2016-2017 Grand Prix selections

[Tavi...]

I know! While I'm also excited for the showdown, for gods sake, why can't they send Gracie elsewhere for once? Is she really the poster child of American ladies skating? I get it, she's the national champion, but she got skate America last year not being the national champion, and now we have Ashley who broke the world medal drought.... By default shouldn't that make her the poster child?

Boo-urns.

Gracie lived and trained in Chicago for years. She has a big fan base there

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Why are people thinking Gracie Gold being at Skate America is a slight against Ashley?

 

[el henry]

Hey folks, I don't even follow the ladies, but Ashley v. Gracie at SA is not that strange. Ashley is number 2 in the World, therefore almost the top American lady. Gracie is, (but no one remembers that), but she is *from* Chicago. She is at SA for the same reason Jason is: popular hometown skater puts butts in the seats. And Ashley and Adam and Rafael A all travel together. Save some greenbacks.

As a strategy for maxing American ladies in GPF, is it a great idea? Who knows?

Just so happy Jason is at SA again maybe someday I'll actually go

 

[Seruleane]

I think for ladies, Skate Canada and Cup of China have the most exciting line up!
Why don't Adelina Sotnikova and Carolina Kostner have spots? Was it their choice? Will they get the TBD spots? Hmmm...
Interesting how some skaters get the same locations. E-Rad did Cup of China and Rostelecom last year too...Anna P did NHK last year too. I guess it's nice to skate in the same rink you've competed in before?
If I were a skater, I'd pick NHK for sure. The fans are the best!!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Tara/Michelle and Sarah Hughes/Michelle competed against one another at Skate America when they were the top 2 American ladies skaters. Also, Michelle and Sarah also competed against one another and against Irina in the pre-Olympics Skate Canada as well.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Why are people thinking Gracie Gold being at Skate America is a slight against Ashley?

Maybe because Ashley broke the loooooooooooooong medal drought for the US and then didn't get the assignments she wanted. Don't forget Gracie is from ChiTown. Thank god the drama's beginning! I just wish Polina would have gotten SA and been the one to get the opportunity to whoop on Ashley

 

[SarahSynchro]

Why are people thinking Gracie Gold being at Skate America is a slight against Ashley?

Not a slight against Ashley at all, but it just seems like Gracie always has to be at Skate America.

I forgot she's from Chicago, so in that sense, it's logical. I also suppose it's common to have both the US national 1st and 3rd place finishers at Skate America.

I'm more depressed that Ashley won't be at Skate Canada.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Maybe because Ashley broke the loooooooooooooong medal drought for the US and then didn't get the assignments she wanted. Don't forget Gracie is from ChiTown. Thank god the drama's beginning! I just wish Polina would have gotten SA and been the one to get the opportunity to whoop on Ashley

Polina doesnt tend to peak until nationals, though.

 

[Rissa]

Don't forget about Skate America, who knows what kinds of moves Bobrova/Soloviev, a reinvigorated and Igored Iliynkh/Sinitsina, and Hubbell/Donahue can make against the Shibs.

I would cheer on them so hard!

 

[StitchMonkey]

I follow Ashley Wagner on snapchat and she just posted a selfie with a text "When you see the GP assignments and it's not really what you asked for but brows are on point so YOLO"

I bet she didn't ask for a showdown with Gracie. Stupid USFSA. Sigh.

I think she got the better half of the bargain than Gracie.

I think this happened because the USFSA needs a clear number 1 going into 2018 and this sets it up to happen.

I think Ashley has a better second assignment than Gracie... so I think she has the advantage. This is do or die for them both... who can answer the pressure and be number one.

I know it is tough... but it kinda needed to happen. I think Gracie is on thin ice at this point.

 

[Ice Dance]

She is at SA for the same reason Jason is: popular hometown skater puts butts in the seats.

Also, Frank likes Skate America. Gracie, Denis, and Dice are all scheduled for SA. USFSA may owe Ashley, but methinks they owe Frank even more.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Also, Frank likes Skate America. Gracie, Denis, and Dice are all scheduled for SA. USFSA may owe Ashley, but methinks they owe Frank even more.

... well that and Frank hates the GPF... he sadly would be somewhat happy if Gracie does not make it.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Polina doesnt tend to peak until nationals, though.

