International Counter Match Figure Skating Competition USA vs JPN

[sorcerer]

At this moment this information is not on the USFSA site, so I'll post in two threads here. Forgive me for the double post.

JSF has disclosed the participants in the coming "International Counter Match Figure Skating Competition USA vs JPN 2007 Yokohama", which are as follows:

Ladies USA: Liang, Flatt, Zhang, Nagasu
Ladies JPN: Ando, Mai Asada(TBD), Suguri, Suizu
Men USA: Lysacek, Bradley, Weir, Carriere
Men JPN: Takahashi, Nanri, Nakaniwa, Machida

The comp is ISU sanctioned and will take place on Oct 6th, the exhibition gala on 7th.
Tickets range from 10,000Yen($87) to 16,000Yen($139), gala has VIP seats $174. Oh dear.

Will be televised here on 20th on TBS.

As far as I know, the one junior each (Flatt or Nagasu, Suizu, Carriere, Machida) won't be counted in the total score.

 

[Sylvia]

As far as I know, the one junior each (Flatt or Nagasu, Suizu, Carriere, Machida) won't be counted in the total score.

I don't know for sure, but my guess is that Flatt will skate senior here (since she was 5th in senior at 2007 Nationals) and that Nagasu will skate junior.

 

[Mathman]

This is going to be great. At first glance, I didn't think the U.S. had a chance in ladies, with team Japan anchored by the 2007 world champion and the 2006 silver medalist.

But I just added it up. If everyone matches their personal best, with four strong performances in the 160 range from the American girls, it's USA 652, Japan 650!

 

[Mathman]

PS. NBC TV in the U.S. is missing a good bet if they don't broadcast this.

If the two countries can both keep up the quality and quantity of young skaters coming onto the International scene for years to come, and if this event is supposed to take the place of the season-opening Campbell's competition, both national federations should promote it enthusiastically.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Notably missing: Mao Asada; Kimmie Meisner; Emily Hughes, Kim YuNa; Johnny Weir; Abbott; Oda.

The Invitational is scheduled for 6-7 October. not too much jet lag going over but one has to get at least 3 days of practice in. On return it will be rush rush rush for those skaters who are also involved in Skate America and Skate Canada. The jet lag is heavy on the return trip. After jet lag disappears, a skater must practice, practice again if SA or SC are their next comps with the ensuing travel. Can Evan, Ryan, Caroline handle it?

Joe

 

[Sandra_persch]

I don't think its the best of ideas for both Mirai and Rachel!

Mirai will do the JGP in Croatia Sep 27 - 30 and than go on straight to Japan? So after on 14 hour flight she goes on to the next?

And if Rachel does well this weekend she will very likely get the JGP in Germany which is Oct 11-14?

Am I the only one who finds this all very ridiculous

 

[Mathman]

Oh, I don't think it's ridiculous at all.

You're only young once. Instead of staying home and doing 1000 more boring repetitions of your triple Lutz you get to hop on a plane, jet off to some exotic country, hang out with your international friends and make some new ones, check out the local shops and restaurants, perform before an enthusiastic audience, be on TV -- and pocket a nice check.

So you sleep in for a couple of days when you get back home. I don't see the down side.

 

[Mathman]

Notably missing: Mao Asada; Kimmie Meisner; Emily Hughes, Kim YuNa; Johnny Weir; Abbott; Oda.

Weir will be there. Oda can't go because of his suspension in the mo-ped incident, Yu-na Kim can't participate because the show is Japan versus U.S.A.

I don't know about Mao Asada and Kimmie Meissner. Maybe they were invited but declined for some reason or another. Meissner and Hughes may not have wanted to interrupt their training for Skate America, plus they will be in their first semester of college.

Basically, I think the organizers went with skaters that they thought the audience would like to see. Mirai Nagasu, for instance, is a smash hit in Japan.

I'm happy that Bebe and Rachael got the chance to go. I hope they skate lights out!

About jet lag for the senior skaters, Skate America (Oct. 26) is almost three weeks later than this show, and Skate Canada (Nov. 1) almost four.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I don't think its the best of ideas for both Mirai and Rachel!

Mirai will do the JGP in Croatia Sep 27 - 30 and than go on straight to Japan? So after on 14 hour flight she goes on to the next?

