2021-22 ISU Challenger Series announced

[Colonel Green]

Well, those Latvians are now gone. Latvian entries are also disappeared from Women's singles list. I think Autumn Classic is no longer an ISU Challeger.

The men's event isn't. The ladies and dance are fine.

 

[Andrea82]

Re the few men entries at Autumn Classic

It doesn't help that in North America there are (I think) 3 Single not-invitentional international Single competitions between August and December and 2 of them are on the same week (Autumn Classic and U.S. International Figure Skating Classic).
I know there are many weeks with multiple events running simultaneously in Europe but given there are few North American events, in the future ISU should possibly work with local organisers on trying to schedule them better.

 

[mackiecat]

Not sure why skate Canada is trying to get Mark Gorsky who lives in Toronto but skates for Israel to compete and invite Bennet Tomen so the men’s field would be 8 from 4 countries. There must also be some US citizens who skate for a different federation that could be Invited to replace the country that dropped out

 

[Andrea82]

Not sure why skate Canada is trying to get Mark Gorsky who lives in Toronto but skates for Israel to compete and invite Bennet Tomen so the men’s field would be 8 from 4 countries. There must also be some US citizens who skate for a different federation that could be Invited to replace the country that dropped out

Mark Gorodnitsky is entered at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic along with Bychenko and Samohin. Philippines' Caluza is also entered there.
Actually Carillo is entered both at Autumn Classic and US International FS Classic. As they take place in the same week, he will have to drop out from one of them.

 

[danafan]

Mark Gorodnitsky is entered at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic along with Bychenko and Samohin. Philippines' Caluza is also entered there.
Actually Carillo is entered both at Autumn Classic and US International FS Classic. As they take place in the same week, he will have to drop out from one of them.

Are the full entries for the US International FS Classic posted?

 

[Andrea82]

Are the full entries for the US International FS Classic posted?

As it is not a Challenger this season, they don't have the Entries & Results link on ISU website. USFSA released the list yesterday:

Athlete, Ticket Information Announced for 2021 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

 

[Karen-W]

As it is not a Challenger this season, they don't have the Entries & Results link on ISU website. USFSA released the list yesterday:

Athlete, Ticket Information Announced for 2021 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Trusova!!!!!!! It's a shame that SCoB doesn't understand the necessity of the Eteri cam. We could have it in all three events! Kvitelashvili is entered for the men and Davis/Smolkin is entered for dance.

I really wonder if travel restrictions into and out of Canada have hampered the willingness of even North American-based skaters to select ACI vs US Classic. They get the same amount of points for World Standings and neither earns points for countries trying to qualify for the Olympic Team Event.

ETA - Just noticed that Garabedian/Proulx Senecal are now off the ACI list - they're doing the US Classic instead.

 

[Hanna]

The Finlandia Trophy has been extended by one day (Thursday October 7th) because apparently there are so many entries and they wanted to give the chance to compete for as many as possible.

Men and pairs will compete on Thursday and Friday, ladies and dance on Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Karen-W]

The Finlandia Trophy has been extended by one day (Thursday October 7th) because apparently there are so many entries and they didn't want to restrict.

That is awesome that they were able to extend and let as many skaters compete as possible!

 

[rfisher]

The Finlandia Trophy has been extended by one day (Thursday October 7th) because apparently there are so many entries and they wanted to give the chance to compete for as many as possible.

Men and pairs will compete on Thursday and Friday, ladies and dance on Saturday and Sunday.

Have you heard if they are going to offer the ability to purchase viewing rights? It's the best $10 I spend all year.

 

[Hanna]

Have you heard if they are going to offer the ability to purchase viewing rights? It's the best $10 I spend all year.

No info on that yet, but I'd assume it's probably the same as previous years.

 

[Frau Muller]

Trusova!!!!!!! It's a shame that SCoB doesn't understand the necessity of the Eteri cam. We could have it in all three events! Kvitelashvili is entered for the men and Davis/Smolkin is entered for dance.

...

I vote for EteriCam too. More importantly, I vote for more bandwidth on whatever camera is there. Please, no freezing as with Cranberry!

 

[Sylvia]

2021 U.S. Classic will be streamed via Peacock Premium.

ETA:

The Finlandia Trophy has been extended by one day (Thursday October 7th) because apparently there are so many entries and they wanted to give the chance to compete for as many as possible.

Men and pairs will compete on Thursday and Friday, ladies and dance on Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks! Here's today's announcement in English: https://www.finlandiatrophy.com/en/2021/08/27/finlandia-trophy-espoo-kilpailuun-lisapaiva/

– The Challenger competition just before the Finlandia Trophy was canceled in Slovakia [Nepela Memorial]. We believe this has contributed to the interest in our event. We came up with a solution in the interests of athletes. We wanted to give as many skaters as possible the opportunity to compete on the eve of the Olympic season, Outi Wuorenheimo, Secretary General of Finlandia Trophy Espoo, explained.

