Nordic skating (FIN, SWE, NOR, DEN, ISL)

[TT_Fin]

Finland has now started update the selection statistics of value competitions. The list includes athletes who have the technical points required for the competition and have done demanded competition performances (two, one must international as I have told before).

I am a little bit confused as the have listed high school students Nella P. and Makar S. (I don't know what the explanation in English really is, because some say high school, some say college, ISU page says high school and some dictionaries say upper secondary school) to Universiade, but I am quite sure they are not university students or students in any university of applied science yet. Anyway, the list will updated and lot of names are still missing because so many skaters have not even started the season yet. So there will be changes and corrections to list many times before final selections. They are humans who update it anyway. But selection is easy, the skater or pair on the top of each competition on the day selection is made, will get the spot. Selection for EC will be done soon after nationals in December.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Finland has now started update the selection statistics of value competitions. The list includes athletes who have the technical points required for the competition and have done demanded competition performances (two, one must international as I have told before).

I am a little bit confused as the have listed high school students Nella P. and Makar S. (I don't know what the explanation in English really is, because some say high school, some say college, ISU page says high school and some dictionaries say upper secondary school) to Universiade, but I am quite sure they are not university students or students in any university of applied science yet. Anyway, the list will updated and lot of names are still missing because so many skaters have not even started the season yet. So there will be changes and corrections to list many times before final selections. They are humans who update it anyway. But selection is easy, the skater or pair on the top of each competition on the day selection is made, will get the spot. Selection for EC will be done soon after nationals in December.

Why is V/D not listed for the EC selection in Ice Dance? Do they have a free pass or something? They have far better result then J/P so far.

I also thought Unversiade only had university students, so it doesn´t make sense for me either. Norway has already picked Frida Berge, because she is the only senior who studies at the university. Linnea Kilsand is in high school still I think (she just turned 18). Mia Risa Gomez is going to do her first national senior event this weekend, but she also just in high school, so neither of them can do Unversiade. I don´t think Frida would have gotten the spot otherwise, because Mia and Linnea have better results, unless Frida got the spot simply because she is the current National Champion, but Linnea was injured then and Mia competed in juniors...

 

[TT_Fin]

Why is V/D not listed for the EC selection in Ice Dance? Do they have a free pass or something? They have far better result then J/P so far.

I also thought Unversiade only had university students, so it doesn´t make sense for me either. Norway has already picked Frida Berge, because she is the only senior who studies at the university. Linnea Kilsand is in high school still I think (she just turned 18). Mia Risa Gomez is going to do her first national senior event this weekend, but she also just in high school, so neither of them can do Unversiade. I don´t think Frida would have gotten the spot otherwise, because Mia and Linnea have better results, unless Frida got the spot simply because she is the current National Champion, but Linnea was injured then and Mia competed in juniors...

You mean V/ T I think. Simply answer: they have competed only once this season so far. After they get scores from another comp they will be added.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

It will be interesting how they are going to select the womens EC spot for Norway. I suspect, but hope i´m wrong, that Mia won´t be in the selections because she is still listed on the junior team. She needs to be sent to international senior event to collect minimums first, but I´m not sure the association is planning to since she isn´t officially listed as senior. I really don´t understand why she wasn´t originally picked for seniors, because Linnea Kilsand is only one year older and she was already on the senior team last season. Mia will be 17 in December, so she is old enough. I get the impression that international assignments are already picked after a test skate in August, so if they picked Mia for the junior team, they have most likely given her international junior competitions before Christmas, but I also think they have the possibility to make changes. Mia has done 3 JGP seasons, the first one back in 2019, so it´s time for her to move on to seniors, I don´t see her doing JGP next season.

