ISU World No42 October 2010

INTERNATIONAL SKATING UNION OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

INSIDE • ISU NEWS • ISU SCHOLARSHIPS • ISU CONGRESS REVIEW • ISU EVENT CALENDAR • SEASON PREVIEW

NO 42 OCTOBER 2010

ISU COUNCIL

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I am truly afraid that the disappearance of the words “amateur” and “professional” is evidence that something not precisely positive is happening in the area of competitive sport.

The terrific improvement in the level of the top performances has been accurately used by expert entrepreneurs to deliver a good product for entertainment.

The best vehicle to offer the products, that are at the end of the day the said high performances, is television.

Now, let’s take a short step back. With the improvement of the world records it is clear that an athlete, in order to be among high caliber participants, must have more than just extraordinary natural skills to achieve the title as a champion or to stand on the podium. To get to such a dominant position an athlete is in any case committed to spend many hours every week, which has as a consequence the necessity to be almost fully dedicated to training sessions and to the competition activity. It is easy to understand that to perform such a demanding activity it is necessary to count on a solid financial base and when an athlete does not have this available from his private situation, the only resource is to find the money: practically become a professional in sport.

The fact that the talents, who are at the same time the actors of the best competitions or shows, need an adequate stage, creates the condition that money is also needed to organize the representation and all this together, money for organizing plus money for the athletes, result in the fact that sport is currently held hostage to a costly financial spiral. Of course the package will then be successful on TV, with many TV viewers to follow the events, so producing the high TV ratings that are another top goal/record to be achieved. It is not difficult to understand that people want to watch television, to watch sport, but on the condition that they can easily understand what is going on. However, all of them believe that they have the right to see thrilling competitions, which is fully understandable, and the athletes/actors shall be the best. But how many sport disciplines are indeed in a position to provide the TV viewers with the product they want?

We are maybe going in the area of philosophy in sport and I do prefer at this point to summarize the meaning and the role of “amateur” versus “professional”, or vice versa. It is practically impossible that all athletes are dedicated to a limited number of sports, even if it deals with sports that are the most accepted by the public. Fortunately there are sport disciplines not in a position to stand as a popular sport, but having very high technical content and educational value.

The conclusion is that certain athletes, even if conscious that they cannot become rich doing a certain sport discipline, like to be part of that specific world, but the dilemma is still there: how to be the very best in a specific activity? The answer doesn’t change. Many hours of training, otherwise an athlete shall accept to remain among those that can provide a normal standard performance, but not the best one.

Again, the money and the status of amateur or professional raise true questions. In my personal opinion all sports having good technical content and good reasons to exist, shall be performed and this approach can be easily translated into a word, which fortunately exists: Olympism.

Ottavio Cinquanta President, International Skating Union ISU World is the official newsletter of the International Skating Union Published and produced by ISU, Chemin de Primerose 2, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland Telephone: +41 21 612 66 66. Facsimile: +41 21 612 66 77.

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Front cover photograph: Seung-Hoon Lee (KOR) © Getty Images Sport Photography: © Getty Images Sport; ©Masaharu Suguwara / JapanSports, ©Popperfoto, ©AFP, © RIA Novosti

At its June meeting on the occasion of the 53rd ISU Congress in Barcelona (ESP) the ISU Council announced the definitive allotment of the 2011 ISU Championships and provisional allotment of pending 2012 and 2013 Championships. The Council also decided to maintain again this season the Junior World Cup Speed Skating circuit which was successfully inaugurated during the 2008/2009 season.

Other decisions, including the ratification of 2009/2010 World Records in Speed Skating and in Short Track Speed Skating, are published on the isu.org website under Communication 1622. The Autumn ISU Council meeting 2010 will take place in Munich (GER) from October 15-17, 2010.

Readers, interested in keeping up with important ISU Communications can subscribe to an RSS feed via the front page of the isu. org website.

