2016-2017 Grand Prix selections

[Mohacz]

I have been going through the ice dance assignments with special attention to the Russian pairs and the events where Elena & Ruslan and Viki & Nikita will compete. I can see that Ruslena (Skate America and Throphee de France) and Bobrova & Soloviev (SA and Rostelecom) will finish before the first event of Vikita (Cup of China and NHK). Do you think that starting the first competition so late and performing with the knowledge of their (I mean Viki & Nikita's) national rivals' positions may influence the scoring or the quality of skating? Supposing both Bobrova and Soloviev, Ruslena and even Stepanova & Bukin (Cup of China will be their second event) do an excellent job, do you think the judges may be less generous with their scores? Or quite the contrary? Russian Nationals are held 2 weeks after the GPF and although it's the domestic event where clear leaders and the European's team are decided, I guess the judges scoring at the GP circuit may also somehow contribute to opting for one duet or other. I'd like to know your opinion

 

[Blades of Passion]

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

I feel bad for her because of the wrong "e" call on her Flip at the 2014 GPF after skating an excellent performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTKp0oBhPDY

That call totally got into her head and she bombed both of the Flips in the Long Program. Ever since then it seems like her motivation and confidence has been shot. When your body is changing and you have to work hard to maintain such a high level, it really is demotivating to suddenly be held down and told something else is all wrong, when it actually isn't.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Whoa, I watched that flip in slo-mo a few times just now, and I don't get where that "e" call came from. I wouldn't even give it a "!". That Lutz on the other hand didn't seem to be on a strong outside edge.

 

[glorybox6]

Wow, I just realized that the Wagner vs. Gold matchup at SA will essentially be the tiebreaker when it comes to how the two have fared against each other in major international (non-team) competitions to date. Each has beaten the other three times dating back to 2013. Should be exciting.

2013 WORLDS: Wagner over Gold (5th vs. 6th)
2014 OLYMPICS: Gold over Wagner (4th vs. 7th)
2014 WORLDS: Gold over Wagner (5th vs. 7th)
2015 WORLDS: Gold over Wagner (4th vs. 5th)
2016 GRAND PRIX FINAL: Wagner over Gold (4th vs. 5th)
2016 WORLDS: Wagner over Gold (2nd vs. 4th)

 

[Ice Dance]

Hi Mohacz,

I think your question is a perfectly valid one. These top Russian teams are all so tightly bunched, I could type forever here, with all kinds of possible scenarios, but ultimately I'm going to go with short & honest.

I have been going through the ice dance assignments with special attention to the Russian pairs and the events where Elena & Ruslan and Viki & Nikita will compete. I can see that Ruslena (Skate America and Throphee de France) and Bobrova & Soloviev (SA and Rostelecom) will finish before the first event of Vikita (Cup of China and NHK). Do you think that starting the first competition so late and performing with the knowledge of their national rivals' positions may influence the scoring or the quality of skating?

No.

Supposing both Bobrova and Soloviev and Ruslena do an excellent job, do you think the judges may be less generous with their scores?

Not sure who "their" is referring to here. To S&K's scores? No. Typically scores rise toward the end of the season. To B&S's scores? They're ranked number 1 in Russia and skating at home in one of their events. They will get the scores if they do an excellent job. To I&Z's scores? They have Shpilband. They'll get the scores if they do an excellent job.

B&S and I&Z are at a disadvantage skating against two U.S. teams at home at SA. But S&K are at a bigger disadvantage skating in the packed field at NHK. Show up with two great programs. Do your job on the ice. And you could lead Russian ice dance on the GP. But you are going to have to do the job head-to-head if you want to lead it elsewhere.

 

[[email protected]]

It's a pity that international ladies line-up at CoR is not that strong. However, as of today the competition in the Russian group looks very interesting. Yes, Medvedeva is an undoubted leader before the season starts. Who are #2 and #3? Radionova and Pogorilaya. Both are at CoR. Anna already showed that she is 215 material - the score Elena is still quite far from. But Radionova has been more stable. I don't think that Sotskova is going to storm the dense Russian ladies' field the way Medvedeva did last season. And Adelina does not seem to be ready. Then the two potential "spoilers" are Yulia and Liza. Of course, the moment of truth will be in the nationals. But CoR looks like semi-final. If Yulia wins there over Anna and Elena the battle for spots in the team will be fierce.

