Sigh. I'm not surprised about the pairs, as frankly there really isn't another Canadian pair of international calibre at the moment. But sad about Schumacher, as it seems likely this is the end of her career. It would be shocking if the spot went to another Canadian skater.Schumacher out of Skate Canada
Pair TBD (CAN) crossed out of Skate Canada.
Have to agree on both points.Sigh. I'm not surprised about the pairs, as frankly there really isn't another Canadian pair of international calibre at the moment. But sad about Schumacher, as it seems likely this is the end of her career. It would be shocking if the spot went to another Canadian skater.
Interesting... I don't know what to make of the alternates list because Wang shouldn't have been available for assignment - the only Japanese woman on the alternates list is Yokoi who is already assigned to SCI, which would have bumped Zhu up to the Top 10 alternates along with Serna since Brezinova is already at SCI too, but that would have left Wang sitting at #11. The only logical reason would be if Ziegler wasn't put on the USFS' selection list when the GP hosts met in July, but that would be surprising since she's clearly still skating and at the senior level this season given her Challenger assignment.Schumacher's spot assigned today. Kate Wang of USA got it.
Not to worry. Canada a great skating nation. It will come back!I am sorry to say Canadian skating is in a shambles at the moment.
Doubtful. I expect the host feds are going to go through every single North American, European and Japanese woman on the alternates list before they select any of the Korean women, especially if they are considering additional airfare from Seoul to their location.Hope some of the Koreans get a second assignment if more become available!
It's not as if they didn't have the opportunity to host one this year... I have to admit, I've wondered if part of why their women are being passed over for assignments is some sub-conscious "screw you" from the other hosts, feeling somewhat put out that assignments were delayed in part because Korea wasn't willing to step up and host another Asian GP, which you know would have been the ISU's preference.Korea really needs its own GP!
True enough. There was also a glut of Russian women taking up spots on the GP, so there were less opportunities all around, I think.Eh, the Koreans have always been passed up. It's more to do with costs and competitiveness, IMO.
YESSSS! I'm really glad Skate Canada went there with the strongest team on the alternates list. It would have been so easy to add one of the weaker teams that have earned the total score minimum at US Classic or Nebelhorn, but the field at SCI was already really thin and Efimova/Blommaert are a quality team who will contend for the podium here. Plus, we still don't know if Miura/Kihara are really going to be ready for SCI since she's recovering from her own injury.Alisa EFIMOVA / Ruben BLOMMAERT added to Skate Canada
Unsurprising, given his broken ankle, but such a shame for them.Chernyshova/Windsor have withdrawn from NHK Trophy
Hmmmm... It's not reflected on the ISU grid yet. I do see it reflected on the Australian fed's international assignments page though. :-(Chernyshova/Windsor have withdrawn from NHK Trophy
Women - 1 open spot at SCI, 1 open spot at NHK (note JPN maxed out at GPdF & Espoo; KOR maxed out at SkAm & NHK; USA maxed out at SkAm, SCI, MKJW & NHK)Wakaba Higuchi will miss the 2022-23 figure skating season. The Japanese skater confirmed she is still recovering from a right-shin stress fracture.
I vote for Josefin! Any federation who invites her will be sure to have a crowd-pleaser.From the Japanese news thread... Wakaba will miss the rest of the season.
Women - 1 open spot at SCI, 1 open spot at NHK (note JPN maxed out at GPdF & Espoo; KOR maxed out at SkAm & NHK; USA maxed out at SkAm, SCI, MKJW & NHK)
Yun (SkAm)
Wi (NHK)
Park (SkAm)
Yokoi (SCI)
Kitromilis (SkAm)
Paganini (MKJW)
Izzo (MKJW)
Ziegler (none)
Brezinova (SCI)
Ji (NHK)
Next to be added:
Zhu (SkAm)
Serna (GPdF)
Wang (SCI)
Sauter (MKJW)
Peltonen (Espoo)
Saarinen (Espoo)
Watanabe (none)
Thoughts on potential replacements - Poor Skate Canada - Wakaba is the FOURTH woman they've had to replace (and who knows if Rika Kihira really is in shape to be competitive). This might be an opportunity for one of those Korean women assigned to SkAm to get a 2nd assignment. As far as NHK goes - it wouldn't surprise me if the JSF does assign it to Watanabe after her fantastic Lombardia win.
Doesn't work that way. Unfortunately, she wasn't on the SB Top 75 list, so she isn't eligible for GP selection. There are lots of good skaters still left for Skate Canada to select from. The women's field at SCI is a bit thin with the loss of Wakaba, so I really won't be surprised if one of the Korean women is invited.I vote for Josefin! Any federation who invites her will be sure to have a crowd-pleaser.
And it's official on the grid! Not a bit surprising to me, and very deserved!
Oh no!!!! Pairs grid was updated and Danilova/Tsiba are crossed out of SkAm! I wonder if they sustained an injury earlier today during Finlandia???
I wondered if he was going to make it to his GP when he didn't compete at any of the early Challengers this fall.Georgii Reshtenko also crossed out France
For the US? I didn't think the US was restricting travel for Russians yet the way many of the EU nations have done.Visa problems for russians?
The problem may be with the logistics.For the US? I didn't think the US was restricting travel for Russians yet the way many of the EU nations have done.