ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2008 Preview
The 2008 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
will open in Goyang, the Republic of Korea, on February 13.
Korea has hosted the Four Continents Championships twice before,
in 2002 and in 2005. 99 skaters/couples from 16 ISU members
have been entered for the Championships. Following a decision
of the 51st Ordinary Congress of the ISU in June 2006, no
Qualifying Rounds will be skated. All skaters/couples will
compete in the Short Program, and the top 24 will proceed
to the Free Skating.
Overview over the top contenders
2007 World Champion Miki Ando (JPN) headlines the Ladies
field at the ISU Four Continents Championships and in an interesting
rematch will meet compatriot and reigning World silver medallist
Mao Asada. Ando achieved a seasonal best of 161.89 at Skate
America, while Asada got 191.59 at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Final. Ando didn’t qualify for the ISU Grand
Prix Final, where Asada finished second, but then beat her
rival in the Free Skating at the Japanese Nationals in December.
Both skaters are competing for the first time at Four Continents.
Canadian Champion and reigning Four Continents bronze medallist
Joannie Rochette is aiming for another podium finish in Goyang
City (seasons best 169.91 points). World Junior bronze medallist
Ashley Wagner (USA) debutes at the Four Continents Championships
and is looking to challenge the leaders (seasons best 158.63
points). Other to watch include Mira Leung (CAN/seasons best
144.57), Chyntia Phaneuf (CAN/129.17), Yan Liu (CHN/126.14),
Fumie Suguri (JPN/148.15) and Beatrisa Liang (USA/ 134.60).
World bronze medallist Yu-Na Kim (KOR) withdrew from the
event, citing a hip injury. Reigning World silver medallist
Daisuke Takahashi of Japan leads the Men. Takahashi comes
off a successful Grand Prix season and placed second at the
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, earning his seasonal
best of 238.94. The Japanese hopes to take his first title
at Four Continents, but he faces stiff competition from two-time
and reigning Four Continents Champion Evan Lysacek (USA).
Lysacek, who finished third at the Grand Prix Final and went
on to defend his National title, comes with a seasonal best
of 229.78 points to Korea. Canada’s Jeffrey Buttle,
a two-time Four Continents Champion and silver medallist in
2007, is another top contender in Goyang City (seasons best
201.77 points).
Jeremy Abbott (USA), the defending Four Continents bronze
medallist, is back with a seasonal best of 187.56 points and
wants to challenge the favourites. Reigning World Junior Champion
Stephen Carriere (USA) debutes at the Four Continents Championships
and hopes to add another medal to his collection (seasons
best 204.98 points). 2006 World Junior Champion Takahito Kozuka
(JPN) enters his first senior-level ISU Championships as well
(seasonal best 199.98). Veteran Chengjiang Li (CHN), who became
the first Chinese man to win an ISU Championships when he
took the gold at Four Continents in 2001, is back in action
as well (seasons best 162.77 points). Other contenders to
watch are: Kensuke Nakaniwa (JPN/seasons best 180.70), Vaughn
Chipeur (CAN/187.41), Shawn Sawyer (CAN/180.35), Jialiang
Wu (CHN/168.95).
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang and Qing Pang/Jian Tong of China are
entering the pairs event as the top contenders. Zhang/Zhang
earned the gold in their two Grand Prix events and finished
second in the Grand Prix Final. They posted a seasons best
of 196.96 at the Trophee Bompard. Pang/Tong, who claimed the
bronze at the Grand Prix Final, are ready to challenge their
teammates again. The 2006 World Champions are coming with
a seasons best of 186.93 points to Korea. Rena Inoue/John
Baldwin (USA) are competing in their first international competition
this season after sitting out the Grand Prix series. They
won Four Continents in 2006 and earned the bronze in 2007.
Other contenders include Tiffany Vise/Derek Trent (USA), who
made history by performing the first quadruple throw Salchow
in ISU competition at the Grand Prix Trophée Bompard
in Paris last fall (seasons best 165.76), as well as Jiaqi
Li/Jiankun Xu (CHN/125.08) Canadian Champions Anabelle Langlois/Cody
Hay withdrew from Four Continents due to Langlois being sick.
In the ice dancing event, young North American couples are
aiming for their first major international title at the senior
level. Defending Four Continents bronze medallists Tessa Virtue/Scott
Moir of Canada medalled in both their Grand Prix competitions
in the fall and competed in the Grand Prix Final, where they
placed fourth (seasons best 197.07). Meryl Davis/Charlie White
(USA), who are training together with Virtue/Moir and competing
against them since they were in juniors, were ranked fourth
at the 2007 Four Continents Championships. They got a seasonal
best of 176.21 points and want to challenge Virtue/Moir. Other
couples are also hoping for a podium finish: Kimberly Navarro/Brent
Bommentre (USA/seasons best 159.93 points), Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew
Poje (CAN/154.20) and Allie Hann-McCurdy/Michael Coreno (CAN/152.16).
Others to watch are Jennifer Wester/Daniil Barantsev (USA)
and Cathy Reed/Chris Reed (JPN/143.85).
Please note that for the seasonal best total scores only
the ISU Grand Prix competitions (senior and junior) have been
taken into consideration, not other international competitions
or National Championships.
Prize money and World Standings Bonus
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 350,000 at the
Four Continents Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st
to 12th. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed
skaters/couples as follows:
Men and Ladies Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 20,000 1st place US$ 30,000
2nd place US$ 13,000 2nd place US$ 19,500
3rd place US$ 8,000 3rd place US$ 12,000
4th place US$ 6,500 4th place US$ 9,750
5th place US$ 5,000 5th place US$ 7,500
6th place US$ 4,000 6th place US$ 6,000
7th place US$ 3,500 7th place US$ 5,250
8th place US$ 3,000 8th place US$ 4,500
9th place US$ 2,500 9th place US$ 3,750
10th place US$ 2,000 10th place US$ 3,000
11th place US$ 1,500 11th place US$ 2,250
12th place US$ 1,000 12th place US$ 1,500
By competing in the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
the athletes earn points towards the World Standings as well.
The three skaters/couples per discipline having earned most
World Standing points during the 2007/2008 season will be
awarded with the World Standings Bonus. The following amounts
will be awarded to the concerned skaters/couples
Ladies & Men Pairs & Dance (per couple) 1st: US$
45,000 1st: US$ 67,500 2nd: US$ 27,000 2nd: US$ 40,500 3rd:
US$ 18,000 3rd: US$ 27,000
The schedule of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
2008 is as follows: Wednesday, February 13: Compulsory Dance,
Pairs and Men Short Program Thursday, February 14: Original
Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Ladies Short Program Friday, February
15: Free Dance, Men Free Skating Saturday, February 16: Ladies
Free Skating Sunday, February 17: Exhibition Gala
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