Osmond to skip Grand Prix (and more?)

[MrMystery]

Regardless of if she retires or not, it's very smart of her to take advantage of the Thank You Canada Tour opportunity. Realistically speaking, outside of SOI, there are few opportunities in North America. As we all know (or should), figure skating is an incredibly expensive sport. Yes, she is at a place in her career where she is getting subsidized and earning prize money, etc. However, in the grand scheme of things, skipping the GP is not really going to have an effect one way or another on her career, should she continue.

On the other hand, if this is the first step of her retirement, good for her as well. Olympic team and individual medals, World title, Canadian titles, etc.

 

[aml78]

As for what Kaetlyn will be doing during this time, she is going to be participating in a Canada-wide tour October through November 2018 with other members of Team Canada.

https://thethankyoucanadatour.ca/

Wow. That’s an aggressive tour. My guess is she is getting paid pretty well for this tour. I’m going out on a limb here but that’s two months straight of touring which is not leaving her any training time. I know she said she’s skipping the Grand Prix, but I think we should take this as a sign that she’s out for the season.

 

[Rock2]

Her season went better than expected...especially after a sub-par performance at nationals.
She's highly marketable. I would say #2 in Canada after V/M at the moment, so it's time to cash in.
No sense competing this year half-assed and hurting her rep with judges. Compete when you can go all in.

Given what's happening with the tour, I'm not even sure how prepared she could be for nationals, but if she does train this summer and in the weeks leading to nationals she could make a go of it and be ready for worlds. I don't think she sees the pressure to do this.

There is some sense in pressing the pause button to watch how the new SOV rewards and punishes athletes (and how well the judges adapt); this is information she can internalize to assess what her chances are. With quads and 3A not in her future and only worth doing unless you can get GOE, I can see her staying relevant with her current tech profile. She has +4/+5 potential for pretty much all of her elements.

I'm going to predict she comes back for the 19-20 season, which includes a home country world's. No sense in missing that. And she has missed entire seasons before and come out ok on the other end, right?

Use this year to build the bank account and recharge the mind and body. It's a good thing.

 

[Osmond4gold]

As for what Kaetlyn will be doing during this time, she is going to be participating in a Canada-wide tour October through November 2018 with other members of Team Canada.

https://thethankyoucanadatour.ca/

Wow, thanks believed! This is exciting for them and for fans! I see there are no repeat cities from SOI 2018, as all are new stops for them...smart! There are 30 smaller cities in total and it runs from Oct 5th to Nov 24th. Tessa said in a release, they want to visit cities that don't ordinarily get skating productions because they know how important grassroots programs are in small towns.

Quite the 'roadtrip' this will be!

 

[euterpe]

The other members of the tour are all retired skaters---those no longer participating in the GP, Nationals, Worlds. If Kaetlyn participates in this tour---which conflicts with the GP, and which is why she is not doing the GP this year---the ISU could place sanctions against her ever competing at Worlds again. They threatened to do that to Plushenko some years ago when he was opting to do an ice show in Russia instead of participating in the GP.

 

[Wyliefan]

The other members of the tour are all retired skaters---those no longer participating in the GP, Nationals, Worlds. If Kaetlyn participates in this tour---which conflicts with the GP, and which is why she is not doing the GP this year---the ISU could place sanctions against her ever competing at Worlds again. They threatened to do that to Plushenko some years ago when he was opting to do an ice show in Russia instead of participating in the GP.

They could, but it would be very shortsighted of them, in more ways than one. Given the plight of show skating, tours like this, and the skaters who do them, ought to be encouraged, not penalized.

 

[Osmond4gold]

The other members of the tour are all retired skaters---those no longer participating in the GP, Nationals, Worlds. If Kaetlyn participates in this tour---which conflicts with the GP, and which is why she is not doing the GP this year---the ISU could place sanctions against her ever competing at Worlds again. They threatened to do that to Plushenko some years ago when he was opting to do an ice show in Russia instead of participating in the GP.

2020 Worlds in Canada...I doubt the ISU would want to band a previous World Champion from competing in her home country. They benefit from ticket sales, also.

 

[euterpe]

The shows and tours are fine, but most of the big ones are during the summer months and don't conflict with ISU events. The year-round ones in Japan and Russia use retired skaters only.

If Kaetlyn does the tour despite ISU objections, it may be her way of signaling her retirement.

BTW, it's 2020 Worlds in Canada. 2019 Worlds is in Saitama, Japan.

