ISU World Team Trophy, April 2012, Tokyo

[Violet Bliss]

Didn't Japan start this WT format, with two Men and two Ladies and one Pairs and one Dance team? They won't have quite the same advantage comes Sochi Olympics, with one skater/team from each discipline. Canada, OTOH, could up their chances if Joannie would skate for the Team.

 

[NMURA]

Japan is not a factor of the team event at Sochi. There's no pair to begin with. It seems that they worked with the ISU, made it possible to participate with entries in three disciplines.

 

[enlight78]

Japan is not a factor of the team event at Sochi. There's no pair to begin with. It seems that they worked with the ISU, made it possible to participate with entries in three disciplines.

Mervin said he will decide rather he will take Japan citizenship and give up his Canadian citizenship this summer after WTT, So they may barely have a pair team just in time for Sochi. I hope the JSF doesn't put to much pressure on him to do it though.

 

[sigrid]

I've not had time to read the whole thread so maybe you've already talked about it, but I can't remember how does the singles competition work. Do all of them skate their short program, the long program, or one of them the short and the other one the long?

 

[altuixde]

In the upcoming 2012 World Team Trophy all skaters will skate both the short and the free. It will be similar to the 2009 WTT.

 

[Srin Odessa]

I've not had time to read the whole thread so maybe you've already talked about it, but I can't remember how does the singles competition work. Do all of them skate their short program, the long program, or one of them the short and the other one the long?

In the previous WTT in 2009, each skater performed both their short and long programs. Then, the combined points for the programs were used to rank skaters in each discipline and award them points.

 

[MarkusNJ]

does anyone know how the team trophy team members will be selected at the Olympics?

 

[DianaSelene]

I also agree that Japan will not be a factor in the olympic team event. Even if they get T/T, what about ice dance? There is no one that can challenge the other nations who will be participating.

 

[sigrid]

In the previous WTT in 2009, each skater performed both their short and long programs. Then, the combined points for the programs were used to rank skaters in each discipline and award them points.

In the upcoming 2012 World Team Trophy all skaters will skate both the short and the free. It will be similar to the 2009 WTT.

Thank you both!

 

[Mathman]

does anyone know how the team trophy team members will be selected at the Olympics?

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

All ten countries send a skater to compete in the short program/short dance. The top five counties move on the the finals. For the most part the same skaters will do the LP, but the team can make two substitutions for the long program.

 

[Mathman]

Canada, OTOH, could up their chances if Joannie would skate for the Team.

If Joannie returns with half of her skills from 2010 intact (so that she finishes at least in the middle of the pack), at this time I don't see how anyone will be able to challenge Canada in Sochi. I think Patrick Chan and Virtue and Moir will be up to doing both segments with enthusiasm, along with their individual events. (Weaver and Poje could spell V&M in the short dance if desired.) Duhamal and Radford are headed in the right direction, and Dube and Wolfe could hold up the SP without fear of Canada missing the finals.

 

[MarkusNJ]

so, some skaters will, basically, be skating up to 4 times at the Olympics?????

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

All ten countries send a skater to compete in the short program/short dance. The top five counties move on the the finals. For the most part the same skaters will do the LP, but the team can make two substitutions for the long program.

 

[Violet Bliss]

so, some skaters will, basically, be skating up to 4 times at the Olympics?????

That has been my major concern, especially with the team event taking place before the individuals'. However, I'm now more relaxed about it, remembering how well Kozuka did last year when he skated the preliminary round. Most who did the PR seemed to have held up well generally in the competitions. Granted, the PR only requires the LP, but I think the best trained athletes in the world will likely meet the challenge, even using the early event as live practice for the later competitions. Those with stamina issue may skate one program at the Team event, or even train to be SP specialists if their federation has two strong skaters in the same discipline.

 

[MarkusNJ]

I was really hoping it meant more skaters could go....

That has been my major concern, especially with the team event taking place before the individuals'. However, I'm now more relaxed about it, remembering how well Kozuka did last year when he skated the preliminary round. Most who did the PR seemed to have held up well generally in the competitions. Granted, the PR only requires the LP, but I think the best trained athletes in the world will likely meet the challenge, even using the early event as live practice for the later competitions. Those with stamina issue may skate one program at the Team event, or even train to be SP specialists if their federation has two strong skaters in the same discipline.

 

[Mathman]

I was really hoping it meant more skaters could go....

Me, too. I think this was an International Olympic Committee decision, rather than ISU. They wanted to make sure that the team competition is the real McCoy and not just for fun.

 

[ice coverage]

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

All ten countries send a skater to compete in the short program/short dance. The top five counties move on the the finals. For the most part the same skaters will do the LP, but the team can make two substitutions for the long program.

And because of the "complicated procedure" (understatement ), the 10 countries who qualify for the Olympic team event will not be known until after the Dec 2013 Grand Prix Final.

 

[enlight78]

Me, too. I think this was an International Olympic Committee decision, rather than ISU. They wanted to make sure that the team competition is the real McCoy and not just for fun.

Something about this doesn't sound thought our, if a country only has one skater qualify for each divison in the Olympics and they don't want to participate in the team event and focus on the individual, wouldn't it be unfair to make the skaters compete in the team event of not allow the country to come up with another team for that event, I don't even believe we have ten countries that would qualify, we barely have seven right now. I not sure figure skating has enough depth in all- 4 disciplines for this event, or we are going to have a lot of pairs and dance teams change countries.

 

[PolymerBob]

... or a team could just forfeit. You can't force anyone to compete.
It would make more sense to let federations send another team just for the team event.

 

[RemyRose]

Update: Sergei Voronov has been replaced by Maxim Kovtun due to injury.

 

[Buttercup]

There is a complicated procedure (based on placement at Worlds, Grand Prix, etc.) for determining which ten countries will be allowed to participate. Once a country is in, as far as I can tell the National Federation of that country choses which skaters will comprise the national team. Only skaters who are already entered in the individual events can skate in the team event.

I believe if a country has no qualifying skaters in a discipline they can have someone just for the team event, but I could be wrong.

Also, from what I've read, China, Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain rounded out the top ten in this season's rankings. Spain! I definitely want to see team Spain in the Olympic team event