Shanghai Trophy Adds Figure Skating

[Maofan7]

Shanghai Trophy Adds Figure Skating

THE 2017 ISU Shanghai Trophy will be held at Oriental Sports Center in Pudong New Area on November 24-26, the International Skating Union announced on its website.

The Shanghai Trophy was first held last year and featured short track speedskating and synchronized skating.

In its second year the event will add figure skating to its menu — free skate for men’s and women’s singles, pairs and ice dance.

The figure skating event will feature the top-eight ranked skaters from the 2016-17 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, as well as the top three skaters from the Junior Grand Prix series

 

[Bellanca]

^^ Great news for all figure skating and ice dance fans. The more the merrier!

 

[clairecloutier]

The dates of this event, as listed in the article, conflict with Skate America.

I can't imagine that top skaters hoping to go to Pyeongchang would be eager to add another event to their schedule, just weeks before GPF and their respective nationals events(?).

 

[seabm7]

I just checked the official announcement at the ISU website:

http://static.isu.org/media/557626/shanghaitrophy17_annoucement_fs_final.pdf

Participation in the “ISU Shanghai Trophy 2017 of Figure Skating” is open to the top twelve (12) skaters/couples of each category of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2017 and the top three (3) skaters/couples of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2017 based on invitations as follows:  The top five (5) Ladies/Men skaters and one (1) skater from the host country for Single Skating;  the top four (4) couples for Pair Skating;  the top four (4) couples and one (1) couple from the host country for Ice Dance

The entry deadline is September 15.

I also do not think this schedule is viable for top skaters, who have full schedule ahead.

 

[starrynight]

There's very good prize money on offer though (more than is awarded at Grand Prix events), so it will be a very good opportunity for the skaters that do get to go. Great to see more opportunities for skaters to win some prize money.

 

[ninjapirate]

This seems kind of insane to be putting an event like this right in the middle of the grand prix final... I don't think the ISU should have approved this.

I doubt Medvedeva wants to go to NHK and then 2 weeks later go to China and then(if she qualifies) 2 weeks later go to the GPF. But maybe I'm wrong.

Then you have the fact that it conflicts with Skate America.

 

[starrynight]

If you presume that the top 6 or so teams won't enter, it could be a big windfall for a lesser ranked team.

Good opportunity for a team like say Giugnard / Fabbri who most likely won't make the GPF to turn up at get a good shot at $25,000 USD in prize money just for skating an FD. That could make a big difference.

Skaters aren't being made go to this event, so it will be a good thing for those skaters who can fit it in their schedule to make some much needed extra $$$. We always wish for there to be extra money in figure skating, so more competitions like this help.

 

[levineismine]

Was just about to post the same. Schedule doesn't really make sense to me but seems like a good competition/money opportunity for the near-the-top skaters

 

[starrynight]

I suppose the schedule makes more sense when you consider it was a speed skating competition that has now decided to add figure skating (perhaps at the last moment?). Probably next year they might position it not to conflict with the GP events if they retain the figure skating.

 

[clairecloutier]

The schedule is far from ideal, but it IS nice that they are trying to expand competition and prize-winning opportunities for all the skaters (figure/synchro/speed). As long as no one is compelled to go to it, it's fine. It will be interesting to see how many of the figure skaters take advantage of the opportunity. For those not going to the Grand Prix Final, it's more doable, and I would think particularly for Asian-based skaters, who wouldn't have to travel as far.

 

[Seerek]

I don't see the top European/North American short track speed skaters showing up either to this event, as there is a World Cup event already in Shanghai 3 weeks earlier.

Bear in mind, this event was cancelled last season when it was scheduled for March 2017.

 

[bardtoob]

It sounds like a super GPF that was randomly thrown into the schedule.

 

[Maofan7]

Bear in mind, this event was cancelled last season when it was scheduled for March 2017.

This was cancellation notice from earlier in the year.

It's a very crowded calendar. There are going to be issues whenever it's scheduled.

 

[RoseRed]

I'd be surprised to see any of the top 12 men attend, since below the top 8, they all have assignments to either Skate America or Internationaux de France the week before. For the women, maybe Wakaba as long as she doesn't seem to have a shot at the GPF. Mariah Bell could as well I suppose, but it would be more travel for her. For pairs, Marchei/Hotarek might be possible. For dance, as starrynight said, Guignard/Fabbri might be possible, though they have a GP the week before.