The extra date will cause a change to a previously published schedule. New daily schedule:

Thursday 7.10. starting at 13
Special Olympics skaters
Pair skating, short program
Men, short program

Friday 8.10. starting at 13
Pair skating, free skating
Men, free skating

Saturday 9.10. starting at 13
Ice dance, rhythm dance
Ladies, short program
Synchronized skating, short program

Sunday 10.10. starting at 13
Ice dance, free dance
Ladies, free skating

Subject to change.

Thursday ticket will go on sale on September 2nd, 2021. at 12 noon.

 

[Frau Muller]

A Kiss n’ Cry cam, at least...if not the outright RussiaOne EteriCam (TM).

 

[danafan]

Pairs competition at the Autumn Classic (not part of the Challenger series so wasn't sure where to post it) - there will be four Canadian teams including the debut of Stellato&Deschamps! Was posted on the Skate Canada assignments page.

VANESSA JAMES / ERIC RADFORD
LORI-ANN MATTE / THIERRY FERLAND
DEANNA STELLATO-DUDEK / MAXIME DESCHAMPS
EVELYN WALSH / TRENNT MICHAUD

Also they don't have Schumacher listed but she is still on the ISU list. I hope she's not injured.

ETA: Schumacher is listed now, so false alarm.

 

[SmallFairy]

Finlandia Trophy
Finnish Federation

 

[Stephanie]

Not a surprise, but USFS has confirmed that Alysa Liu and Vincent Zhou will go to Nebelhorn: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...tes-to-send-liu-zhou-to-nebelhorn-trophy.aspx

 

[angi]

P/C are out of ACI, will do Master’s de Patinage instead. Not sure if this decision bodes well for them.

 

[nuge]

P/C are out of ACI, will do Master’s de Patinage instead. Not sure if this decision bodes well for them.

When is Masters.? They should be well ready for this season

 

[Andrea82]

When is Masters.? They should be well ready for this season

1-3 October

 

[Karen-W]

P/C are out of ACI, will do Master’s de Patinage instead. Not sure if this decision bodes well for them.

When is Masters.? They should be well ready for this season

1-3 October

Why is it they can't do both? The events are 2 weeks apart. Surely that shouldn't be a challenge for a team as seasoned and experienced as P/C. And if one had to make a choice, one would surely want to skate against an international field rather than the weak domestic field that France has apart from they themselves. If they aren't careful, they will find themselves off the podium in Beijing entirely.

 

[Frau Muller]

Why is it they can't do both? The events are 2 weeks apart. ...

Maybe there’s a self-isolation period once one gets to France? It used to be two weeks. It would be cutting it close, as the ACI dance event ends on Sept 18. Or maybe they just need more time before showing their programs in full bloom.

 

[emilieh]

Why is it they can't do both? The events are 2 weeks apart. Surely that shouldn't be a challenge for a team as seasoned and experienced as P/C. And if one had to make a choice, one would surely want to skate against an international field rather than the weak domestic field that France has apart from they themselves. If they aren't careful, they will find themselves off the podium in Beijing entirely.

They've turned the cameras off at Masters when P/C skate at least once before, so perhaps it's a way for them to get their programs out while still controlling who sees them. (AFAIK FRA doesn't usually have a closed test skate opportunity like USA and CAN do)

 

[Coco]

I don't think they have a real choice to NOT do Masters, so that's that. Hope all goes well for them this year.

 

[mackiecat]

They've turned the cameras off at Masters when P/C skate at least once before, so perhaps it's a way for them to get their programs out while still controlling who sees them. (AFAIK FRA doesn't usually have a closed test skate opportunity like USA and CAN do)

When I heard the news, this is what I thought also

 

[nuge]

They need to come out confident straightaway. They've had more time than other teams to train these programmes. Not going to worlds. Maybe this is the best way but i'm so disappointed was really looking forward to seeing them in September

 

[Dobre]

I think we can all understand athletes wanting to have a dry run & get feedback before going up against other top teams in competition.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

They will have 4 competitions in Europe. French Master and Nationals + 2 GP in France and Italy. That’s plenty especially for a potential long season that ends up with Worlds in Montpellier. The little tidbit I got from Romain H last month was that they are in great shape.

 

[4rkidz]

I think they will be fine with the four comps. Its not like they have much competition in reality.

 

[nuge]

. The little tidbit I got from Romain H last month was that they are in great shape.

I'd love a tidbit to know whether they've kept the Tango FD