2025-26 Grand Prix assignments released

[Jeanie19]

I am wondering whether, with Ilia having a preference for earlier GPs, USFS used one of their host spots to secure Kevin Aymos. In the absence of Ilia, he is the name which would probably help sell the most tickets for them (other than Jason Brown, who they also have). It is the only logical explanation I can think of for USFS giving one of their host spots to a non-US skater (which they clearly have done).

No, Kevin was seeded and he wanted Skate America. And Adam luckily did not choose it.

 

[4everchan]

I am wondering whether, with Ilia having a preference for earlier GPs, USFS used one of their host spots to secure Kevin Aymos. In the absence of Ilia, he is the name which would probably help sell the most tickets for them (other than Jason Brown, who they also have). It is the only logical explanation I can think of for USFS giving one of their host spots to a non-US skater (which they clearly have done).

Kevin is seeded just behind Adam... So I don't think so... I would think he got to choose SKAM considering he does train in the USA (if I recall properly)

The most sensible thing I have read on this thread is that SKAM would have bargained with China and France to get Luc and Dawei 2nd spots at SKAMS in exchange for some spots for their own skaters at their TDF and COC....

 

[Jeanie19]

Kevin is seeded just behind Adam... So I don't think so... I would think he got to choose SKAM considering he does train in the USA (if I recall properly)

The most sensible thing I have read on this thread is that SKAM would have bargained with China and France to get Luc and Dawei 2nd spots at SKAMS in exchange for some spots for their own skaters at their TDF and COC....

Kevin did train in Florida for a number of years. But he trains now in his home rink of Grenoble and part time in Lausanne, Switzerland. Sylvia is still his coach along with Francoise. He works in Florida 2 weeks in the summer. I would imagine he will go from Canada to Florida before heading to New York.

 

[sk8tereighty]

Why has Kaiya not been assigned any events?

 

[Jontor]

What is up with the USFS acting like Canada and not using all of it's spots at it's own GP? Things aren't that dire in terms of depth like Canada has been so what the hell are they doing and why are neither of the top 2 US Pairs team competing there either?

Still, the US men has "gained" 3 spots. Looking at the SB list, Pulkinen and Naumov were nowhere near getting a spot but somehow they did. Plus, US has still a host spot for someone they haven't decided yet.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Why has Kaiya not been assigned any events?

Because Kaiya is far from the top in both World Standing (53rd) or Season's Best Score (73rd). Her only hope was/is a host spot and Skate Canada is (rightfully) holding their last GP spot for whoever is most convincing in the Summer competitions and early Challengers - Kaiya, Katherine (who has a GP spot already), Uliana, Gabby, Fee-Ann, Breken or anyone else who is able to step up to the challenge.

 

[Jontor]

The Replacement Lists for Women and Men:
Updated 21st August

2. Yuna Aoki, Jpn (can only replace a Japanese skater) - has one spot, might get the vacant host spot in Japan
1. Sofia Samodelkina, Kaz - has one spot (is now first after Cranberry Cup?)
3. Jia Shin, Kor - has one spot
4. Livia Kaiser, Sui - has one spot
Yo Takagi, Jpn - JGP
5. Ahsun Yun, Kor - has one spot
6. Anna Pezzetta, Ita - has one spot
7. Katherine Medland Spence, Can - has one spot
Lea Serna, Fra - has two spots
Lindsay Thorngren, USA -resigned?
8. Uliana Shiryaeva, Can
9. Sara-Maude Dupuis, Can - has one spot
10. Iida Karhunen, Fin - has one spot
11. Mai Mihara, Jpn (can only replce a Japanese skater)
12. Mariia Seniuk, Isr
13. Julia Sauter, Rou
14. Seoyoung Kim, Kor
15. Ekaterina Kurakova, Pol - has one spot
16. Olga Mikutina, Aut
17. Fee Ann Landry, Can
18. Janna Jyrkinen, Fin
19. Marina Piredda, Ita
20. Alexandra Feigin, Bul
21. Kristen Spours, Gbr
22. Josephine Lee, USA
23. Yi Zhu, Chn - has one spot
24. Ikura Kushida, Jpn
26. Kaiya Ruiter, Can
27. Minchae Kim, Kor
28. Linnea Ceder, Fin
25. Sonja Hilmer, USA - (is now 25th after Cranberry Cup?)