And if Rachel does well this weekend she will very likely get the JGP in Germany which is Oct 11-14?

Am I the only one who finds this all very ridiculous

No. I was never a fan of cheesefests and yes, this one is just that. Why not have these unimportant competitions in August when we would all be dying to see what new programs are like.

Winning one of these is like pleasing the fans of the winner and otherwise has no significant interest, imo. Yet those same fans will use it to nit pick mistakes, and many will even use it to predict the Worlds!

Joe

 

[Mathman]

I think you guys are old sticks-in-the-mud if you don't like cheesefests.

Let the kids have a little fun. Figure skating isn't just about countless hours of drudgery on the practice ice and grim-faced world championship competitions.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think guys who go for cheesefests are skate addicts! I would be too, if they were in August.

 

[childfreegirl]

No. I was never a fan of cheesefests and yes, this one is just that. Why not have these unimportant competitions in August when we would all be dying to see what new programs are like.

Winning one of these is like pleasing the fans of the winner and otherwise has no significant interest, imo. Yet those same fans will use it to nit pick mistakes, and many will even use it to predict the Worlds!

Joe

I dunno. Maybe TPTB think that the big stars that they want to be in these shows need more time to develop their programs after touring during the summer.

On the second point, ITA. I have to or when I see threads predicting or speculating on Nationals this far out in the season, before even regionals and sectionals and on Worlds before all the major countries' Nats. But that's just me.

 

[suosuo]

finally, mao replaced mai
i really want to see mao's new programs

 

[sorcerer]

The tickets were put on sale, mainly online, about 16 hours ago and were sold out in few minutes.
I tried my best but couldn't get any; got only a subscription spot in a long queue waiting for canselled seats.

In forums and blogs here in Japan, you can see the fans excited about this event, taking it as the first and a very rare chance to see Zhang, Flatt, Nagasu and Liang, ALL AT ONCE and LIVE! (It will be our first chance to witness Zhang's "pearl" spin!)....And Lysacek, Bradley, Weir, Carriere, which are the very top US men ALSO at once!!

TBS changed the plan and will televise both the saturday comp and the sunday gala, each on the same day but a little afterwards.

 

[Mathman]

The tickets were put on sale, mainly online, about 16 hours ago and were sold out in few minutes.

Sorry you couldn't get a ticket. But it's fantastic that skating shows are so popular in Japan these days. I can't remotely imagine a cheesfest selling out in the U.S., or even a major competition.

Also, the big pro-am show in Korea that had to be cancelled because of a fire in the arena, that was sold out, too, for all 3 performances.

Meanwhile in Russia, Skating with the Stars is the number one TV show.

The U.S. better get on the stick or be left behind. Next year, when the Challenge Match presumably is supposed to move to the U.S., the promoters will not be willing to do so. Why put on a show for 4,000 to 5,000 in the U.S. when you can fill the biggest arena in town for the same show in Japan?

 

[sk8addict]

I think guys who go for cheesefests are skate addicts! I would be too, if they were in August.

HEY, I heard that!

 

[sorcerer]

Why put on a show for 4,000 to 5,000 in the U.S. when you can fill the biggest arena in town for the same show in Japan?

No, it's not the largest in the town of Yokohama. New Yokohama Skate Center has capacity of only 2,500 including the standing spectators, which made the "ticket war" severe this time.

OTOH, the Worlds in Tokyo took place in the Metropolitain Arena having roughly 10,000 seats,
also had a ticket war, was full house, but the event ended up with around $900,000 deficit....I wonder why.

 

[Mathman]

Oh, that's another story, then. Some of the venues for cheesefests in the U.S. hold 18-20,000. No wonder they were never more than half full, even when Michelle Kwan was the big draw.

 

[leode]

No, it's not the largest in the town of Yokohama. New Yokohama Skate Center has capacity of only 2,500 including the standing spectators, which made the "ticket war" severe this time.

Sorry for sorcerer. It was so hard to get a ticket for many figure skater's fan in Japan. They want to see new programs of all members!!

At Shin Yokohama Skate center, the capacity has only about 2,000 audience seats on competition's day. I don't know why JSF selected this place for this events with many famous skaters. I think "Yokohama Arena" is more better(capacity about 5,000～10,000 seats) place at same town in Shin Yokohama, Japan.

 

[Lightspear]

Any links to an International Counter Match website yet?