SPORTS DIRECTORATE

Further to the significant changes introduced by the 53rd ISU Congress in Barcelona this summer, the Sports Directorate has consequently updated various announcements and documents for International Competitions in the 2010/2011 season. In Figure Skating the Global Frankfurt Seminar was also successfully carried out in the pre-season period, with a special focus on Ice Dance and the implementation of the new Short Dance with instructions to the coaches, judges and technical panels. In Speed Skating the Junior World Cup is ready to start its third consecutive season and is of particular importance this season ahead of the Youth Olympic Games 2012 in Innsbruck.

In Short Track work has been carried out to evaluate and enhance television exposure and event presentation. A first meeting has taken place with the Organizing Committee of the Youth Olympic Games 2012 in order to define sports related items and organizational aspects.

ISU TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Single & Pair Skating

Technical Committee activities in this early part of this sporting year have focused on preparatory work for the season. In July the main focus of the Committee was the annual Global Seminar in Frankfurt, Germany and the composition of the new Technical Panel Handbooks for Single and Pair Skating. In September two ISU Recognized Seminars were conducted in Eindhoven, Netherlands and Beijing, China. During September and October Technical Committee Members served as Technical Controllers at several Junior

ISU NEWS and Senior Grand Prix Events. The Nebelhorn Trophy 2010 in Oberstdorf, Germany hosted the annual Examination for qualification of ISU Championship Judges (Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance) on September 23-26 with 21 candidates taking part.

Ice Dance

The ISU Congress in Barcelona approved that all Ice Dance Competitions shall consist of two parts. For Junior and Senior these two parts will be the Short Dance and Free Dance and for Novice the two parts will be Pattern Dance(s) and Free Dance. This brings in a new era of Ice Dance competitions with the Short Dance being successfully presented in the Junior Grand Prix competitions.

ISU Communications were prepared by the Technical Committee and distributed immediately after the Congress so that skaters and coaches could prepare their programs.

Training for the Technical Panels was provided at the Frankfurt Global Seminar where an Ice Dance Seminar was held for many Technical Controllers, Technical Specialists and Referees assigned in the competitions this season.

Training modules were also developed for the Judges and designed to be presented to all panels through the season by the Event Referees or Technical Committee members.

A Judges Seminar was held in Beijing, China in September and another is scheduled for November in Dortmund, Germany.

Synchronized Skating

During the post Congress period the new Synchronized Skating Technical Committee met in London with the Chair of the ISU Sport Directorate to discuss the development of the discipline, methods for aiding entry level coaches to help expand participation at grass roots level as well as the recruitment and training of officials. This was combined with the identification of key components for the formulation of a medium and long term strategic plan for further development of Synchronized Skating.The meeting was followed by the ISU Global Coaches Seminar with 27 coaches from 14 countries taking part. The two day seminar provided an update of the rules for the upcoming season, a program component session, strategy discussions and some specialized sessions on safe lifting technique for the coaches.

Speed Skating

Following its meetings on the occasion of the ISU Congress in Barcelona the Committee has completed the detailed regulations for the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating and the

ISU Junior World Cup for the coming season.

The Committee reviewed the nominations submitted by ISU Members as the basis for the decision on the list of ISU Referees and ISU Starters 2010/11. The bi-annual ISU course for Referees was held in Stockholm during September 30 - October 3, with the Congress adopted changes in Regulations and Technical Rules as the main topic. On this occasion also the first Committee meeting with all the newly elected and appointed members was held.

Short Track

The Short Track Speed Skating Technical Committee recently conducted an Officials seminar in Moscow mainly discussing the new rules which were approved at the most recent Congress. The new rule changes are the first major change to the sport in over 30 years.

There will now be an Assistant Referee who will observe the video replay system during all races throughout all ISU Events and report his observations to the Referee.

The upcoming season will have events hosted in new cities, showing the growth and expansion of Short Track Speed Skating around the world.

