TV contract was still in effect).

I assumed just that- surely if it was going down they would have announced it by now.

Maybe something in December, though- or in the spring?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

What is there for American viewers to see on TV?

No Campbells.

No Men's and Pairs or Short Programs on Skate America unless NBC has some plan of action (maybe they will show taped routines of the gold high scores.)

And how many Ladies and Dance teams will be shown? (probably determined by the top 4 of the SP each.)

A ray of hope from Heather's Schedule (now Golden Skate's?) shows our old standby of ESPN showing all GPs? (how much? we'll see) Three hours each including Final are listed.

The rest shows the usual 'Skater' and Friends for those who are not interested in competitions.

Questions: What is Style as a network? It repeats everying that was on NBC Must be a cable affiliate that was not able to include the GPs in the contract with USFS.

What is Wynnona Tribune on Ice? a Judd? or a newspaper?

I presume there is no competition and NBC is thrusting out at the general public to get them interested in figure skating

Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular - A show or a competition? and most likely, to get the public to turn on the Olys.

Similarly with Fashion on Ice which seems self explanatory and Skate for theHeart.

 

[R.D.]

Those are the names of some of the 10 Disson shows NBC shows every Fall/Winter. NBC had the shows and ABC had the competitions.

No Men's and Pairs or Short Programs on Skate America unless NBC has some plan of action (maybe they will show taped routines of the gold high scores.)

Since it's a USFS event I'd imagine they'd end up on Ice Network...for a fee, of course.

I'm not going to have cable so I'll think about subscribing to ice network if it's not too much, and if they will show something good.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think shows like Judd if it is Wynonna is standard Disson.

But I never heard of Fashion on Ice, Skate for the Heart, and Skating and Gymnastics Spectatular. They are new to the holiday season for me, but then I don't pay much attention to Disson shows.

RD - that notice on the USFS board didn't say much about IceNetwork. Hope we hear soon about that. August 31 is very close to subscribe to something that is not clear.

I enjoyed last season's programs of Regionals and Sectionals but I would like a few higher level competitions thrown in.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

I believe at least Fashion on Ice and S & G Spectacular were around last year as well. They may change one or two around, but some shows are annual.

 

[sorcerer]

I had supposed that the two events on the ISU calendar would have the technical panel to call the "wrong edge", since they are indeed ISU events, however cheesy they may seem.

If the "International Challenge" was listed in error, then the only chance to experience the "ISU-ratified wrong edge call" before the GPs would be the "International Counter Match" in Yokohama.

So it looks like Mao and Miki will be back here in Yokohama, and then quickly again to the States for their GPs.

One knowledgeable lady suggested to me that Mao, Mai, Miki, plus 1 junior skater for Japan is the most probable team member, and that this year it is said to be 3 seniors and 1 junior, both men and ladies. And that Nakano has decided to participate in the Tokyo Regional, though she doesn't have to, which make her impossible to be in Yokohama.

 

[iluvtodd]

I love competitions, and I'll miss the USFSA fall/winter/spring challenges (forget the polls for who was best, though - it's like a popularity contest that has nothing to do with whom actually skated the best). We attended both Country on Ice and Fashion on Ice last season (we're lucky enough to live on the east coast) on the strength of the skating casts, and both shows were quite enjoyable. Fashion on Ice is returning to a venue that is a reasonable traveling distance for us (Philly to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall), and again, we're going for the skating cast, not the fashions.

This past spring's Marshall's event was exhibition skating, and that was fine with us. We got to see the entire US Senior level team, and a number of the top Junior level competitors, not to mention Melissa, Denis, and Johnny's brilliant "Fallen Angels!"

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Happy are the days for fans of Show skating and sad for the sporty fans.

One partially covered competition of Skate America (2 hours) and gobs and gobs of Show skating from December through end-of February (each with 2 hours) with lots of repeats on Style (whatever that is). It must be a strike of non musical Sports during Jan. and Feb. Thank you, I'll watch the SuperBowl and other networks for sports on my Sundays.

BTW, there is no listing of US Nats on Heather's Schedule. that has to be an oversight!! I mean NBC is sworn to show that LIVE. How much and what other than Ladies is a let's see.

I don't want to hear about IceNetWorks until it is clear what their program will be.

Joe

 

[sorcerer]

It's Miki, Mao, Fumie, and Rumi Suizu for Japan

According to NikkanSports (via Yahoo news),
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20070901-00000034-nks-spo

the ladies participants in the
"International Counter Match Competition"
Ladies, Men (Invitational), Yokohama, Japan; 6 - 7 Oct
has been revealed as
Ando, Mao Asada, Suguri, and Rumi as the junior.
Men aren't known yet.

Does anyone already know who and who will come to Yokohama as the US team?

I'd expect not only the "wrong edge call" but other rule chages (discussed a lot here) to be experienced by the skaters in this comp show, since there would be ISU members in the judge/tec panels.

 

[Mathman]

...this year it is said to be 3 seniors and 1 junior, both men and ladies.

I bet this was done especially to work in Mirai Nagasu! Do you think Japan is trying to poach her away from the U.S.?

I'd expect not only the "wrong edge call" but other rule chages (discussed a lot here) to be experienced by the skaters in this comp show, since there would be ISU members in the judge/tec panels.

I would ecpect this, too. The ISU is very adamant about requiring every competition, whether "serious" or "fun," to be judged by strict ISU rules.

This creates a problem with pro-ams, like when Yagudin and Honda came in a distant last in last year's Japan Open, in competition with active eligibles judged under the CoP.

 

[bibi]

Will it be broadcast in North america?!?

 

[sorcerer]

Will it be broadcast in North america?!?

Was the last season's Campbell's broadcast in NA?
(It was, here in Japan.) So if it was seen in NA last year, should be this year too... I hope.
(The Yokohama comp show is of course very likely to be broadcast in the home country.)

 

[R.D.]

Yes, it was shown on ABC.

I doubt this Japan challenge will be shown here, though...maybe on CN8 or something (CN8 even had some of Japanese Nats ! )

 

[sorcerer]

...seems I hit 100.

Mirai isn't skating junior but senior in Yokohama.

I got this information via "Oyaji's Eyes" blog:
"Although Nagasu is skating in junior events internationally, she will compete at the senior level at the U.S. Championships, and in a "Japan vs. U.S." event in early October."
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070902&content_id=32089&vkey=ice_news

Participating in both levels seems tough to me, with programs of different length, but Mirai will do it with no difficulty, I hope. (I don't know how the system was back when Miki did that for three years.)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm not sure what you mean that Mirai will be skating at the Senior level for US Championships. I believe she was assigned to Junior Ladies at US Nats.

Joe