Very very sad to hear this. He had all it got to be US number one some day. Glad to hear he's staying in the sport along with his studies and music. GO Josh!
2016-2017 Grand Prix selections
- Thread starter Mrs. P
- Start date
Very very sad to hear this. He had all it got to be US number one some day. Glad to hear he's staying in the sport along with his studies and music. GO Josh!
A couple of thoughts..
I don't understand why Duskova/Bidar (CZE) are staying on the Junior Grand Prix instead of starting to get senior experience. Especially since they've said they want to compete at Europeans in 2017. Anyone know what was behind that decision? With so many teams question marks due to injuries, re-partnerings (the Chinese switcheroo), etc., it seems to me like they could contend here.
Also, it seems like many skaters have similar assignments as last season. At Skate America, for example, 4 (50%) of the pairs teams, 4 (33%) of the men and 3 (25%) of the women were also at Skate America last year. The dance field at SA, weirdly enough, is 100% changed. Skate Canada has similar numbers of repeats in the men's and women's. I wonder if varying the lineup for each individual GP event is taken into account by organizers -- I can't imagine having virtually identical lineups year after year helps repeat attendance from fans. Maybe we shouldn't be so reliant on hosts their favorites and top skaters themselves being so set in their assignment preferences?
I don't understand why Duskova/Bidar (CZE) are staying on the Junior Grand Prix instead of starting to get senior experience. Especially since they've said they want to compete at Europeans in 2017. Anyone know what was behind that decision? With so many teams question marks due to injuries, re-partnerings (the Chinese switcheroo), etc., it seems to me like they could contend here.
Also, it seems like many skaters have similar assignments as last season. At Skate America, for example, 4 (50%) of the pairs teams, 4 (33%) of the men and 3 (25%) of the women were also at Skate America last year. The dance field at SA, weirdly enough, is 100% changed. Skate Canada has similar numbers of repeats in the men's and women's. I wonder if varying the lineup for each individual GP event is taken into account by organizers -- I can't imagine having virtually identical lineups year after year helps repeat attendance from fans. Maybe we shouldn't be so reliant on hosts their favorites and top skaters themselves being so set in their assignment preferences?
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2016
Samarin decided to stay Junior in the end, he announced it a few days ago, as far as I understand. Obviously after the team lists have been made as he is not on the Junior but on the Senior reserve team.
ETA: the interview
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/2223-aleksandr-samarin-v-sleduyushchem-sezone-budu-sovmeshchat-vystupleniya-na-yuniorskikh-i-vzroslykh-startakh.html
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- Joined
- Mar 3, 2012
That's going to be interesting ... The ante has been upped.
Tell it to Frank.
But seriously. I agree that variety is a big part of what appeals to me about attending different events. I always look for different athletes--the ones I haven't had a chance to see live. Because it's such a different experience. I love to see my favorites as much as anyone, but I like to see different athletes & I like to see them in different competitive situations. I've seen Ashley, let's see, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 times now at least. She's not my favorite. She's not my least favorite. But she isn't going to draw me to come attend an event, while I could actually get pretty excited to see Da Bin Choi or Denis Vasiljevs this season because I have only seen each once live and would enjoy seeing how they grow. Of course, seeing Adelina Sotnikova would draw me a lot faster. But it's fun to see different athletes--whether they are at the top or at the bottom. And, as I said, the level of competition makes a big difference. I've seen Duhamel & Radford win Skate Canada twice. Been there, done that. If there aren't any challenging teams invited to the event, then I won't particularly enjoy it. I saw Charlie & Meryl win SA the year they fell down (twice?). Not my favorite dance event--or my favorite one with D&W--by a long shot. Invite some variety and some real competition. Seeing the same favorites win without it isn't much fun.
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
OH NO - I'm so sorry to hear about Josh Farris - but lingering symptoms of concussion is nothing to fool around with. I hope that he's able to find something fulfilling outside of figure skating. He will be missed. Such an elegant and beautiful skater.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
Shocked to see Yuko/Alexander competing after dealing with yet another injury at the end of last season. Pleasantly shocked, of course. 
Disappointed in V/T and Adelina not doing the GP. I understand their desire to do shows, and V/T can probably still place top 3 at Russian Nationals even without the GP practice, but Adelina?? I'm only so disappointed in her because I love her skating so much, and it takes a special kind of competitor to skip the first half of the season and still kick butt during the second (Kwan, Kim.) I'm afraid we won't see an Adelina resurgence.
Ashley versus Gracie at Skate America is all kinds of awesome, but it does further put at risk the US's chances of getting both ladies to the final.
