Chinese Skating News, Pt. 3: A long & winding road to Beijing 2022

[meggonzo]

If he was unhappy, he could swap back... if he didn’t, he probably isn’t unhappy with his situation.

Clearly it's the Chinese Federation that makes the choices, not the athletes.

 

[kwanfan1818]

If they didn't care about his happiness the first time, they won't care about his happiness this time. They care about putting the best Pairs on the ice in Beijing, and if they feel that Peng/Jin are that team, or, if they want Yu to have a new partner to keep her in shape in case Zhang comes back, the Chinese Fed will enforce it as much as they can.

I don’t understand that. So are there going to be two national teams? Or is it like creating a new school for top skaters? So that the skaters can choose where/with whom they want to train? Or is it for skaters who are struggling, to help them get back on the right track?

It sounds like the last, as a way to keep experience skaters in the running. Pang/Tong certainly know what it's like to be ignored -- Tong had to train them while Bin Yao was focused on Shen/Zhao and Zhang/Zhang, his babies -- and have to be completely self-motivated, so they'd be familiar with more psychological aspects than many.

 

[hanca]

Clearly it's the Chinese Federation that makes the choices, not the athletes.

Sure, but if Yu was considered to have more potential, surely they would not object. If they have one guy and two girls, it is in their interest to use the stronger girl, to create as strong pair as possible.

 

[Erin]

If they didn't care about his happiness the first time, they won't care about his happiness this time. They care about putting the best Pairs on the ice in Beijing,

They do, within the confines of their own internal politics and favourite-playing. If they really cared about the best pairs on the ice, they would have left Yu and Jin together in the first place, as Jin is far more talented than Zhang and being younger, more likely to last until Beijing. But Zhang is the chosen one, so I'd say they cared more about Zhang having a good partner than having the best pairs on the ice. And I given that re-pairing up Yu and Jin would be a tacit admission that the partner swapping was a mistake, I don't see that happening either, even though that would be a stronger pairing than Peng and Jin. So I would say their priorities are Zhang and face-saving over best pairs on the ice, although all of that is definitely way above happiness of the non-Zhang skaters (which is of course, last/non-existent).

 

[binbinwinwin]

I don’t understand that. So are there going to be two national teams? Or is it like creating a new school for top skaters? So that the skaters can choose where/with whom they want to train? Or is it for skaters who are struggling, to help them get back on the right track?

Chinese fans don't know either, its just another training initiative to prepare for the 2022 Olympics. It's for young skaters with potential and skaters who are on the verge of retirement.

 

[kwanfan1818]

If they really cared about the best pairs on the ice, they would have left Yu and Jin together in the first place, as Jin is far more talented than Zhang and being younger, more likely to last until Beijing.

Maybe in the long-run in terms of longevity, about which, given Zhang's age, real or imagined, they were being overly optimistic. However, Yu/Zhang beat Peng/Jin in every head-to-head international competition, albeit several very close results, and the only time I can find where Yu/Jin and Peng/Zhang competed together internationally as seniors, 2016-17 GPF, Peng/Zhang dominated Yu/Jin.

 

[skateboy]

Jin is far more talented than Zhang

I respectfully disagree with that. Hao Zhang is so strong, possibly one of the best male pairs skaters ever. If I were a pairs girl and could choose a male partner to trust, he would be the guy. Zhang almost never misses a jump, even after all these years. I think, because he is built like the Incredible Hulk (unusual for a skater), the artistry that he does possess is often scoffed at or overlooked.

I doubt that many skaters could maintain high elite-level status for as many years as Zhang has.

 

[casken]

I doubt Jin would even be given the choice.

 

[angi]

I respectfully disagree with that. Hao Zhang is so strong, possibly one of the best male pairs skaters ever.

I agree. I'll even say that he is the unsung hero of pairs skating. He is a very good pairs skater, very consistent and have great partnering skills and his longevity is truly impressive. A healthy Zhang with a more experienced Yu could have been a real threat - in my opinion they had the potential to beat every other team other than Sui/Han probably.

 

[SamuraiK]

It seems like some kind of schism within the chinese skating. Im all for it. All the power and decission coming from just one camp was bad..

#teamPang&Tong

 

[kwanfan1818]

Gary Beacom choreographed the finale for the 2006 Skate Canada gala in Victoria. My jaw dropped when I saw how good Zhang was at boogieing. I think this was a side of him that was greatly underused.

