2021 ISU World Team Trophy, April 15-18, Osaka, Japan

So it’s being shown? WTT is of minimal interest...this is one thread that I don’t read from top to bottom.
It’s two posts and less than 45 minutes ago. 😆
Announced today:
And ETA- my first post was more 😂 over the idea of someone having Sylvia on ignore.
 
On the previous page. I save time.

Please have a little tolerance of fans - very few of us left outside of Russia or Japan...or you can dock my “pay”...45 minutes ago I was doing actual work pay. :p
 
That's 11 pm to 2 am on the West Coast. Very doable especially compared to Worlds.
I checked out the pdf of the time schedule:

Live on the Peacock
Thu 4/15 - 2:15am-6:12am ET
Fri 4/16 - 3am-8am ET
Sat 4/17 - 2:15am-5:45am ET

I can't pull what amounts to an all-nighter (11pm-4am and 12am-5am) and be functional at work the next day, but since all my planned PTO was shot thanks to C19 and we won't have anymore live skating until August, I decided to take some more PTO, lol.
 
ISU's press release for the event: https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...r-isu-world-team-trophy-2021?templateParam=15

Time & Practice schedule (April 14-18): http://www.isuresults.com/schedules/WTT2021_ColouredSchedule.pdf

TV Asahi's event page: https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/figure-wtt2021/

This tournament will be held with a limited number of spectators to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection.
You can post your own photo as a "support panel" in the vacant seats and convey your thoughts to the players in a new support style. More info on the cutouts :D: https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/figure-wtt2021/crowd/index_en.html

The "Exhibition" to be held on April 18th (Sun) will be screened LIVE at movie theaters nationwide.
 
I feel for Lauriault/Le Gac, not even getting this one. Their PB is still higher than G/T's, so France could have thrown them a bone.

What's the story with them? Were they injured, sick, impacted by a lockdown or just having an off year?
 
I'm really not sure. They surprisingly came in fourth at last season's nationals, then didn't participate in this year's nationals.
 
I'm honestly surprised more countries didn't go the Skate Canada route and send their nationally high ranked skaters who did not go to Worlds and could still place well here. It's a missed opportunity for these skaters to get international experience this season, especially in the lead-up to an Olympic year.
For SC, with skaters like Nam, Roman and Gabby having a chance to qualify for the Olympics, it makes sense to send them out to get the experience and world standings points. USA for example definitely should have sent Mariah and Amber to WTT - especially Amber after overlooking her for Worlds.
 
I’m surprised at how stacked the US and Russian teams are. Japan’s team is impressive too, but it’s a home event, so travel is less of an issue. Maybe some countries really consider this event important politically leading up to Olympics. An Olympic team gold medal is still a gold medal. Canada does not have a strong chance at gold this time, so their strategy may be different.
 
I’m surprised at how stacked the US and Russian teams are. Japan’s team is impressive too, but it’s a home event, so travel is less of an issue. Maybe some countries really consider this event important politically leading up to Olympics. An Olympic team gold medal is still a gold medal. Canada does not have a strong chance at gold this time, so their strategy may be different.
I think it is more a matter of giving these skaters competition opportunities, which have been few and far between. And, with a limited audience, it will be nice for them to get in front of any crowd.

I appreciate that all of the countries seem to be sending their best possible skaters, though Canada is the notable exception (at least in dance & pairs). Honestly, I could see Italy sneaking in for the bronze, especially since G/F and DM/G are, arguably, the 2nd best teams in dance and pairs, and Rizzo/Grassl are, at this time, a stronger/equal pair to Aymoz/Fa and Nguyen/Sadovsky.
 
I'm honestly surprised more countries didn't go the Skate Canada route and send their nationally high ranked skaters who did not go to Worlds and could still place well here. It's a missed opportunity for these skaters to get international experience this season, especially in the lead-up to an Olympic year.
For SC, with skaters like Nam, Roman and Gabby having a chance to qualify for the Olympics, it makes sense to send them out to get the experience and world standings points. USA for example definitely should have sent Mariah and Amber to WTT - especially Amber after overlooking her for Worlds.
Maybe the teams also want the prize money and experience themselves without having that much opportunity this year?
 
