Who should USFS select for Skate America? | Page 5 | Golden Skate

Who should USFS select for Skate America?

b-man

Final Flight
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Imaginary pogue: Great analysis in post #66. I have read it 5-6 times and am still learning things.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
I don't think many are aware that the ISU has decided to cut the number of entries for the GP events.

LADIES and MEN: 10 entries, down from 12
DANCE: 8 entries, down from 10
PAIRS: remain at 8

With seeds being allowed to do 3 events, that drastically reduces the number of slots available for other skaters. I've heard that guarantees will no longer be given to JGPF/JW medalists. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the ISU will cut back on the other guarantees (top 24 World Ranking/top 24 Seasons Best score list) as well. Given the shrinkage in the number of spots available, many fewer skaters and teams will get two events, so there is likely to be little suspense as to who will make the GPF.

Oh, and the JGPF will be cut down to six finalists from 8.
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Unlike a federal government, ISU can't print money. They have to take austerity measures, especially after the loss from the original Worlds being cancelled. Hopefully, the popularity and the financial resourses for figure skating will rebound. They can at least rotate location wise. After all, rotation is a figure skating specialty!
 

CARA

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Country
United-States
I don't think many are aware that the ISU has decided to cut the number of entries for the GP events.

LADIES and MEN: 10 entries, down from 12
DANCE: 8 entries, down from 10
PAIRS: remain at 8

With seeds being allowed to do 3 events, that drastically reduces the number of slots available for other skaters. I've heard that guarantees will no longer be given to JGPF/JW medalists. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the ISU will cut back on the other guarantees (top 24 World Ranking/top 24 Seasons Best score list) as well. Given the shrinkage in the number of spots available, many fewer skaters and teams will get two events, so there is likely to be little suspense as to who will make the GPF.

Oh, and the JGPF will be cut down to six finalists from 8.

Oh, no! This is awful. :scowl:
Does ISU had a PR and sales specialists? Professional tennis federation suffered a similar financial demise, but they are rebounding nicely. I wish the figure skating federation consider business aspects more.
 

Violet Bliss

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
^^^At least the tennis federation never had to have suffered from earthquakes, a tsunami, and nuclear meltdown threats. ISU is a minor victim of these disasters relatively speaking. It is a rough time to get over, and to rebuild from. After all, we managed to have enjoyed a successful World Championships.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
Sure, the ISU will save $ by not having to pay for hotel rooms for 8 people. But they could have saved even more money if the ISU contingent didn't stay in the most expensive hotels in every GP city. There's a whole lot more than 8 of them!

Just wait. In another year or so, the GP events will be down to 6 and it'll be the top 12 from Worlds doing reruns for 3 months.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Does ISU had a PR and sales specialists?

I don't know about the ISU, but the USFSA is trying their best. However it is like the Red Queen in Alice Through the Looking Glass. Considering the market forces arrayed against us, it takes all the running we can do just to stay in the same place.

When the USFSA contract with ABC expired, the USFSA created a new post, Executive Director, just to address marketing issues. Both of the two people who have held this position have had extensive experience in sports TV from the marketing and business side. But... :(

On the international level, the Grand Prix may go out of business if it can't pay for itself.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
I don't think many are aware that the ISU has decided to cut the number of entries for the GP events.

LADIES and MEN: 10 entries, down from 12
DANCE: 8 entries, down from 10
PAIRS: remain at 8

With seeds being allowed to do 3 events, that drastically reduces the number of slots available for other skaters. I've heard that guarantees will no longer be given to JGPF/JW medalists. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the ISU will cut back on the other guarantees (top 24 World Ranking/top 24 Seasons Best score list) as well. Given the shrinkage in the number of spots available, many fewer skaters and teams will get two events, so there is likely to be little suspense as to who will make the GPF.

Oh, and the JGPF will be cut down to six finalists from 8.
When I read your original take on this, I did do some figuring on how it will affect the non-seeded entrants. Unfortunately, in my old age, I may have not hit Reply. :confused:

Anyhow, my figuring turned out that the only division hurt by the 3 events would be Pairs. I'm not sure if that's true. The others should be as they always were except maybe less slots for entrants.

I agree the Pairs will knock out a possible Bronze medal as it did before. If there is a problem with my conclusion on the other divisions, it will knock out a possible a Bronze for each of those divisions also. It is not in the interest of the athletes, but it will assist the rental of the premises, if it brings in more paying customers to the event.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
For some, watching the GPs is high level international competition regardless of early in the season nonsense. For others, it is only an entertainment looking for that "art" that gets emotional for some viewers.