Evgenia versus Liza at Skate Canada = :luv17:
Disappointed in V/T and Adelina not doing the GP. I understand their desire to do shows, and V/T can probably still place top 3 at Russian Nationals even without the GP practice, but Adelina?? I'm only so disappointed in her because I love her skating so much, and it takes a special kind of competitor to skip the first half of the season and still kick butt during the second (Kwan, Kim.) I'm afraid we won't see an Adelina resurgence.
Ashley versus Gracie at Skate America is all kinds of awesome, but it does further put at risk the US's chances of getting both ladies to the final.
Evgenia versus Liza at Skate Canada = :luv17:
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
Maybe that is kinda the point. To have a clear #1 going into 2018 rather than a rivalry. The split support is tough, in some ways having a clear number one would be easier. Maybe this is their way of trying to pick a number one.
I kinda disagree... There is no clear favourite really, and everything can happen. Its not wise to put all eggs in one basket.
Look at Tukt - after her victorious season, everybody thought she would be the thing - and then she didn't even make to GPF and Worlds. Everybody expected Mao to slay after Japan Open. It didnt happen.
Gracie had 2 amazing GPs last season, and then headcased.
Imho, its better to have 2 big skaters competing, two skaters winning international events (because reputation translates in PCs), rather than sacrificing one to the other - and then have the clear #1 blow it up because, due to lack of internal competition, this skater doesnt need to worry to get spots etc etc etc.
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- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
The Bielorussians Kavaliova & Bieliaiev have a fan fest:
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sh...ova-amp-Yurii-Bieliaiev&p=1287885#post1287885
as do Kim & Minov representing Korea
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?57332-Rebecka-Kim-Kirill-Minov
A lot of info about Pogrebinsky & Benoit of the USA can be found in their icenetwork bio
http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/team/pogrebinsky_benoit
They have only been a team for two seasons, and. were third at US Nationals in juniors for both seasons.
Here are their Junior Worlds 2016 programs:
sd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDwdqshYYD4
fd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NR_08d_dFU
and their 2015 Junior Worlds programs
sd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPtj7zTNHoE
fd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKt5eUNxBdA
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sh...ova-amp-Yurii-Bieliaiev&p=1287885#post1287885
as do Kim & Minov representing Korea
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?57332-Rebecka-Kim-Kirill-Minov
A lot of info about Pogrebinsky & Benoit of the USA can be found in their icenetwork bio
http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/team/pogrebinsky_benoit
They have only been a team for two seasons, and. were third at US Nationals in juniors for both seasons.
Here are their Junior Worlds 2016 programs:
sd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDwdqshYYD4
fd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NR_08d_dFU
and their 2015 Junior Worlds programs
sd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPtj7zTNHoE
fd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKt5eUNxBdA
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- Joined
- May 4, 2015
Most of all I’m extremely happy and relieved that Yulia Lipnitskaya and Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin got two assignments! If both get into GPF, it will be my fs dream come true.
Additionally, in ID I was very glad to see Muramoto/Reed, Agafonova/Ucar, Paul/Islam, Wang/Liu, Testa/Csolley, Hawayek/Baker and Tobias/Tkachenko get two spots, and to see Zahorsky/Gurreiro get an assignment and Nazarova/Nikitin to get one again. However, I feel sorry for Hawayek/Baker - I think they got the two most difficult ID events this season: SC and NHK. Also, currently Cannuscio/McManus have only one spot, but it seems very likely to me that they’ll get the TBA SA spot. I’m more worried about Hirai/De la Asuncion whom I liked very much this season, and who also got only one spot. I wonder if there’s a chance they’ll get an invite to COC, or China has its own ice dance team, beside Wang/Liu and Chen/Zhao, whom it’d like to promote? Another country with an ID spot available is Russia, but it’s sure to have its own ID teams. Perhaps, Evdokimova/Bazin or Sosnitskaya/Golovishnikov who are transferring to seniors this season will get a spot?
In pairs, I’m very glad for Kavaguchi/Smirnov, Seguin/Bilodeau, Astakhova/Rogonov and Zabiako/Enbert who got two assignments. GPF surely wouldn’t have been complete without KS. I just hope they’ll regain their competitive form by SC. Similarly, I don’t even want to imagine GPF without Sui/Han, and I’m even more worried if Sui will recover in time for SA. Why couldn’t they get NHK and Duhamel/Radford SA which is much closer to their training base and wouldn’t have required them to fly from Canada to Japan and then immediately to France for GPF? It’s also a pity that Bazarova/Deputat, Wangs and Denney/Frazier got only one assignment each. The USA has a spot available, but I guess USFSA will want to give Castelli/Tran who are on team B a second spot. Canada and Japan also have a spot available each, but Canada probably has pair teams of its own to promote. Perhaps, Bazarova/Deputat or Denney/Frazier could get an invite to NHK? Notably absent from the table are Volosozhar/Trankov who had announced before that they’d be starting this season with the Nationals.
