Any information on the "International Challenge" ?

[feraina]

I hope it will be carried on some U.S. TV channel! Or at least someone from Japan will be kind enough to post it all on youtube -- thank goodness for youtube, how did skate fans survive back in the days?

 

[R.D.]

well, it might wind up on CN8 or something...

 

[Mathman]

Doesn't look like a fair match-up in the Ladies event.

Well, you can't stop the media from adding points up and declaring one national team or the other to be the winner. But as far as being an official ISU international competition, the results will be along the lines of

Ladies LP: Mao Asada, gold
miki Ando, silver
Caroline Zhang, bronze (or however it works out).

Maybe Mirai will win her first senior gold medal in the ladies short program competition!

BTW, if Mao Asada is going back and forth about whether she really wants to skate or not, maybe she will decide that her short program is the nearer to being competition ready and will compete in the SP contest.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

BTW, if Mao Asada is going back and forth about whether she really wants to skate or not, maybe she will decide that her short program is the nearer to being competition ready and will compete in the SP contest.

Mao is the World's silver medalist. Her American competition will not include a 2007 Worlds competitor. No glory here, even if she wins over Miki. She has GPs coming up including a Final so why bother with this unless she needs the money. It will be nice to see Fumie again.

However, Mirai, Bebe, Rachael and Caroline will get good experience regardless of how they place, if at all. It may be tough for Caroline to keep it together for Skate America for shaking off the return jet lag and practice.

Joe

 

[feraina]

Maybe SA is the reason that Mai is not skating in this after all. Miki will join Caroline in their round-the-world dash (it really is just on the other side of the planet). But I don't remember being bothered by jet-lag until my 20's (though by 25 I had chronic insomnia).

I think these young girls will be fine. The homesick Miki will be glad of a chance to see her family and fans and feel re-invigorated, and the rising star Caroline will enjoy the limelight and a chance to showcase her new senior program in front of an int'l audience.

 

[sorcerer]

However, Mirai, Bebe, Rachael and Caroline will get good experience regardless of how they place,

You're right. The US ladies team has nothing to lose.
Their skating will boast their future on ice.

I worry lest the three new Japanese men don't do as well as such US ladies.

It may be tough for Caroline to keep it together for Skate America for shaking off the return jet lag and practice.

Miki is the same, PLUS she has to do the Hyundai show!