IP did remarkable work on analyzing the possible entrants in this highly competitive series. It in itself is worthy of debate. However, for the SA only, and avoiding loss of revenue, it's easy to see: Czisny, Ashley and Gao. Although Zhang is improving, we can watch her in an earlier comp like Ashton to check her out. I hope she does make an appearance before GP time. We don't know what Flatt plans are. I haven't a clue about Meissner, Gilles, and any Junior skater that might make an appearance in the GPs.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
I think you have forgotten about Agnes Zawadzki, who has won two JW medals and finished 4th in one of her GPs last season. She was also 4th at Nationals, right behind Nagasu. With the limited spots available, she may not get two invitations this year, and she deserves a host spot.

Wagner was 6th at Nationals, and her skating tailed off quite a bit this past season, with far too many downgrades due to doublefooting jumps.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
With the limited spots available, [Agnes Zawadski] may not get two invitations this year, and she deserves a host spot.

To me, that's a huge consideration.

With the new rules (extra opprtunities for the top skaters and fewer skaters in all), we can expect three consequences. Three people in each discipline will be deprived of bronze medals, some middle-of-the-pack skaters will not get two assignments, and some up-and-comers won't get any.
 

museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
I don't expect to see Kim, Ando, nor Kostner during the GP this coming season. I think Kim and Ando will both take the year off and isn't Kostner scheduled to have surgery in the off-season? I seriously don't think she will be ready to compete in the fall, but may can return in time for Europeans.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
I think you have forgotten about Agnes Zawadzki, who has won two JW medals and finished 4th in one of her GPs last season. She was also 4th at Nationals, right behind Nagasu. With the limited spots available, she may not get two invitations this year, and she deserves a host spot.

Wagner was 6th at Nationals, and her skating tailed off quite a bit this past season, with far too many downgrades due to doublefooting jumps.
Oops. I did forget Agnes. I just don't like pitting home town competitors against each other. Agnes will have enough to take care of in other GPs. I put Gao and Wagner in there to give Alissa a fighting chance for gaining places credited for the Final. Alissa, I am sure will be facing two top Ladies from elsewhere. I don't think country Nationals carry that much weight in international competitions. However, if Agnes is factored out of two slots, then she should replace Wagner at SA in my selection.

I am a believer in the Sport and not as an Entertainment for a Sunday Afternoon. I may be wrong but the scrutiny of getting to the Finals is paramount, and a fourth place credit is not likely to make it. I am sure France will not put Amodio in their Host GP
and also Joubert unless they are sure the skaters come out gold and silver.

I'm also not aware what the plan is on filling slots for the individual GPs after the direct contestants take place. Will the Invitations still be used in accordance with the ISU listings? There are soo many US skaters who will not get invitations. Where does Zhang stand.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
Caroline Zhang is not eligible for the GP because her score is below the minimum, based on 66.6% of the top Seasons Best score. So she can't get any event except a SA host pick. But considering that she was 12th at US Nationals and had 7th and 9th place finishes at the GP last season, I can see no reason why the US should give her one of the host picks spots.

The host spots will be extremely valuable this year, given the smaller fields. One can not assume that those outside the top 12 at Worlds will get two GP invitations. With a possibility of half of the roster going to the top 12 at Worlds, the host picks (especially for singles) should go to those who have the best shot at making the GPF.

Czisny and Flatt are already assured of getting two assignments each, since Czisny is seeded and Flatt finished top 12. Nagasu should get two invitations because of her GP and 4CC medals and her high positions on both ISU ranking (#12) and SBU (#4) lists. The US should pick Czisny as a seed and two other ladies who are not assured of two spots. I'd suggest Gao and Zawadzki as two promising ladies for the future.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
IMHO Skate America really needs Mirai if they are going to sell NBC on some kind of television deal, maybe packaging Skate America and U.S. Nationals together like they did in the 2009-2010 season.

Alissa, the beautiful but unpredictable U.S. Champion coming off her best year ever in international competition. Mirai -- AKA "The Future" -- out for revenge after being left off the team last year in a controversial decision. But wait! Here comes Agnes!

Or will they all be crushed by World Champion Miki Ando, or Olympic champion Yu-na Kim, or European champion Carolina Kostner? Tune in tomorrow for the exciting Round One as the International Skating union kicks off its new season!
 
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