2019 ISU World Team Trophy, April 11-14, in Fukuoka, Japan

[Sylvia]

This will be the 6th edition of WTT (first was in 2009, then 2012 after the 2011 cancellation due to the earthquake/tsunami, 2013, 2015 & 2017).

Announcement: https://www.isu.org/docman-document...-isu-world-team-trophy-2019-announcement/file
The team entries by name must be submitted to the ISU by Thursday, March 28, 2019.

Preliminary event schedule is published at the end - official practices start on Wednesday, April 10, the competition runs from Thursday through Saturday, and the gala exhibition is on Sunday.

The 6 qualified countries were announced yesterday by the ISU: https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...fy-for-isu-world-team-trophy?templateParam=15

Russia tops the standings with 9038 points followed by the USA (7752 points) and Japan with 6991 points. The other qualified ISU members are France (5541 points), Italy (4344 points) and Canada (4217 points).

Team Japan was announced today at a press conference:
Men: Shoma Uno, Keiji Tanaka
Ladies: Kaori Sakamoto, Rika Kihira
Pair: Riku Miura/Shoya Ichihashi
Ice Dance: Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto
I read on Twitter than Misato Komatsubara will be the team captain.

"Yuzuru Hanyu will miss next month's ISU World Team Trophy as he has yet to fully recover from an ankle injury, the Japan Skating Federation said Monday." https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...ss-world-team-trophy-due-to-ankle-injury.html

TV Asahi is the broadcaster again: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/figure/wtt/

This event is listed in in the NBC Gold figure skating pass schedule. I assume the ISU Skating Channel will livestream for the countries that did not purchase broadcast rights.

 

[tamms]

I usually look forward to WTT because it can be a fun and relaxing event, but I wish they’d give Shoma a break too.

 

[angi]

I usually look forward to WTT because it can be a fun and relaxing event, but I wish they’d give Shoma a break too.

I 100% agree, I don't get why he doesn't get to rest, he did too much this season and he is still partially injured, with WTT and then shows I have no idea when he had time to heal and regroup.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Because he's second in the pecking order, and a star: third is several miles away, let alone fourth.

 

[Skate Talker]

This event is listed in in the NBC Gold figure skating pass schedule. I assume the ISU Skating Channel will livestream for the countries that did not purchase broadcast rights.

Thanks for all the info, @Sylvia. I don't recall that this event was ever live streamed by ISU, but I will give it a try. In Canada, CBC is only offering a 2-part delayed highlight broadcast so they have the rights but no live streaming. For the Grand Prix events, CBC did not block the ISU skating channel even though they were streaming it themselves so I guess there is some hope. On the other hand, since Pairs & Dance are by far my favourite disciplines I may not be bothered since they play such a minor part in this event.

 

[screech]

I usually look forward to WTT because it can be a fun and relaxing event, but I wish they’d give Shoma a break too.

Would have been awesome if Daisuke would have offered to compete at WTT, after declining Worlds and 4CC...

 

[Wyliefan]

Shoma can turn it down if he's not feeling up to it, right? I doubt anyone would get worked up over it -- it's not like one of those "you must go or your country loses a spot for Worlds" deals.

 

[kittyjake5]

Would have been awesome if Daisuke would have offered to compete at WTT, after declining Worlds and 4CC...

This

 

[Marco]

Shoma can turn it down if he's not feeling up to it, right? I doubt anyone would get worked up over it -- it's not like one of those "you must go or your country loses a spot for Worlds" deals.

Now that Hanyu has turned it down, I am sure the Fed would want their only other male star to go. But yes, if Hanyu can't skate there, wouldn't Uno and Takahashi be perfect? It's in Japan and it somehow gives him some sort of official points so that he can compete internationally next season if he wants.

 

[tamms]

I wish Daisuke would be at WTT! Does anyone remember his spellbinding Blues for Klook at the 2012 WTT? But alas, he doesn’t meet the qualifications for this event.

 

[Eislauffan]

Russia announced their team today:

Sofia Samodurova, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Mikhail Kolyada, Alexander Samarin
Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov
Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert

They didn't name a team captain in that press release. Who will it be? I hope Lisa!

 

[Spun Silver]

I wish Daisuke would be at WTT! Does anyone remember his spellbinding Blues for Klook at the 2012 WTT? But alas, he doesn’t meet the qualifications for this event.

"Does anyone remember"??? YES!!!

 

[alchemy void]

Russia announced their team today:

Sofia Samodurova, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Mikhail Kolyada, Alexander Samarin
Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov
Natalia Zabiiako/Alexander Enbert

They didn't name a team captain in that press release. Who will it be? I hope Lisa!

I'm so happy Tuktamysheva gets WTT! I'm hoping we get two 3A attempts.

And what a debut season for Samodurova--she gets to skate in everything!

 

[Vash01]

Would have been awesome if Daisuke would have offered to compete at WTT, after declining Worlds and 4CC...

Can he still do it if Shoma is too injured to skate?