 

[Japanfan]

I respectfully disagree with that. Hao Zhang is so strong, possibly one of the best male pairs skaters ever. If I were a pairs girl and could choose a male partner to trust, he would be the guy. Zhang almost never misses a jump, even after all these years. I think, because he is built like the Incredible Hulk (unusual for a skater), the artistry that he does possess is often scoffed at or overlooked.

I doubt that many skaters could maintain high elite-level status for as many years as Zhang has.

When Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were guest commentators for a FS event on CBC, Jamie said the following about Zhang (may be a slight paraphrase): I can't imagine anything more exciting than being lifted by Hao Zhang.

I do believe that Jamie and David were divorced by this time, but if they weren't, that comment would probably have been a deal-breaker.

 

[Sylvia]

Article in English - Jin Boyang's new figure skating program scores high at national championship, still not satisfying: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/15/c_137470271.htm

QINGDAO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Jin Boyang, bronze winner of world championship made a debut of his new program - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"- in men's short program of China's National Figure Skating Grand Prix here on Saturday, but he wasn't satisfied with it.
With a pair of brand new golden skate blades, Jin won stunning cheers and 101.40 points in total, with 55.50 points of element score and 45.90 points of program score, ranking first and leading the second skater, Zhang He from Beijing, by 20.75 points.
"It might look quite good, but I didn't feel that way," he said. "I only performed about 70 percent and many details need to be improved."
"After the commercial performances [The ICE] in Japan, I only had two weeks' training, which is far from enough," Jin said.

(@Tavi, this is why he's not performing in the SOI show in Shanghai tomorrow.)

 

[Taso]

It is too bad yu xiaoyu and xie zhong are so close in height. Li and xie didnt have a great first outing this week, and I wondered if those two hadn't been considered as a combo, but she's 5'4 and he is 5'9

 

[s_parks]

It is too bad yu xiaoyu and xie zhong are so close in height. Li and xie didnt have a great first outing this week, and I wondered if those two hadn't been considered as a combo, but she's 5'4 and he is 5'9

They're not only a new partnership, but Li is entirely new to pairs...they're going to need a lot more than 4 months to polish things up. Having a rough outing on the very first competition is normal.

 

[Sylvia]

Final results posted here: http://fyeahchinesepairs.tumblr.com...-chinese-national-grand-prix-medalists-photos

2018 Chinese National Grand Prix Medalists (Photos by SkatingChina)

Senior Pairs:
1. Peng Cheng/Jin Yang 198.53 [SP Video]
2. Wang Xuehan/Wang Lei 159.11 [SP Video]
3. Wang Huidi/Jia Ziqi 136.94
4. Li Xiangning/Xie Zhong 134.48 [SP Video]
SP protocols of top 2 (Peng/Jin 70.22 & Wang/Wang 56.63): http://fyeahchinesepairs.tumblr.com/post/178075775737/pengjin-and-wangwangs-sp-protocols-from-the
FS protocols of top 4 (Peng/Jin 128.31, Wang/Wang 102.48, Wang/Jia 91.69, Li/Xie 90.23): http://fyeahchinesepairs.tumblr.com...8-national-grand-prix-protocols-for-the-top-4

Senior Men:
1. Jin Boyang 244.18 [SP Video] [FS Video]
Jin's SP protocol (4Lz+3T<, 4T, 3A - 101.40): https://twitter.com/BoyangFanpage/status/1040938369579020289
Jin's FS protocol (142.78): https://twitter.com/BoyangFanpage/status/1041307390639955969
2. Zhang He 226.90
3. Liu Runqi 177.00

Senior Ladies:
1. An Xiangyi 176.30
2. Chen Hongyi 158.44
3. Jin Guanru 131.08

 

[SamuraiK]

So the Wangs are still continuing despite not getting any love from the fed or chances of international assignments even though they are more than deserving... ((Wangs))

 

[Taso]

So the Wangs are still continuing despite not getting any love from the fed or chances of international assignments even though they are more than deserving... ((Wangs))

Do they have international ranking currently? They haven't competed internationally in so long, and with no Senior B's in Asia I wonder where they'd have the chance.

 

[SamuraiK]

Do they have international ranking currently? They haven't competed internationally in so long, and with no Senior B's in Asia I wonder where they'd have the chance.

