2012 NHK Pairs Short Program SP

[clairecloutier]

It is way, way, way too late for Tran to make it to Sochi. It is extremely difficult to obtain Japanese citizenship. Tran is Southeast Asian (Vietnamese/Cambodian) and has no ancestral ties to Japan, and he lives and trains in Canada. Japan requires a minimum of 5 years residence in Japan in order even to apply for citizenship. Members of the liberal party in Japan says they will champion Tran's request for an exception, but Japan has never permitted exceptions even for highly qualified people who have lived and worked in Japan for decades, so it seems it's not going to happen for Tran.

If this is correct, I really wonder what the future holds for him & Narumi. It seems like their options would be:

1) Accept that their career would top out with, at best, world title(s) (no Olympics)
2) Switch to competing for Canada; Narumi gives up Japanese citizenship
3) End partnership

 

[sky_fly20]

Okay but why does it have to be an American team?

because they were the only Pairs left on the alternate list that has met the minimum TES when they won at Cup of Nice

 

[znhurston]

Super excited to see that Martiusheva and Rogonov got a second Grand Prix! I hope they are able to skate well so that they'll continue to get more international competitive experience. When they skate well, they are gorgeous and really interesting to watch. For me, they stand out a mile above the other skaters in their style and on-ice presence. They just need that confidence that comes from consistently executing their elements in competition.

I hope M/R skate well too!

 

[Mrs. P]

Okay but why does it have to be an American team?

I'm not sure if so much that they're American so much that they won Cup of Nice, beating Stolbova/Klimov, who are GP bronze medalists. That probably caught some folks attention.

ETA: Ah sky_fly20 had the actual answer.

 

[Skater Boy]

okay that makes more sense. I forgot about the score minimum. Weird some real unknowns.

 

[blue_idealist]

Anyone know when this is starting?

 

[chuckm]

The Pairs SP starts at 12 noon Japanese time, which is 4 am CET, 10 pm EST, and 7 pm PST

 

[blue_idealist]

Ohh, long wait still.

 

[lulu]

I hope M/R skate well too!

Me three. She has a lovely look on the ice, and they have goregous lifts that really accentuate her flexibility.

 

[wallylutz]

It is way, way, way too late for Tran to make it to Sochi. It is extremely difficult to obtain Japanese citizenship. Tran is a Canadian citizen of Southeast Asian (Vietnamese/Cambodian) descent with no ancestral ties to Japan, and he lives and trains in Canada. Japan requires a minimum of 5 years residence in Japan in order even to apply for citizenship. Members of the liberal party in Japan say they will champion Tran's request for an exception, but Japan has never permitted exceptions even for highly qualified people who have lived and worked in Japan for decades, so it seems it's not going to happen for Tran.

Which means Japan is out of the running for the Olympic Team's event without a viable Pairs team. Given that USA doesn't have a viable pair or man right now, the Sochi Team's event is pretty much a showdown between Canada and Russia.

 

[blue_idealist]

Which means Japan is out of the running for the Olympic Team's event without a viable Pairs team. Given that USA doesn't have a viable pair or man right now, the Sochi Team's event is pretty much a showdown between Canada and Russia.

Denney and Coughlin aren't exactly chopped liver..

 

[bixby]

First group warming up now; http://tvonsite.org/index.php?kanal=sport2

 

[CARA]

Pair SD starts at 10pm ESD. Live stream that's working for me: http://tvonsite.org/index.php?kanal=sport2

 

[Chemistry66]

Blah. Missed most of Scimeca/Knierim.

 

[Mrs. P]

Respectable debut from Scimeca/Keierim. I like this pair.

ETA: 54.41. Quite good!

 

[Chemistry66]

Martiusheva/Rogonov got a 57.07. 7 points (almost) up on their SB. Nice improvement.

 

[bixby]

Respectable debut from Scimeca/Keierim. I like this pair.

ETA: 54.41. Quite good!

Nice debut. I thought technically they were better than the Russian.

 

[Mrs. P]

Nice debut. I thought technically they were better than the Russian.

Agreed, though the Russians definitely have the edge in the PCS mark, though I'm surprised they won on TES, esp. with the two clear errors (spins + sbs jump).

 

[DianaSelene]

I did not see the first group. What mistakes did M/R have?

 

[Mrs. P]

I did not see the first group. What mistakes did M/R have?

She had a step out on the SBS 3S and he was way out of sync on the SBS spin. Otherwise they have great polish, so I'm not surprised they're ahead of S/K, but by the margin.