下個賽季大獎賽有些改變 Grand Prix Series Evolves - 花式滑冰 Figure Skating

大致的意思是,從下個賽季開始,ISU會減少大獎賽的參賽人數/組合,並且會根據過往的
積分來派送邀請函,這也是為什麼會看到Evan,Rochette會在名單上。而在前一屆世錦賽
拿到前六名的選手/組合,可以選擇參加三站賽事,然後選其中最好的兩次做為積分,但是
獎金可以不限次數,因此大家會看到像是德國隊的SS這次就參加了三站比賽。同時，被
邀請的單人選手也從12人下降到10人，冰舞組合從１０組下降到８組。

這是因為ISU不想經歷去年那樣大牌選手紛紛推辭,最後名額落到知名度低/實力較差
的選手身上。(ISU的目標一直是"擴大觀眾群"，創造更大商業價值。)

新規定裡，若要符合參加大獎賽的資格，除了去年世錦賽的排名，還要達到ISU的積分
要求，所以如果以往沒有大獎賽或是世錦賽經驗的選手想參賽，就要從B級賽事開始累
積積分，例如芬蘭杯...等等。因此，這些以往不被重視的B級賽事將會變得更重要，又
為了照顧到亞洲和美洲的選手，有鑒於現在的B級賽事都在歐洲，所以下個賽季開始，
會在加拿大安大略以及中國廣東東莞這兩個地方加辦兩場B級賽事。

至於這些決定是否可以減少各冰協(冰邪? XD)的政治角力，就不得而知了....。

還有一個差異，就是ISU不保證前一屆的世青賽前三名可以參加大獎賽，該說前年拿到
世青賽前三名的選手真的很幸運啊！

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The 2011-12 Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will play out differently
next season.

The International Skating Union’s (ISU) Grand Prix committee has made major
changes to both the junior and senior events.

“We want to raise the level of the senior Grand Prix,” said Peter Krick,
chair of the ISU sports directorate. “We want to avoid the problems we
experienced last season when invitations were extended to too many
lower-level skaters.”

Invitations to the Grand Prix events will be extended to seeded skaters later
than in the past. This will also likely eliminate the issues that occurred
last season, when athletes such as Yu-Na Kim, withdrew because their plans
had changed.

This season only 10 singles skaters will be invited rather than 12; there
will be eight ice dance teams (down from 10) and eight pairs teams.

The top six ranked skaters and teams from the 2011 World Championships will
have the right to compete at three Grand Prix events, just as they could in
the first years of the Series. Skaters will have to identify, in advance,
which two of the three will be point earners, but are eligible to win prize
money at every event.

As with previous years, the top 12 from 2011 Worlds will receive two Grand
Prix assignments. The top 24 from last season will be offered at least one.

In order to be eligible for a Grand Prix assignment, skaters and teams will
have to have earned a minimum number of points at any international
competition that was on the ISU calendar last season. They also may earn
these points at one of the international B-level competitions that are held
in the weeks prior to the Grand Prix.

It was originally planned that the minimum points required would be
two-thirds of the top point earner’s score from the previous season.
However, this may change. “Both Patrick Chan and Meryl Davis and Charlie
White earned an incredibly high number of points in Moscow,” Krick
explained.

“If we used this premise, some fairly good skaters would be excluded. We are
rethinking this.” (As an example, two-thirds of Chan’s 280.98 score at
Worlds would be 187.32 points).

The upside is that competitions such as Nebelhorn Trophy, Ondrej Nepela
Memorial, Finlandia Trophy, Cup of Nice and the NRW Trophy will take on more
importance now.

“We are thinking of putting the winners of these competitions at the top of
the substitute list,” Krick said. “The disadvantage for skaters training in
North America or Asia has been that all B-level competitions are held in
Europe. Those skaters always have to travel, making it a more expensive
venture.”

In mid-May, the ISU designated the Thornhill Summer Skate in Ontario, Canada
and the Asian Figure Skating Trophy in Dongguan City, China as B-level
competitions next season.

The substitute lists will be changed, updated and published on the ISU
homepage after each fall competition. Substitute skaters will be selected
according to either their personal best from the prior season or from a fall
competition.

Federations will no longer be able to play politics by inviting skaters from
nations they favor, nor from those where travel expenses are lower because
the skater(s) train in close proximity to the event.

Skaters who previously ranked in the top six but sat out a season are
eligible to be put on the list. This would be important for people like
Joannie Rochette or Evan Lysacek if they decide to return to competition.

The bad news is that the top three junior skaters and teams from the 2011
season are no longer guaranteed a senior Grand Prix assignment.

For financial reasons, only six skaters and couples in each discipline will
qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final next season.



Originally published in August 2011

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歡迎大家補充~

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