MR. TORE B. RAMTON

It is with deep sorrow that the ISU learned of the death of the former president of the Norwegian Skating Association and ISU Referee Mr. Tore B. Ramton on 20 September 2010 at the age of 64. Mr. Ramton was President of the Norwegian Skating Association from 1980 - 1985. He was Assistant Referee/Referee at three Olympic Winter Games namely in 1988, 1994 and 2006. The ISU pays tribute to Mr. Ramton’s devoted service to the ISU. We will remember him with great affection.

MR. JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH

It was with profound sadness that the ISU learned of the passing of former International Olympic Committee President and Honorary International Olympic Committee President Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch on 21 April 2010.

Mr. Samaranch was a great friend and a supporter of skating and over the years attended several important ISU events. He was a visionary with an exceptional passion and dedication to Olympic values.

The ISU pays tribute to Mr. Samaranch’s outstanding contribution to sport and will remember him with affection

Ms. Maria-Teresa Samaranch, President of ISU’s Spanish Member passing in front of a memorial to her father Juan Antonio Samaranch

ISU WEBSITE: WWW.ISU.ORG

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ISU CONGRESS REVIEW

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The 53rd ISU Ordinary Congress which took place in Barcelona (ESP) on June 14-18 was attended by over 250 delegates from over 70 ISU Member federations from all continents.

Among key decisions were the following: In Speed Skating the Congress decided to implement several format changes to the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships and ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships and also voted in favor of a better definition of the role of Corner Judges at each curve. In the area of safety and protection a number of updates to incorporate “stateof-the-art” safety measures and padding solutions were approved. Deliberate kicking out of a skate at the finish line, which entails a safety risk, would now lead to disqualification.

In Short Track several proposals to better regulate the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup were passed. Further as of the season

ISU OFFICE HOLDERS Elections for all office holding positions took place in Barcelona in accordance with ISU regulations. Following the Congress, in line with the (new) 2010 ISU Constitution, the Council also appointed one skater and one coach to each Technical Committee.

The composition of the ISU Council and ISU Committees is as follows: COUNCIL President: Ottavio Cinquanta

First Vice President: FIGURE SKATING David M. Dore

Italy

Canada

successfully inaugurated in April 2009) has been integrated into the General Regulations as an ISU Event. The Council, Sports Directorate, Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance Technical Committees proposed several changes to make the rules consistent across disciplines; this harmonization of the rules was unanimously approved.In Synchronized Skating adjustments to the required elements for the Short Program and Free Skating were approved. Several changes to the deductions were passed including an increase in the severity of deductions for costume and makeup transgressions (among other deduction changes). A series of proposals were put forward and then approved to clarify the current rules and to harmonize with other Figure Skating disciplines.

For additional information also see Communications 1619, 1621, 1625 and 1637.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEES SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING Chair: Alexander Lakernik Russia Members: Fabio Bianchetti Italy Rita Zonnekeyn Belgium Susan Lynch Australia Patrick Meier Switzerland

Jae-Seok Choi Christian Breuer

appointed Skater

David Paul Kirby appointed Coach

ICE DANCE Chair: Halina Gordon-Poltorak Members: Robert Joseph Horen Gilles Vandenbroeck Alla Shekhovtsova Sylwia Nowak-Trebacka appointed Skater

John Dunn

appointed Coach

Vice President: SPEED SKATING Jan Dijkema

Netherlands

Members: FIGURE SKATING Marie Lundmark Junko Hiramatsu Phyllis Howard Tjasa Andrée-Prosenc

Finland Japan U.S.A Slovenia

SPEED SKATING György Martos German Panov Li Lan Roland E. Maillard

2011/2012 the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships will no longer be held. Additionally the Congress decided that one of the referees shall monitor the video replay where applicable. In the area of protection the Congress approved the Short Track Technical Committee proposals to update safety measures and padding solutions.In Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance the much discussed new Ice Dance format of competition consisting of two parts/segments: a Short Dance and a Free Dance (as opposed to a Compulsory Dance, Original Dance and Free Dance) was approved.

