When did the ISU start publishing world rankings?
Four Continents was first held in 1999, but it was in the planning stages since the 1994 ISU Congress, along with the Champions (now Grand Prix) series, which started in 1995-96. Probably it took 4 years to get the scheduling worked out, since US and Canada often held their nationals in early February in non-Olympic years and the dates were already contracted several years in advance.
Four Continents was first held in 1999, but it was in the planning stages since the 1994 ISU Congress, along with the Champions (now Grand Prix) series, which started in 1995-96. Probably it took 4 years to get the scheduling worked out, since US and Canada often held their nationals in early February in non-Olympic years and the dates were already contracted several years in advance.