1. Aleksandr Selevko, Est - has one spot
2. Adam Hagara, Svk - has one spot
3. Vladimir Samoilov, Pol - has one spot
4. Corey Circelli, Ita - has one spot
6. Jacob Sanchez, USA - has one spot (might get the vacant host spot)
7. Andreas Nordebäck, Swe - has one spot
Francois Pitot, Fra - has two spots
8. Lev Vinokur, Isr
9. Camden Pulkinen, USA - has one spot
10. Tomoki Hiwatashi, USA
11. Hyungyeom Kim, Kor
12. Shunsuke Nakamura, Jpn
13. Aleksa Rakic, Can - has one spot
14. Patrick Blackwell, USA - is he doing JGP?
15. Jaekeun Lee, Kor
Genrikh Gartung, Ger -JGP
16. Arlet Levandi, Est
17. Ivan Shmuratko, Ukr
18. Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabaté, Esp
19. Semen Daniliants, Arm
5. Stephen Gogolev, Can - has one spot (is now 5th after Cranberry Cup?)
20. Edward Appleby, Gbr
21. Maxim Naumov, USA - has one spot
22. Nozomu Yoshioka, Jpn
23. Mark Gorodnitsky, Isr
24. Juheon Lim, Kor
25. Fedir Kulish, Lat
26. Daniel Martynov, USA
28. Nikita Starostin, Ger
29. Kornel Witkowski, Pol
30. Joseph Klein, USA
27. Tamir Kuperman, Isr - (is now 27th after Cranberry Cup?)
31. Haru Kakiuchi, Jpn
32. Kyrylo Marsak, Ukr
33. Liam Kapeikis, USA
34. Donovan Carrillo, Mex
Lukas Vaclavik, Svk - JGP
35. Wesley Chiu, Can
Yaroslav Paniot, USA - retired
36. Yu-Hsiang Li, Tpe

I guess the ISU somehow "forgot" that Loena Hendrickx competed last year at the Shanghai Trophy as she really wasn't eligible for the comeback-rule, or was she?
I hope Sofia Samodelkina and Jia Shin are ready to jump in if there are wd's. And I hope Kaiser, Yun, Pezzetta, Thorngren sign up for all the early Challengers (and win) so they can climb the replacement list.

How Pitot, Pulkinen and Naumov got one spot is beyond me. There were many skaters ranked much higher that could have used a second spot.

 

[Ruthypegs]

The Replacement Lists for Women and Men:

1. Yuna Aoki, Jpn (can only replace a Japanese skater) - has one spot, might get the vacant host spot in Japan
2. Sofia Samodelkina, Kaz - has one spot
3. Jia Shin, Kor - has one spot
4. Livia Kaiser, Sui - has one spot
5. Yo Takagi, Jpn (can only replace a Japanese skater)
6. Ahsun Yun, Kor - has one spot
7. Anna Pezzetta, Ita - has one spot
8. Katherine Medland Spence, Can - has one spot
9. Lea Serna, Fra - has one spot (might get the vacant host spot)
10. Lindsay Thorngren, USA
11. Uliana Shiryaeva, Can
12. Sara-Maude Dupuis, Can - has one spot
13. Iida Karhunen, Fin - has one spot
14. Mai Mihara, Jpn (can only replce a Japanese skater)
15. Mariia Seniuk, Isr
16. Julia Sauter, Rou
17. Seoyoung Kim, Kor
18. Ekaterina Kurakova, Pol - has one spot
19. Olga Mikutina, Aut
20. Fee Ann Landry, Can
21. Janna Jyrkinen, Fin
22. Marina Piredda, Ita
23. Alexandra Feigin, Bul
24. Kristen Spours, Gbr
25. Josephine Lee, USA
26. Yi Zhu, Chn - has one spot
27. Ikura Kushida, Jpn
28. Kaiya Ruiter, Can
29. Minchae Kim, Kor
30. Linnea Ceder, Fin