In men, I’m very glad to see Ten, Brown, Yan, Mura, Petrov, Ge, Tanaka, Pitkeev, Bychenko and Besseghier to get two spots. I really hope Ge won’t encounter any visa problems this year! There are four spots left. I assume USFSA will want to give it to Dornbush (if he recovers in time), or Dolensky, or Nadeau. I’m also surprised not to see Alexander Johnson in the table – is he injured? The Russian spot will probably go to Samarin who’s transferring to seniors this year. Does anybody know about Chinese and Canadian candidates for TBA?
In ladies, I’m very glad for Rodeghiero, Murakami, Park, Chartrand, Nagai, Tuktamysheva, Li, Tursynbaeva, Edmunds, Hicks, Sotskova and Karen Chen who got two spots each. I was surprised not to see Brooklee Han in the table. I hope she’s not injured. Another skater I’ll miss is Angela Wang. The USA has an open spot, but I guess it’ll probably go to Hannah Miller who is on B team and without a spot. I wish Sakhanovich could have two spots, but Russia doesn’t have one available, and Canada and China probably have ladies of their own they’d like to promote. I wonder who their picks will be. I also liked Dasa Grm last season and am sorry not to see her get a spot this time. And I was a bit surprised to see Yura Matsuda get two spots. Notably absent from the table are Carolina Kostner and Adelina Sotnikova, but I’m not surprised about either.
Reg. Artur Dmitriev Jr., in the past season he won Ice Challenge, Sarajevo Open and Volvo Open. I think this must have allowed him to be awarded two spots.
I’m among those who think Weaver/Poje should have gotten SC assignment rather than Virtue/Moir. I suspect its their off the podium finish at Worlds in Boston that contributed to Skate Canada’s decision, despite their winning GPF last season. Of course, they’ll get into GPF from any assignments, so it won’t make a difference to their season, but I wish Skate Canada had shown them the respect they deserve.
Reg. rivals’ friendships, sometimes it does happen, but I think one should also bear in mind that, as with any friendship, it’s also a matter of personalities, common interests, besides figure skating, etc. I do find it heart-warming to see skating rivals shopping together during competitions, or exploring the city together, or hanging out in somebody’s room, but I don’t think they have to do these things. It’s their personal time, and it’s up to them how to unwind and relax. If some skaters don't happen to hang out together, it doesn't necessarily mean that they dislike each other. And even if somebody dislikes somebody, I think they're entitled to their personal feelings. After all, few people go through life without encountering any people they don't like. Why should figure skaters be any different? As long as nobody indulges in any unethical behavior, I don't see any problem with somebody not liking somebody.
Additionally, in ID I was very glad to see Muramoto/Reed, Agafonova/Ucar, Paul/Islam, Wang/Liu, Testa/Csolley, Hawayek/Baker and Tobias/Tkachenko get two spots, and to see Zahorsky/Gurreiro get an assignment and Nazarova/Nikitin to get one again. However, I feel sorry for Hawayek/Baker - I think they got the two most difficult ID events this season: SC and NHK. Also, currently Cannuscio/McManus have only one spot, but it seems very likely to me that they’ll get the TBA SA spot. I’m more worried about Hirai/De la Asuncion whom I liked very much this season, and who also got only one spot. I wonder if there’s a chance they’ll get an invite to COC, or China has its own ice dance team, beside Wang/Liu and Chen/Zhao, whom it’d like to promote? Another country with an ID spot available is Russia, but it’s sure to have its own ID teams. Perhaps, Evdokimova/Bazin or Sosnitskaya/Golovishnikov who are transferring to seniors this season will get a spot?
In pairs, I’m very glad for Kavaguchi/Smirnov, Seguin/Bilodeau, Astakhova/Rogonov and Zabiako/Enbert who got two assignments. GPF surely wouldn’t have been complete without KS. I just hope they’ll regain their competitive form by SC. Similarly, I don’t even want to imagine GPF without Sui/Han, and I’m even more worried if Sui will recover in time for SA. Why couldn’t they get NHK and Duhamel/Radford SA which is much closer to their training base and wouldn’t have required them to fly from Canada to Japan and then immediately to France for GPF? It’s also a pity that Bazarova/Deputat, Wangs and Denney/Frazier got only one assignment each. The USA has a spot available, but I guess USFSA will want to give Castelli/Tran who are on team B a second spot. Canada and Japan also have a spot available each, but Canada probably has pair teams of its own to promote. Perhaps, Bazarova/Deputat or Denney/Frazier could get an invite to NHK? Notably absent from the table are Volosozhar/Trankov who had announced before that they’d be starting this season with the Nationals.