:dev3olina will peak all over Ashley likes its 2014 :ddevil:

 

[Layback11]

*HEAVY BREATHING*

Woww at the line up for Skate Canada!! I'm so excited because I'll be there, Patrick, Yuzuru and Han Yan will all be there, that's legit like skating skill heaven for me, I'm so excited to see them skate in person. Also I highly approve of them sending the reigning Ladies World Champion my way along with the previous one, it'll be interesting to see Evgenia matched up against Elizaveta, gimme the drama. Satoko is just fabulous but she's polarizing for a lot of people so I'm interested in seeing her skate live, same with Rika Hongo, maybe her posture won't be so bad in person.

I can see that Yu Xiaoyu and Zhang Hao will be at Skate Canada, emotions are running high and I'm thinking of giving Zhang Hao a piece of my mind but I think I'll just bring a little gift for Xiaoyu instead. There are so many great pairs teams here I'm so excited, glad to see Denny/Frazier are back. I met Piper Gilles at SOI in May and she told me she wasn't sure if she would be at Skate Canada but I'm excited to see her and Paul. Screaming at how I'll get to see Tessa and Scott, I can't wait to see their competitive programs ahhhh

Really ???? at how Ashley and Gracie are at the same GP, that's a pretty poor pick to pit them against each other so early but I'm guessing there was no choice, tsk tsk

As to the Ashley-Gracie assignment: neither is very consistent, and the other major contender at SA (Mao) isn't either, so it will literally come down to who is the least headcasey. I'm excited

 

[mcq]

I just realized all the ladies olympic medalist is no longer competing or not doing GPs while all the men medalists are still doing GPs and competing full time.

 

[karne]

First off, I would like to say:

I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU, GOLDEN SKATE. Last year you had already reached 9 pages before I woke up. This year we were only at 7, and even now 8 and a half! What is going on!

Thoughts (more or less stream-of-consciousness):

- YAY BRENDAN AT SKATE AMERICA AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Nathan being given two points to the TBD at Skate America being held for Joshua.
- I see the scrap is on for the bronze medal at Skate Chanada again with no chance of anyone other than Chan/Hanyu winning/coming second.
- Bang on the money with my men's prediction for SkAm.
- I see Jason got the exact same assignments as last year - SkAm and NHK. Good chance of a medal at SkAm, but I would be less certain about medalling at NHK.
- Max didn't get Skate Chanada. Excellent.
- COR is a bit of a stiff field for him but if he hits, he could medal there; I would say he has a better shot at medalling at CoC.
- Kolyada at CoR (hope he doesn't mind the home pressure) and NHK. I'd wager on him being a bit of a hit with the fans at NHK.
- I see Samohin and Vasiljevs have come up from Juniors but no Aliev?

 

[sarama]

I didn't expect Skate Canada to literally give up on WeaPo like that!!!! I mean V/M vs. W/P vs. a top3 seeded team would have been a strategic suicide, but choosing V/M, G/P and Paul/Islam for SC instead of the national champions is still shocking!

I hope Wenjing Sui and Yuzuru won't go, unless they are 100% healthy! They are both so reckless (and so are their feds), I am super worried.
Also I wish a super GP debut to Wakaba, Sima, Nathan and Sota after a problematic last season!
And I'm super excited to see Haven/Brandon back!!!!!

P.s. I wish we knew what's going on with Paradis/Ouellette and Adelina......

 

[grotesm1]

Anyone know why Volosozhar and Trankov of Russia didn't get a Grand Prix assignment for Pairs? Was it their choice or do they have an injury that no one is talking about?

 

[bluelutz]

I understand why people talking about Gracie vs Ashley @SA,
but as long as they perform decently there, only one who can possibly beat them would be Mao,
who was not consistent at all during the last season.
So this is not a bad assignment for both of them to make it to GPF.

Gracie's main rivals @TDF are Mao, Wakaba & Zenia (possibly Maria too) which will be tough for her.
Ashley's main rivals @COC is Lena (possibly Tuk, Rika & Zijun too) which will be a bit easier.

Gracie better finish at lease 2nd @SA as her second assignment is tougher.
As long as Ashley get a podium finish @SA, very possibly she will make it.

 

[Lenny318]

Is it possible for Kevin Reynolds to get a spot?

Yeah I was wondering the same thing about the reigning national bronze medalist