As I mentioned, Mia is going to do senior national competitions this weekend, and if she skates well enough, I hope the association consider to give her an international senior event in time to collect minimums before EC. I think there is still time to sign up for events in December.. Linnea WD from Budapest Trophy, so she seems to still struggle from her injury/lack of training time, all though she is back in training now. One of the selection criteria for EC is that the skater who gets the ticket needs to have a SP result that is high enough to advance to the FS, Fridas best score from last season was 45 points, so I don´t think she will be in the mix unless she scores higher (unlikely). Linnea and Mia are the only active skaters who scored over 50 points in the SP. Mia scored 54.73 as junior last season, which also is the Norwegian junior record in SP, and Linnea scored 57 points in senior, which is also a current Norwegian record.

I also think they should give Mia international senior competitions because she is the only one who has a real chance of getting the FS minimum for WC this season. Linnea has still not added 3Lz or 3F in her programs, and without it her base value is too low. I think technically she can get if she skates a very clean FS with a lot of +GOES, but she is very inconsistent, and the cleanest she skated last season she only scored 45 points. Since the minimums did increase from 51 to 53, it´s getting more difficult. I think Linnea can get close 51, but 53 will be very difficult.

Mia planned program content from the FS in JGP looked very demanding, if she actually skates it without any big mistakes, I think her base value should be enough to make it:

3Lz-1Eu-2S
3Lo
3T-2A-SEQ
3T-3T
3S
2A
2F

I have seen her do 3Lz-1Eu-3S in practice, and she might switch out the 2F with 3F if she feels strong enough. However in JGP she did fall on the opening lutz combo, so it´s also very risky program.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

You mean V/ T I think. Simply answer: they have competed only once this season so far. After they get scores from another comp they will be added.

Woops, yes. Ok, thank you! I thought they competed in another competition as well, but when thinking about it, they WD..

 

[snowflake]

Thanks a lot!

Interesting, it seems like results from the previous season count as well along with the new season. Andreas had very good result as well, got gold in Nordics and Tallinn Trophy , but competed in juniors, in a field not as thick as senior. But when I look at Nikolaj result as well, he had some higher scores last season, but Andreas scores have now increased, and Nikolajs result got worse (still early season though). So it´s interesting to know if they look at placements alone, or if they look at overall scores as well.

Andreas has now the edge of this season and the world ranking, Nikolaj is nr. 55 now and Andreas nr. 36. It´s likely that Andreas will climb further after JGP this week, as he is one of the podium favorites.

Nikolaj has only competed in one Challenger so far, if he place higher in another, maybe the placement at SM in December could be decisive.

Nikolaj will compete at Grand Prix Espoo. And hopefully in another challenger.

In the end I hope the selection criterion will be to win nationals and that it will be declared before the competition. Skating man to man under pressure...

The arranging club should advertise the event with the rivalry between Nikolaj and Andreas as the big draw. Oliver Praetorius and Gabriel Folkesson are also exciting to watch. And in juniors Casper and Jonathan, with Casper probably going for a quad. Sweden has great male skaters at the moment and should really take the opportunity to push for men's figure skating.

Whoever goes to Euros it's good to have a substitute this season. Both have a chance to be among the tenth best and win another spot for next Euros.

Sweden has two spots for junior worlds. Andreas will probably go together with Casper or Jonathan.

There are boys and men who I haven't watched or don't remember(sorry guys). I see Erik Pellinor is competing as a junior in Budapest: http://hunskate.hu/external/mukorcsolya/2022_2023/BPTrophy/CAT004EN.htm

Here are the results from the first national elite series (boys and men like always blue):

Nationell serietävling 01

Event results for Nationell serietävling 01

skate.webbplatsen.net

Nationell serietävling 02

Event results for Nationell serietävling 02

skate.webbplatsen.net

By the way I don't know what's up with the Swedish fed. They were never good at bringing news about skaters. This season I can't even find who are members of the national team

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Nikolaj will compete at Grand Prix Espoo. And hopefully in another challenger.

In the end I hope the selection criterion will be to win nationals and that it will be declared before the competition. Skating man to man under pressure...

The arranging club should advertise the event with the rivalry between Nikolaj and Andreas as the big draw. Oliver Praetorius and Gabriel Folkesson are also exciting to watch. And in juniors Casper and Jonathan, with Casper probably going for a quad. Sweden has great male skaters at the moment and should really take the opportunity to push for men's figure skating.

