2018-2019 GP Assignments

[Colonel Green]

Yes but Hanyu and Javi have both showed up at SCI when Patrick was competing there so I think they also look at who would generate buzz and interest for the event. This is where I have hope that Hanyu and Medvedeva May end up there

Yuzuru and Javi were seeded skaters and the reigning World Champions in those years; the Fed had to invite them.

Now, I think there’s every reason to think Yuzuru will be there. The Canadian fed doesn’t have a dog in the men’s GPF hunt, and inviting Yuzuru would be a favour they could exchange for something useful from Japan elsewhere (such as in the women’s event, or getting Julianne and Charlie a second event invite).

Hmm I think there's too many good Japanese ladies to keep them all away (Miyahara, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Mihara, Kihira, Honda...). This is the thing, ofc feds play their games to protect their best skaters, but either they'll have SC with one of the top seeds, Gabby and then a bunch of lower ranked skaters and have a terrible event, or they'll have to invite at least one or two more ladies who are threats to Gabby.

As I addressed in a paragraph below the one you quoted, promoting a skater does not mean excluding all viable competition. That’s not realistically possible. That is not the same thing as inviting somebody who is virtually guaranteed to win.

Gabby will have to do well to get on the podium. That’s up to her and the skate gods. But in an event where she does well and has even a modicum of luck (and if you were spiritual you might say she’s due a little good karma), she can get gold, or failing that silver. If they invite Medvedeva, she has to fight just to come second.

There’s simply no reason for the Fed to worsen her chances. They don’t get anything out of it.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

Hmm I think there's too many good Japanese ladies to keep them all away (Miyahara, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Mihara, Kihira, Honda...). This is the thing, ofc feds play their games to protect their best skaters, but either they'll have SC with one of the top seeds, Gabby and then a bunch of lower ranked skaters and have a terrible event, or they'll have to invite at least one or two more ladies who are threats to Gabby.

That’s true
And if they want to protect Gabby, the Russian invites should be Konstantinova, Radionova, and Tuktamysheva
I’d say that to protect Gabby, the Japanese invites should be Yura Matsuda, Rika Kihira (good but very inconsistent) and Mako Yamashita (good but won’t get the high scores of others)

 

[Sorrento]

Hmm I think there's too many good Japanese ladies to keep them all away (Miyahara, Sakamoto, Higuchi, Mihara, Kihira, Honda...). This is the thing, ofc feds play their games to protect their best skaters, but either they'll have SC with one of the top seeds, Gabby and then a bunch of lower ranked skaters and have a terrible event, or they'll have to invite at least one or two more ladies who are threats to Gabby.

I think Honda, Sakamoto and perhaps Kihira are not dangerous to compete against Gabby. If she does well there's no way either of these ladies get ahead of her with the help of good GOE and PCS. So I'd invite them to SCI, why not.

 

[Sorrento]

That’s true
And if they want to protect Gabby, the Russian invites should be Konstantinova, Radionova, and Tuktamysheva

You forgot Leonova, she still wants to compete.

 

[moriel]

You forgot Leonova, she still wants to compete.

Dont think she is getting GPs this season

 

[Spirals for Miles]

You forgot Leonova, she still wants to compete.

There’s no way she’s getting a GP:
-she’s not in the top 24 for either the SB or WR and didn’t make the top twelve at worlds because she wasn’t there, so she’s not guaranteed one at all
-she finished very low at Russian nationals — in something like the bottom three or four
-there’s too many more deserving girls or others that have more fed love or can be counted on to deliver

So I don’t think her name will even be on the list...

 

[yoloaxel]

I think Honda, Sakamoto and perhaps Kihira are not dangerous to compete against Gabby. If she does well there's no way either of these ladies get ahead of her with the help of good GOE and PCS. So I'd invite them to SCI, why not.

Sakamoto's PB is actually higher (by a fraction) than Gabby's. I agree on Honda and Kihira being less dangerous, but then again, Gabby is pretty inconsistent as well, esp at the beginning of the season. I just think it's impossible to fully 'protect' her at SCI regardless of whether Medvedeva is there or not, if that makes sense. I hope Gabby does great whoever they send at SCI against her

 

[Andrea82]

Skate Canada last year

Osmond, Chartrand, Austman
Sotskova, Pogo
Honda, Hongo
Wagner, Hicks, Chen
Lecavelier
Craine

They would probably be ok to get Honda and Hongo again. Yes, a clean Honda beats a messy Daleman...but they can't have 10 versions of Austman to fill the slots. Someone decent needs to be there
Hicks and Chen from USA are also ok from their point of view.
Nagasu instead of Wagner?