I'm honestly surprised more countries didn't go the Skate Canada route and send their nationally high ranked skaters who did not go to Worlds and could still place well here. It's a missed opportunity for these skaters to get international experience this season, especially in the lead-up to an Olympic year.
For SC, with skaters like Nam, Roman and Gabby having a chance to qualify for the Olympics, it makes sense to send them out to get the experience and world standings points. USA for example definitely should have sent Mariah and Amber to WTT - especially Amber after overlooking her for Worlds.

No World Standing points for WTT---only Season Best. So far, Amber has skated better at US events than at internationals, so there's no guarantee that she would have achieved a high SB number at WTT.

There's nothing wrong with Karen and Bradie going to WTT, anyhow. They won back the three spots for Worlds, and a shot at 3 for the Olympics, pending Nebelhorn. And Bradie deserves a chance to shine after her subpar Worlds due to disintegrating boots.
 
I don’t understand why Bradie would not use her back-up boots at Worlds if she was having issues in practice. Her coach mentioned that they would have to move the blades but why weren’t the back-up boots ready to go without having to adjust the blades. What good is a back-up pair if they are not ready to use? Had to be frustrating for Bradie.....
 
I don’t understand why Bradie would not use her back-up boots at Worlds if she was having issues in practice. Her coach mentioned that they would have to move the blades but why weren’t the back-up boots ready to go without having to adjust the blades. What good is a back-up pair if they are not ready to use? Had to be frustrating for Bradie.....
Because blades wear out a different rate than boots - and sometimes, as is the case with Bradie's boots at Worlds, boots break down unexpectedly. Blades have to be adjusted when they're mounted on a pair of boots and it takes time during practices to get the mounting just right to be able to nail the triples, etc. The limited practice time at Worlds - just two 40 minute sessions every day - wasn't enough to get the blades properly adjusted on the second pair of boots. Plus, her boots broke down on Tuesday - we don't even know if it happened during the first or second practice that day. If it was the second practice, that would have given her just the Wednesday morning practice to make any blade adjustments before the short program.
 
But there should have been the blades already on the back-up boots. So, she would have had two pairs of boot and two sets of blades ready to go..
 
But there should have been the blades already on the back-up boots. So, she would have had two pairs of boot and two sets of blades ready to go..
Blades at Bradie's level cost over $500. It's not realistic to have multiple sets on hand. Feestyle skaters usually wear out boots long before blades, so mounting current blades (with plenty of life left) on new skates is a standard thing.
 
My understanding is that the top athletes are being sponsored by the boot and blade companies. I could be wrong though......
 
My understanding is that the top athletes are being sponsored by the boot and blade companies. I could be wrong though......
The amount of money involved is quite small, if any. Top skaters who agree to endorse their boot/blade companies will get equipment, priority access to technicians, and “front of the line” for new orders.
 
Blades at Bradie's level cost over $500. It's not realistic to have multiple sets on hand. Feestyle skaters usually wear out boots long before blades, so mounting current blades (with plenty of life left) on new skates is a standard thing.
They cost more than that. My last pair of blades cost $1000!

Maybe now that skaters are using these composite boots that wear out more and suddenly, they will start having two pairs of blades too at least the ones at a level where they get sponsored and the second pair of blades is free.
 
But there should have been the blades already on the back-up boots. So, she would have had two pairs of boot and two sets of blades ready to go..

I heard an interview with Brian Boitano on one of the more recent episodes of Ice Talk, and he explained why skaters don't all have backup skates on hand for emergencies. He said that there are enough differences between pairs that you can't simply switch from one to the other and be on your way. Even a slight change in the stiffness of a boot or the placement of a blade affects your technique and takes some time to adjust to.
 

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