Whoever goes to Euros it's good to have a substitute this season. Both have a chance to be among the tenth best and win another spot for next Euros.

Sweden has two spots for junior worlds. Andreas will probably go together with Casper or Jonathan.

There are boys and men who I haven't watched or don't remember(sorry guys). I see Erik Pellinor is competing as a junior in Budapest: http://hunskate.hu/external/mukorcsolya/2022_2023/BPTrophy/CAT004EN.htm

Here are the results from the first national elite series (boys and men like always blue):

Nationell serietävling 01

Event results for Nationell serietävling 01

skate.webbplatsen.net

Nationell serietävling 02

Event results for Nationell serietävling 02

skate.webbplatsen.net

By the way I don't know what's up with the Swedish fed. They were never good at bringing news about skaters. This season I can't even find who are members of the national team

I just saw on Instagram that Gabriel did a great 3A in practice in Budapest. I didn´t know he had it, surely one to look out for!

 

[Tingeling]

I just saw on Instagram that Gabriel did a great 3A in practice in Budapest. I didn´t know he had it, surely one to look out for!

Gabriel was a prodigy, already doing 3A at 15 - which may not have been the best idea I haven't actually watched him skate since 2018, though he made a low-key comeback last season. Even with a messy skate, he will probably surprise people who just look at his ancient ISU best.

I'm excited to see his new programs.

 

[Tingeling]

I jinxed Mr Folkesson.

But he's back! And got pretty good PCS considering that was a very messy skate.

Do we know why Dr Virtanen WD?

 

[TT_Fin]

Finland has tomorrow and Sunday 1st qualification comp for nationals. Quite many junior women. I will be back to it later. I edited the amount of junior women, there have been withdraws. If the rules are as before, skaters can take part on both, there will another competition later. I don't remember how many spots there are at final.
Result page

 

[TT_Fin]

I use this message. Some notes about the qualification, last year's medalist get the spot to final at December automatically, it they stay at the same discipline. Many skaters like to take part at these games even if they have the spot - some announcer said once skaters like these games. Arttu Juusola skates at seniors, I try to watch some highlights if I have time. More about this tomorrow.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I jinxed Mr Folkesson.

But he's back! And got pretty good PCS considering that was a very messy skate.

Do we know why Dr Virtanen WD?

Maybe he got a doctor recommendation from himself that he needs to rest

Seriously, he has been competing two comps back to back (or almost?), Nebelhorn and Finlandia last weekend, so it seems wise to rest this weekend.

 

[Tingeling]

Maybe he got a doctor recommendation from himself that he needs to rest

Seriously, he has been competing two comps back to back (or almost?), Nebelhorn and Finlandia last weekend, so it seems wise to rest this weekend.

I forgot that he was at Nebelhorn as well. Makes sense.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I forgot that he was at Nebelhorn as well. Makes sense.

Well at least I think he was, but I don´t trust my mind

 

[TT_Fin]

Well at least I think he was, but I don´t trust my mind

You can trust it. He was there.

 

[TT_Fin]

From 1st qualification competition for nats, I think only worth mentioning thing is Janna Jyrkinen had a disaster SP, started from 8th place, skated FS clean, was technically in a class of her own (65+ points) compared to others and won the senior women.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Mia Risa Gomez just completely crushed in her first senior competition (local).

The SP she had a fall on her 3Loop and a step out on the 2A, but she executed the 3T-3T as beautifully as in JGP. She scored 49.23 in the SP, so not as good as her JGP score of 50.72.

She skated at 23.15 local time on Friday, the competition was scheduled very late so I think she could have skated better if it wasn´t so late, that is even late for international competition and it´s not normal for local competitions to have them skate past 22.00.

Anyways, the FS was today, and she skated almost clean with very difficult layout, her only bad element was a fall on the 3F.

She scored 104.08, and technical score of 58.80 (With mistake). That is new Norwegian record for ladies, Anne Line Gjersem had the old record with 104.00 and a technical score of 53.99, so Mia crushed the technical score.