 

[Spiral]

No, he is not. It will come down to Shulepov or Gorshkov (hopefully the former).

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

But I got the info about Samarin’s transfer to seniors from the list of Russian national teams provided by Vorravorra in Kolyada’s thread (p. 42, the two top posts) on July 1:

Here is a pdf: http://www.minsport.gov.ru/2016/doc/...nie_sp2016.pdf
There is a summary on this page, posts 139-142:
http://forum.fsonline.ru/index.php?/.../page__st__120 In English on FSUniverse:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/inde...7#post-4819304

Did he give the interview after this list had been published?

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

Exactly! Who predicted that Medvedeva would win everything last season, or Tuktamysheva the season before that? These things are unpredictable. I also feel confident that this season will be more successful for Yulia than the previous one, but like everybody else I don’t know to what extent. For me personally, it doesn’t matter at all. My enjoyment of skaters’ programs doesn’t change from the scores they receive afterwards. But I know that it’s important to them, naturally, so for their sake I wish my favorite skaters to be successful enough for them to feel satisfied with their careers.

It's a pity that international ladies line-up at CoR is not that strong. However, as of today the competition in the Russian group looks very interesting. Yes, Medvedeva is an undoubted leader before the season starts. Who are #2 and #3? Radionova and Pogorilaya. Both are at CoR. Anna already showed that she is 215 material - the score Elena is still quite far from. But Radionova has been more stable. I don't think that Sotskova is going to storm the dense Russian ladies' field the way Medvedeva did last season. And Adelina does not seem to be ready. Then the two potential "spoilers" are Yulia and Liza. Of course, the moment of truth will be in the nationals. But CoR looks like semi-final. If Yulia wins there over Anna and Elena the battle for spots in the team will be fierce.

That’s only too true! Have I mentioned how much I hate quotas? I believe everybody eligible for a spot on GP should be eligible to go to Euros/4CC and Worlds, if they earn scores above the tech minimums at GP.

 

[Mohacz]

Hi Ice Dance

"Not sure who "their" is referring to here. To S&K's scores? No. Typically scores rise toward the end of the season. To B&S's scores? They're ranked number 1 in Russia and skating at home in one of their events. They will get the scores if they do an excellent job. To I&Z's scores? They have Shpilband. They'll get the scores if they do an excellent job."

Thanks for your reply. It seems a lot of people concentrate on V&M's comeback, their expected rivalry with P&C and American ice dancers, but although I am also thrilled with all these athletes, my weak point are Russian ice dancers. And ultimately there's so much drama in that particular field that I simply find it entertaining.

As for "their", I meant Viki and Nikita. I have already corrected my original post to make it more clear.

 

[vorravorra]

But I got the info about Samarin’s transfer to seniors from the list of Russian national teams provided by Vorravorra in Kolyada’s thread (p. 42, the two top posts) on July 1:

Did he give the interview after this list had been published?

The interview was published on 29 June, the lists came out on 30 June, so more or less simultaneously. He obviously decided to win some more in juniors before he goes senior and probably figured there would be less competition this season.

 

[chuckm]

There are quite a few men ahead of Samarin in the Senior ranks (Kovtun, Kolyada, Pitkeev, Petrov, to name the younger ones) and he just turned 18, so he might as well try to make a name for himself in the JGP before turning senior. For one thing, he needs to be more consistent---he failed to make the JGPF in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. That should be a goal this year.

 

[Spiral]

Thanks! I understand now. Well, good luck to him in juniors then!

 

[skylark]

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 -

I completely agree with you. I think it's much better for USA to have two great skaters winning or placing high at international events. To me, it's a no-brainer. Pitting Ashley and Gracie against each other makes no sense. They face each other at Nationals anyway.

