2016-2017 Grand Prix selections
- Thread starter Mrs. P
- Start date
Well, it may be wishful thinking, but there are a number of us who would like Kevin, who has a bronze but only has one event, be that skater.
He has a large fan base in Japan, and speaks Japanese well enough to take media questions. So, it would be a media boon for Japan to include him in comparison to another skater not so well known in Japan.
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- Mar 7, 2015
kevin is probably the best choice for NHK. That's for sure. He is a star there. And you know, as we have analyzed, it's not like Shoma and Yuzu are afraid of losing a GPF spot over Kevin... other Japanese men are not contenders with the recent withdrawals. I think they have to invite someone to replace SOTA but will it be another young rising Japanese star? China could also have replaced Murakami and didn't ??? WHY?????
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- Apr 5, 2016
TGee I meant for Cup of China. Murakami is listed for CoC. We know he's injured as of sectionals last weekend. He WD after the SP at sectionals. Well, as there are less than 14 days left I guess no replacement needs to be chosen.
The ISU needs to get tougher about host nations replacing athletes. I understand that federations stand to save money by not replacing athletes. But skaters deserve a chance to go and compete. These people train their entire lives for competition opportunities like this. If hosts want to save a buck by not replacing skaters and giving other skaters a chance then that just doesn't sound right. It's ok if the WD happens like 2 days before. But even up to a week before? C'mon!
The ISU needs to get tougher about host nations replacing athletes. I understand that federations stand to save money by not replacing athletes. But skaters deserve a chance to go and compete. These people train their entire lives for competition opportunities like this. If hosts want to save a buck by not replacing skaters and giving other skaters a chance then that just doesn't sound right. It's ok if the WD happens like 2 days before. But even up to a week before? C'mon!
Gosh, I'm really not tracking well today.....
Thanks for the catch!I see what you mean now, I hadn't caught that in the update.
Totally agree that that there should be an ISU requirement for replacement up to 7 days prior.
But given that France wants 2 weeks to prepare a visa at its large consul generals in major overseas cities, it may be out of the federation's power.
Unlike other countries (e.g. Russia) that have an expedited visa process for a higher fee, it sounds like French authorities don't have flexibility. Certainly, the French consulate general in LA wasn't expediting Misha Ge's visa. I wonder what World Cup events held in France for other major sports do regarding substitutions....
But as it stands, it's really raising the question whether France can or should retain an ongoing GP spot.
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- Apr 5, 2016
Dabin Choi has gotten the vacant ladies spot at NHK Trophy.
http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028757.htm
http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat00028757.htm
GOOD news!
Runqi WHO?? I never hered of him. arent there more experienced names on the substutute list? I really hat How this Invitation GP System works
I think that winning a medal on the Grand Prix when you only have one spot basically ruins your chances to get another invite to another in the same year. That happened to Armin Mahbanoozedeh, to Kaitlyn Osmond, and now to Mariah Bell. Do you guys think the ISU should institute a rule that if a skater with only one spot wins a Grand Prix, that skater should get the top priority for a second spot? Not to say that Dabin doesn't deserve her second spot, but I think federations will only scratch the back of other federations so long as it doesn't hurt their own skaters' chances for the Grand Prix Final.
For me, it is precisely these kind of selection shenanigans that make the Grand Prix unique and exciting. And not just a "spread out" version of World's.
I actually enjoy the part-random-part-strategy initial assignments... the "unpredictability" of replacing withdrawn skaters... "unexpected" skaters getting a chance to experience a GP competition... a certain amount of luck determining who reaches the final (it's not necessarily just the skaters who score the hightest and there are always "surprises"...)
Bear in mind, no skater is actually "losing" a place if they didn't get picked. I mean, skaters are allocated at the start of the season, and that's basically all they get. A spare/extra place doesn't exist until a skater has the misfortune of having to withdraw...
My only gripe with the system, is that rules or time limits might be a bit lax for requiring feds to replace withdrawals... but I don't know how that could be improved, while remaining practical.
Maybe feds should be forced to nominate 2 or 3 substitutes in advance, and if the skaters accept those nominations (!) they are required to be on "short notice standby" for those competitions. (This is similar to the substitute lists used for some other competitions).
Then if there is a withdrawal, skaters are invited in the order they appear on the list for that competition, and they may only decline if they are injured themselves, or they already replaced a withdrawal somewhere else... (but lists should be updated in those cases anyway?)
I actually enjoy the part-random-part-strategy initial assignments... the "unpredictability" of replacing withdrawn skaters... "unexpected" skaters getting a chance to experience a GP competition... a certain amount of luck determining who reaches the final (it's not necessarily just the skaters who score the hightest and there are always "surprises"...)
Bear in mind, no skater is actually "losing" a place if they didn't get picked. I mean, skaters are allocated at the start of the season, and that's basically all they get. A spare/extra place doesn't exist until a skater has the misfortune of having to withdraw...
