2016-2017 Grand Prix selections

[Ice Dance]

Wow dance is exciting!

I disagree Weaver/Poje were "dumped" by their federation, it's a good thing for them to avoid Skate Canada!

I think it is a good thing too. But they were the National Champions, and they have carried the torch for Canadian ice dance since the Olympics. Bobrova & Soloviev had to go elsewhere last season, after their injury, despite being 3-time Russian champions. I don't think it's unreasonable for W&P fans to believe that V&M should have had to do so as well. Skate Canada made their choice, though, and W&P shall just have to prove themselves in international competition. Sometimes proving yourself to your own Federation in dance can be the toughest battle.


Speaking of skaters who got the same assignments . . .

Cappellini & Lanotte and Virtue & Moir

Sigh. There is just really no advantage to being a dance team on the GP from a non-host country.

 

[ice coverage]

I sort of get the vibe that Gracie, Polina, and Ashley don't like each other a whole lot. Is it just me?

I do not get that vibe, but (sadly) cannot say that you are the only one who has made such comments.

To play devil's advocate:

What I have seen of the public interaction among the Shibs; Madi/Evan; and Madi/Zach does not strike me as especially warm and fuzzy. Cordial, but not warm and fuzzy.
But comments on GS that surmise that the U.S. dance rivals don't like each other are far less common than comments about the U.S. ladies.

For both disciplines, I hope/suspect/believe that warmer and fuzzier moments/feelings are not unusual off camera and off social media.

Alex and Evan both are very close to Charlie, and they all used to live together (along with Trevor).
In a Google Hangout for 2016 Worlds, Madi Hubbell looked forward to seeing Maia, and spoke fondly of her as a past roommate at competitions.
In a cheery pre-competition tweet, Zach once mentioned starting the day off right with breakfast with Maia (and Max Aaron).​

BTW, I think Jason is quite close to Polina, as well as to Gracie.

Perhaps the perception problem for the U.S. ladies is partly caused by the frequency of overt bromance among the U.S. men.
It is true (IMO) that the palpable affection among Max, Adam, Jason, Josh, Richard, Ross, etc., is in another league.

 

[Nagval]

Yulenka go go!

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I do not get that vibe, but (sadly) cannot say that you are the only one who has made such comments.

To play devil's advocate:

What I have seen of the public interaction among the Shibs; Madi/Evan; and Madi/Zach does not strike me as especially warm and fuzzy. Cordial, but not warm and fuzzy.
But comments on GS that surmise that the U.S. dance rivals don't like each other are far less common than comments about the U.S. ladies.

For both disciplines, I hope/suspect/believe that warmer and fuzzier moments/feelings are not unusual off camera and off social media.

Alex and Evan both are very close to Charlie, and they all used to live together (along with Trevor).
In a Google Hangout for 2016 Worlds, Madi Hubbell looked forward to seeing Maia, and spoke fondly of her as a past roommate at competitions.
In a cheery pre-competition tweet, Zach once mentioned starting the day off right with breakfast with Maia (and Max Aaron).​

BTW, I think Jason is quite close to Polina, as well as to Gracie.

Perhaps the perception problem for the U.S. ladies is partly caused by the frequency of overt bromance among the U.S. men.
It is true (IMO) that the palpable affection among Max, Adam, Jason, Josh, Richard, Ross, etc., is in another league.

Great points. Probably also explains why Madison Hubbell and Zach have been featured in the latest Shibs vlogs. I know Madison Chock and Maia used to feature each other on social media in the past, but have done it less so once both teams became closer rivals from 2013-on. It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[grotesm1]

Yes, it's a bit concerning that no one is saying what's going on with Joshua Farris. He's one of my favorite skaters. I hope he returns to the ice, but wish him only the best regardless.

Also noted that Richard Dornbush didn't get a Grand Prix assignment for the U.S. He had a herniated disc in his back that forced him to withdraw from U.S. Nationals last January. Don't know if he is still recovering or just got caught up in the "numbers game" now that Nathan Chen has moved up to Seniors. My guess is that he is skipping the Grand Prix in order to get totally healthy for Nationals in January.

Joshua Farris announced his retirement today due to the lingering effects of his concussion. http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=89787&type=media

As I said, he's one of my favorite skaters and I'm really sorry to see him leave competition.

 

[4everchan]

Wow dance is exciting!

I disagree Weaver/Poje were "dumped" by their federation, it's a godd thing for them to avoid Skate Canada!

i agree... by not having them face each other, Weapo have a better chance to compete at the GPF. that's a major asset in Ice Dance...

 

[chuckm]

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.

Maybe Ashley wanted SC but couldn't get it because Medvedeva (gold) wanted it. Ashley's choices were SA, CoR, CoC and NHK, so she chose SA and CoC. Of course, USFS honored her choice.

The reason why Gracie got SA is twofold: first, she IS national champion, and second (more important) she is from the Chicago area, which helps to fill those seats. Jason Brown got SA is because he is from the Chicago area, too. I went to SA in 2014 when Gracie was there, and the applause for her was deafening.

No Boo-ums needed here, thank you very much.

 

[aromaticchicken]

I thought the same thing about Medvedeva with her record plus her being Nat Champ too. Maybe Evgenia did not want it. I heard somewhere the Russian skaters don't really like Rostelcom.

Medvedeva going elsewhere is probably a strategic choice for Russia. It allows them to potentially help the scoring to whichever one of Radionova or Pogorilaya needs more help to get to the final.... just like how last year they helped Elena get to the final by putting her over Medvedeva, and helped Stolbova/Klimov and Sotnikova as well. Rika and Polina were notably underscored at that event in comparison.

