2026 Grand Prix Assignments

[skateblessing]

I would expect that when the ice dance grid is updated that we'll see Harris/Chan and Bekker/Hernandez assigned to GPdF.

A update should happen really fast shouldn´t it? Particular if H/C and B/H has accepted the spots. If they continue with the delay i´m not sure this is the outcome. I mean they were able to update the alternate list fast so what is taking them so long.

 

[Karen-W]

A update should happen really fast shouldn´t it? Particular if H/C and B/H has accepted the spots. If they continue with the delay i´m not sure this is the outcome. I mean they were able to update the alternate list fast so what is taking them so long.

The ISU was really slow to update the men's grid after Matteo withdrew. The Finlandia spot took a couple days and the Skate Canada spot took about a week, IIRC. We knew it would go to Reshtenko and had tacit confirmation last week when the first GP Alts List came out & he wasn't on it, but it wound up being another day before the men's grid was updated to reflect that. And the ISU took FOREVER to update the men's grid with Vasiljevs' replacement at CoC.

I know that a lot of people are reading a lot into BekHern's lack of social media presence over the summer but, at this point, I'd lean toward them being added to GPdF since it's 5 weeks away and they may believe they could be ready by then. If not, they can just withdraw in 3-4 weeks.

 

[skateblessing]

The ISU was really slow to update the men's grid after Matteo withdrew. The Finlandia spot took a couple days and the Skate Canada spot took about a week, IIRC. We knew it would go to Reshtenko and had tacit confirmation last week when the first GP Alts List came out & he wasn't on it, but it wound up being another day before the men's grid was updated to reflect that. And the ISU took FOREVER to update the men's grid with Vasiljevs' replacement at CoC.

I know that a lot of people are reading a lot into BekHern's lack of social media presence over the summer but, at this point, I'd lean toward them being added to GPdF since it's 5 weeks away and they may believe they could be ready by then. If not, they can just withdraw in 3-4 weeks.

Hm okay, so we might expect a update tomorrow then.

I guess if they declined the spot right away R/M would have been out of the alternate list too. So them still being on the list kinda points towards H/C and B/H being assigned, unless they just update the one spot tomorrow and B/H have WD entirely (The right order would be H/C getting R/A spot that WD first right?). But I guess it make sense they replace both spots in the same process.

IF they would WD in 3-4 weeks, I just hope someone else havn´t bounced above R/M on the alternate list, that would really suck for them, particular if the chances are very slim for B/H to be ready. But if there is any chance they can make it, they are completely entitled to accept and wait and see of course.

 

[kwanfan1818]

The host Feds issue the invitation, but the invited have three days to respond. I’ve always assumed that reply is through the skaters’ Fed, so the communication loop, plus the time it takes for the ISU to update their site and grid isn’t always quick. This time it looks like they got to the Alternates list first.

 

[skateblessing]

It´s already updated and Milla and Nikolaj got the spot which is bad news for Phebe&James, but what is more disturbing is that they got R/A spot and the Germans spot is still open - it might suggest that Harris/Chan have declined the spot as well?? Also Ben and Jenny have WD from Skate America

 

[Karen-W]

Well, never mind the BekHern spec...

isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/uploads/isunewrevamp/document/original/c9830fe27a8e55a7fe08bac4731441677233e0c217d5b5f61719f1123a4ee930.pdf

ReiMaj have been added to GPdF and JvRStef have withdrawn from SkAm.

With the Alts List being updated to remove BekHern that means they were offered the GPdF spot that ReiMaj got and they declined, which means they aren't eligible for another GP beyond the SkAm assignment they currently have.

ValKaz should be invited to SkAm to fill JvRStef's spot.

It´s already updated and Milla and Nikolaj got the spot which is bad news for Phebe&James, but what is more disturbing is that they got R/A spot and the Germans spot is still open - it might suggest that Harris/Chan have declined the spot as well?? Also Ben and Jenny have WD from Skate America

Nah, I'd guess there's just a delay in HarChan accepting the GPdF invitation, though anything is possible. They're IAM so they would have known awhile ago that ReedAmbru were going to pull out of their GPs.

 

[Sylvia]

It´s already updated and Milla and Nikolaj got the spot [France]

Sept. 16th Ice Dance grid update: https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.az...4731441677233e0c217d5b5f61719f1123a4ee930.pdf

 

[skategal]

Even better, pretend it’s Color Day in grade school and attend wearing bright blue and yellow. They can make a no flags rule but can’t challenge wardrobe decisions.

If anyone did, they could always say they were inspired by The Minions.