Congress also passed a change to implement a qualifying procedure to effectively reduce the number of entries at Championships and has also accepted a reduction of the number of skaters in the Free Skating. The ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating (which was

Hungary Russia China Switzerland

U.S.A

Cathy Dalton appointed Coach

SPEED SKATING Chair: Tron Espeli Members Nick Thometz Alexander Kibalko

Jildou Gemser Netherlands appointed Coach

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING Chair: Andy Gabel U.S.A Members Stoytcho G. Stoytchev Bulgaria Reinier Oostheim Netherlands Ji-Hoon Chae Republic of Korea Satoru Terao Japan appointed Skater

Poland U.S.A France Russia Poland Spain

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING Chair: Christopher Buchanan Great Britain Members: Mika Saarelainen Finland Karen Wolanchuk U.S.A. Philippe Maitrot France Helena Johansson Sweden appointed Skater

appointed Skater

Republic of Korea Germany

Nathalie Lambert appointed Coach

Canada

DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION Chair: Volker Waldeck Germany Members: Allan Böhm Slovak Republic Susan Petricevic New Zealand Egbert Schmid Austria Fred Benjamin U.S.A NEWLY ELECTED HONORARY MEMBERS The following persons were elected Honorary Members of the ISU in recognition of their outstanding service: Gerhard Zimmermann Germany (Honorary Vice President)

Canada

Courtney J.L. Jones O.B.E. Myong-Hi Chang Ulf Lindén Gerhardt Bubník James L. Hawkins

Great Britain Republic of Korea Sweden Czech Republic U.S.A

Norway

TREASURER Ulrich Linder

Switzerland

LEGAL ADVISOR Beatrice Pfister

Switzerland

U.S.A. Russia

ISU SCHOLARSHIPS 2010 / 2011 FIGURE SKATING

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

Ladies

Ladies

1. Polina Agafonova

RUS

2. Julia Pfrengle

GER

3. Svetlana Issakova

EST

4. Sila Saygi

TUR

5. Alina Milevskaia

UKR

6. Alina Fjodorova

LAT

7. Mimi Tanasorn Chindasook

THA

1. Marina Valcepina 2. Elise Christie 3. Paula Bzura 4. Wei Lin 5. Inna Somonova 6. Tatiana Bodova 7. Maria Amelina

ITA GBR POL TPE KAZ SVK RUS

8. Patricia Toth

HUN

Men 1. Artur Dmitriev

RUS

2. Abzal Rakimgaliev

KAZ

3. Javier Raya

ESP

4. Jorik Hendrickx

BEL

5. Stephen Li-Chung Kuo

TPE

Pairs 1. Ksenia Stolbova / Fodor Klimov

RUS

2. Klara Kadlecova / Petr Bidar

CZE

3. Anna Khychenkova / Mark Magyar

HUN

4. Natalja Zabijako / Sergei Muhhin

EST

Ice Dance 1. Ksenia Monko / Kiril Khaliavian

RUS

2. Anastasia Galyeta / Alexei Shumski

UKR

3. Dora Turoczi / Balazs Major

HUN

4. Sara Hurtado / Adria Diaz

ESP

5. Nikola Visnova / Lukas Csolley

SVK

6. Justyna Plutowska / Dawid Pietrzynski POL

SPEED SKATING Ladies 1. Karolina Erbanova

CZE

2. Hege Boko

NOR

3. Jekaterina Ajdova

KAZ

4. Kajtlin McGregor

SUI

Men 1. Sverre Lunde Pedersen

NOR

2. Tommi Pulli

FIN

3. Jonas Pflug

GER

4. Valentin Antonio Anghel

ROU

5. Andrej Ivanjuk

KAZ

Polina Agafonova (RUS)

Men 1. Jack Welbourne 2. Ansis Robs 3. Tommasso Dotti 4. Sebastian Lepape 5. Vojta Loudin 6. Bence Beres 7. Wojciech Krasnicki 8. Matthias Stelzmueller 9. Edin Brankovich