1. Aleksandr Selevko, Est - has one spot
2. Adam Hagara, Svk - has one spot
3. Koshiro Shimada, Jpn
4. Vladimir Samoilov, Pol - has one spot
5. Corey Circelli, Ita - has one spot
6. Jacob Sanchez, USA - has one spot
7. Andreas Nordebäck, Swe - has one spot
8. Francois Pitot, Fra - has one spot
9. Lev Vinokur, Isr
10. Camden Pulkinen, USA - has one spot
11. Tomoki Hiwatashi, USA
12. Hyungyeom Kim, Kor
13. Shunsuke Nakamura, Jpn
14. Aleksa Rakic, Can - has one spot
15. Patrick Blackwell, USA
16. Jaekeun Lee, Kor
17. Genrikh Gartung, Ger
18. Arlet Levandi, Est
19. Ivan Shmuratko, Ukr
20. Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabaté, Esp
21. Semen Daniliants, Arm
22. Stephen Gogolev, Can - has one spot
23. Edward Appleby, Gbr
24. Maxim Naumov, USA - has one spot
25. Nozomu Yoshioka, Jpn
26. Mark Gorodnitsky, Isr
27. Juheon Lim, Kor
28. Fedir Kulish, Lat
29. Daniel Martynov, USA
30. Nikita Starostin, Ger
31. Kornel Witkowski, Pol
32. Joseph Klein, USA
33. Tamir Kuperman, Isr
34. Haru Kakiuchi, Jpn
35. Kyrylo Marsak, Ukr
36. Liam Kapeikis, USA
37. Donovan Carrillo, Mex
38. Lukas Vaclavik, Svk
39. Wesley Chiu, Can
40. Yaroslav Paniot, USA
41. Yu-Hsiang Li, Tpe

I guess the ISU somehow "forgot" that Loena Hendrickx competed last year at the Shanghai Trophy as she really wasn't eligible for the comeback-rule, or was she?
I hope Sofia Samodelkina and Jia Shin will get a second spot. And I hope Kaiser, Yun, Pezzetta, Thorngren sign up for all the early Challengers (and win) so they can climb the replacement list.

How Pitot, Pulkinen and Naumov got one spot is beyond me. There were many skaters ranked much higher that could have used a second spot. And Koshiro Shimada got none!!

Thanks for put together such a comprehensive list! Hasn't Koshiro moved to Ice Dance?

 

[Jontor]

Thanks for put together such a comprehensive list! Hasn't Koshiro moved to Ice Dance?

You're right!! My bad, I'll remove him from the list.

 

[AlexBreeze]

10. Lindsay Thorngren, USA

She has been removed from WS and USFS international selection pool.

 

[Jontor]

She has been removed from WS and USFS international selection pool.

Yes I know. But how you can remove someone from the World Standings list is strange to me. It's not like she was very high up at the moment.
Still, she is in the SB list. But I guess she will never get the chance to replace someone if she is next in line...

 

[4everchan]

Still, the US men has "gained" 3 spots. Looking at the SB list, Pulkinen and Naumov were nowhere near getting a spot but somehow they did. Plus, US has still a host spot for someone they haven't decided yet.

yes.. that's the issue... they gave away a host spot to trade in with france and china host spots... At least, it looks more and more like this...
What it does, is that it may have given Max and Camden spots... BUT... it also means that the American public will have one less local skater to cheer for at SKAM... they can instead cheer for Luc or Dawei.

If host countries start playing that game it will get dangerous. Where will it stop ?

 

[Jontor]

yes.. that's the issue... they gave away a host spot to trade in with france and china host spots... At least, it looks more and more like this...
What it does, is that it may have given Max and Camden spots... BUT... it also means that the American public will have one less local skater to cheer for at SKAM... they can instead cheer for Luc or Dawei.

If host countries start playing that game it will get dangerous. Where will it stop ?

So, in the end US men gained one spot. The US could have used two host spots for Pulkinen and Naumov. And that, plus Brown, would have completed the US entries.
Now they have a spare host spot instead.

 

[4everchan]

So, in the end US men gained one spot. The US could have used two host spots for Pulkinen and Naumov. And that, plus Brown, would have completed the US entries.
Now they have a spare host spot instead.

i got that but yeah.... it's a slippery slope...

the goal of host spots is to have your local skaters for your local fans....

if you send Max and Camden away... in order to gain one extra spot but only have 2 spots left at home because you made deals with China and France..... then... you are shortchanging the fans.... outside hardcore fans who will buy tickets to see Luc or Dawei ? I am a hardcore fan and i wouldn't.

