2025 Grand Prix Assignments

[Karen-W]

And some of you said that Loena wasn’t guaranteed anything, and she got two…

Well, I predicted this would happen - that the GP Hosts would determine that Shanghai Trophy didn't count as competing since it's an invitational comp & doesn't award WS points as a result, nor does it count for ISU SB.

How did Corey qualify for a Grand Prix spot?

He's SB 34. Looking over the men's assignments, the GP hosts gave all the men through SB Top 38 (Nordeback) one spot, so I wasn't surprised to see him get one.

I'm truly perplexed at the USFS' decision to only use 2 host spots at SkAm. Men are usually the least likely to drop out, so I'll be surprised if that spot comes open, but if it does, I hope the USFS claws it back. Well, actually, I don't know that I care much. I expect Jacob will earn the host TBD spot by beating the usually ill-prepared Camden & Max at Cranberry.

I thought Jin had retired, but the CFSA isn't willing to give up the ghost with him, so he got 2 GPs, which meh. JSF should have picked Jacob for that invitation.

USFS clearly did some horsetrading, though, to get Pulkinen & Naumov initial invitations - hence Economides and Dai at SkAm. They didn't lobby for Hiwatashi, though, lol.

FIN only holding one TBD spot - guess we'll see if the QuadDoctor continues on beyond the OQE in Beijing or if the spot goes to Suntsev.

Interesting that Jason wound up with SkAm & Finlandia for his assignments - wonder if that's by choice.

Others have noted - Skate Canada didn't horsetrade well & had to assign Rakic & Gogolev to SCI as well as Sadovsky, so the likelihood of Chiu getting a GP are nearly non-existent.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

All the US women on the grid have two assignments and there’s two host opening spots at skate America. I wonder whom they might invite. Did we figure out if Lindsay retired?

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Well, actually, I don't know that I care much. I expect Jacob will earn the host TBD spot by beating the usually ill-prepared Camden & Max at Cranberry.

I know why did they not keep two TBD spots for men…. kind of a shot in the foot to Naumov. I can think of several men to fill two spots at skate America. I can’t think of two women right now to fill the two spots at skate America. I’m also perplexed.

 

[Private Citizen]

Well, I swore I wasn't going to go back to Angers for a third consecutive year... and yet I am. Airbnb booked!

 

[Karen-W]

Kind of surprised that Alysa is at Cup of China. As world champion doesn’t this imply that she asked for this assignment? Interesting if that’s the case.

Yes. I'm VERY surprised at that given what we know of her Olympic experience and the CCP's interest in her. I suppose there's enough trust that the CCP won't try any further funny stuff this year as she's now WC and it would garner way too much MSM attention.

All the US women on the grid have two assignments and there’s two host opening spots at skate America. I wonder whom they might invite. Did we figure out if Lindsay retired?

Lindsay is not on the ISP, so she will not be among the women fighting for the 2 host spots. Off the top of my head... Mia Kalin & Josephine Lee are both senior age-eligible this season, then there's also Starr Andrews & Ava Marie Ziegler.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Also, why is Finland leaving two women spots open, why didnt they plop Ceder on the grid immediately, it’s not like they need to mull over three or four skaters.

 

[Karen-W]

@SidelineSkater and @Karen-W I told that Amber was not going to do skate America, she prefers to skate outside the country not at home events.

I’m also noticing there’s plenty of skaters doing back to backs.

You also said that Amber wouldn't want to go back to China again for a second season in a row. So, you're 1 for 2 in your Amber predictions, good sir.

 

[Evgeniafan]

How did Corey qualify for a Grand Prix spot?

Because US robbed it from Jacob. So upset.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I feel like USFSA has to have pulled something stupid. There's no way this is like a well considered plan they had and did on purpose.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

You also said that Amber wouldn't want to go back to China again for a second season in a row. So, you're 1 for 2 in your Amber predictions, good sir.

Nor did I ever imagine Alysa going.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I feel like USFSA has to have pulled something stupid. There's no way this is like a well considered plan they had and did on purpose.

That’s why the house needs to be cleaned. Lol.

 

[Flip Jump]

All the US women on the grid have two assignments and there’s two host opening spots at skate America. I wonder whom they might invite. Did we figure out if Lindsay retired?

More of a dream, but I would love for Alexa Gasparotto to get one of the TBD spots! Definitely a small chance as she is in the ISP.

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, looking at the women's grid... More madness. Really.

Samodelkina & Jia Shin were robbed of 2 GPs because the FFSG & USFS decided to hold two host TBD spots each. USFS really paid a high price to get Naumov that FFSG invite, with them inviting Serna in the women as well as Economides in the men. Both Samo & Shin should pick up a 2nd GP, though, since there always seem to be women who WD later on in the season.

Also - we do get the Amber/Alysa face-off, just at CoC rather than SkAm. And we get the Everhardt/Lin-Gracey face-off at NHK. Meanwhile, Bradie's getting a shot at taking out both Levito (NHK) and Glenn (Finlandia).

