2016 Team Challenge Cup - Gen Info/Pre-chat

[Mathman]

The only uncertainty re invitations that I see is whether Team Asia in fact will or will not include the non-Asian country of Australia.

U.S. authorities may take a dim view of issuing visas to the North Korean representatives, at a time when the U.S. is pushing for ever tougher sanctions on that country because of their missile tests, etc., etc. If there is any problem, the event organizers have an easy way out of a controversial situation by just declaring that Australia is in Asia.

Conversely, the North Korean government may not allow their skaters to attend.

On the other hand, if it were I making the decision, I would welcome a big public debate on the issue, to generate more interest in the event. Figure skating diplomacy. :yes:

 

[StitchMonkey]

Seems like a good sign, but not surprising. There are still lots of TCC tickets to sell and more promoting to do -- would look bad if some of the initially selected skaters declined the event immediately.

More likely (as with most of the Americans during 4CC), we will hear of WDs about a week before the event begins.

Late withdraws could become a headache... but would not surprise me.

Let's say that Patrick is out, and somehow Adam wins (feel free to add whatever other what ifs to make this believable to you... and hang in there with me) the fan vote then later Jason withdraws. Adam was next down on the rankings list. So do they replace Jason with the next highest ranking skater after Adam (if he got the fan vote) or does number two on the fan vote get to go (the thinking being Adam replaces Jason and fan vote #2 replaces Adam).

Some people could end up feeling like they wasted a vote if Adam ended up getting to go via a Jason withdraw.

I am not sure how realistic Jason being there is at this point. He has implied he was back in the rink... then promptly went on vacation and was posting pics from California while Kori and go were doing something with Scott Hamilton with no sign of Jason.

 

[ice coverage]

Late withdraws could become a headache... but would not surprise me.

Let's say that Patrick is out, and somehow Adam wins (feel free to add whatever other what ifs to make this believable to you... and hang in there with me) the fan vote then later Jason withdraws. ...

In your hypothetical scenario, I think the rules would allow "the organizer" to invite anyone it wants as Jason's replacement.

The fan vote does not end until Apr 4. And per the Announcement:

If for any reason a Skater cannot participate after April 5, 2016 after accepting an invitation, a Replacement Skater(s) will be invited at the discretion of the organizer.

http://www.isu.org/media/1038/2016-team-challenge-cup-announcement-final_16-02-19_revised.pdf​

---

'Twas announced today that Mao Asada will perform in Lambiel's Apr 22 ice show in Geneva.

https://twitter.com/TheIceLegends/status/704744333535272961​

So presumably Mao is another one who will not want to be a nominee for the fan vote.

 

[Layback11]

^^Mao's absence considered, it will likely be between Rika and Zijun, or maybe So-Youn (assuming they are nominated)...interesting. :yes:

 

[Nathan13]

Jason asked for petition for test skate because he wasn't recovered by the time of the Nationals.
USFSA didn't grant him that chance and announced their pick for the men's team right after Nationals.
Yes he doesn't have the Michelle Kwan status, but to me, this is the opportunity for Jason to show the USFSA that they made the mistake by not giving him a chance.

That's what I meant by "redeeming." I don't know about anyone else, but I was hoping for this to be a big year from him on the international stage, which hasn't been possible because of his injury.

 

[karne]

The only uncertainty re invitations based on World Standings that I see is whether Team Asia in fact will or will not encompass the non-Asian country of Australia.

U.S. authorities may take a dim view of issuing visas to the North Korean representatives, at a time when the U.S. is pushing for ever tougher sanctions on that country because of their missile tests, etc., etc. If there is any problem, the event organizers have an easy way out of a controversial situation by just declaring that Australia is in Asia.

The whole thing is stupid. We're considered Asia for other sporting purposes (like the Asian Cup in Soccer), but the ISU seems to have gone out of its way in the language used to cut us out. And I don't give a flying camel how much "better" the North Korean pair are, Matthew and Paris EARNED that slot. What, are we just going to say, "Whee, you can step outside your country and compete all of twice and suddenly you get to go to a huge shiny new centrepiece competition"? Matthew and Paris have been working bloody hard and they challenged themselves by doing three competitions in three weeks and certainly didn't disgrace themselves there.

