4CC/Worlds & Weir's Withdrawal

[fumie_fumie]

I think for B/A there's also a bit of strategy of not wanting to face V/M again before worlds. While they've placed above them all season, there's no guarantee that if the international judges wanted to send DomShabs into worlds as the uncontested favourites, they might just give V/M a win here. Plus there's always the chance that V/M would win it on their own merits.... I believe, all conspiracy theories aside, it would be likely that B/A would take top spot at 4CC, however, they really have nothing to win, so to speak, by going, only something to lose.

It's definitely in D/W's best interests to get their basically all-new FD out in front of international judges. U.S. nationals isn't really all that indicative of what they can expect on the world stage. I'm sure they want to see how close they can get to V/M.

Good point. they would lost 2 weeks for a competition that is not really important to them. It is not as though they need points in world standings.

- 1 day to fly to Korea
- 5 days for actual competition, official practice and gala
- 1 day to fly back to US
- 1 to 2 weeks to get over jet leg: They cannot give 100% on practice during that time, because they will be dead tired.

American or Canadian skaters can lose up to 3 weeks to 4CC. This leaves you with 2 to 3 weeks to prepare for Worlds.

 

[attyfan]

As another poster noted, it depends on which each skater thinks he or she could accomplish. For example, Evan may want a really good skate to reduce, if not eliminate, from people's memory the way he skated at Nats.

 

[Mathman]

American or Canadian skaters can lose up to 3 weeks to 4CC. This leaves you with 2 to 3 weeks to prepare for Worlds.

Can't you prepare for worlds in two to three weeks? Are you better prepared if you stay home and practice your routine every day for 6 weeks? How much better are you going to get after the first three?

Do athletes in other sports require this much preparation? Basketball players compete for 48 minutes every night all season long, then they have maybe 3 days to prepare for the playoffs.

 

[PolymerBob]

1 to 2 weeks to get over jet leg: They cannot give 100% on practice during that time, because they will be dead tired.

1 to 2 weeks to get over jet lag? I don't know about that. I've worked some odd overnight and weekend schedules in my time. (The perks of being a chemical engineer.) But I found that no matter how dead tired I was, one good 9 or 10 hour sleep - and I was good to go.

 

[Hsuhs]

speaking of Daisuke, do you think that factored into his not going?

I think it did. Why bother if the best you can hope for, is placing 2nd? On the other hand, Johnny seems not to know who Daisuke is and how the guy skates, since he referred to him as 'that Japanese boy' in a recent interview, and couldn't recall just one remarkable skate in the GPF? Why fear something that doesn't exist?

And I'm awaiting Evan to follow.

 

[chuckm]

I think it did. Why bother if the best you can hope for, is placing 2nd? On the other hand, Johnny seems not to know who Daisuke is and how the guy skates, since he referred to him as 'that Japanese boy' in a recent interview, and couldn't recall just one remarkable skate in the GPF? Why fear something that doesn't exist?

.

Johnny knows perfectly well who Daisuke Takahashi is. He competed against him at the GPF. In a large field, maybe one skater wouldn't stand out. But when there are only 6, each skater sees the others daily on the practice rink as well as in the one and only warmup group.

 

[Medusa]

Johnny knows perfectly well who Daisuke Takahashi is. He competed against him at the GPF. In a large field, maybe one skater wouldn't stand out. But when there are only 6, each skater sees the others daily on the practice rink as well as in the one and only warmup group.

I don't think Johnny decided not to go because he thinks he has no chance to win (which is not that clear by the way, Takahashi is not Plushenko). He hasn't been at 4CC since 2002 and probably doesn't think it's necessary or particularily useful for him to go there. It's his decision.

He probably knows who Takahashi is and couldn't remember his name back then in the interview. But that was actually the only thing out of all the stuff Johnny says that ever bothered me. Not knowing the name of the skater (or pretending not to know the name), who is Vice-World-Champion and a great and impressive skater and calling him Japanese Boy.

I am never bothered by all the other stuff he says, use of cuss words (very few people in Europe are bothered by swear words anyway, even if they are said in public), drug references or his quick-witted comments in the truth-booth last week (which I actually found quite amusing). I don't even care that he says that he doesn't like Lysacek, it is his opinion, everyone is entitled to one and to the right to voice that opinion in public. But the Japanese Boy-comment, that was a derogative comment, that was respectless, more insulting than any "I-don't-like-you", ignorant and inappropriate.

But back to the topic. I just think that Johnny wants to be really prepared for the Worlds, he has come a long way this season. He started out with clean, technically less challenging programs this season, upgraded his freeskate with the Quad for Nationals and probably wants everything a bit more consistent for Worlds. He probably feels that 4CC would be too much of a break in his training routine and every competition with Lysacek is emotionally challenging for both of them. He wants to save his energy for the next emotional rollercoaster at worlds.

 

[BelleFilleYuna]

I think Johnny already made his mind early in the season not to participate in 4CC. I heard that Johnny's fans from Korea asked Johnny's mother at Cup of China and she told them he is not going to 4CC.

 

[Hsuhs]

I think Johnny already made his mind early in the season not to participate in 4CC. I heard that Johnny's fans from Korea asked Johnny's mother at Cup of China and she told them he is not going to 4CC.

If he wasn't planning to go in the 1st place, then it's no surprise he isn't going.