 

[skateblessing]

Nah, I'd guess there's just a delay in HarChan accepting the GPdF invitation, though anything is possible. They're IAM so they would have known awhile ago that ReedAmbru were going to pull out of their GPs.

I guess if ReiMaj accepted faster it would make sense. I just imagined Harris/Chan would have gotten the formal invitation before them , like maybe even 2 days before. I guess we have to wait and see again. The plot thickens. If they are not accepting either I guess T/L will get the spot.

 

[Karen-W]

Also, the Men's & Women's grids have been updated to reflect the previously announced NHK host entries (same with the ID grid), so at this time, all of the host TBD spots have been filled.

 

[Belsornia]

It´s already updated and Milla and Nikolaj got the spot which is bad news for Phebe&James, but what is more disturbing is that they got R/A spot and the Germans spot is still open - it might suggest that Harris/Chan have declined the spot as well??

Great, so now we can all stress out about Harris/Chan as well as Bekker/Hernandez (at least until the next grid update).

H/C are still on the entry list for Nebelhorn next week but IDK if that tells us anything since the ISU have been slow to update on Challengers entries this season.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Dang I wish the Swedes had gotten the Germans’ spot at SA so I could see them live.

 

[Andrea82]

......
(because I shouldn’t post from the train after a day at work… so I can actually see the right lists. )

 

[skateblessing]

Dang I wish the Swedes had gotten the Germans’ spot at SA so I could see them live.

I don´t think that was a possible scenario since the spots are offered in the order of WD. If they hadn´t gotten gpdf Val/Kazimov would still have gotten the SA spot, since they are ahead of them on the list. The reason ReiMaj got the spot is because V/K is already assigned to gpdf and either H/C or B/H declined. There were too many available spots open now in France for them to end up with SA since the spot there just opened.

I think the only way this could have happen if is Bakerie somehow accepted and got gpdf instead along with Harris/Chan and then Val/Kazimov got the Germans spot at SA and then ReiMaj would get B/H spot IF they WD. But Bakerie took the first open spot at Finlandia instead. Or we don´t really know how that turned out if they actually asked to get the later one or if it happen in the order of WD I guess if B/H had accepted gpdf, R/M would have been first alternate for SA after V/K had gotten the German spots, but then again - the only plausible open spot there would be them so that doesn´t make sense...

I´m getting dizzy thinking about all these scenarios

Anyways, this is the much better option for the Swedes, they will avoid back to back and they will also have another GP in Europe which is great for them not needing to travel to different time zones.

 

[kwanfan1818]

With new withdrawals being received and invitations in flux, the order in which the invitations were assigned isn't always a straight line.

 

[Karen-W]

Anyways, this is the much better option for the Swedes, they will avoid back to back and they will also have another GP in Europe which is great for them not needing to travel to different time zones.

It's also better for ValKaz as they will also avoid back-to-back GPs. All in all, it's working out well for all of the teams on the Alts List.

 

[kwanfan1818]

It's always possible that they ISU committee poked in to avoid back-to-back invitations, when people higher on the list will get one.

We've always assumed that if an invite is turned down, that means removal from the list, but I wonder if now that visas could be an issue, if skaters/teams can pass if they don't have enough time or are unlikely to get a visa from the host country, but still be eligible for the next open spot.

 

[Karen-W]

It's always possible that they ISU committee poked in to avoid back-to-back invitations, when people higher on the list will get one.

We've always assumed that if an invite is turned down, that means removal from the list, but I wonder if now that visas could be an issue, if skaters/teams can pass if they don't have enough time or are unlikely to get a visa from the host country, but still be eligible for the next open spot.

That's not likely an issue for either Harris/Chan or Bekker/Hernandez with GPdF though.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Not specifically, but in general it is something that could be a factor. Also, it certainly was a choice to invite Bakerie to Finlandia instead of GPdF when both spots opened at the same time, despite the travel.

 

[Karen-W]

Not specifically, but in general it is something that could be a factor. Also, it certainly was a choice to invite Bakerie to Finlandia instead of GPdF when both spots opened at the same time, despite the travel.

We don't know exactly how that offer went down - the ISU GP Coordination Group could have offered Bakerie their choice of Finlandia or GPdF and proceeded from there after Bakerie chose GPdF.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Yes, they could have let Bakerie choose, although that would put them in the position of, at least procedurally. having all others at the top of the list choose when there is more than one opening. Not that they've never put themselves in a hole or acted inconsistently before...

