2025-26 Grand Prix assignments released

[rabidline]

Checking my prediction for Men and Women...

Men:
GP France: Ilia Malinin, Adam Siao Him Fa -- 2/2 correct
Cup of China: Mikhail Shaidorov, Shun Sato -- 2/2 correct
Skate Canada: Yuma Kagiyama, Kevin Aymoz -- 1/2 correct - Ilia instead of Yuma
NHK Trophy: Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato -- 2/2 correct
Skate America: Ilia Malinin, Kevin Aymoz -- 1/2 correct - Misha instead of Ilia
GP Finland: Mikhail Shaidorov, Adam Siao Him Fa -- 1/2 correct - Yuma instead of Ilia

Called the Ilia vs Adam at GP France- that will be such a nice blockbuster to open the Olympic season GP series. Ilia's crazy enough to do it and Ari knows the value of a great match-up.

All of my wrong prediction seems to stem from a single factor: Ilia at Skate Canada instead of Skate America. Now that I know Skate America is at Lake Placid, probably a good call? His GP choices still have the vibe of putting all Mikhail, Yuma and Adam on their backfoots- now Mikhail has to deal with the altitude at Lake Placid, while Yuma (and Adam) have to travel to Finland 2 weeks before GPF AND compete against each other. Love that. It's going to be important especially since GPF will be held in Japan.

Women:
GP France: Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn -- 0/2 - Kaori, Isabeau
Cup of China: Kaori Sakamoto, Wakaba Higuchi -- 0/2 - Alysa, Amber
Skate Canada: Mone Chiba, Isabeau Levito -- 2/2
NHK Trophy: Kaori Sakamoto, Wakaba Higuchi -- 2/2
Skate America: Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn -- 1/2 - Wakaba instead of Amber
GP Finland: Mone Chiba, Isabeau Levito -- 1/2 - Amber instead of Isabeau

Alysa in China??????????? Okay. It really was the one that threw me off guard. But I did predict that the seeds will be paired up like this: Kaori & Wakaba (NHK), Alysa & Amber (COC), Mone & Isabeau (Skate Canada). I was just too bold that they will be matched up like that for the whole series (like the Russians girls had the same pairing in the 2021 GP).

 

[AshWagsFan]

Japanese women’s Olympic team selection is going to be WAR, and these assignments reminded me of that. Excited to see if Ami Nakai’s high BV can make her a real threat in her first year as a senior. Also will be missing Mai Mihara (sentimental favorite), but I’m excited for the new generation of Japanese women finally coming up into seniors slowly but surely.

I’m annoyed that Jia only has one GP. I hope it doesn’t hurt her chances of making Korea’s Olympic team. I think the whole KSU punishment of Young You and Haein Lee was stupid if they were just going to bring both of them back
anyways and having courts overturn things (NOT condoning the skaters’ alleged behavior at ALL, just saying why the harsh punishment if they’re both ending up somewhat off the hook anyway). If they sent Haein, Chaeyeon, and Young You to Worlds, even with Chaeyeon’s struggles, they might’ve had a fighting chance to get 3 spots, as Young You was really building at the end of 2023/24. Ugh.

For US women, i think these assignments make it look like Alysa is going to Milan 100%, and Isabeau is on the bubble, as they paired Isabeau against Bradie/Sarah/Elyce across her events, and Alysa with no real US skaters on the outside looking to knock someone off (I’m assuming Amber being a strong contender/lock for the team as well). I do think Isabeau could very well be knocked off by a Bradie or Sarah… Bradie has knocked a world silver medalist from two seasons before the Olympic year off the team before (based on my username i was upset at the time lol), and she did it in part by beating them on the CS and Grand Prix..

This is going to be a really interesting season, and I didn’t even mention Petrosyan who is a huge factor as well! I’m so excited

 

[4everchan]

Well Max got a spot so be happy here. I honestly think that Ilia gave up the spot for Jacob.

but he didn't. Ilia chose earlier events. If Ilia had given away his spot for Jacob, then Skate America wouldn't only have 2 Americans skating there.

