2025-26 Grand Prix assignments released

[lariko]

What I find curious this season that men's spots are tight but they can't seem to give away the women's ones. We are likely to have 2 stages with 11 women.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

What I find curious this season that men's spots are tight but they can't seem to give away the women's ones. We are likely to have 2 stages with 11 women.

Timing of withdrawals is everything. Cup of China literally starts in three days, with official practices starting tomorrow. Both the first and second alternates for China's host spot (Wandi Xu and Hongyi Chen) are training in Beijing, which is a three-hour flight away from Chongqing, so it might not be feasible for them to be notified and travel within the time constraints.

Not sure about Skate Canada's spot - Visa (Samodelkina), injury (Samodelkina, Seoyoung Kim)? They might have had a few skaters deny a spot and are now running out of time (The next two skaters who could compete at SCI are Mariia Seniuk and Iida Karhunen, who both train in Europe).

 

[lariko]

Timing of withdrawals is everything. Cup of China literally starts in three days, with official practices starting tomorrow. Both the first and second alternates for China's host spot (Wandi Xu and Hongyi Chen) are training in Beijing, which is a three-hour flight away from Chongqing, so it might not be feasible for them to be notified and travel within the time constraints.

Not sure about Skate Canada's spot - Visa (Samodelkina), injury (Samodelkina, Seoyoung Kim)? They might have had a few skaters deny a spot and are now running out of time (The next two skaters who could compete at SCI are Mariia Seniuk and Iida Karhunen, who both train in Europe).

Yep, I know, just a luck of the draw plus late withdrawals and more athletes playing it safer (which is a GOOD thing). I wish it was a bit easier to offer a spot to an athlete. But, they went to stricter guidelines for a reason, in order not to bypass the skaters who earned their placement. I am still excited over the Skate Canada line-up even if Samodelkina can't sub in. Lol, sorry, I am on one track there, just can't wait to go. The advantage of being from Kazakhstan is that she can literally sub into any event without breaking the country max rule when she is healthy. Seniuk can also join any stage she is eligible for.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Let's go into politics. All skaters invited to a Grand Prix wherever & whenever it is, should get an instant visa from the host country for an appropriate timing and duration. Ah.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

For you, being accurate is splitting hairs. And giving low levels for flawed elements is "being nit-picky" (if it's a US skater or one of your favorites).

In this case, the exceptions are of interest because they match the present circumstances. Skate America timing Location Olympic season . That set of circumstances led me to suspect that the US had asked for the change in schedule. I was wrong. And pointing it out is neither nit-picky or splitting hairs. It's accurate.

I have no idea what you are going on about at this point, @NanaPat. 'Low-levels for flawed elements.' Huh!? We are not discussing 'low-levels for flawed elements' in this thread. You can be right or wrong about whatever you like.

In this thread, a consensus was reached a long time ago. Except for a few posters making much ado about a couple of U.S. men each getting one GP assignment. And one of the men in question already withdrew with injury, which gave another U.S. man, Hiwatashi, two GP spots, because a second pullout with injury by an additional U.S. man, Broussard, ended up giving Stephen Gogolev two GP spots.

A lot of us were wrong in thinking the U.S. had somehow shortchanged their men by only having two spots at Skate America. After I checked the numbers, I was the first to point out the that U.S. men have the highest number of entries, even after the two recent injury withdrawals, which appears to be confirmation that a deal was struck when the U.S. offered to switch scheduling dates with France.

As far as I'm concerned, I would have loved to see Arlet Levandi get one spot over Camden Pulkinen, or Aleksandr Selevko get two spots over either Broussard or Pulkinen. But that's not how it works, and we as fans don't get to choose. At least, Selevko is next up on the alternates list. All of us as fans have our favorites and our differing points of view.

As @Kiki5375 indicated: 🕊

 

[elektra blue]

Ok, let's agree that we will never really find out what went on behind the scenes at ISU and USFS and just be happy to see some very good skaters. Even the ones at the end of the ranking did well last weekend so the assignment was not wrong.

why are you stopping them? i'm having fun!

want some?

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

What I find curious this season that men's spots are tight but they can't seem to give away the women's ones. We are likely to have 2 stages with 11 women.

Well, outside of the top ladies, usually the final two groups, and a few aesthetically interesting ladies with less proficient technical skills in earlier groups, the entire men's field is much more exciting to watch. I typically enjoy watching all of the men. While the top ladies are having more exciting and entertaining battles in recent years, and a few creative ladies like Lara Naki Gutmann are on the rise, the women's field is my least favorite of the four disciplines. In a different era, I was very captivated by a number of fascinating female skaters.

I know many of today's fans are very passionate about women's singles. I'm a bit more detached about the women and more emotionally engaged with pairs, and excited about the men and ice dance fields.

 

[lariko]

Well, outside of the top ladies, usually the final two groups, and a few aesthetically interesting ladies with less proficient technical skills in earlier groups, the entire men's field is much more exciting to watch. I typically enjoy watching all of the men. While the top ladies are having more exciting and entertaining battles in recent years, and a few creative ladies like Lara Naki Gutmann are on the rise, the women's field is my least favorite of the four disciplines. In a different era, I was very captivated by a number of fascinating female skaters.

I know many of today's fans are very passionate about women's singles. I'm a bit more detached about the women and more emotionally engaged with pairs, and excited about the men and ice dance fields.

I am not strongly invested in senior international women at the moment, just find it odd that chance is playing musical chairs with them in this GP.

 

[Weathergal]

This is not about Pulkinen not being at a high level. As fans, who are we to determine what a skater's level of ability might end up being from season-to-season. There are so many factors involved. For Pulkinen, it has recently been his struggles with injury and trying to balance his training schedule with academic studies. At his best, Pulkinen has achieved great results. Yes, he has been inconsistent, too, which does not mean he didn't deserve a GP assignment this season. He got an invite, for whatever reason.

The reason this discussion began is because Jontor made a huge, negative big deal about both Camden Pulkinen and Maxim Naumov each receiving one GP assignment this season. Just because some fans may dislike certain skaters or are down on the U.S. and some of their skaters, does NOT mean those skaters are not deserving of at least one GP assignment. Pulkinen has received two GP assignments for multiple seasons. Yes, he has been injured, and he's prioritized academic studies, but that does not mean, at his best, he is not highly competitive. His 5th place finish and small bronze medal in the fp at 2022 Worlds are proof of his top-level skill and talent.

I do not see the point of Jontor being so dismissive of Pulkinen and Naumov each receiving one GP assignment. Jontor has continued to draw this out when, as I said a while ago in this thread, Pulkinen has withdrawn with injury, so there's no reason for Jontor to keep piling on about Pulkinen's Cup of China invite this season.

I didn't say Pulkinen doesn't have the ability. I said he hasn't been performing at a high level.

Jontor and other posters disagreed with your assessment of the way the US is handling the Grand Prix and why -- and they fact checked you.

Also I didn't interpret Jontor's comments as being dismissive of them getting assignments, etc.

I'm aware of why it started and have a much different opinion of the conversation and that's OK.

My point is that I agree with Pulkinen - even though I like him - only getting one GP assignment this year.

Agree to disagree. It isn't really a big deal.