GBR LAT ITA FRA CZE HUN POL AUT BIH

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SPEED SKATING

SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING / ICE DANCE

August 25- 28

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ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Courchevel

FRANCE

September 8 - 12

Brasov

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

ROMANIA

September 15 - 19

Graz

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

AUSTRIA

September 22 - 26

Karuizawa

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

JAPAN

September 29 -

Sheffield

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

October 3

GREAT BRITAIN

October 6 - 10

Dresden

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

GERMANY

October 13 - 17

Ostrava

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

November 12 - 14

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 150 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 150

November 19 - 21

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15

November 19 - 21

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15

November 20 - 21

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15

November 27 - 28

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 1500m, 5000m, Tea Men: 1500m, 10000m, Te

November 27 - 28

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x 500m, 1000m, 15

December 4 - 5

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x 500m, 2x1000m Men: 2x 500m, 2x1000m

December 11 - 12

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x 500m, 2x1000m Men: 2x 500m, 2x1000m

January 7 - 9

Essent ISU European Speed Skating Champion

CZECH REPUBLIC

October 22 - 24

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating NHK Trophy

Nagoya JAPAN

October 29 - 31

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Skate Canada International

Kingston, ON, CANADA

November 5 - 7

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Beijing

Samsung Anycall Cup of China

CHINA

January 22 - 23

Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Champion

November 12 - 14

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Portland, Oregon,

Skate America

USA

November 19 - 21

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Moscow

January 28 - 30

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 150 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 150

Rostelecom Cup

RUSSIA

November 26 - 28

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Paris

January 29 - 30

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 150 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 150

TrophĂŠe Eric Bompard

FRANCE

December 9 - 12

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Beijing

February 4 - 6

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 150 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 150

Final (Junior and Senior)

CHINA

January 24 - 30

ISU European Figure Skating

Bern

February 18 - 19

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 1500m, 5000m Men: 1500m, 10000m

Championships

SWITZERLAND

February 12 - 13

Essent ISU World Allroun Speed Skating Champion

February 15 - 20

ISU Four Continents Figure Skating

Taipei City

Championships

CHINESE TAIPEI

February 28

ISU World Junior Figure Skating

Gangneung City

March 6

Championships

REP. OF KOREA

March 21 - 27

ISU World Figure Skating

Tokyo

Championships

April 14 - 17 ISU World Team Trophy

February 25 - 27 ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships March 4 - 6

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 15

JAPAN

March 5 - 6

ISU Junior World Cup Final Ladies: 500m, 1000m, 1500 Men: 500m, 1000m, 1500

Yokohama JAPAN

March 10 - 13

Essent ISU World Single Speed Skating Champion

ISU EVENT CALENDAR 2010/ 2011 SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

ed Skating 00m, 3000m 00m, 5000m

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

ed Skating 500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit 500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

Berlin GERMANY

500m, 3000m 500m, 3000m

500m, 3000m 500m, 3000m

ed Skating am Pursuit eam Pursuit

500m, 3000m 500m, 3000m

Calgary CANADA Tomakomai JAPAN Hamar NORWAY Zakopane POLAND

ed Skating

Changchun CHINA

ed Skating

Obihiro JAPAN

nships

Collalbo ITALY

nships

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

ed Skating 00m, 3000m, Team Pursuit 00m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

Moscow RUSSIA

00m, 3000m 00m, 3000m

00m, 3000m 00m, 3000m

Baselga di Piné ITALY Milwaukee USA

ed Skating

Salt Lake City USA

nd nships

Calgary CANADA

Seinäjoki FINLAND

ed Skating Final 500m, 3000m 500m, 5000m

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

0m, 3000m, Team Pursuit 0m, 3000m, Team Pursuit

Groningen NETHERLANDS

e Distances nships

Inzell GERMANY

October 22 - 24 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Montreal CANADA

