Yokohama tapped to host next World Team Trophy

[oubik]

Well, Asia seems to be where the money is at for figure skating, so it make sense from that perspective.

Yes, but how all of the poor Euro federations can pay all of the Asian expenses of their teams I don´t know.

[Akira Andrea]

It is never cheap to fly unless you are a witch, so here we go TEB , Euros in Bern for Europeans; CoR in Moscow without knownig Russian is an adventute plus , SA, SC for the rest of us respectively.
I know there are lots various small competitions in Europe but the pleasure is definitely doubtful.

I feel shame because I was insensitive to your discouragement, which I understand now.

[natalia65]

Europeans can travel to European competitions.

and you only have two options that's what I mean.

[natalia65]

To make the market better the Europeans need some olympic or world champions from Europe. 2010 all champs came from Asia or N America.

And North America gets... wait a sec... two GP as last year and the year before and before...

[Jenna]

And North America gets... wait a sec... two GP as last year and the year before and before...

False. Los Angeles hosted worlds in 2009.

[natalia65]

False. Los Angeles hosted worlds in 2009.

The point is that there is no connection between number of champions and figure skating events in the area.

[Doubletoe]

The point is that there is no connection between number of champions and figure skating events in the area.

How so? Both the Men's and Ladies' world champions are Japanese (and Junior champions, too). And there is definitely a connection between the number of events and the number of fans in the area. The U.S. may have the reigning Olympic Men's' champion, but if they held the World Team Trophy in the U.S., I doubt that they would be able to fill a venue the size of the Yokohama Arena.

[Akira Andrea]

In April, 2009, the World Team Trophy 2009 was held in Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo. If it's usual year, the season greets the ending with the Worlds of the end of March, but it became the form that the end in this season shifted one month approx for this event.
Nevertheless, in every day, the venue seems to have been buried by crowds of audience and, in the free skating in Ladies, about 10,000 audience seem to have watched the event.



The photo: (from “Sports@Nifty” in Japan)
Photography: By Masami Morita
"Thanks a lot Tokyo!", thanks expressed by US Team.
http://iceblue.cocolog-nifty.com/pho...vanben904s.jpg

[haribobo]

I hear US Nationals has been relocated to Mumbai, India and Europeans will be in Bangkok, Thailand so that nobody has to leave Asia all season.

[Akira Andrea]

I hear US Nationals has been relocated to Mumbai, India and Europeans will be in Bangkok, Thailand so that nobody has to leave Asia all season.

[Polymer Bob]

World Team Trophy was a great event last year.

The $30,000 prizes were the biggest in skating history.

[kirkbiggestfan]

Russia, USA, Canada, Japan, China, France, Italia are the only countries that could present decent skaters in all disciplines. How do the countries qualify again?

[Polymer Bob]

Russia, USA, Canada, Japan, China, France, Italia are the only countries that could present decent skaters in all disciplines. How do the countries qualify again?

That's a good point. We will probably see mostly the same teams from year to year. As the South Koreans found out the hard way, one superstar doesn't get you into this particular competition. You need a real team.

[RumbleFish]

That's a good point. We will probably see mostly the same teams from year to year. As the South Koreans found out the hard way, one superstar doesn't get you into this particular competition. You need a real team.

Could you elaborate on your statement regarding "South Koreans found out the hard way"?
As of my knowledge, not many Koreans even knew such cheesefest was being held until it was known that Asada was blatantly propped up with a ridiculously high score.

IIRC, Asada scored over 200 points and even got a level 4 for her usual mediocre turn to the left turn to the right footwork.
What a coincidence this happened right after Kim won the 09 Worlds becoming the first lady to score over 200 points and Asada got bumped off the podium.
The funniest thing was that ladies singles was the only discipline that ISU decided to officially recognize scores in it's books.

I know some skaters would benefit from the prize money from competing, but it's still no more than a post season cheesefest.

[Polymer Bob]

The funniest thing was that ladies singles was the only discipline that ISU decided to officially recognize scores in it's books.

That suprised me, so I looked it up. Other than the ladies, the scores were rather low for the other 3 disciplines. It doesn't look like anyone other than the ladies set personal bests.

[icedance21]

That's a good point. We will probably see mostly the same teams from year to year. As the South Koreans found out the hard way, one superstar doesn't get you into this particular competition. You need a real team.

I'm not sure this is a "competition" one would necessarily want to be forced to attend. Other than the prize money, I'm not sure I see the benefit. In that sense, for some, it may be better to be from a smaller country without great depth across the disciplines.

That being said, will Japan be the permanent host of the WTT or are the US/Canada/etc. going to host as well?

[Polymer Bob]

That being said, will Japan be the permanent host of the WTT or are the US/Canada/etc. going to host as well?

The ISU put this in place to be a money making venture .... which it seemed to be. As long as Japan coughs up the yen, they will be the hosts.

[barbk]

Yes, but how all of the poor Euro federations can pay all of the Asian expenses of their teams I don´t know.

why is this any different than what Oz/NZ federations have to do virtually all the time? Or all the years when there was only on GP in Asia?

[sammyf]

Russia, USA, Canada, Japan, China, France, Italia are the only countries that could present decent skaters in all disciplines. How do the countries qualify again?

Britian, Swiss, Germany, and Czechs could send good teams.

[TalentedButHumble]

I hear US Nationals has been relocated to Mumbai, India and Europeans will be in Bangkok, Thailand so that nobody has to leave Asia all season.

You forgot Canadian nationals in Vietnam.

Off the top of my head I can't think how many trips some other NAs have made, but over the past year Joannie had the WTT, Cup of China (IIRC) and the GPF, plus I think she's been to Japan (and Korea?) for SOIs each spring. If she stays eligible she should just get an apartment and coach in Japan.