Pro Grand Prix Series

[antmanb]

Sorry, I won't sit through a telecast with skaters doing only three triples.

Really? So do you skip the short programs??

Ant

 

[Mathman]

It would never work - it would take a whole raft of elligible skaters taking a chance on the new organisation. The ISU banned for life its members who had anything to do with the WSF and would simply do the same if a new organisation cropped up.

I think Attyfan was talking about all-pro competitions for skaters who are done with their Olympic eligible careers.

 

[antmanb]

I think Attyfan was talking about all-pro competitions for skaters who are done with their Olympic eligible careers.

Really i thought Attyfan was talking about an orgnisation trying to usurp the ISU :

Maybe, if a new group (along the lines of the World Skating Federation) spent its time putting together actual events, they could get into a better position to challenge the ISU

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Again, who will sponsor these games? Most fans want to see it free on TV, so the venue may not even fill the house. Who will pay the judges, expenses, at least. If the skaters' payments are only for the results of the competition, what expenses are paid to others for showing up. Will they come back and face S&P? if not B&S or eventually, S&Z?

Dream on or face financial realities.

Joe

Tonya's whack gave all you TV fans a good run of made for TV competitions. But it's over. Maybe Bill Gates could sponsor another try at it.

 

[Mathman]

Really i thought Attyfan was talking about an orgnisation trying to usurp the ISU.

The main criticism of the WSF's approach to their challenge to the ISU was that they pinned all their hopes on (weak) court challenges. (The other criticism was that they were entirely a creature of of the management group IMG.)

The suggestion at the time was that they needed to get their feet on the ground by organizing some pro events, just to show that they were a serious figure skating organization. You are quite right that no eligible skater could have hitched his/her wagon to that particular star. But they might have at least have gotten a foot in the door for a future challenge if they had put on some successful pro events.

(I shouldn't be trying to interpret Attyfan's view, but these are mine.)

 

[heyang]

Dick Button's World Pro Championship (Andover) was by invitation only, which is why you tended to see the best known names only.

Scott Williams did try to counter this with the World Pro Open Championship - skaters like Rory Burghart-Flack, Charlene Wong, etc competed in a GrandPrix like format. Based on points, they went to the championship. I think it aired on USA network for one season during the height of skating's popularity.

I somewhat doubt that a pro series would talk off at this time. The most popular pro skaters (Yamaguchi, Wylie, Gordeeva, Browning, etc) are only making limited appearances due to raising families and/or just turning their attentions towards other aspects of skating (ie. coaching for Orser, choreography for Browning, producing for Boitano, etc.). Unless Michelle and Sasha go pro, I don't think there are any marquee names to renew and support a pro circuit in the US.

BTW, Skates of Gold had a 4 jump limit to even the playing field between new pros vs past pros. During the 1st competition, Kristi ended up in 3rd after the 1st round and the format was such that she could only skate her LP for 3rd/4th - so, she did an extra jump, which she felt punctuated an additional highlight in the music. Sometimes the jump limit takes away from the performance, but I also get tired of skate, jump, skate, pose, jump, pose, skate.

 

[antmanb]

The main criticism of the WSF's approach to their challenge to the ISU was that they pinned all their hopes on (weak) court challenges. (The other criticism was that they were entirely a creature of of the management group IMG.)

The suggestion at the time was that they needed to get their feet on the ground by organizing some pro events, just to show that they were a serious figure skating organization. You are quite right that no eligible skater could have hitched his/her wagon to that particular star. But they might have at least have gotten a foot in the door for a future challenge if they had put on some successful pro events.

(I shouldn't be trying to interpret Attyfan's view, but these are mine.)

Oh I see - i hadn't ever heard the idea that the WSF should have shown some legitimacy by organising some pro events and agree it would have given them some more gravitas.

I for one would be very pleased if meaningful competitions were available for the pros and without the old fluffy scoring - with proper 6.0 type rules. I think some of the pros would love it - look at Kathleen Bangs latest interview with Alexei - he's been training the 3Lz/3T in anticipation of the Japan pro-am and even landed his first triple axel in 4 years.

Ant

 

[jennylovskt]

I would love to see pro competitions if:

1. Skaters use the classical musics like amateur skaters do.

2. It doesn't matter how many jumps are in a program as long as the skaters are focusing on artistic presentations.

3. The judges are serious.

To me, the pro competitions are less and less appealing because they look more and more like shows.

 

[attyfan]

The main criticism of the WSF's approach to their challenge to the ISU was that they pinned all their hopes on (weak) court challenges. (The other criticism was that they were entirely a creature of of the management group IMG.)

The suggestion at the time was that they needed to get their feet on the ground by organizing some pro events, just to show that they were a serious figure skating organization. You are quite right that no eligible skater could have hitched his/her wagon to that particular star. But they might have at least have gotten a foot in the door for a future challenge if they had put on some successful pro events.

(I shouldn't be trying to interpret Attyfan's view, but these are mine.)

You did a good job of interpreting my views -- this is the point I wanted to make about how pro events could be used, without endangering the Oly eligibles.

 

[merrywidow]

Professional skaters have always been opposed to having the ISU involved in pro skating. It's one of the reasons amateurs turn pro...to get out from under the thumb of the ISU & Speedy & all the rules & regulations that would be imposed upon them.

 

[SeaniBu]

To me, the pro competitions are less and less appealing because they look more and more like shows.

I think this says A LOT. Look at the general populous and think how do they see it. It starts to make sense why it is not as popular. I am all for the skaters having "fun" but at the expense of the popularity of the forum in which they have fun in? It is counter productive. If they want to be pro, then they need to be somewhat professional "appearing to the causal viewer" or it is just another show.