October 29 - 31 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Quebec CANADA

December 3 - 5 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Changchun CHINA

December 10 -12 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Shanghai CHINA

January 14 - 16 ISU European Short Track

Speed Skating Championships

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

February 11 - 13 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Moscow RUSSIA

February 18 - 20 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Dresden GERMANY

February 25 - 27 ISU World Junior Short Track

Speed Skating Championships

Courmayeur ITALY

March 11 - 13

ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships

Sheffield GREAT BRITAIN

March 19 - 20

ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships

Warsaw POLAND

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING March 10 - 12

ISU Synchronized Skating Junior World Challenge Cup

Neuchâtel SWITZERLAND

April 8 - 9

ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships

Helsinki FINLAND

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SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING / ICE DANCE

events now consists of two segments, the Short Dance and the Free Dance.

The 2010/11 season started in late August with the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating followed by the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in October leading up to the Grand Prix Final for Juniors and Seniors. In early 2011, the focus will move to the ISU Championships.

The 2010/2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series will consist of six events in six countries with the top six skaters and couples qualifying for the Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China (9-12 December). For the third consecutive year, the Junior Grand Prix Final and the Grand Prix Final will be held together as this format was very successful.

This season marks the introduction of a new competition format for Ice Dance that was implemented by the 53rd ISU Congress in Barcelona in June 2010. The Ice Dance at ISU

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The order of the Grand Prix events has changed.

This year, the first event will be the NHK Trophy

in Nagoya, Japan (22-24 October), followed by Skate Canada (29-31 October). The series then returns to Asia with the Cup of China in Beijing (5-7 November) and moves back to North America for Skate America in Portland (12-14 November). The two European events are at the end of the series: Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (19-21 November) and Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris, France (26-29 November).

Seeded and non seeded skaters are assigned to two events. The top six from the 2010 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in each category are seeded and the remaining spots in each event are awarded in accordance with the ranking of the 2010 World Championships and ISU World Standings and Season’s Best lists.

The Grand Prix series promises exciting competitions at a high level as current Olympic, World and European Champions and medalists will be challenged by long-time rivals and up and coming skaters rising from the junior ranks.

Reigning World Champion Daisuke Takahashi (JPN), World silver medalist Patrick Chan (CAN) and World bronze medalist Brian Joubert (FRA) will face among others U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott, Four Continents Champion Adam Rippon (USA), Nobunari Oda (JPN), 2008 European Champion Tomas Verner (CZE), Michal Brezina (CZE), who was ranked fourth at Worlds. Newcomers on the senior scene are the 2010 World Junior Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN), silver medalist Nan Song (CHN) and bronze medalist Artur Gachinsky (RUS).

Competition in the Ladies field will be tough as well. World Champion Mao Asada (JPN) and World bronze medalist Laura Lepistö (FIN) will compete against 2007 World Champion Miki Ando (JPN), three-time European Champion Carolina Kostner (ITA), Mirai Nagasu (USA) and Four Continents silver medalist Akiko Suzuki (JPN). Others to watch include Alena Leonova (RUS), Rachael Flatt (USA), Ashley Wagner (USA) and Russian Champion Ksenia Makarova.

2010 World Junior Champion Kanako Murakami (JPN) and silver medalist Agnes Zawadzki (USA) will debut on the senior Grand Prix.

Laura Lepisto (FIN)

In the Pairs, top teams from the past season the return to the circuit to challenge two-time World Champions Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN).

Looking forward to the challenge are current World silver medalists Aljona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER), World bronze medalists Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) as well as multiple World medalists Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) and 2008 World bronze medalists Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison (CAN). The veterans need also to watch out for the 2010

THE SEASON AHEAD

9

Qing Pang and Jian Tong (CHN)

World Junior Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN), silver medalists Narumi Takahashi/ Mervin Tran (JPN) and bronze medalists Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS).