 

[RoseRed]

The other members of the tour are all retired skaters---those no longer participating in the GP, Nationals, Worlds. If Kaetlyn participates in this tour---which conflicts with the GP, and which is why she is not doing the GP this year---the ISU could place sanctions against her ever competing at Worlds again. They threatened to do that to Plushenko some years ago when he was opting to do an ice show in Russia instead of participating in the GP.

Well, maybe they would say something about her competing this season. But ever again? That makes zero sense. Tessa and Scott spent two years doing shows, then decided they wanted to come back and did with no problem. Were none of those shows ever during the GP?

 

[Erin]

The other members of the tour are all retired skaters---those no longer participating in the GP, Nationals, Worlds. If Kaetlyn participates in this tour---which conflicts with the GP, and which is why she is not doing the GP this year---the ISU could place sanctions against her ever competing at Worlds again. They threatened to do that to Plushenko some years ago when he was opting to do an ice show in Russia instead of participating in the GP.

Plushenko was sanctioned because he didn’t get prior approval from the ISU to do shows, not because it conflicted with the GP. Plenty of skaters take time off to do shows and don’t lose their eligibility. E.g Mao, Chan, Virtue & Moir.

And for the record, there has technically been no retirement announcement for Virtue & Moir yet although I’ll be surprised if we see them compete again. But Skate Canada has been pretty formal about their announcements this year.

 

[euterpe]

V/M were not competing at all in the years after 2014. They were free to do shows all year long if that was what they wanted. Once they announced their comeback, they did the GP, not shows.

And the Thank You Canada Tour competes with Skate Canada International where Kaetlyn was expected to compete. That is actually costing the ISU revenue.

It may be that this is Kaetlyn's subtle way of announcing her retirement.

Perhaps she will announce a 'comeback' for the 2019-2020 season. But she will have to do the GP then.

 

[WildRose]

As for what Kaetlyn will be doing during this time, she is going to be participating in a Canada-wide tour October through November 2018 with other members of Team Canada.

https://thethankyoucanadatour.ca/

Sounds just like the old Skate the Nation tour that went to all the smaller cities and was built around Kurt Browning and most of the CSOI cast. It’s so good to hear there is a market out there for these smaller shows again. A great opportunity for Kaetlyn and the rest of the cast and wonderful news for Cdn skating.

 

[Erin]

V/M were not competing at all in the years after 2014. They were free to do shows all year long if that was what they wanted.

That’s not how it works. They still need approval if they want to maintain eligibility. You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about on this though, so I’m not sure why I’m bothering to engage with you.

 

[dinakt]

The tour goes till late November. I think it is likely Osmond is sitting out 2018-19. Nationals are mid-January, and she'll be tired after the tour. If I had to bet, I would bet she'd decide on whether to come back in 2019-20 later on, but chances are good with the Worlds in Canada.
I hope Kaetlyn comes back, she is gorgeous to watch and I selfishly hope to see more of her.

 

[believed]

Tessa and Scott spent two years doing shows, then decided they wanted to come back and did with no problem. Were none of those shows ever during the GP?

Iirc they didn’t conflict with GP events (i.e., they did shows during breaks between competitions) but I’m not sure if that would count

 

[aml78]

Kaetlyn and Ravi strike me as people who want to make sure everything they are doing is above board. I have no doubt that they went through whatever proper channels are needed to make sure Kaetlyn is clear to take whatever path she wants. Maybe she’s making absolutely certain she’s ready to retire before she announces it. Maybe she really doesn’t know what’s next. Maybe she just wants to bank as much as she cane while she is most marketable but knows she plans to come back. Time will tell I guess. But I can’t imagine that it will be buearacracy and politics that keep Kaetlyn from competing again in the future.

 

[kwanatic]

I will miss her next season but I'm happy for her.

I was always worried that Kaetlyn's nerves would hurt her potential which would have killed me b/c, when she's on, I honestly think she's the best skater in the world. Better than Zagitova. Better than Medvedeva. She skates with so much speed, her jumps are huge, her spins are fast, her programs are great, she performs beautifully...amazing. I'm so happy she was able to have such an amazing season and cap it off with a well-deserved world title.

It will be interesting to see if she decides to come back. It probably will depend on what kind of opportunities she finds outside of skating. The tour should be wonderful for her and it's possible it may open more doors. Going back to the grind of competitive skating might not seem that appealing if she finds something else.

 

[honey]

Some quotes in this CP article.

http://www.thetelegram.com/sports/o...orward-to-taking-a-break-on-her-terms-215958/

And more here from Dan Barnes

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/o...erms/wcm/ea342cb3-0bb7-4551-8d7c-52276ea1e0bf

She is going ahead with getting her program choreographed and says the decision to take the Grand Prix off came before the tour was an option. She sounds to me like she likely won’t compete this year but is keeping a foot in the door just in case she changes her mind.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Honestly, after all the accomplishments she just made and because now we are in year 1 of a quad, I would have been surprised HAD she did the GP this coming year.

