Chinese Skating News, Pt. 4: Fresh Noodles for Milan 2026

[On My Own]

Do you expect it to stay?

Am I reading it correctly that Beijing wants to try for GPF?

 

[Gris]

Am I reading it correctly that Beijing wants to try for GPF?

This is just speculation at this point. Some official account of Beijing posted a document saying Beijing will try to apply for "ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix" (国际滑联世界花样滑冰大奖赛) and since CoC is supposed to be in Chongqing (and Orleans has given GPF up) someone interpreted it as Beijing applying for GPF.

 

[On My Own]

This is just speculation at this point. Some official account of Beijing posted a document saying Beijing will try to apply for "ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix" (国际滑联世界花样滑冰大奖赛) and since CoC is supposed to be in Chongqing (and Orleans has given GPF up) someone interpreted it as Beijing applying for GPF.

Ah OK. Well, maybe China will have the season it was going to have the last couple of years. And without at that! Lucky!!

 

[Gris]

As for whether it will stay... I don't think covid-related policies will be an issue anymore but I'm not sure how organized CFSA is at this point so who knows.

At best (counting the speculation that Beijing may bid for GPF), there will be Shanghai Trophy, CoC, GPF and 4CC (maybe even Asian Open?) in China next season. Quite a skating extravaganza after a few years' drought...

 

[On My Own]

At best (counting the speculation that Beijing may bid for GPF), there will be Shanghai Trophy, CoC, GPF and 4CC in China next season. Quite a skating extravaganza after a few years' drought...

Make sure to go to at least one hehe

 

[raruki]

As for whether it will stay... I don't think covid-related policies will be an issue anymore but I'm not sure how organized CFSA is at this point so who knows.

At best (counting the speculation that Beijing may bid for GPF), there will be Shanghai Trophy, CoC, GPF and 4CC (maybe even Asian Open?) in China next season. Quite a skating extravaganza after a few years' drought...

Plus National Games! Will be a very important season for Chinese skaters.
Not sure the Shanghai trophy will include figure skating this time. They only posted the short-track parts at this moment.

 

[Karen-W]

I have a hard time believing that China will be given the GPF next season after the last several years of cancelled events. Then again, this is the ISU we're talking about and I was surprised they gave Shanghai 4CCs next season while the zero-Covid policy was still in full force last summer.

 

[On My Own]

I have a hard time believing that China will be given the GPF next season after the last several years of cancelled events. Then again, this is the ISU we're talking about and I was surprised they gave Shanghai 4CCs next season while the zero-Covid policy was still in full force last summer.

I am not sure they'll give it to them, just so they don't give China two major events in the same season. Great risk, too, because who knows what will happen with the pandemic policy.

ETA: In the 2019-2020 season, the "nationals" was positioned in September 2019, instead of December 2019, to make sure there's preparation time for National Games, IIRC. Of course, National Games 2020 was cancelled, but do you think this will happen again? @raruki @Gris

Very tight schedule for Chinese skaters, though, if it's in Feb 2024. 4CCs, then NWG, and then straight to Worlds. Whew.

 

[Gris]

ETA: In the 2019-2020 season, the "nationals" was positioned in September 2019, instead of December 2019, to make sure there's preparation time for National Games, IIRC. Of course, National Games 2020 was cancelled, but do you think this will happen again? @raruki @Gris

Very tight schedule for Chinese skaters, though, if it's in Feb 2024. 4CCs, then NWG, and then straight to Worlds. Whew.

Maybe, I'm not sure. In both 2011-12 and 15-16 seasons the National Games were in January, and in 11-12 season Nationals took place in September. However, in 15-16 season Nationals took place in late December a few weeks before the National Games, resulting in quite a few withdrawals.

Also the Youth Olympics will be in late January next year.

Edit: Please ignore much of the post above - I just checked CFSA's website and the provisional schedule listed there says Nationals will take place from December 21 to 24.

 

[On My Own]

Edit: Please ignore much of the post above - I just checked CFSA's website and the provisional schedule listed there says Nationals will take place from December 21 to 24.

Well, hopefully the ones in Canada just skip this then. Better focus on recovery and training than going to China, and then back to Canada, and then back to China, and then back to Canada. Nor do I want them anywhere near that coachless, leaderless rink in Beijing, using Zoom to train under the guise of it being "convenient" to stay close to all the competitions lol.

 

[Marco]

China's pandemic control is almost all over now so that's not a worry for the next season.

I am just surprised that China is still so actively hosting all these big events after Beijing Olympics is over. The pairs dynasty is all but over now and they have no real up and comers in other disciplines.