Karuisawa (JPN), Sheffield (GBR), Dresden (GER) and Ostrava (CZE).The top eight skaters and couples in each category will advance to the Junior Grand Prix Final.

An interesting competition can also be expected in Ice Dance. Reigning World and Olympic Champions Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) will be chased by Olympic and World silver medalists Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA), World bronze medalists Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali (ITA), Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA), Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (GBR) and other talented teams. 2010 World Junior Champions Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) will debut at the international senior scene.

The winners of the first two Junior Grand Prix in Courchevel and Brasov have good chances to qualify for the Final: Polina Shelepen (RUS), Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS), Andrei Rogozine (CAN), Keegan Messing (USA), Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS) and Ksenia Monko/Kirill Khaliavin (RUS).

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating started with the first of seven events in Courchevel (FRA) end of August and Brasov (ROM) in early September. At press time, the remaining events are to be held in Graz (AUT),

All ISU Members can enter athletes for the Junior Grand Prix. This year approximately 500 skaters representing over 50 countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania and South Africa are expected to participate in the series. Malaysia participates for the first time in ISU events.

ISU Championships The Europeans will determine their best at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships

2011 in Bern (SUI) on 24-30 January while athletes from North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia/Oceania will compete at the Four Continents Championships 2011 in Taipei City (TPE) on 15-20 February. Chinese Taipei will host an ISU Championship for the first time in history. The World’s top Juniors will meet at the World Junior Championships from 28 February-6 March 2011 in Gangneung City (KOR). The season will conclude with the World Championships in Tokyo (JPN), on 21-27 March, followed by the World Team Trophy in Yokohama, Japan in April.

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING Synchronized teams will compete in a number of major international events this season. The highlights of the season will be the World Challenge Cup for Juniors in Neuchâtel (SUI) on 10-12 March, leading up to the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Helsinki (FIN) on 8-9 April.

THE SEASON AHEAD SPEED SKATING

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The ISU Speed Skating season kicks off on November 12 with the first of eight events in the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series. The events are generally held over three days each weekend (with the exception of Hamar, Erfurt, Changchun and Obihiro). This brings together both sprinters and allround skaters in Heerenveen, Netherlands and in Berlin, Germany in November. In Hamar, Norway skaters will compete on the 1500m and the longest distance only at the end of November. The sprinters have that weekend off, but will travel to Asia for events in the

first two weekends of December, first in Changchun, China, then in Obihiro, Japan.

The last weekend of January everybody, sprint and allround, will meet in Moscow, Russia. In February allround skaters have one more meet in the USA in Salt Lake City, the week after their World Allround Championships. Then the final competition will be in Heerenveen (NED), like last year, in the first weekend of March.

On 12-14 November in Heerenveen (NED), skaters battle out 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m ladies and 5000m men. The following

week in Berlin (GER) races will be held over the same distances as well as the Team Pursuit, also over three days. On 27-28 November, long distance skaters will be in Hamar (NOR), where they can contest the 5000m (ladies) and 10,000m (men), with also the 1500m and Team Pursuit on the program.

Changchun (December 4-5) and Obihiro (December 11-12) consist of 2 days with both 2x500 and 2x1000m. After a break, all skaters meet again on January 28-30 in Moscow (RUS) with the exact same distances as in Berlin. The Team Pursuit in Moscow will be the last and decisive one of the three. On February 18 and 19, allrounders have a chance again on the 1500m and the longest distance, like in Hamar. On March 4 to 6, the Essent ISU World Cup culminates with the Final in Heerenveen (NED), the distances are exactly the same as in the very first weekend in the same Thialf stadium.

The Championships season begins on 7-9 January in the beautiful outdoor rink of Collalbo (ITA) with the Essent ISU European Speed Skating Championships. The Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships follow on January 22-23 taking place in Heerenveen (NED). Calgary (CAN) will host the Essent ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships on 12-13 February. The ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships will take place in Seinäjoki (FIN) on an outdoor rink, February 25-27. Finally, the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships conclude the season in Inzell (GER), a rink just converted from outdoor to indoor. This will be March 10 to 13.