I think that was the agreement that him and USFS struck. The fewer skaters between Jacob and the medal stand the better. I think that he already beat one of the skaters last season at the one senior Challenger he did. The goal I think is not just to get a couple GP's but to see if he can get to GPF. If he can then he really good chance to going to Milian. I think it is between him and Lucas Broussard and Lucas got two GP's right off the bat so all the USFS has to do now is take care of Jacob. The only reason that they are holding back a bit is to make sure that Jacob is healthy and ready to take full advantage here. So just be patient here and I think all be well

 

[TT_Fin]

As last year, Finland will fill the TBD host spots after summer competition in August. It was clear last time, the best skaters on that competition got the spot, no matter even if there less than 1 point difference. So winner of men and 1st and 2nd in women (or if Iida will take part in and will win or be 2nd, then the one who will place 3rd) will be chosen. According to the competition calendar it will be held 16th-17th August. Spots will go to local skaters, there will be enough candidates competing about them. I suppose Nordeback, Selevko and Tachslers have got one host spot to non-Finn skaters each. In pairs there are skaters who were on top of the alternative list, would have one spot but got second, so I suppose the pairs are 100 % ISU selection. Why Finland's host spot goes to Mihhail instead of Aleksandr, I think it may be Estonia's fed choice. Mihhail had better placement at words, but if I understood right (looked AnythingGOEs skaters who have one spot list) Aleksandr is 1st as other two before him already have 2 spots , So i suppose Estonian Fed counts he may get another spot by his own, because there usually is some WDs.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Ladies...
Young You and Haien Lee both have two spots. Haien was expected as she placed top 12 at Worlds. You must have used the returning skater rule. I'd hoped that Sofia Samodelkina might get two spots as she hasn't, but hopefully she will be reasonably high on the replacement list.

I am just happy both got 2 spots, no matter how they do. Anyone know anything about Minsol Kwon?

 

[midori green]

now Mikhail has to deal with the altitude at Lake Placid

Minor point, but Lake Placid is only 1,800ft/550m. Altitude isn't an issue there.

 

[Eee]

With Adam in France and Yuma in Japan (while both federations having more than enough active male skaters, not necessarily very competitve, to fill three host spots) I can totally see ISU telling USFS: you don't want your highlight skater at home, fine, but you have to give up this spot. Honestly, it would get very crowdy and even feel unfair if the federations didn't assign some of their stars to home GPs just to have more host spots. I susupect there was no other "deal" than this.

I’m annoyed that Jia only has one GP. I hope it doesn’t hurt her chances of making Korea’s Olympic team.

Don't worry, it doesn't matter. It's Korea, they will have some single domestic comp decide the entire team for the Olympics.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Pairs...

Sui and Han back. No Kovalevs, even for a host spot. I am a little bit disappointed that Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby only have one spot - I know they were only top 24 SB, and not top 10 at Worlds, but I had thought they might get two spots because pairs who were in a similar position last season did. Edit: Just found the Kovalevs listed for NHK.

Yeah. Incompetent ISU only allows so many spots for pairs, which perhaps was okay when the field was transitioning and new teams were developing post 2020 Olympics. But now, with 'returning' Sui/Han and the increased depth in pairs that Stasia/ Luke, et al, represent, the ISU needs to increase pairs spots to reward and help further develop improved young teams. As usual, ISU's decisionmaking is so bonehead and disappointing.

 

[soccerjc77]

The women assignment in China is insane !
3 (Rinka, Hana and Amber) to 4 (Alysa) women have a triple axel

And all of them except the chinese women have the potential to podium.

This competition will be one of the most interesting of the season for sure.

 

[FlossieH]

now Mikhail has to deal with the altitude at Lake Placid,

I thought Mikhail Shaidorov grew up in Almaty? I think that's higher than Lake Placid. I'm not sure that Lake Placid would be considered to be 'at altitude' either - at least not in the same way as places like Colorado Springs or Courcheval.