The Russian names suggested by Spirals for Miles are probably who Skate Canada is aiming at.
I think Med is more avoidable than Sotskova because there are other Feds (China, France) without a lady in contention that would like to get Med to generate buzz.

 

[Skatefan15]

Is there any way that Yuzu would be at SA?

 

[Sorrento]

BTW what about Eunsoo Lim? Will she rather start her season at SA than at SCI?

 

[frida80]

Is there any way that Yuzu would be at SA?

None. Nathan will be there. SC is more likely.

 

[Sorrento]

Is there any way that Yuzu would be at SA?

Why not? I just hope he doesn't go to China. Superstitious...:roll5:

 

[Colonel Green]

Is there any way that Yuzu would be at SA?

Highly unlikely he would ask, probably only marginally more likely that they’d agree if he did (and there only because Hanyu has a bizarre streak of always blowing his first Grand Prix event).

 

[chuckm]

I think Honda, Sakamoto and perhaps Kihira are not dangerous to compete against Gabby. If she does well there's no way either of these ladies get ahead of her with the help of good GOE and PCS. So I'd invite them to SCI, why not.

Honda had a tough season last year, but she still beat Gabby at CoC. Sakamoto beat Gabby at SA, and decisively at the Olympics main event, scoring in the 210 range both times.

 

[shiroKJ]

Highly unlikely he would ask, probably only marginally more likely that they’d agree if he did (and there only because Hanyu has a bizarre streak of always blowing his first Grand Prix event).

If the fed's are smart, they'd take advantage of this and make sure their #1 goes against Yuzuru in his first GP (where him getting silver is almost guaranteed) rather than his 2nd.

Also, Kihira's moving to seniors? I was hoping she'd try again for a JWC medal

 

[Colonel Green]

Honda had a tough season last year, but she still beat Gabby at CoC. Sakamoto beat Gabby at SA, and decisively at the Olympics main event, scoring in the 210 range both times.

Hence the “if she does well” in the post you quoted.

 

[Sorrento]

Honda had a tough season last year, but she still beat Gabby at CoC. Sakamoto beat Gabby at SA, and decisively at the Olympics main event, scoring in the 210 range both times.

So what? It was all previous season. Honda changed her training base, I don't expect her to shine at the beginning of GP series. Sakamoto- I think- was very motivated to get her Olympic spot. This upcoming season I think some ladies will be a little more relaxed about getting to GPF. Worlds on the other hand would be a more interesting event to get their spot to compete.

 

[Sorrento]

If the fed's are smart, they'd take advantage of this and make sure their #1 goes against Yuzuru in his first GP (where him getting silver is almost guaranteed) rather than his 2nd.

I have a strange feeling that this season under new rules Hanyu might actually win his first GPF, no matter who would compete against him.

 

[Colonel Green]

I have a strange feeling that this season under new rules Hanyu might actually win his first GPF, no matter who would compete against him.

He’ll find a way to not win! Heh.

As far as the matchups go, if Japan is rigid in trying to keep Yuzu and Shoma apart, it gets really complicated. With Nathan doing SA and France, the most logical pairings for the others in the first seed are Shoma at SCI and NHK and Mikhail at CoC and CoR. But if Japan wants Yuzuru at NHK, that doesn’t work. And given the limitations on where Yuzu can be invited (no SA, CoC, or CoR), it’s virtually impossible to avoid him competing against Shoma and Nathan at at least one event each.

 

[LucyH]

He’ll find a way to not win! Heh.

As far as the matchups go, if Japan is rigid in trying to keep Yuzu and Shoma apart, it gets really complicated. With Nathan doing SA and France, the most logical pairings for the others in the first seed are Shoma at SCI and NHK and Mikhail at CoC and CoR. But if Japan wants Yuzuru at NHK, that doesn’t work. And given the limitations on where Yuzu can be invited (no SA, CoC, or CoR), it’s virtually impossible to avoid him competing against Shoma and Nathan at at least one event each.

Just want him at SCI please!!! Ideally him and Med but I will take 1 of 2. Ha ha