NHK will be insane - we also have a Belgian face-off between Loena & Nina. And, of course, Kaori & Wakaba. Plus Samodelkina, You & Repond. That's gonna be a BLOODBATH.

Japan is, as expected, maxed out on the women, so the only way Aoki gets a 2nd GP is if one of her fellow Japanese women withdraws from anything other than SCI where she's assigned, or she gets the NHK host TBD spot.

FFSG doing it's usual holding 2 TBD spots at GPdF. I really question why because who wants to see Clemence Mayindu at GPdF again? No one.

Finnish fed - interesting to hold TBD spots as well. I'd have thought, like ANL, that they'd reward Ceder for securing their Olympic spot in Boston, but they do have 2-3 other potential contenders, so okay.

 

[On My Own]

Can someone explain Shin versus Nakai to me?

 

[Jarrett]

Kind of surprised that Alysa is at Cup of China. As world champion doesn’t this imply that she asked for this assignment? Interesting if that’s the case.

Maybe she wanted to hang out more with Amber

 

[On My Own]

Kind of surprised that Alysa is at Cup of China. As world champion doesn’t this imply that she asked for this assignment? Interesting if that’s the case.

It's a grand prix in a country where skating matters this much: zero. Nobody gonna care.

I just hope some deranged fans don't show up, because they do exist and do hate her.

 

[Finnice]

Also, why is Finland leaving two women spots open, why didnt they plop Ceder on the grid immediately, it’s not like they need to mull over three or four skaters.

But we will have Amber!

 

[Jarrett]

SUI/HAN are coming back!

 

[hoptoad]

It's a grand prix in a country where skating matters this much: zero. Nobody gonna care.

I just hope some deranged fans don't show up, because they do exist and do hate her.

Fans in China hate Alysa? Why?

 

[hoptoad]

More of a dream, but I would love for Alexa Gasparotto to get one of the TBD spots! Definitely a small chance as she is in the ISP.

I'd love this! Also sending good thoughts to Ava Marie Ziegler. Does anyone know how her training is going?

 

[her grace]

Can someone explain Shin versus Nakai to me?

Power fed v. non-power fed

And Nakai has the higher SB ranking

 

[Karen-W]

Power fed v. non-power fed

And Nakai has the higher SB ranking

Host fed v. non-host fed.

And, yes, Nakai is SB 11 while Shin is SB 29.

 

[On My Own]

Fans in China hate Alysa? Why?

Because of her father, and I think later even she said something about Xinjiang?

 

[PRlady]

Soooo glad I decided to make the trek to Sask for Skate Canada!! A great line-up!! Can't wait.

Now to decide how comfortable I feel about crossing the border and driving to Lake Placid for Skate America.

Let me know if you want to grab my hotel room when I release it. I’ve been on the fence about SkateAm and I’m not enthralled with the field.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Samodelkina & Jia Shin were robbed of 2 GPs because the FFSG & USFS decided to hold two host TBD spots each. USFS really paid a high price to get Naumov that FFSG invite, with them inviting Serna in the women as well as Economides in the men.

Which is ridiculous, because they could have just assigned him to Skate America. After what happened to his parents, and as the pewter medalist at US Nats, there would have been no real argument against an SA slot, especially since they could have kept a TBD spot anyway.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

But we will have Amber!

Now @SidelineSkater says he may want to go to this event, and I should come, but I’ve already committed to Prague.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

You know in Pairs in Angers there’s going to be one host spot given away to a non French team. I hope it goes to Lucrezia and Matteo and then I hope you get the BRITs into a second assignment as well and also for Annika and my husband.

 

[Karen-W]

You know in Pairs in Angers there’s going to be one host spot given away to a non French team. I hope it goes to Lucrezia and Matteo and then I hope you get the BRITs into a second assignment as well and also for Annika and my husband.

Possibly. There's a new French pairs team - Vayana Hristova (formerly skated singles for Bulgaria) and Axel Ahmed. Plus we don't know if Ehrhard/Pellegris will try to move up to seniors or stay on the JGP this season.

 

[Samurina]

You know in Pairs in Angers there’s going to be one host spot given away to a non French team. I hope it goes to Lucrezia and Matteo and then I hope you get the BRITs into a second assignment as well and also for Annika and my husband.

i hoppe it goes to sofiia / artem they have been on the bubble every yr for a spot for the past 2 seasons

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Wow selections all across the board are strange, in dance you got the two French teams going up against each other both times, you got Lewis and Lilah going up against Charlene and Marco both times.

I think there are four American teams who only have a one assignment that can fill that TBD spot at skate America.

Never mind the changes they made at Boston worlds, so they really want to make this sport interactive, we need to make these assignments going forward, and we’re definitely taking over the kiss and cry, we’ll just leave USFSA and ISU to pay the bills and we’ll do the rest.