Now, who would like to see Max ? Many. Camden, same.... but they will most likely not or will only see one of them. It is like SKAM thought having Jason (and Kevin) was good enough and they could do whatever they wanted with their host spots...

I find this a bit unfair to the fans. Also if the skaters may appreciate having more spots, skating at home is special. They are denied that chance.

If this becomes common practice, the ISU will change the rules

 

[yuumagical]

I guess the ISU somehow "forgot" that Loena Hendrickx competed last year at the Shanghai Trophy as she really wasn't eligible for the comeback-rule, or was she?
I hope Sofia Samodelkina and Jia Shin are ready to jump in if there are wd's. And I hope Kaiser, Yun, Pezzetta, Thorngren sign up for all the early Challengers (and win) so they can climb the replacement list.

How Pitot, Pulkinen and Naumov got one spot is beyond me. There were many skaters ranked much higher that could have used a second spot.

I was wondering how Loena would be able to come back with two spots as well until I read an explanation on another forum that since the Shanghai Trophy is an invitational event and its results don't count for World Standings, it technically isn't an eligible competition. If the Shanghai Trophy isn't a "competition" per se, then that easily paves the way for Loena to come back. I would love to hear whether this explanation makes sense to you or not.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

But how you can remove someone from the World Standings list is strange to me. It's not like she was very high up at the moment.

She was removed because she officially retired. World Standings lists only take into account eligible persons, so she couldn't stay on the list once she made her intention to retire clear to her federation/the ISU.
(And that is actually much fairer on other skaters who are still active, at least in my humble opinion.)

Still, she is in the SB list.

SB lists are essentially "fixed" historic documents - Unless someone ends up being disqualified, they stay the same way once the season draws to a close.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

I was wondering how Loena would be able to come back with two spots as well until I read an explanation on another forum that since the Shanghai Trophy is an invitational event and its results don't count for World Standings, it technically isn't an eligible competition. If the Shanghai Trophy isn't a "competition" per se, then that easily paves the way for Loena to come back. I would love to hear whether this explanation makes sense to you or not.

Beccarri/Guarise were in the same situation (actually even a bit better, because they still are in the top 24 in World Standing) and they got nothing. Guess they didn't use the comeback rule and/or got screwed over by how small the Grand Prix pairs field is. Pairs is the only discipline where skaters regularly don't get their guaranteed GP spot (This season, for example, two pairs in the top 24 in World Standing got nothing, last year it was one).

 

[Jontor]

She was removed because she officially retired. World Standings lists only take into account eligible persons, so she couldn't stay on the list once she made her intention to retire clear to her federation/the ISU.
(And that is actually much fairer on other skaters who are still active, at least in my humble opinion.)

SB lists are essentially "fixed" historic documents - Unless someone ends up being disqualified, they stay the same way once the season draws to a close.

She has retired?? I didn't know that.

But it doesn't explain the removal in the WS list. Yelim Kim, Emmi Peltonen and Lindsay van Zundert all officially retired this season and they are still on the WS list. I have never seen a skater removed before.

 

[AlexBreeze]

She has retired?? I didn't know that.

She hasn't announced anything but this is the only thing the removals could mean.

Yelim Kim, Emmi Peltonen and Lindsay van Zundert all officially retired this season and they are still on the WS list.

This means they didn't inform the ISU.

I have never seen a skater removed before.

James/Radford, Hanyu, Hubbell/Donohue, many others.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

She has retired?? I didn't know that.

Apart from her removal from the World Standings list and the USFS international selection pool, for which there are only really one, at most two, possible reason(s) for a singles skater (retirement or possibly suspension, and the latter is way more unlikely anyways), people who skate at her rink have said that they haven't seen her since Nationals. Altogether, the picture seems pretty clear.

But it doesn't explain the removal in the WS list. Yelim Kim, Emmi Peltonen and Lindsay van Zundert all officially retired this season and they are still on the WS list.

Like @AlexBreeze said, this means the ISU was not informed of their retirement. The ISU is not sitting there and going through tons of social media posts or press releases for retirement announcements, they rely on the national federations to relay retirements and splits to them. Some feds are better about this, like Germany or Canada, others are more hit-and-miss (like the USA). Some skaters don't even inform their own federations (for example, lots of Russian girlies in the recent past), and so they stay on the WS lists until they drop off naturally.