After an Olympic season, traditionally the cards are reshuffled, new skaters find their ways to the podium. Shani Davis will be back with a new coach, Peter Mueller and probably takes a shot at the allround title again. Of course all eyes will remain on Sven Kramer (NED) and Martina Sáblíková (CZE) and for the allround and long distances, but they are expected to get increased trouble to fight off their successors. One of them should be Stephanie Beckert (GER).

Some skaters have ended their careers, among them Anni Friesinger-Postma, who had to give up her plans to finish her career in hometown Inzell due to knee problems, and Daniela Anschütz, Clara Hughes.

Stephanie Beckert (GER)

For the third time, the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating series will be held.

First there will be a few Regional competitions over 2x500m, 1000, 1500 and 3000m for ladies and men. On November 19-21 in Calgary (CAN) and Tomakomai (Japan), a week later in Zakopane (Poland). The second

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From front to back Francois-Louis Tremblay (CAN), Jialiang Han (CHN), Apolo Anton Ohno (USA), Yoon.Gy Kwak (KOR)

regional competition will be on January 29-10 in Baselga di Piné (ITA), and February 4-6 in Milwaukee (USA).

After the World Junior Championships in Seinäjoki on February 25-27, during the first weekend of March, there will be the ISU Junior World Cup Final in Groningen (NED), including the Team Pursuit.

SHORT TRACK The Short Track season kicked off in October with the ISU World Cup Short Track series, which is this year comprised of six events across North America, Asia and Europe.

At each competition the men’s and ladies

races will be held over 500m, 1000m and 1500m and single distances determine the winners. The series begins in Canada firstly in Montreal on October 22-24 and then in Quebec the following week-end. Short Trackers will compete in China for the second segment of the series in Changchun in first week of December, then the following week in Shanghai. The first Championships of 2011 will be the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen (NED) on January 14-16. The World Cup Short Track series then picks up again in February for the last two events, firstly in Moscow Russia February 11-13 before finishing up with the final event in Dresden (GER) the following

week. The action then moves to the Junior circuit with the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2011 at the Forum Sport Center ice rink in Courmayeur in the Aosta region of Italy. In March Sheffield, Great Britain hosts the ISU World Short Tack Speed Skating Championships which will be held at the Motorpoint Arena over distances of 500, 1000, 1500 and 3000 meters individual for Ladies and Men and relay races over 3000 meters for Ladies and 5000m for Men. The very last Short Track event of the season will also mark the last edition of the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships. The event will close the season in Warsaw, Poland on 19-20 March.

GREAT SKATERS LIUDMILA PAKHOMOVA (1946-1986) ALEXANDR GORSHKOV (BORN 1946) URS Olympic Winter Games Ice Dance Gold Medal 1976 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Ice Dance Gold Medal 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976 Ice Dance Silver Medal 1969 ISU European Figure Skating Championships Ice Dance Gold Medal 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 Ice Dance Silver Medal 1972 Ice Dance Bronze Medal 1969 To this day Liudmila Pakhomova and Alexandr Gorshkov remain the Ice Dancers who have taken the most World titles in history. Between 1970 and 1976 they won six World Championships and six European titles. Their final year of competition,1976, was especially important for the couple as it marked the first edition of Ice Dance in an Olympic Winter Games. In an outstanding performance Liudmila Pakhomova and Alexandr Gorshkov took the first ever Olympic Ice Dance Gold medal. Liudmila Pakhomova went on to take up an important post at the Theatre Arts Institute in Moscow.

Alexandr Gorshkov for his part became successively a championships judge and referee before being elected to the ISU Ice Dance Technical Committee. He then chaired the Committee for twelve years before becoming President of the Figure Skating Federation of Russia in June 2010. In 1988 Liudmila Pakhomova and Alexandr Gorshkov were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.