I hope they send more skaters out to train, get programs and compete and aim for 2030 (is it just Wang & Liu in Canada now?). I remember they sent 3 young girls to the US ten or so years ago and got some good results from Li Zijun and Zhang Kexin, and they got some good choreography for their pairs from Lori Nichol and Lee-ann Miller all these years.

 

[Gris]

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - International Skating Union

The International Skating Union is the international sport federation administering Ice Skating sports throughout the world.

isu.org

ISU calendar now updated showing Chongqing as the CoC host city next season.

I hope they send more skaters out to train, get programs and compete and aim for 2030 (is it just Wang & Liu in Canada now?).

Boyang is also training in Canada now with Orser and co.

 

[Karen-W]

China's pandemic control is almost all over now so that's not a worry for the next season.

I am just surprised that China is still so actively hosting all these big events after Beijing Olympics is over. The pairs dynasty is all but over now and they have no real up and comers in other disciplines.

I hope they send more skaters out to train, get programs and compete and aim for 2030 (is it just Wang & Liu in Canada now?). I remember they sent 3 young girls to the US ten or so years ago and got some good results from Li Zijun and Zhang Kexin, and they got some good choreography for their pairs from Lori Nichol and Lee-ann Miller all these years.

Well, Yudong Chen and Xiangyi An are very promising singles skaters and both are senior age-eligible, so that's at least a couple of credible entries in Men and Women, plus Boyang, their two new pairs teams that were at 4CCs and Peng/Jin if they come back next season healthy, and the 3 dance teams they've sent out internationally this season. I think that's at least as credible as the host entrants offered up by both Great Britain and Finland this past season, so I have no problem with China keeping their GP host slot as long as the pandemic controls/restrictions are mostly over and international skaters can look forward to competing there again.

And, frankly, as far as 4CCs is concerned, if the CFSA is willing to step up and the skaters have the opportunity to compete in a global A city like Shanghai, who am I to complain? The ISU has enough trouble getting countries to step up and host 4CCs and I'm fine with China having it next season. Not everything can be hosted by Taipei, ya know?

 

[Marco]

Boyang is also training in Canada now with Orser and co.

Oh yes! I forgot

 

[Frau Muller]

Changes in China’s geopolitical alliance with Russia in the coming weeks may play a factor.

 

[raruki]

I hope they send more skaters out to train, get programs and compete and aim for 2030 (is it just Wang & Liu in Canada now?). I remember they sent 3 young girls to the US ten or so years ago and got some good results from Li Zijun and Zhang Kexin, and they got some good choreography for their pairs from Lori Nichol and Lee-ann Miller all these years.

I am afraid it is not gonna happen. Many sports management in China are facing tight budgets right now, CFSA and the Chinese sports authority have to prioritize their resources to send Wang/Liu and Boyang overseas at first but they don't have much money left. They even asked the local clubs or provincial teams to bear the cost of sending the skater to compete in the Junior grand prix last year.

As for the case of Xiangyi An, I don’t think she will train overseas. Her parents have said that they will not send her to any big coaches. And right now, Xiangyi An is studying at one of the top high schools in Beijing. She can't be away from school for a long time because the academic pressure in her new high school is tremendous.

 

[On My Own]

Many sports management in China are facing tight budgets right now, CFSA and the Chinese sports authority have to prioritize their resources to send Wang/Liu and Boyang overseas at first but they don't have much money left. They even asked the local clubs or provincial teams to bear the cost of sending the skater to compete in the Junior grand prix last year.

Surely that IMG sponsorship does something for some of these skaters? Sad to hear though.

 

[raruki]

Surely that IMG sponsorship does something for some of these skaters? Sad to hear though.

IMG can't guarantee that they can support your skating financially and help you to win more unless you have achieved something bigger at first. Chinese sports authority has its talent management agency as well, and they might make full use of the power of administration or bureaucracy to block outsiders to gain profits like what they did to Yan Han. So, Let’s hope Team Zheng Xun can win something bigger in the future internationally so that they can earn more autonomy.

 

[raruki]

Let’s hope Team Zheng Xun can win something bigger in the future internationally so that they can earn more autonomy.

LoL, we should create a thread in FSU to let more people admire and worship this beautiful man.

 

[On My Own]

IMG can't guarantee that they can support your skating financially and help you to win more unless you have achieved something bigger at first.

I don't mean IMG can help them win, I only mean for funding tickets, and maybe choreography with foreigner choreographers. They also have that Nike sponsorship, for the same thing.