I feel the same about Shibs, Savchenko & Massot and other previous Oly and World medalists in this situation.

As long as Osmond stays healthy and because honestly she is still so young I think I see her going for Beijing. Id rather she take a GP circuit off than go down the road of burnout.

We know she can make a comeback because she's made like what? 2 already?

Osmond is the real deal!!!!!

 

[screech]

I wouldn't be surprised if she uses at least one of her new programs in the shows. Short programs usually work well, so she'll likely get a lot of practice in.

 

[Skate Talker]

CBC isn't the sharpest. They kept saying V/M had retired from 2014 to 2016 whereas V/M said they were taking it year by year.

Yup, I noticed that. It was driving me crazy these past 2 seasons when CBC kept insisting they had come back from retirement to compete. I guess they thought it sounded more dramatic than saying they took 2 years off, despite Tessa and Scott's clear statement of taking it one year at a time. But then in CBC's defense, I don't believe Joannie Rochette has ever officially retired either but she has obviously moved on and won't go "Carolina Kostner" on us, more's the pity, though she is thankfully getting to do what she wanted to do.

Anyway, back to Kaetlyn. I wish her all the best and am thankful for how much joy she has given us. However her future plays out, my hope for her is that it unfolds and she wants it to, not dictated by injury, financial, or political pressures.

 

[misskarne]

Plushenko was sanctioned because he didn’t get prior approval from the ISU to do shows, not because it conflicted with the GP.

He actually did seek it. The vindictive RuFed revoked it the day before the show. His options were basically not to skate, let down the fans who'd come to see him and end up in a financially ruinous situation where refunds and compensation would need to be paid, or lose his eligibility. He chose the latter, having already been sued once for the former situation. He was suspended for a year then his eligible status was reinstated.

 

[Rock2]

KO isn't a big enough star and/or draw in the eyes of the ISU for them to bother giving her static. She's not Mao/Yuna/Medvedeva quite yet.

Besides, many top skaters take the first year of a cycle off. That first year paves the way for new stars to emerge, which in turn creates great story lines when you have new vs old guard for the rest of the cycle.

ISU cares less about fan focus on the GP. World's are in Japan, which means money in the bank is secured for TV rights and attendance. Losing KO causes no pain whatsoever.

All is good all around. I have no doubt.

 

[Winnipeg]

As well...another 4 yrs straight without a real break? And also a steady serious boyfriend accross the country could maybe mean it is time to take 6mths off. His training is in Ontario and he is at a point in his career that he could be pairs team#2 or maybe pairs #3 in Canada so he needs to jump in with both feet shortly. Maybe she will stay in Ontario for a few months while he trains full out just conditioning and training for a bit on her own. Then back out west to get ready for Nationals, 4cc and worlds.I really don't see her retiring before worlds in Mtl.

CAn you tell us who her boyfriend is?

 

[honey]

CAn you tell us who her boyfriend is?

Trennt Michaud. They’ve been quite open about it on social media They make a cute couple.

 

[Wyliefan]

KO isn't a big enough star and/or draw in the eyes of the ISU for them to bother giving her static. She's not Mao/Yuna/Medvedeva quite yet.

The world champion and Olympic bronze medalist isn't a big enough star?

 

[MAXSwagg]

The world champion and Olympic bronze medalist isn't a big enough star?

Not in the sense of Mao/Yuna, no. The skaters who drive people to events as of now are:

1. Hanyu

huge gap

2. Med
3. Sui/Han
4. PapCiz

 

[oleada]

The world champion and Olympic bronze medalist isn't a big enough star?

Not compared to Mao/Yuna/Med, like the mentioned. She’s extremely accomplished but she’s not as big a draw as those three and others who are more well known beyond just the skating fans.

 

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Didn't Sasha Cohen take a year off to regroup and re-evaluate? Kaetlyn has had a year with enough high points, she deserves a rest.

ETA: correcting my faulty time-line about Sahsa, a result of working 12-hour nightshifts ;-/

 

[skatfan]

Didn't Sasha Cohen take a year off to regroup and re-evaluate? Tried acting and a few other outlets. And then came back with a bang, winning the Olympic Silver in Torino! And she was a year younger - 21! Kaetlyn has had a year with enough high points, she deserves a rest.

Gosh, I thought she took off time after 2006, not before. Yes, that's what she did.