Of the juniors, Dmitri Aliev is the only man without a GP that is the same weekend or the week before, but I'm not expecting him to go. The top 3 ladies from JW all have either IdF or SA. None of the top 3 pairs are on the GP circuit and I could see the Australians or the Chinese team Gao/Xie going. For dance, the Parsons could if they don't get the SA TBD, but it's a lot of travel from Maryland. Loboda/Drozd have IdF and I doubt it would be worth it for Carreira/Ponomarenko to create senior programs for this, since the SD uses different patterns.

 

[Bellanca]

Many skaters would appreciate the chance to compete - and they don't necessarily have to be top tier skaters. Not every comp has to have a 'name' competing in it to be successful. This is a wonderful opportunity for lower-ranked skaters to get some visibility, mileage and experience under their belt and to help round out, establish or build a skating resume, not to mention the possibility of earning some extra $$$.

 

[Marco]

Just another WTT or Challenge Cup event, but at a weird time. If they do this every year I hope they pick late September or early October, like Japan Open. I think Japanese and Korean skaters who train within Asia, and even Russian skaters, who don't have to fly so much and who don't have competition conflicts will be interested in a chance for SB/points/rankings and some decent prize money.

This will help one Chinese lady and one Chinese dance team earn some precious points/rankings since they otherwise don't compete in senior Bs and maybe not 2 GP events, and some mileage if they are to challenge for a team medal or even just a later skate order group in their disciplines in PC.

 

[seabm7]

I think Japanese and Korean skaters who train within Asia, and even Russian skaters, who don't have to fly so much and who don't have competition conflicts will be interested in a chance for SB/points/rankings and some decent prize money.

But invitational event cannot be used to obtain SB/points/rankings. Prize money will be a lot of help.

 

[RoseRed]

Many skaters would appreciate the chance to compete - and they don't necessarily have to be top tier skaters. Not every comp has to have a 'name' competing in it to be successful. This is a wonderful opportunity for lower-ranked skaters to get some visibility, mileage and experience under their belt and to help round out, establish or build a skating resume, not to mention the possibility of earning some extra $$$.

I agree, but to be fair, it isn't open to all the lower ranked skaters. Only the top 12 skaters from Worlds in each discipline and the top 3 in each from Junior Worlds. Not that the $$$ wouldn't matter for lots of those skaters.

 

[Marco]

But invitational event cannot be used to obtain SB/points/rankings. Prize money will be a lot of help.

Really? I thought many SBs and even world records were obtained at WTT?

 

[Bellanca]

I agree, but to be fair, it isn't open to all the lower ranked skaters. Only the top 12 skaters from Worlds in each discipline and the top 3 in each from Junior Worlds. Not that the $$$ wouldn't matter for lots of those skaters.

Right, top 12. Number 12 for example is usually (consistently) lower-ranked than 1 through 3. The point being, "the Janny," for example doesn't need to be there for a competition to be successful. However, the lure of cashing in on a 'healthy' and attractive prize money reward can sometimes bring out a competitor who would otherwise pass up such a comp. Only time will tell.

 

[seabm7]

Really? I thought many SBs and even world records were obtained at WTT?

That is what I remember. WTT is not an invitational competition. ISU has a qualification rule to select WTT teams.

 

[kwanfan1818]

A competition with one segment only doesn't qualify for WS points. Skaters have to do both segments at WTT, and those combined scores count for SB, but not WS points, since placements are by team, not individual.

They may have made an exception for TEB 2015 for WS points. Does anyone remember?

 

[kwanfan1818]

And many skaters who would love to compete are prohibited by the selection rules, which are limited to the Top 12 at Helsinki, except for host spots. The lowest-ranked SB skaters/team who placed Top 12 in Helsinki:

1. In Pairs: 14th
2. In Dance: 13th
3. In Men: 21st. The Top 11 were Top 14 in SB.
4. In Ladies: 24th, 22nd, 21st, then 14th.

 

[Marco]

I also wonder if some top ten or even top 5 skaters who flunked a GP and as a result would miss the GPF would take part in this, just so there can be another chance to showcase the free skate on competition ice and against their competitors, with a presumably international panel of judges, before their Nationals and/ or Euros. And then there's Zagitova, Marin and Vincent Z, who are Olympic hopefuls and who desperately need more exposure in senior events.

When is entry submission deadline? I suppose they can always enter first and withdraw later.

 

[Josh78]

It was announced today that the Parsons got the Skate America Dance host spot, so they're probably out from this...

 

[clairecloutier]

Entries for this event as posted on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/eunju975/status/925362413058211841

Perhaps the most interesting ... Sui/Han are entered to compete. It is scheduled between their GP events (CoC, NHK) and the GP Final.

 

[Marco]

I was just thinking Marin Honda would make a great entry for this competition, especially if she does not win Cup of China this week...