But the Japanese Boy-comment, that was a derogative comment, that was respectless, more insulting than any "I-don't-like-you", ignorant and inappropriate.

I too sense some unpleasantness in Johnny's calling Daisuke that, but, factually, Daisuke is a young male and he's from Japan.

 

[jennylovskt]

Actually, if Weir goes to 4CC, I will be surprised. He didn't go even when 4CC was in USA last year. I just don't know why and how he could turn down the offer?

 

[Mathman]

I don't think any athlete is afraid of competition.

If Johnny is staying home from Four Contintnet because he is afraid to face Takahashi, I guess he will stay home from Worlds, too, for the same reason.

 

[jennylovskt]

I have just found this from his official website:

January 31, 2008
Johnny withdrew today from the upcoming Four Continents Championships in Goyang City, Korea. He plans to use the time to rest following his silver medal performance at the U.S. Championships so he can be fresh for March's World Championships.

"I am back on the ice already preparing for the World Championships in Sweden, but the trip to South Korea and competing again just a few weeks after the U.S. Championships seemed too tall an order," Johnny said in a news release. "“I am completely focused on performing well and competing with the world's best in Sweden. I'll be rooting for all the U.S. skaters at Four Continents."

 

[Ptichka]

I am sure that Johnny's decision was taking carefully with his coach. And I do trust that Zmievskaya has enough experience to know exactly how far she can and should push her athletes.

 

[Hsuhs]

In the end it doesn't matter, to me. Whatever reason they come up with, Johnny isn't going, basta. Last year he didn't go either, worked his ... off instead for that 8th result at Worlds. Fine.

As long as Takahashi is planning to go, I consider this event worth following. It's been only a month, but I'm missing Daisuke's skating already. Besides, in a weak field he'll prob feel comfortable enough to try 2 quads in the long program, again. It's not that I've suddenly become a quad girl, but he's so obsessed with it, and his fed's been puttig pressure on him and has criticized him in media, so yeah, it's good he's saying he'll go.

 

[seafoam]

He probably knows who Takahashi is and couldn't remember his name back then in the interview. But that was actually the only thing out of all the stuff Johnny says that ever bothered me. Not knowing the name of the skater (or pretending not to know the name), who is Vice-World-Champion and a great and impressive skater and calling him Japanese Boy.

Did you see the video interview where he says that Daisuke Takahashi (and, yes, he pronounced him name perfectly, lol) is one of his favorite skaters to watch? I think it's on the website that must not be named. He also named Tomas Verner as one of his favorites. Maybe he just had a momentary brain glitch. It happens.

Johnny obviously has great respect for the Japanese people and culture--it's one of the reasons he is so popular there, I think.

ETA: I was mistaken. The video is not on Icenetwork, it's on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1hVzyI0xnk

 

[Tonichelle]

seafoam - icenetwork is allowed now....

 

[dwiggin3]

snip
I am never bothered by all the other stuff he says, use of cuss words (very few people in Europe are bothered by swear words anyway, even if they are said in public), drug references or his quick-witted comments in the truth-booth last week (which I actually found quite amusing). I don't even care that he says that he doesn't like Lysacek, it is his opinion, everyone is entitled to one and to the right to voice that opinion in public. But the Japanese Boy-comment, that was a derogative comment, that was respectless, more insulting than any "I-don't-like-you", ignorant and inappropriate..

Medusa - good post. I agree with you on this.

 

[chuckm]

Where did you see the nationality list for worlds judges? I wouldn't mind having a gander at that.

If you go to the ISU website, under ISU Communications, it's ISU Communication 1475. The website seems to be down today, so I can't provide the link.

In any case, here are the Ice Dance judges drawn for Worlds:
CD and OD: AUT, AZE, CAN, CHN, FRA, GER, GBR, ISR, JPN, LTU, USA, UZB (three former SSRs---AZE, LTU and UZB---plus a Russia-friendly ISR judge)

FD: ARM, BUL, EST, RUS plus 8 judges randomly selected from the CD/OD judges.
The FD panel starts out with 3 former SSRs (ARM, EST and RUS) and the possibility is that some or all of the 3 CD/OD former SSRs will also be on the FD panel. There's also no guarantee that the US and/or Canadian and/or French judge will be on the FD panel.

So lots of luck, B/A, DelShoes, V/M and D/W.

 

[Ptichka]

Chuckm, I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I don't see how Lithuania can be considered a skating ally of Russia despite being a former Soviet Republic. I think the whole of Drobiazko & Vanagas's career proves my point. I am also uncertain about Estonia - but I am not as sure about it as I am about Lithuania.

I do, though, agree with you including Israel into "Russia's friends" category - whatever may happen in the politics at large, the two skating federations have certainly been chummy to say the least.

 

[decker]

I don't understand the big whoop-te-doo. Johnny hasn't done 4CC since 2002. He's hardly the only skater who has ever skipped it. He's not even the only skater who's routinely skipped it.

Whether it's a good idea this year depends on what I see at Worlds. If he uses this time not lost to traveling to completely point-'ho his program, it's a good idea. If he just tweaks and piddles, I'd say he should've gotten in another competition before Worlds.

Like Ptitchka, I think Galina has a cunning plan. But I couldn't say if it's to make this a transition year and go hog-wild next year ... or make a Herculean effort this year for Worlds. I can see reasonable arguments for either choice.

Susan