To be frank, for all the teams aging out, I'd tell them to remain junior another season if the rule changes allow them to do so. The only teams who I think are ready for senior are NesMark and TkaKil and possibly GrimSav.
I cannot see Soucisse/Firus getting an invitation to SCI. Not after the way Skate Canada tried to block their switch.
Agreed. The Fed will hold a grudge despite the warm Canadian fan reception.
Correct. I haven't posted my women's predictions but there are about 2 dozen women in the SB Top 75 who aren't senior age-eligible.
- Oceania International Figure Skating Competition in Melbourne AUS, May 29-31, 2024, appears to be the last competition.
We got the GP assignments the last week of June last year almost as soon as the last competition of the season had finished. I think it stands to reason we could get GP assignments right after the ISU Congress.The 2023-24 international season isn't over yet
The ISU Congress will be held in Las Vegas, June 10-14 - maybe GP assignments will be determined not long before or after those dates?
I've done my projections and the only one I disagree with is Stepcenko. She has one more season of junior eligibility and is only 99 on the SB list. My gut instinct says that she'll choose the JGP again and pass on the GP spot she's guaranteed. She's Latvia's only woman with the TES mins for Euros and Worlds so she's pretty set on probably earning WS points if she skates well enough in the SP at Euros to make the FS like she did this year.
Do they really have another one?
Only if they change the rules - he is already 21.
Do we really think the rules won't be changed?
So, I went back and checked their ISU bio again and yes, they do.
No, he's only 20. DOB is July 31, 2003 for Ivan, February 24, 2007 for Violetta.
I agree but I also don't think it would hurt them at all to do another season on the JGP and get some real momentum for their senior debut the following season. If they can manage a medal on the JGPF and/or at Jr Worlds next year, they'd be almost a lock for the 2nd spot on the Italian Olympic team in Milano-Cortina.
She's on my list and I expect her to get 2 assignments.
For SkAm? I dunno. They're going to have to select one of the 4-6 seeded women (Loena, Kimmy & Haein), plus another in the 7-12 invited women (Chiba, Yoshida, Kaiser, Kurakova & You). I'd guess they'd rather get Alysa to two other GPs and not have to waste a host spot on her, but they might do that if the trade-off is getting Elyce an initial GP assignment elsewhere or getting Bradie a second one on the initial assignments list.
26. She’ll be 27 in January.
I don't understand they keep putting Isabeau and Amber together at Skate America. It ruins the chance both may have the make the GPF if they keep competing against each other. That's why the USFS would always keep Gracie and Ashley from facing off at SA for that very reason.
Why? Chock/Bates and Hubbell/Donohue as well as Nathan & Vincent and/or Jason routinely competed against each other at GP events and made the GPF. It is entirely within their power, both, to reach the GPF. I think the USFS is actually advantaging them by assigning them both to SA. Both Isabeau & Amber are seeded/invited skaters, so they are both going to be assigned to GPs with other top skaters. At least by assigning them both to SA the USFS can then pick the other 2 skaters from the seeded/invited pool and give Amber & Isabeau the best shot at going 1-2 or 1-3. But, even if Amber winds up 4th at SkAm, she can still make the GPF by winning her other GP - we've seen that happen plenty of times. It is all within both skaters' control their opportunity to make the GPF.
The USFS is going to hold one of their host spots as a TBD in all likelihood. And the USFS loves Amber. I don't think there's any way on earth they won't assign Amber and Isabeau both to SkAm.
