Somehow all this talk about skating organisations is really - sobering? I mean, if even a sport can't be organised decently, if even the skating federations seem to be lost somewhere between cheating, lying, incompetence, dictatorship and corruption, how can we expect that a government works smoothly or even a big international organisation?Edited to add: If anything, the USFSA has the opposite problem. Nobody is in charge. As far as I can tell the USFSA is run largely by a huge cacaphony of amateur volunteers. The previous CEO resigned after serving only a year or so. He was in despair of ever being able to ride herd on so many different factions and special interests.
But that was back in May 2005 (if you mean the USFS' Executive Director). The current Executive Director, David Raith, has been in place since Sept. 2005. (Sorry for the OT. This topic of USFS' Governance should probably have its own thread if there's enough interest.)Edited to add: If anything, the USFSA has the opposite problem. Nobody is in charge. As far as I can tell, the USFSA is run largely by a huge cacaphony of amateur volunteers. The previous CEO resigned after serving only a year or so. He was in despair of ever being able to ride herd on so many different factions and special interests.
Joesitz;3973 I believe the winner of the US Nats will go to the Olys in accordance with tradition. The two other Men will be those who showed good consistent skating during the year leading up to the Nats whether they place at Nats or not. (Every skater has that awkward day and in could be at Nats) [/QUOTE said:I am not aware of this tradition you refer to Joe.
With the possible exception of Evan pulling out of Nationals due to injury/illness, the three medal winners at Nationals will be the men's Olympic team. It is always that way and that is US tradition.
The scenario you described is how mm explained how Russian and French teams are picked.
I used the word tradition, Janetfan, as a quick response to a knowledgeable poster of the workings of the USFS. That poster mentioned that there will be no change in procedures for this coming Olys.I am not aware of this tradition you refer to Joe.
With the possible exception of Evan pulling out of Nationals due to injury/illness, the three medal winners at Nationals will be the men's Olympic team. It is always that way and that is US tradition.
The scenario you described is how mm explained how Russian and French teams are picked.
I used the word tradition, Janetfan, as a quick response to a knowledgeable poster of the workings of the USFS. That poster mentioned that there will be no change in procedures for this coming Olys.
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In Japan, there was a movement toward more openness in the selection procedure and they came up with a point system. So many points for winning this or that competition, whoever acquires the most points over a two-year period makes the team. This procedure fell into disrepute in 2006 when they were accused of manipulating the results of Japanese nationals to make sure that Miki Ando made the Olympic team ahead of Yukari Nakano, who had a much better 2005-06 season. The charge was that Ando's commercial sponsors leaned on the Japanese federation to do what they had to do to make it come out that way. (As a separate issue the president of the Japanese federation resigned in disgrace amid financial scandals.)
In response the Japanese federation came up with a new point system that put heavier weight on more recent results than on older ones.
What do you mean that "in this season they seem to change criteria"?Then, in the past few seasons they decided the world team only based on the Nats. But in this season they seem to change criteria.
This is my first post. Please welcome.
...we have to wait with bated (sp) breath.
Yes, that seems a very likely scenario mm.
But what if Evan has another so-so GP season and then has a poor Natls, maybe finishing 4-6 or even 5-7?
Would you still say top two and add Evan?
I'm not belittleing anything. I believe the USFS will assess the skating abilities of the top skaters in its selection for the Olys team. There could be 5 championships to consider: 3 GPs and 1 4CC. and 1 Nats. It's the job of the USFS to come up with the best possible team., and by giving the placement of the team to the winner of the Nats is not belittling its Nationals. It's just the other 2 places which they have to come up with. There is a good chance that the entire Nats podium will go to the Olys, but wait and see.. .
I doubt that US Skating will belittle the importance of it's premier skating event based on results at GP's which are no longer televised here and have nowhere near the impact let alone the PRESSURE of Natls. The atmosphere at Natls is closest to Worlds /Olympics and that is why it is still the determining factor for which skaters make the Natl teams.
I don't see a panel sitting around discussing GP results of various skaters as the way the Natl team will be selected. It will be settled at Natls like it has been for decades.
As to Sasha, it is clear NBC will benefit from whater ratings boost she brings by appearing at SA and Natls. If Sasha is beaten at Natls by Caroline, Rachel, Mirai, etc, then NBC will run with the "see our NEW Olympic hopeful" type of ads.
As many people already have stated here, 2010 U.S. Nationals most likely will be weighted the heaviest. 2010 Four Continents (the week after Nationals) will NOT be considered (as per the published U.S. Olympic selection guidelines). The December 2009 GP Final is listed as the second event to be considered after 2010 Nationals and before 2009 Worlds, but I think it will only be factored in if the 2010 Nationals results are extremely close and a U.S. skater/team medals at or wins the GPF. Since qualifying for the GPF can be a crapshoot (some GPs have harder or easier fields than others), I don't think it's really fair to give so much weight to those results.I believe the USFS will assess the skating abilities of the top skaters in its selection for the Olys team. There could be 5 championships to consider: 3 GPs and 1 4CC. and 1 Nats.
Agreed there.It's the job of the USFS to come up with the best possible team., and by giving the placement of the team to the winner of the Nats is not belittling its Nationals. It's just the other 2 places which they have to come up with. There is a good chance that the entire Nats podium will go to the Olys, but wait and see.
I did use baited one time and got immediate response that it has nothing to do with fishing.:thumbsup: Thumbs up on "bated" (variant of "abated"), not "baited," breath.
As many people already have stated here, 2010 U.S. Nationals most likely will be weighted the heaviest. 2010 Four Continents (the week after Nationals) will NOT be considered (as per the published U.S. Olympic selection guidelines). The December 2009 GP Final is listed as the second event to be considered after 2010 Nationals and before 2009 Worlds, but I think it will only be factored in if the 2010 Nationals results are extremely close and a U.S. skater/team medals at or wins the GPF. Since qualifying for the GPF can be a crapshoot (some GPs have harder or easier fields than others), I don't think it's really fair to give so much weight to those results.
I find it ludicrous that the 2009 GPF result is listed above 2009 Worlds as criterion for choosing the team for the exact same reason.