 

[Belsornia]

Probable update to the alternates list after Lombardia:

Women
Saki Miyake (JPN) 196.79
Rino Matsuike (JPN) 193.21
Julia Sauter (ROU) 190.93
Sophie Joline von Felten (USA) 190.67 assigned to SA
Seoyoung Kim (KOR) 190.12
Ahsun Yun (KOR) 188.51 (up eight spots from 180.23)
Mariia Seniuk (ISR) 185.80
Olga Mikutina (AUT) 185.59
Seojin Youn (KOR) 183.97
Mako Yamashita (JPN) 183.81 assigned to NHK
Alina Bonillo (USA) 183.59
Gabrielle Daleman (CAN) 183.47
Sarina Joos (ITA) 180.84
Ruiyang Zhang (CHN) 179.76
Marina Piredda (ITA) 178.94
Kaiya Ruiter (CAN) 178.44
Kimmy Repond (SUI) 177.89
Stefania Yakovleva (CYP) 177.53
Fee Ann Landry (CAN) 177.18
Elyce Lin-Gracey (USA) 175.80
Maria Eliise Kaljuvere (EST) 175.23
Ekaterina Kurakova (POL) 175.15

Men
Vladislav Dikidzhi (AIN2) 265.68
Petr Gumennik (AIN2) 236.25
Andreas Nordeback (SWE) 230.37
Tamir Kuperman (ISR) 230.17
Hyungyeom Kim (KOR) 228.60
Arlet Levandi (EST) 228.52
Liam Kapekis (USA) 227.45
Lucius Kazanecki (USA) 225.85
Daniel Martynov (USA) 223.14 (up two spots from 221.38)
Samy Hammi (FRA) 222.77
Donovan Carrillo (MEX) 222.36
Aleksa Rakic (CAN) 221.18
Wesley Chiu (CAN) 220.31
Taira Shinohara (USA) 219.14 (up four/five spots from 213.90)
Genrikh Gartung (GER) 219.14
Jimmy Ma (USA) 218.52
Younghyun Cha (KOR) 218.48
Zhiming Peng (CHN) 217.34
Yu-Hsiang Li (TPE) 216.98
Davide Lewton Brain (MON) 216.12
Corey Circelli (ITA) 212.41
Semen Daniliants (ARM) 209.38
Ivan Shmuratko (UKR) 209.07
Dias Jirenbayev (KAZ) 208.68

Dance: No improvements due to Lombardia scores, only removal of Reitan/Majorov now they're assigned to GPdF.

 

[Kateri]

Probable update to the alternates list after Lombardia:

Women
Saki Miyake (JPN) 196.79
Rino Matsuike (JPN) 193.21
Julia Sauter (ROU) 190.93
Sophie Joline von Felten (USA) 190.67 assigned to SA
Seoyoung Kim (KOR) 190.12
Ahsun Yun (KOR) 188.51 (up eight spots from 180.23)
Mariia Seniuk (ISR) 185.80
Olga Mikutina (AUT) 185.59
Seojin Youn (KOR) 183.97
Mako Yamashita (JPN) 183.81 assigned to NHK
Alina Bonillo (USA) 183.59
Gabrielle Daleman (CAN) 183.47
Sarina Joos (ITA) 180.84
Ruiyang Zhang (CHN) 179.76
Marina Piredda (ITA) 178.94
Kaiya Ruiter (CAN) 178.44
Kimmy Repond (SUI) 177.89
Stefania Yakovleva (CYP) 177.53
Fee Ann Landry (CAN) 177.18
Elyce Lin-Gracey (USA) 175.80
Maria Eliise Kaljuvere (EST) 175.23
Ekaterina Kurakova (POL) 175.15

Men
Vladislav Dikidzhi (AIN2) 265.68
Petr Gumennik (AIN2) 236.25
Andreas Nordeback (SWE) 230.37
Tamir Kuperman (ISR) 230.17
Hyungyeom Kim (KOR) 228.60
Arlet Levandi (EST) 228.52
Liam Kapekis (USA) 227.45
Lucius Kazanecki (USA) 225.85
Daniel Martynov (USA) 223.14 (up two spots from 221.38)
Samy Hammi (FRA) 222.77
Donovan Carrillo (MEX) 222.36
Aleksa Rakic (CAN) 221.18
Wesley Chiu (CAN) 220.31
Taira Shinohara (USA) 219.14 (up four/five spots from 213.90)
Genrikh Gartung (GER) 219.14
Jimmy Ma (USA) 218.52
Younghyun Cha (KOR) 218.48
Zhiming Peng (CHN) 217.34
Yu-Hsiang Li (TPE) 216.98
Davide Lewton Brain (MON) 216.12
Corey Circelli (ITA) 212.41
Semen Daniliants (ARM) 209.38
Ivan Shmuratko (UKR) 209.07
Dias Jirenbayev (KAZ) 208.68

Dance: No improvements due to Lombardia scores, only removal of Reitan/Majorov now they're assigned to GPdF.