They wouldn't have got anything other than a host spot this season but with COC being cancelled that's a moot point. The crime is that they were not even entered in the national team so no chances of gettins international assignments while the fed's new pet team Li&Xie (who were beaten here by more than 20 points) misteriously got 2 GP events.

 

[GloriaW]

Have been hearing for a while about efforts to recruit Chinese-American skaters, ladies in particular, with possible dual citizenship to consider competing for China ahead of 2022. Wonder how that is going.

 

[Willin]

@GloriaW There's been rumors about them courting a specific US skater or two, but nothing certain. There's also been little-to-no evidence that any recruiting efforts are working, so I don't think it will work out.

 

[Japanfan]

@GloriaW There's been rumors about them courting a specific US skater or two, but nothing certain. There's also been little-to-no evidence that any recruiting efforts are working, so I don't think it will work out.

It would be very difficult for an American skater to have to adjust to the Chinese system and live in a dormitory, which would demand giving up freedoms that have long been taken for granted. And Chinese coaches, like Russian coaches, have more authority and power than coaches in the west. And Chinese skaters can't change skaters just because they want to, SFAIK. This too would be hard for an American to deal with.

A particularly committed skater might be able to make the adjustment, but I would be really surprised to see an American start skating for China.

 

[jlai]

It would be very difficult for an American skater to have to adjust to the Chinese system and live in a dormitory, which would demand giving up freedoms that have long been taken for granted. And Chinese coaches, like Russian coaches, have more authority and power than coaches in the west. And Chinese skaters can't change skaters just because they want to, SFAIK. This too would be hard for an American to deal with.

A particularly committed skater might be able to make the adjustment, but I would be really surprised to see an American start skating for China.

We actually do not know the 'offer' to know whether skaters are required to live in dorms etc. my suspicions says the said skater may still train in the states.

Also unless we have inside info we do not know whether offers were made or if the scheme does or does not work out. It is still early

 

[Willin]

@jlai That was my suspicion as well. I'm sure Chinese skating knows that would almost certainly be a dealbreaker for any US skater they try to get.

I also don't think any offers have been made yet. Maybe they've broached the idea with some skaters to gauge interest and that's why the rumor exists, but if they're thinking about getting younger skaters like the rumor suggests they may want to see what the skaters' results look like for a year or two before any offers are made.

 

[hanca]

If China was keen to send their skater to Orser, that should be indicate that they don’t mind if their skaters (at least some of them) train abroad. So why would the american skater who would skate for China have to live in China in dormitory?

 

[Sylvia]

Have been hearing for a while about efforts to recruit Chinese-American skaters, ladies in particular, with possible dual citizenship to consider competing for China ahead of 2022. Wonder how that is going.

First official news (in English): http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1120891.shtml

Beverly Zhu [2018 U.S. Novice Ladies champion], who was born in Los Angeles, will train together with five Chinese ice dancers from Sunday to the end of December in three venues - two in the US and one in Beijing - for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, Xinhua News Agency reported.
...
Chen Lu, the main coach of the training program of China's figure skating team, told The Beijing News on Saturday that "Zhu is really nice and also a champion in novice ladies. She has a good potential."
...
Called "morning road," the program is open to 10 other new recruits on top of the six. "There are other athletes in the process of signing a contract. The list cannot be disclosed now," Chen said.
The program will mainly recruit top Chinese athletes from abroad and get trained overseas, the Beijing News quoted Chen as saying. The training team will also be joined by five foreign coaches.

ETA that Zhu landed 6 clean triples in her Novice Nationals FS to Miss Saigon: 3F+3T, 3S-half loop-2F, 3Lo+2A seq., 3Lo & 3S - link to watch USFS' official video, recently uploaded on their new video platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4w2ML59eF8&t=63m7s
She turned 16 earlier this month.

 

[Dobre]

I think it's a good opportunity for Beverly.

 

[binbinwinwin]

If it matters, the English article only said that Beverly has enrolled in their National training program but the Chinese articles do confirm that she will compete on behalf of China.

 

[Sylvia]

If it matters, the English article only said that Beverly has enrolled in their National training program but the Chinese articles do confirm that she will compete on behalf of China.

Here's one such Chinese article: http://www.kaixian.tv/gd/2018/0925/720848.html

 

[binbinwinwin]

Here's one such Chinese article: http://www.kaixian.tv/gd/2018/0925/720848.html

Are you asking for a translation of this one?