It's not like Brendan or Kailani are going to win any popularity votes against the Japanese or Chinese skaters, so what's the big deal? What are you so afraid of, ISU?

:furious:

 

[lavoix]

In my personal opinion, this whole event is stupid. Why can't we just have a team world championships every year?!

 

[MaxSwagg]

In my personal opinion, this whole event is stupid. Why can't we just have a team world championships every year?!

Don't watch. Bye.

 

[4everchan]

The whole thing is stupid. We're considered Asia for other sporting purposes (like the Asian Cup in Soccer), but the ISU seems to have gone out of its way in the language used to cut us out. And I don't give a flying camel how much "better" the North Korean pair are, Matthew and Paris EARNED that slot. What, are we just going to say, "Whee, you can step outside your country and compete all of twice and suddenly you get to go to a huge shiny new centrepiece competition"? Matthew and Paris have been working bloody hard and they challenged themselves by doing three competitions in three weeks and certainly didn't disgrace themselves there.

It's not like Brendan or Kailani are going to win any popularity votes against the Japanese or Chinese skaters, so what's the big deal? What are you so afraid of, ISU?

:furious:

 

[Skater Boy]

US casual viewers might think that a coach of 4 time US National Champion (Jeremy), once a WC, and fluently at English, older (thus more experienced) to be more suitable in the role of a team leader than a younger handsome guy, no matter how popular he is. After all team leader will be there to talk and do the publicity, not to skate and entertain the audience. This is a not popularity contest. It's the matter that whom the general US audience (who will turn the tivi on by that time) prefer to see or that they "feel" more familiar with. Of course it doesn't have to be her. Maybe Shizuka? Or any other Asian veterans.


If both Mao and Yuzuru will be there, Japanese fans will go, whether they speak English or not.


I love Dai, but Christopher Dean and Kristi are both OGM, and I think they're at the age of "settling down" and they're respectable more than enough in the skating world, I don't think they're on a lower level than any other current champions. In fact, they're higher.

Depends on what you call respectable certainly in respect to skating but their and his personal life may not be so respectable. I think the team leader needs to be able to communicate and represent well he team - all of them no jus a certain segment or a few skaters.

 

[StitchMonkey]

The whole thing is stupid. We're considered Asia for other sporting purposes (like the Asian Cup in Soccer), but the ISU seems to have gone out of its way in the language used to cut us out. And I don't give a flying camel how much "better" the North Korean pair are, Matthew and Paris EARNED that slot. What, are we just going to say, "Whee, you can step outside your country and compete all of twice and suddenly you get to go to a huge shiny new centrepiece competition"? Matthew and Paris have been working bloody hard and they challenged themselves by doing three competitions in three weeks and certainly didn't disgrace themselves there.

It's not like Brendan or Kailani are going to win any popularity votes against the Japanese or Chinese skaters, so what's the big deal? What are you so afraid of, ISU?

:furious:

They only thing i disagree with is that i want to have Australasia/Oceania as part of the Americas... i also want South America included. This is not just because I like you, but because we bloody need more variety.;

Though to be honest... you might be placing more blame at the ISU's feet than is fair. There seems a good chance that USFSA should share some blame in the bizarre divisions created. There is no logical reason to have a "Team North America" with only USA and Canada. Team Americas or Team Western Hemisphere would make so much more sense and would be more inclusive. Hell, at this point I would be happier with "Team INSERT CORPORATE SPONSOR HERE" if it was more inclusive.