My only gripe with the system, is that rules or time limits might be a bit lax for requiring feds to replace withdrawals... but I don't know how that could be improved, while remaining practical.
Maybe feds should be forced to nominate 2 or 3 substitutes in advance, and if the skaters accept those nominations (!) they are required to be on "short notice standby" for those competitions. (This is similar to the substitute lists used for some other competitions).
Then if there is a withdrawal, skaters are invited in the order they appear on the list for that competition, and they may only decline if they are injured themselves, or they already replaced a withdrawal somewhere else... (but lists should be updated in those cases anyway?)
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- Oct 23, 2015
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- Oct 23, 2015
Host pick for China. Was somewhat high in their nationals last year I think?
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- Mar 23, 2014
I like this idea.
Great news! Was hoping for either Choi or Kim
I was hoping Kim would get it! Saw her live at SC and her House of Flyings Daggers program is really cool, but it's good to see Korean ladies getting more opportunities to compete abroad and get more experience
I thought the Korean ladies would be more likely for NHK since their training grounds are closer anyway, sorry to Mariah =/
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- Mar 7, 2015
the 3 you are mentioning were host picks. They only had one spot, and used it very well.... I do agree that it is very troubling that other federations would limit their access to another chance at a podium, especially if they are afraid that their own skaters won't do as well. However, I don't like the idea of automatic rules of "if you do well there, you ought to get something etc...
What I would suggest is that the ISU really enforces filling all the spots (unless there is a withdrawal at the last minute).... and to do so, there are a few things that could be implanted.
1)A list of potential substitute ranked. To this list could be added any winner of a medal who has one spot only. Perhaps, this list should be observed by ranking. The only way a host country would not follow world rankings would be if they are willing to give their host pick to another nation's skater?
2)A fine for skaters who do not withdraw within 10 days. Honestly, most of them know they won't be ready and sometimes federations, from the withdrawing skaters, whether they are hosting or not, just don't want to give a chance to anyone else.... late withdrawals are too frequent.
3)An obligation to fill in the spot until 5 days (not 15) before an event. As we know, skaters are training already, and most of them have competed so they do needa bit of time to get to an event but it's not like they fly weeks in advance either. 5 days is sufficient when no VISAs are required.... and perhaps it should be done quicker or coming with the opportunity to get an expedited Visa for skaters needing them.
Anyways, these rules need tweaking... but already it would entice injured skaters to withdraw with enough time to invite someone else. Force hosts to fill their spots...
For instance... we knew for a while that France had an extra male spot... they never gave it away.... Some with Sota's spot in Japan.... looks like they are waiting to see if they have a Japanese skater in need or ready... rather than inviting a guy like Kevin... If they wanted Kevin, they would have given it to him already.
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Too bad Kevin didn't get a 2nd invite after Skate Canada cause he seems to really be building with each skate! He just needs to get out there and compete more to get more millage under his belt. And at this point he really looks like he might be #2 in Canada and end up going to worlds.
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- Mar 7, 2014
It's a travesty that Kevin hasn't gotten a second assignment yet. What was the reasoning behind why he didn't get any at first? Because he didn't get the minimum TES for worlds last year?
Well, as I said elsewhere, it really needs to be asked why Skate Canada did not enter him into a second Challenger after his silver at Ondrej Nepala....
He was already given a host pick slot for Skate Canada International [his only GP], but if Skate Canada wanted to get his competitive readiness up for 4CC and Worlds, they could have sent him to Talinn or Golden Spin. If he got another GP, it could have been dropped in favour of that....and it would have offered him the opportunity for a Challenger series title and prize money....Very few of the GP competitors will also do a second Challenger, so it would have been possible for him to come 2nd or 3rd...[Jason Brown looks to have locked the top spot.]
And to be honest, it's hard to argue that the Japanese federation should have given him a replacement slot, when his own federation did not maximize his ISU opportunties.
Resources are scarce, and not all priorities can be funded, but in my view, Skate Canada really needs to rethink its relative lack of exploitation of lower ranked ISU Challenger and International events, from the Advanced Novice through Junior and Senior levels.
I agree TGee - when I look at some of the B events and see skaters from other countries there and no one from Canada you have to ask why! I think this is also why some of the American Ladies can all of a sudden show up at a GP event and win medals - because they are known to the judges and have learned to compete in biggest events.
But in regards to Kevin I think Skate Canada really sort of gave up on him a couple years ago when he was having boot problems. And unfortunately once SC gives up on you - you are pretty much done. Look at how fast and far Leung dropped!
But in regards to Kevin I think Skate Canada really sort of gave up on him a couple years ago when he was having boot problems. And unfortunately once SC gives up on you - you are pretty much done. Look at how fast and far Leung dropped!