Corantin Spinar got 247.66 at Lombardia, does that do anything for him?

 

[Belsornia]

Corantin Spinar got 247.66 at Lombardia, does that do anything for him?

Unfortunately not. He didn’t score high enough last season to get on to the alternates list so his only chance of a GP is if one of the other French guys drops out of GPdF.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Or "drops out" of GPdF.

 

[Belsornia]

Or "drops out" of GPdF.

Watch your back Samy Hammi

 

[haribobo]

These rules are so silly and arbitrary that you can get the 2nd highest score of all the alternates but still be nowhere in contention. Same applies to Semenenko really. That rule is almost as stupid as # of JGP spots being decided solely by Junior Worlds finish...

 

[kwanfan1818]

Especially since the May 2026 Initial Selection document says that a CS winner is ranked by their SB score, while the General Announcement documents says they go to the bottom of the list. They can't even state their own rules. Surprise, surprise.

But to recap:

• If you're on the list and not AINx, ie, Top 75 SB from 2025-26, you can move up the Alternates List with a 2026-27 CS score.
• If you're on the list from the OWG only, ie, AINx, you can be put on the Alternates List with your 2026-27 score.
• If you're not Top 75 SB from 2025-26, you need to win a CS event to get on the list, based on your CS score.
• You can't miss Top 75 SB from 2025-26 and get on the list with a 2026-27 CS score if you don't win at CS.

How much was put in place because they expected Russian and Belorussian skaters to be allowed back this season as AINx's, I have no idea. So far, the early CS fields in which they've competed have been relatively weak, and some AINx skaters have made it to the list. (Once on the list, if they compete at another CS event and get a higher score, they could move on the list.) We'll see if they compete head-to-head with the top of the fields in any discipline as more and more top skater/teams from last year start to debut in CS in the coming weeks. It's a good season to be introduced back, especially with so many top skaters/teams not competing in GP or pulling out of the ones to which they were assigned.

 

[Karen-W]

Especially since the May 2026 Initial Selection document says that a CS winner is ranked by their SB score, while the General Announcement documents says they go to the bottom of the list. They can't even state their own rules. Surprise, surprise.

But to recap:

• If you're on the list and not AINx, ie, Top 75 SB from 2025-26, you can move up the Alternates List with a 2026-27 CS score.
• If you're on the list from the OWG only, ie, AINx, you can be put on the Alternates List with your 2026-27 score.
• If you're not Top 75 SB from 2025-26, you need to win a CS event to get on the list, based on your CS score.
• You can't miss Top 75 SB from 2025-26 and get on the list with a 2026-27 CS score if you don't win at CS.

How much was put in place because they expected Russian and Belorussian skaters to be allowed back this season as AINx's, I have no idea. So far, the early CS fields in which they've competed have been relatively weak, and some AINx skaters have made it to the list. (Once on the list, if they compete at another CS event and get a higher score, they could move on the list.) We'll see if they compete head-to-head with the top of the fields in any discipline as more and more top skater/teams from last year start to debut in CS in the coming weeks. It's a good season to be introduced back, especially with so many top skaters/teams not competing in GP or pulling out of the ones to which they were assigned.

Honestly, taking out the AINx part of your bulleted list, this is exactly how the Alternates List has worked the past two seasons for the singles & ice dance disciplines. The only difference for pairs is that the 4th bullet point does not apply - a 2026-27 CS score will get you on the pairs Alt List because the discipline is so much smaller than the other three.

The GP Coordination Group only implemented the new Alternates Selection process starting with the 2024-25 season. It's taken us awhile to fully understand how it works & boil it down to a simple bulleted list like the one you provided. But I don't believe any of this was put in place because of the anticipated return of Russian & Belarusian skaters.

ETA - I don't even think the changes rolled out in the May/June 2026 initial selection document were in anticipation of the return of Russian/Belarusian skaters. Reducing the "Comeback Skater/Team" lookback period from the last 10 years to the last 4 years did affect a handful of Russian skaters who are still competing (Trusova, Mishina/Galliamov, Boikova/Kozlovskii, Stepanova/Bukin - should they ever get approved for AIN status) but I called it "the Shibutani rule" back in June when the initial GP assignments dropped and I still think that change was directly a result of their half-assed, ill-fated comeback attempt rather than in anticipation of Russian/Belarusian skaters returning to international competition.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Killed two birds with one stone. The writing was already on the wall for the ISU with Coventry and the IOC pushing for the return of Russian athletes. The ISU managed to stave off the initial selections, but it's not surprising that they backed off in the end.