This isn't just a Russian thing..... Gracie has gotten some pretty generous Skate America scoring help herself, especially in Fall 2014.

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.

The reason why Gracie got SA is twofold: first, she IS national champion, and second (more important) she is from the Chicago area, which helps to fill those seats. Jason Brown got SA is because he is from the Chicago area, too. I went to SA in 2014 when Gracie was there, and the applause for her was deafening.

No Boo-ums needed here, thank you very much.

Bingo: something I've noticed at nationals and Worlds is that while Ashley is the U.S. favorite lady among most older fans, Grace is THE fan favorite among teenage girl skaters. The younger girl idolize her and love her to pieces. Way more were clamoring for her autograph at World's than for Ashley.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Maybe Ashley wanted SC but couldn't get it because Medvedeva (gold) wanted it. Ashley's choices were SA, CoR, CoC and NHK, so she chose SA and CoC. Of course, USFS honored her choice.

The reason why Gracie got SA is twofold: first, she IS national champion, and second (more important) she is from the Chicago area, which helps to fill those seats. Jason Brown got SA is because he is from the Chicago area, too. I went to SA in 2014 when Gracie was there, and the applause for her was deafening.

No Boo-ums needed here, thank you very much.

I think the USFSA does want Ashley and Gracie in these events. Let's be honest here, anything that can help sell tickets is a good thing. Building up that rivalry will make the event exciting, much like the 1997 ladies event (except, of course, Gracie and Ashley won't ever be the two favorites for the OGM).

 

[chuckm]

[The Belorussians are] A weak team that are not GP level imho but get's invited to CoR because the have russian coaches

Rostelecom always picks one or two 'weak' teams that can be relied upon to place lower than Russia's weakest team. Kavaliova / Bieliaaiev (BLR), who placed 28th of 30 teams at Worlds 2016, and Pogrebinsky / Benoit (USA), just up from juniors (4th at JW), are this year's anchor teams.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

Medvedeva going elsewhere is probably a strategic choice for Russia. It allows them to potentially help the scoring to whichever one of Radionova or Pogorilaya needs more help to get to the final.... just like how last year they helped Elena get to the final by putting her over Medvedeva, and helped Stolbova/Klimov and Sotnikova as well. Rika and Polina were notably underscored at that event in comparison.

So your're suggesting the Russian Fed manipulated the judges scores or something? That sounds a little out there...especially considering that Lena actually performed really well.

 

[badknees]

Just look at Rafael Arutyunyan's travel schedule! I thought they took that into consideration for coaches??

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I think the USFSA does want Ashley and Gracie in these events. Let's be honest here, anything that can help sell tickets is a good thing. Building up that rivalry will make the event exciting, much like the 1997 ladies event (except, of course, Gracie and Ashley won't ever be the two favorites for the OGM).

THIS is absolutely the most important thing although conspiracies can be quite fun too

 

[apons575]

I think the USFSA does want Ashley and Gracie in these events. Let's be honest here, anything that can help sell tickets is a good thing. Building up that rivalry will make the event exciting, much like the 1997 ladies event (except, of course, Gracie and Ashley won't ever be the two favorites for the OGM).

Very true, whatever gets butts in the seats. Plus, Ashley and Gracie need this. They always get better from competiting against each other. Although I agree that they may not be the favorites for the OGM (yet!), but last season was a step in the right direction for both girls. Before, I would have said Ashley has no chance.....but now I have other thoughts. Ashley is a fighter, so if she came away from 2018 with ANY individual medal, that will prove us critics all wrong...once again! haha

 

[ice coverage]

... I thought they took that into consideration for coaches??

I have seen only reading-tea-leaves speculation that it is a consideration.

The speculation is not necessarily convincing to me. YMMV.

 

[chuckm]

So your're suggesting the Russian Fed manipulated the judges scores or something? That sounds a little out there...especially considering that Lena actually performed really well.

Medvedeva fell on the 3f in the SP and didn't complete the combination, placing her 3rd after the SP, 4.76 points behind Radionova. Although she beat Elena in the FS, it was only by 0.2 points. Evgenia had the edge in TES, while Elena had the higher PCS.

It's understandable that Evgenia did not want Rostelecom this year.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I remember watching Rostelecom Cup this past season, and it looks so nerve-wracking if you're Russian. It seemed like EVERYBODY who was anybody in Russian figure skating was there, including current competitors who are just watching you and mentally taking notes. To me, that would make me more nervous than Russian nationals when at least your competitors are also competing and into their own head.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

Maybe Evgenia wants to medal at, and eventually win, every different GP event. That would be a rare achievement.

 

[Pracygr]

Medvedeva fell on the 3f in the SP and didn't complete the combination, placing her 3rd after the SP, 4.76 points behind Radionova. Although she beat Elena in the FS, it was only by 0.2 points. Evgenia had the edge in TES, while Elena had the higher PCS.

It's understandable that Evgenia did not want Rostelecom this year.

Perceptions change. It seems natural that Evgenia should win over Elena in PCS now, but back then Evgenia was only a junior upstart in some of her first senior competitions, facing off against World bronze medalist. I don't think she had any reason to be upset by the judging all things considered.

 

[Krunchii]

Well in the past Russian ladies have always wanted to avoid Rostelecom Cup, they're not always so hot there, Yulia in 2013, Anna in 2014, Evgenia made mistakes in 2015, Elizaveta wanted to avoid it in 2015 too. Except for Elena there's been kind of a trend, it's difficult with the home crowd. They tend to excel at Skate Canada, Yulia in 2013, Anna in 2014, Elizaveta nabbed a silver medal in 2015 and won in 2011. As a Canadian they're very welcome here