In men, I’m very glad to see Ten, Brown, Yan, Mura, Petrov, Ge, Tanaka, Pitkeev, Bychenko and Besseghier to get two spots. I really hope Ge won’t encounter any visa problems this year! There are four spots left. I assume USFSA will want to give it to Dornbush (if he recovers in time), or Dolensky, or Nadeau. I’m also surprised not to see Alexander Johnson in the table – is he injured? The Russian spot will probably go to Samarin who’s transferring to seniors this year. Does anybody know about Chinese and Canadian candidates for TBA?
In ladies, I’m very glad for Rodeghiero, Murakami, Park, Chartrand, Nagai, Tuktamysheva, Li, Tursynbaeva, Edmunds, Hicks, Sotskova and Karen Chen who got two spots each. I was surprised not to see Brooklee Han in the table. I hope she’s not injured. Another skater I’ll miss is Angela Wang. The USA has an open spot, but I guess it’ll probably go to Hannah Miller who is on B team and without a spot. I wish Sakhanovich could have two spots, but Russia doesn’t have one available, and Canada and China probably have ladies of their own they’d like to promote. I wonder who their picks will be. I also liked Dasa Grm last season and am sorry not to see her get a spot this time. And I was a bit surprised to see Yura Matsuda get two spots. Notably absent from the table are Carolina Kostner and Adelina Sotnikova, but I’m not surprised about either.
Reg. Artur Dmitriev Jr., in the past season he won Ice Challenge, Sarajevo Open and Volvo Open. I think this must have allowed him to be awarded two spots.
I’m among those who think Weaver/Poje should have gotten SC assignment rather than Virtue/Moir. I suspect its their off the podium finish at Worlds in Boston that contributed to Skate Canada’s decision, despite their winning GPF last season. Of course, they’ll get into GPF from any assignments, so it won’t make a difference to their season, but I wish Skate Canada had shown them the respect they deserve.
Reg. rivals’ friendships, sometimes it does happen, but I think one should also bear in mind that, as with any friendship, it’s also a matter of personalities, common interests, besides figure skating, etc. I do find it heart-warming to see skating rivals shopping together during competitions, or exploring the city together, or hanging out in somebody’s room, but I don’t think they have to do these things. It’s their personal time, and it’s up to them how to unwind and relax. If some skaters don't happen to hang out together, it doesn't necessarily mean that they dislike each other. And even if somebody dislikes somebody, I think they're entitled to their personal feelings. After all, few people go through life without encountering any people they don't like. Why should figure skaters be any different? As long as nobody indulges in any unethical behavior, I don't see any problem with somebody not liking somebody.
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- Joined
- Aug 31, 2011
I don't get why people are ready to write off Yulia already, even her super fans like Sam, who doubts her ability for a comeback season:noshake:
hwell: I saw the interview of Lakernik which said that Yulia is in a realllly good shape - she got slim and super fit once again and her jumps are there. Don't write her off!
hwell: I saw the interview of Lakernik which said that Yulia is in a realllly good shape - she got slim and super fit once again and her jumps are there. Don't write her off!
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- Joined
- May 2, 2015
I believe in Julia. I think this season will be better than last one for her. By how much? We have to wait and seeI don't get why people are ready to write off Yulia already, even her super fans like Sam, who doubts her ability for a comeback season:noshake:
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2014
I believe in Julia. I think this season will be better than last one for her. By how much? We have to wait and see
This is kinda how i feel. I think she will have a better season. I think she can have a career on the GP for years to come - which i still a success. But do i think she will be a favorite for world champion...well there is a lot of room between better than last two season and favorite for world champion - and I think "most likely" is tucked somewhere in between the two extremes. And with Yulia it is hard to tell how good she has to be to make people happy...a comeback can mean very different things to different people in a case like this.
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2014
No, he is not. It will come down to Shulepov or Gorshkov (hopefully the former).
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2016
Samarin has decided not to transfer to seniors. He gave an interview about it a few days ago. Otherwise he most likely would have got senior GP spots.
http://www.fsrussia.ru/intervyu/2223-aleksandr-samarin-v-sleduyushchem-sezone-budu-sovmeshchat-vystupleniya-na-yuniorskikh-i-vzroslykh-startakh.html
