Can Czisny make the Grand Prix final?

[chuckm]

Yes, I think that was 2002 Skate America. Michelle didn't want to do the Grand Prix at all, but she was coerced into it when Sarah Hughes withdrew with an injury and they were afraid the event would bomb without an American headliner.

This was never explicitly admitted by USFS or the ISU, but I think part of the deal that Michelle brokered was that she would not have to compete in any other GP events or the final.

She got 15 points for her win, which put her in the finals (I forgot the details, but I think Elena Liashenko got a 3rd and a 6th in her two scoring events, which put her behind Michelle. Someone -- Onda? also withdrew with an injury, I believe).

Anyway, I'm pretty sure Michelle did qualify for the finals, but she declined to skate.

Michelle got 12 points for the win at Skate America (old scoring system).

Sasha qualified for the GPF with 24 points, Onda with 21, Volchkova with 19, Slutskaya with 16 (she was just beginning to feel the effects of her illness, which at the time she thought was bronchitis), and Suguri with 14. Michelle with 12 was the 6th qualifier. She declined, so Liashenko was next, also with 12 points. Then Onda withdrew due to injury, and Shizuka Arakawa, with 11 points, took the last spot in the final.

At that time, it was possible to qualify with such a low point count because the Single seeds were allowed to do 3 events if they chose. All the Ladies seeds except Slutskaya did 3 events, with the result that two silver medals and one gold (a total 30 points) didn't figure into the standings. In addition, one silver and two bronze medals went to skaters who won just the one medal---AP McDonough withdrew from her 2nd event after winning silver, Alisa Drei had just one event, and Poykio was off the podium in her other event.

 

[LizzieBeth]

I hope Alissa does well at her two events so she earns points toward the world standings. Even if she doesn't make the GPF, individual event points will help her ranking.

 

[heyang]

Considering COP is in place, perhaps the rules for GP Final qualification should be based on total points. Points would only count from 2 assigned events. This way it would not matter if one event has only 1 top contender while another event has 2 or more top contenders. It would likely improve the chances of seeing the 6 best.

 

[chuckm]

The problem with basing GPF purely on points is that in some competitions, judges are very generous with the points, and in others, they are more stingy. Or in the case of Skate America, an overzealous caller downgraded the skaters' jumps, and ALL the skaters were affected. The scores were lower than they would have been with a more reasonable caller.

The caller at Skate Canada gave about 1/4 of the downgrades for underrotation that the Skate America caller did.

 

[Eddie Lee]

Yep--there is much inconsistency in the COP judging. Take another look at SkateCanada--how PCS scores were inflated to boost certain skaters ' standings. It really doesn't take long for some judges to learn the ropes. No system is foolproof. (It's only as good as its judges.) I'm fear it will be blatant by the time Olympics 2010 arrives!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Czisny like all other skaters will get to the GPFinals if six of them, including her, score more points in 2 GPs than others. Gold and Silver ruled last season. Let's see if a bronze medal can squeeze in this season.

Judging does seem much fairer with the CoP so far. No country seems to be favored in any given discipline. Medals in Skate Canada went to Canada, of course. Also Belgium, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Japan. Interesting the USA got no medals in Skate Canada.

Although I did enjoy Ashley Wagner dressed something like Wonder Woman and skating like WW if she skated. Her LP was priceless. I'm becoming a fan of Ashley Wagner. :thumbsup:

Joe