 

[tamms]

Can he still do it if Shoma is too injured to skate?

Unfortunately no. Skaters qualify based on their world standing points during the GP season plus Worlds/Euros/4CC.

 

[kittyjake5]

I wish Daisuke would be at WTT! Does anyone remember his spellbinding Blues for Klook at the 2012 WTT? But alas, he doesn’t meet the qualifications for this event.

I think that 2012 World Team Trophy was the best ever! Here are the best moment recaps, hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTv9Tn_uOQ0

 

[Tinami Amori]

I'm so happy Tuktamysheva gets WTT! I'm hoping we get two 3A attempts. And what a debut season for Samodurova--she gets to skate in everything!

When Zagitova and Medvedeva declined (they both have shows in Japan before and during the events), the federation asked Tuk and Sam, and they were thrilled to go. Tuk already is part of "Stars on Ice" with Zag/Med and it works great for her. How i wish Sam is also invited to Stars on Ice at the last minute.
The news about Tuk/Sam is all over the russian sports press.
https://www.sovsport.ru/figure/articles/2:894379

 

[MsZem]

I think that 2012 World Team Trophy was the best ever! Here are the best moment recaps, hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTv9Tn_uOQ0

It was! Here's another collection of mostly K&C shenanigans from the 2012 WTT. Team France and Team Italy did outstanding work, some of it didn't even make it into the video.

Here's Takahashi's excellent free skate, with "skaters of the world cheer for Dai" starting around 7:15. Maybe he can be an invited skater in the gala?

Maxim Kovtun and Gracie Gold made their senior debuts at this competition.

 

[text_skate]

"skaters of the world cheer for Dai"

among them a very young Bruno Massot

 

[nimi]

France announced their team: https://ffsg.org/evenement/world-team-trophy-2019/

Dames
Laurine LECAVELIER
Maé-Bérénice MEITE

Messieurs
Kevin AYMOZ
Adam SIAO HIM FA

Couples Artistiques
Vanessa JAMES & Morgan CIPRES

Danse sur glace
Gabrialle Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron

 

[Jeschke]

Ponsart still injured or DG‘d?

 

[MsZem]

Ponsart still injured or DG‘d?

Siao Him Fa is higher in the World Standings and comes with bonus Brian Joubert.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

Ponsart still injured or DG‘d?

My money is on Mariah Bell and her sharp blades.

 

[MsZem]

among them a very young Bruno Massot

Note the guest appearance by Aljona and Robin in his K&C

(they later did that for the other pairs as well, IIRC)

 

[Tinami Amori]

Nikita Katsalapov is Russia Team Captain.
https://www.sport-express.ru/figure...ornoy-rossii-stanet-nikita-kacalapov-1528398/

 

[natsulian]

Team USA
Ladies: Mariah Bell & Bradie Tennell (alternate: Starr Andrews)
Mens: Nathan Chen & Vincent Zhou (alternate: Jason Brown)
Pairs: Ashley Cain & Timothy LeDuc (alternate: Denney/Frazier)
Dance: Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (Alternate: Chock/Bates)

 

[Jarrett]

Team USA
Ladies: Mariah Bell & Bradie Tennell (alternate: Starr Andrews)
Mens: Nathan Chen & Vincent Zhou (alternate: Jason Brown)
Pairs: Ashley Cain & Timothy LeDuc (alternate: Denney/Frazier)
Dance: Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (Alternate: Chock/Bates)

Interesting Starr selection even as an alternate. Good luck USA!

Edit nevermind Starr is the next highest ranked lady in the World Standings. Good for her!

 

[natsulian]

Interesting Starr selection even as an alternate. Good luck USA!

They're really pushing Starr as the next leading lady with all these assignments. She's been in Challenge Cup, currently competing at the Egna Spring Trophy, and now an alternate for the World Team Trophy. Hopefully she gets over her sophomore slump.

 

[Sylvia]

Team USA
Ladies: Mariah Bell & Bradie Tennell (alternate: Starr Andrews)
Mens: Nathan Chen & Vincent Zhou (alternate: Jason Brown)
Pairs: Ashley Cain & Timothy LeDuc (alternate: Denney/Frazier)
Dance: Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue (Alternate: Chock/Bates)

Press release: https://www.usfsa.org/story?id=92326&type=media

Only Nathan and Cain/LeDuc have done this comp. previously (2017).

 

[NAOTMAA]

Is there any rule in this that it has to go by world standings or are the feds. free to pick whoever they choose among age eligible skaters? Starr may be the next highest in terms of the World Standings but that can be very deceptive. Like tennis it doesn't always indicate who's really the best and such.

And besides with the USFSA going on about wanting the strongest team possible, and turning nationals upside down with the "body of work" stuff in the process, you would think they would have looked more closely. Ting Cui has been far stronger then Starr has been this season, especially in the second half. I know it was only the alternate spot but they should have given it to her regardless of world standings. They really are pushing Starr hard and the results just aren't there this season.