Chinese sports authority has its talent management agency as well, and they might make full use of the power of administration or bureaucracy to block outsiders to gain profits like what they did to Yan Han.

Yeah, I noticed, none of the top seniors have IMG, instead some company that is totally unknown to the outside world lol.

So, Let’s hope Team Zheng Xun can win something bigger in the future internationally so that they can earn more autonomy.

I mean, I keep getting confused. Either Chinese team has become decentralized, or there's still some central power? It can't be both things, right? I do hope Li/Wang do well at JWC.

LoL, we should create a thread in FSU to let more people admire and worship this beautiful man.

You can make it in the Trash Can area?

 

[raruki]

I mean, I keep getting confused. Either Chinese team has become decentralized, or there's still some central power? It can't be both things, right? I do hope Li/Wang do well at JWC.

The national team thing is gone for sure, but the whole figure skating program is still managed by a central governing body called the winter sports management center. Everything still has to be approved by this body.
As for their management style, I can't say anything positive about them. They are stupid and still think that they are the best in the world. We can see what they did for the visa application in 4CC this month.

 

[On My Own]

The national team thing is gone for sure, but the whole figure skating program is still managed by a central governing body called the winter sports management center. Everything still has to be approved by this body.

OK, that makes much more sense. But then, IDK if I expect IMG to be blocked for Team Harbin, unless it's this Winter Sports Management Centre that gave S/H, JBY, and W/L their "native" management teams - rather from what I know, it was S/Z who gave them those managers. Fingers crossed anyway, and I do want JBY and W/L to get something that I don't keep forgetting the name of, and a real endorsement instead of those milk and sports brace commercials lol.

As for their management style, I can't say anything positive about them. They are stupid and still think that they are the best in the world. We can see what they did for the visa application in 4CC this month.

Yeah, well... that's what bureaucracy is.

 

[raruki]

But then, IDK if I expect IMG to be blocked for Team Harbin, unless it's this Winter Sports Management Centre that gave S/H, JBY, and W/L their "native" management teams

I think they just accept the reality. If they keep blocking the “outsiders” at this moment， they will have not enough skaters to compete in the next Olympic cycle.

And I am not a fan of their management team, especially the one of W/L. Their company recruited paid posters to keep bashing Sui/Han in Douyin after the Olympics just for boosting W/L’s popularity. Very dirty.

 

[On My Own]

And I am not a fan of their management team, especially the one of W/L. Their company has recruited paid posters to keep bashing Sui/Han in Douyin after the Olympic just for boosting W/L’s popularity. Very dirty.

S/H and JBY's management company also doesn't seem to do anything to prevent from bashing them on various platforms and spreading rumours. Some of those are clearly paid too. So I 100% hope they change managers. Jin is not even in China anymore, may TCC help.

I did notice that W/L's super talk had the most followers, which is hilarious, then I realized most were cpf Motor engine turned out to be a cp name.

 

[raruki]

S/H and JBY's management company also doesn't seem to do anything to prevent from bashing them on various platforms and spreading rumours. Some of those are clearly paid too. So I 100% hope they change managers. Jin is not even in China anymore, may TCC help.

I did notice that W/L's super talk had the most followers, which is hilarious, then I realized most were cpf Motor engine turned out to be a cp name.

The Fanyu fandom in China They are also triggering many cyber wars and posting wars everywhere on the Chinese internet and even targeting at the skaters directly.

Yes, this is the other reason that I don't like their management team at all. They are incompetent and don't minimize the detrimental effects brought up by these toxic fandoms.

 

[On My Own]

The Fanyu fandom in China

羽生，你和你的中国粉丝一样 That being said, I didn't know until recently it wasn't even limited to the skaters The level of delusion where an unknown athlete in an unknown sport starts getting called "冰上的肖战" During FIFA World Cup, they were saying was the only pro athlete visible to the world - criticizing Ronaldo or Messi, I forget

 

[clairecloutier]

So, Let’s hope Team Zheng Xun can win something bigger in the future internationally so that they can earn more autonomy.

Forgive my ignorance, but who is Zheng Xun?

 

[On My Own]

Forgive my ignorance, but who is Zheng Xun?

Ice dancer turned coach, who coaches Chen/Xing and Li/Wang.

 

[Gris]

Forgive my ignorance, but who is Zheng Xun?

Former ice dancer who went to two Olympics with Xintong Huang.

A performance of theirs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQB0Ifmga8

 

[On My Own]

Sina Visitor System

Seems like there's an interview with S/H out.