 

[el henry]

OK, I love a good conspiracy theory (well, actually I don't) : , but I will chime in here:

Ilia, and Ilia alone, chose to do the GPs he is doing. He has a history of doing his GPs as early as possible and getting them out of the way. He is not waiting for the 5th GP.

USFS would be thrilled to have him at Lake Placid. They want him in Lake Placid. They are making no deals with Ilia, the ISU or the man in the moon to keep him away from Lake Placid, certainly not for any other skater, American or otherwise.

It's what Ilia wanted to do, for his own skating and his own planning purposes. Fin.

 

[Kris135]

I think the only reason it is TBA for Skate America right now is because it is June and a lot could happen between now and then. I still wonder though how Andrew got two GP's right off the bat when Jacob was higher in the world ranking list here, he was even above Jason but I can understand why he got two he was top 10 at worlds, you think that by the fact that he had the better numbers here even without a senior worlds to bolster his numbers on should mean something here. I honestly think when when everything shakes out Jacob will finally get the TBA for Skate America. I think the USFS got spooked a little bit here because Lucas Broussard got hurt in October and since this event is in November they just want make sure that Jacob is healthy and ready to compete and they dio not want to lose the spot either so they are going to hold a bit here

 

[invisiblespiral]

I am just happy both got 2 spots, no matter how they do. Anyone know anything about Minsol Kwon?

I thought she switched countries to Canada?

 

[surimi]

I thought she switched countries to Canada?

It's apparently not certain yet, but she trains there. Ichat discusses her briefly in her OP for the new South Korean skating thread. I'm looking forward to seeing her too.

 

[Jammers]

What is up with the USFS acting like Canada and not using all of it's spots at it's own GP? Things aren't that dire in terms of depth like Canada has been so what the hell are they doing and why are neither of the top 2 US Pairs team competing there either?

 

[TT_Fin]

Alisa E. may have wanted Finland because of wanting to see her family which se does not see often. So to quarantee it Alisa and Misha may have been asked if they want to have host spot in Finlandia. Just speculation but imo it makes sense.

 

[Bluediamonds09]

The women assignment in China is insane !
3 (Rinka, Hana and Amber) to 4 (Alysa) women have a triple axel

And all of them except the chinese women have the potential to podium.

This competition will be one of the most interesting of the season for sure.

I didn't even think of this!! 3 or 4 skaters may attempt a triple axel at the GP China event! How exciting!!

 

[ramurphy2005]

What is up with the USFS acting like Canada and not using all of it's spots at it's own GP? Things aren't that dire in terms of depth like Canada has been so what the hell are they doing and why are neither of the top 2 US Pairs team competing there either?

I honestly think what happened is the change of dates screwed everything up. I'm thinking Ilia really wanted to get his GP season over with quickly, and in the end they just ended up swapping Ilia and Shaidorov, thus the end result is Jason at Skam with one TBD spot rather than Ilia, Jason, and one TBD spot.

As for pairs, I get it, the top two teams were guaranteed two outright, so holding onto that last host spot means getting someone else a second GP spot, probably one of Chan/Howe, McBeath/Parkman, or Shin/Nagy depending on how their early competitions go.

 

[4everchan]

What is up with the USFS acting like Canada and not using all of it's spots at it's own GP? Things aren't that dire in terms of depth like Canada has been so what the hell are they doing and why are neither of the top 2 US Pairs team competing there either?

for pointers... Canada could have filled their spots

but yeah... it looks like SKAM cannot count up to 3

 

[FlossieH]

for pointers... Canada could have filled their spots

but yeah... it looks like SKAM cannot count up to 3

I am wondering whether, with Ilia having a preference for earlier GPs, USFS used one of their host spots to secure Kevin Aymos. In the absence of Ilia, he is the name which would probably help sell the most tickets for them (other than Jason Brown, who they also have). It is the only logical explanation I can think of for USFS giving one of their host spots to a non-US skater (which they clearly have done).