Overall Mia scored 153.31, which is 15 points higher than her previous PB of 138.43 which she got in JGP two weeks ago. Anne Line Gjersem still has the overall score of 158, but i´m sure Mia will go past that this season once she skates both the SP and FS free and her PCS get better.

I will share her layout when the protocols out.

The association better send her to international senior competition to get the TES for WC, she really proved herself that she deserves it. She is also the best active Norwegian skater now with the new PB, Linnea Kilsand PB ist 149 from last season, so she bet that too. IMO she also kinda got hold on the EC spot today, but she still needs to collect minimums for seniors. I´m pretty sure she will get it for EC, what is holding her back is her getting a senior international competition.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Mias executed jumps in the free skate today:

3Lz, 3F (fall), 3Lo, 3T-2A-SEQ, 3S-1Eu-2F, 3S, 2A-2T

She got level 4 on all spins and step sequence 3.

In JGP her planned program content was to start with 3Lz-eu-2S. I´m not sure she planned the same today, but I think so, in JGP she managed to rearrange her program quick when she did fall on the opening lutz. Mia seems to be good at doing jumping math, so it´s possible she changed it mid-way today as well. Because I don´t think she actually planned to be jumping combos in the second half in the free skate, but it was quite success this time, giving her a bigger score. In JGP she had a 3T-3T in her planned program content, and only one 3S, but I think it made sense today that she added 3S so she could do the euler combo on the salchow, and then adding double toeloop on the last jump.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

From this weekend I want to mention that Ida Vamnes placed 4th in junior in Budapest Trophy. She was 3rd after the SP, but she had 2 falls in her free skate. But she started very well with a 3Lz-2T-2Lo combo. On TikTok I saw she mentioned in a video that she only have been free from injury 6 months the last 5 years, so she had quite a battle the last years and I hope she stays free of injury this season. I do remember that she has been WD from competitions quite frequently the last season and now I know why.

Also I should not forget to mention Frida Berge. She has been skating very consistently internationally and she did it again. Unfortunately she is one of those skaters who have maxed up their technical content and doesn´t seem to be able to increase her score much all though she skates clean programs. Her PCS isn´t improving either, and it really hurts her score. Her TES in both the SP and FS suggested she could have been top 10 and gotten ranking points, but her PCS put her in 14th place overall. I think if she would have skated like this a few years ago she would be a good choice for EC, because she is consistent enough to skate clean in the SP and that could have gotten her to the final, but today even if she skates clean, her score is most likely not good enough for top 24.

Oda Havgar did a good job at JGP as well and it was about time she got one spot. She had some really good jumps and then she struggled with the landings on many of them, giving away a lot of points. Oda strengths has always been spins and program components, and she has nice speed across the ice as well. A interesting note, I didn´t think she was working on 3F and 3Lz. but I have seen the club posting videos of her trying them in practice and it doesn´t look so bad, so I´m wondering if she is going to try it in competition any time soon. However, they posted it already 2 years ago, and you would think she would have tried it once in 2 years if it was stable in practice.

I don´t have a clue what the next competitions will be for Norwegian girls or who will get spots. I hope they send girls to one more Challenger, last season we only had entries in Ice Challenge so i´m a bit afraid that Budapest Trophy was the only one before new year. But they did send them to other internationals senior B events, like Open Andorra. I might be wrong, but I feel there is fewer of them at this time of the year, so maybe they will send to one more Challenger. Fingers crossed

 

[TT_Fin]

After good FS at qualification - as I have written before, nationals and qualification competitions are taken into account in the scoring - Janna is now leading the list for the spot for Euros. It is a pity to have only one spot at home competition in women after having so many years two and once even three. Makar S. had tried 3A but had fallen. I did not watch men FS but read about it. I suppose skaters who have already confirmed the spot for nationals (I think I wrote it before but write it again that last years medalist got it automatically) often like to take part in also in qualifications, because they can test themselves in these games.