If Evgenia chose SC and France, and if I understood the selection process correctly as explained earlier in the thread, it meant Ashley wasn't going to get assigned either of those because they are numbers 1 & 2 world medalists. So after that, it was really difficult to place Ashley. I wish she'd gotten NHK, but with CoC that would be 2 assignments back to back. Probably not a good idea for her.

Well, on the plus side I think Ashley and Gracie both will be very well received at Skate America. Maybe equally well, with Ashley because of her World Silver Medal, and with Gracie because she has the local connection and well, because she's Gracie. ) Fans will be thrilled to see them both. That sort of support could be great for both of them and a good beginning to their seasons.

 

[AlexRus]

IWell, on the plus side I think Ashley and Gracie both will be very well received at Skate America.

Both Ashley and Gracie at SA means no Evgenia, Anna, Satoko, Elena at this Event.
They are very strong competitors - Evgenia and Elena won SA, Anna won SC, Satoko medaled both SA and SC.

 

[Arriba627]

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

And Mao will add to the ladies' drama. Should be fun. Come and join us el henry!!!!

 

[skylark]

Both Ashley and Gracie at SA means no Evgenia, Anna, Satoko, Elena at this Event.
They are very strong competitors - Evgenia and Elena won SA, Anna won SC, Satoko medaled both SA and SC.

Oh, I wasn't making any predictions as to medal winners. I said that, to look at the positive side, I thought the fans would receive them well. Actually, it's my experience that audiences at SA receive all the competitors well and are very generous and appreciative of good skating, no matter the nationality of the skaters.

And it seems that Evgenia may have chosen SC or France rather than SA, as she had first choice. If I understand the way the selection process works, and I only know what I've read here, posted by people who keep up with it, it isn't that Ashley and Gracie mean no Evgenia, etc... it may be the reverse.

 

[Spiral]

And it seems that Evgenia may have chosen SC or France rather than SA, as she had first choice. If I understand the way the selection process works, and I only know what I've read here, posted by people who keep up with it, it isn't that Ashley and Gracie mean no Evgenia, etc... it may be the reverse.

It should have been like that, but I’ve read on Javier Fernandez’ thread that he had asked to go to SA several times, including this time and last year, because it’s close to Toronto, but had been rejected by the organizers, despite being the world champion. So it’s possible that Evgenia Medvedeva wanted to go to SA again, but was rejected, because USFSA knows now what she’s capable of and wants one of their ladies to win SA.

 

[skylark]

What a shame! I would dearly love to see Javier Fernandez at Skate America!

 

[chuckm]

The organizers have NOTHING to do with the selection of skaters for the Grand Prix. Representatives of the federations pick the skaters, and the wishes of the top seeds are traditionally honored.

I doubt Medvedeva wanted SA again. She didn't want CoR, either. Those are the two events she had last year, so she probably wanted something different this time.

 

[Tavi...]

It should have been like that, but I’ve read on Javier Fernandez’ thread that he had asked to go to SA several times, including this time and last year, because it’s close to Toronto, but had been rejected by the organizers, despite being the world champion. So it’s possible that Evgenia Medvedeva wanted to go to SA again, but was rejected, because USFSA knows now what she’s capable of and wants one of their ladies to win SA.

Where did you read that?

Frankly, I would imagine they'd want to invite him because (1) he'd draw a bigger audience than Jin, and (2) the US men's medal chances versus Boyang (and Shoma) don't seem significantly better than they would be against Javi.

 

[Rissa]

Where did you read that?

Frankly, I would imagine they'd want to invite him because (1) he'd draw a bigger audience than Jin, and (2) the US men's medal chances versus Boyang (and Shoma) don't seem significantly better than they would be against Javi.

Yeah, seems weird... although last year Max Aaron did win. But this year, the top America man at SA, Adam Rippon, is very unlikely to win over Boyang. And I really thought that federations do take skaters' preferences into account, but if SA just rejected Javier, then the whole wrold-chamption-can-choose-where-he-goes is BS.