I want to support this event, and mostly do, but i worry that this is a sign that The Powers That Be for this event are a bit out of touch with the fandom. Australia is well loved and their skaters are no exception. Fandom likes to support up and coming federations. I honestly think having Dodds and Paris and/or Brendan Kerry in the fan vote would actually be selling points in this events favor. I think it is something that people would like about it. In fairness a similar sentiment can be said for the North Korean team (the fandom likes up and comers part) but that is not an excuse for lack of foresight.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Here is the text to the online version of the article that Coyote Chris just posted.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/29/team-north-america-has-all-the-heavy-hitters/

Also this
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/29/scott-hamiltons-biggest-challenges-came-away-from-/

 

[Meoima]

Depends on what you call respectable certainly in respect to skating but their and his personal life may not be so respectable. I think the team leader needs to be able to communicate and represent well he team - all of them no jus a certain segment or a few skaters.

So you are saying Christopher Dean's personal life may not be so respectable?

 

[CoyoteChris]

Seems like a good sign, but not surprising. There are still lots of TCC tickets to sell and more promoting to do -- would look bad if some of the initially selected skaters declined the event immediately.

More likely (as with most of the Americans during 4CC), we will hear of WDs about a week before the event begins.

I think if there really are still good seats available, they messed up my tickets.....I got one of the first early bird offers to go to this event and I got seventh row....I told them I wanted near the ice but I think they gave me the same seats I had
in 2007 nats....maybe I should go down to the box office at the arena and see what's left. Row one is sold out, rows 2-8 are "limited quantities available", website gave me the offer of row D, seats 8-9 so I dont know why they gave me G but oh well, I will sit with my wife and have a good time!

 

[CoyoteChris]

Just out of curiosity, since the purse seems to be quite large, why would anyone go to Geneva instead? Does that show pay that much more??????
"Athletes in the Singles Short Program will compete for $132,000 in prize money. The athletes earning the highest overall score (one man, one woman) will receive a $5,000 bonus each. Athletes competing in the Singles and Team Free Skate events will compete for $455,000 in prize money. The ice dance and pairs teams earning the highest overall score will receive a $10,000 bonus each."

 

[shyne]

Just out of curiosity, since the purse seems to be quite large, why would anyone go to Geneva instead? Does that show pay that much more??????
"Athletes in the Singles Short Program will compete for $132,000 in prize money. The athletes earning the highest overall score (one man, one woman) will receive a $5,000 bonus each. Athletes competing in the Singles and Team Free Skate events will compete for $455,000 in prize money. The ice dance and pairs teams earning the highest overall score will receive a $10,000 bonus each."

Mao probabilly did this to support Stéphane Lambiel. They are great friends.

 

[demarinis5]

Mao probabilly did this to support Stéphane Lambiel. They are great friends.

This and it gives her an opportunity to visit Europe and maybe have a little vacation. I do not think Mao is need of money.

 

[shyne]

Any news on Team Europe yet？ We found out about Team North America Mon ~9

 

[ice coverage]

USFS announcement of Team Europe skaters is below:

http://www.usfsa.org/story?id=89442&type=media​

Fernandez declined.

Otherwise, Team Europe is as expected:

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Roberta Rodeghiero

Sergei Voronov
Michal Brezina

Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov
Nicole della Monica/ Matteo Guarise

Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte
Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron​

 

[shyne]

LADIES
2015 World champion Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS) is a two-time European medalist and five-time Russian medalist. Roberta Rodeghiero (ITA), a three-time national medalist, finished fifth at the 2016 European Championships in January.

MEN
Sergei Voronov (RUS) has competed internationally since 2004, is a seven-time Russian medalist and won the bronze medal at the 2015 European Championships. Like Voronov, Michal Brezina (CZE) has competed on the international circuit since 2004. He is two-time Olympian and has competed at five World Championships.

PAIRS
Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov (RUS) are the 2014 Olympic and World silver medalists, 2015 Grand Prix Final titlists and two-time Russian champions. Nicole della Monica and Matteo Guarise (ITA) have medaled at four consecutive Italian Championships and won their first title in 2016. They finished fourth as part of Team Italy at the 2014 Olympic team event.

ICE DANCE
Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte (ITA) and Gabriella Papdakis and Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) have combined to win the last two World titles. Cappellini and Lanotte claimed the 2014 World title and have medaled at four consecutive European Championships, winning silver in 2016. Papadakis and Cizeron won the 2016 European title after winning the 2015 World title last spring.