ISU World No. 54 Oct 2014

INTERNATIONAL SKATING UNION OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

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

NO 54 OCTOBER 2014

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When the ISU was about to decide which photograph should be used for the front page of this edition of ISU World it was believed that it was time to expose again Synchronized Skating. Instead of the World Champion team (Finland), it was deemed opportune to publish the photograph of team Switzerland, in order to have the opportunity to more precisely explain the action of the ISU regarding the development of ice skating.

All Members and those working for Synchronized Skating teams shall not be offended if we affirm that in the Figure Skating Branch top figure skaters and ice dancers have probably better skills to perform the elements contained in an ice skating program.

When launching Synchronized Skating the ISU tried to permit all those motivated to take part in an ice skating competition to have at least the possibility to be part of a Synchronized Skating team. Due to the number of skaters forming an official team i.e. 16 individuals, it was not difficult to imagine that in a Country the respective Member might be able to form many teams that would have resulted in many skaters, many pairs of boots and many hours of training. The three components: number of skaters, number of skates, number of hours of training would have substantially supported the development of Figure Skating in the world. The effort of the ISU experts is now dedicated to create Synchronized Skating programs that are adequate for recruiting and forming a good standard and level of activity, so that the concerned skaters can truly declare to be figure skaters.

In this sport the dedication of coaches and of other experts is indeed extremely demanding, since they must elaborate programs with elements that can be performed by many skaters and not as it happens with Single Figure Skating for just one, since the purpose is to put the special one on the top of the result. With Synchronized Skating it is the team that counts for the final result and therefore the expert should present elements that can be performed by all skaters resulting in this pretty difficult itinerary, but on the other hand if we want to open ice skating to more performers it is necessary to work out programs that are feasible by many.

The reason for which one can see the Swiss team on the front page is well in line with what is said about development. Switzerland is not a Country with a large territory but they have for sure intensively participated in the program of the ISU for developing the ISU sport disciplines. They have been able to present in different periods top level skaters properly using the selection system and the ISU can be confident that soon Switzerland will be able to present a top Synchronized Skating team.

To avoid being misunderstood, allow us to say once more that in Synchronized Skating it is the team prevailing. The most important is what can be produced forming the team i.e. many, many skaters selected but in full respect of the main principle existing in sport “only the best will be picked up to form the team”. It is not an ISU sport discipline equal or comparable to the other disciplines forming the Figure Skating Branch, but as already said it is a practical and democratic approach to permit everybody to compete in ice skating, where difficulties have to be properly executed without of course the request to present elements as it is asked to their colleagues. To obtain such an important type of competition it is necessary to count on many coaches and experts who clearly have understood the lines of this mission.

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.

Editorial board : Selina Vanier, Rodney Lajoie.

Designed by : moserdesign.ch Front cover photograph : Team Switzerland © Sari Niskanen Photography : © Getty Images, © Kia Speed Skating Academy, © AFP

ISU COUNCIL

The ISU Council met on June 8 and 14, 2014 in Dublin (IRL) and agreed to grant full membership to the Cyprus Skating Federation’s Figure Skating Branch.

The Council approved the 2014/15 calendar for the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series, ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Series, ISU World Cup Short Track Series and the ISU Challenger Series in Figure Skating. A number of definite allotments were confirmed for the upcoming season along with provisional allotments for the season 2015/16.

The Minimum Total Technical Scores for the season 2014/15 were adjusted accordingly and the annual Judges Draw for the 2015 Figure Skating Championships will be held on October 16, 2014 in Geneva (SUI).

A number of new World Records were ratified in Speed Skating and Short Track and a total of 33 Assessments were also reviewed and ratified.

Based on the 2014 Congress decision the Declaration Form was adapted and the Council appointed Mr Maurizio Margaglio (ITA) as the new Coach to the Ice Dance Technical Committee.

The Council agreed to meet again on October 16 -19, 2014 in Geneva (SUI) and on March 23 - 24, 2015 in Shanghai (CHN).

For more information on the decisions of the Council see ISU Communication 1876.

SPORTS DIRECTORS & SPORT MANAGER FIGURE SKATING The 2014 Congress voted on a restructuring of the ISU and the dissolution of the Sport Directorate. Two Figure Skating Sports Directors, Mr Charles Cyr (USA) and Ms Krisztina Regöczy (HUN), Mr Hugo Herrnhof (ITA) as Speed Skating Sports Director and Mr Peter Krick (GER) the appointed Sport Manager Figure Skating replace the Directorate.

The latest inspection visits for the 2016 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Lillehammer (NOR) took place in August and all the qualification criteria for the YOG were discussed.

In the Figure Skating Branch, the summer was busy with the Global Seminar in

ISU NEWS Frankfurt (GER) which had a record number of Technical Specialists in attendance. The new Challenger Series debuted in the Fall allowing more athletes to gain World Standing points.

A test event took place during the Nebelhorn Trophy involving the judging of either Components or GOE and the results will be submitted to the ISU Council.

In Speed Skating and Short Track, World Cup and Championships inspection visits took place over the summer and a number of special projects for the Speed Skating Branch will be discussed to help promote ISU Events.

ISU TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Single and Pair Skating

The Single and Pair Skating Technical Committee (SPTC) members were involved in the preparation of their proposals for appointments of Officials at all ISU Events for the season 2014/15. Committee members were also engaged in the preparation of the 55th ISU Congress in Dublin (IRL) and subsequently the drafting of the Congress decisions, Special Regulations, Technical Rules and various ISU Communications. Time was also devoted to prepare and conduct the Frankfurt Global Seminar last July. Before, during and after this Seminar the Technical Panel Handbooks were updated and published on the ISU Website. Over the summer, Committee members moderated Officials Seminars in Frankfurt (GER), Seoul (KOR) and Courchevel (FRA) and were Referees and Technical Controllers at various Junior Grand Prix Events. New methods of judging were tried at the Nebelhorn Trophy (GER) in September as the Committee continuously tries to improve the quality of judging.

Ice Dance Ice Dance Technical Committee (IDTC) members moderated two ISU Ice Dance Referees and Judges Seminars. The first in Milan (ITA) was attended by 22 Officials from 6 countries and the second in Glasgow (GBR) was attended by 29 Officials from 6 countries.

The IDTC annual spring meeting was held in May. Draft materials were created including Handbooks for Technical Panels, Referees and Judges, and Pattern Dances. All Reports and Officials Lists were reviewed and Assignments for the upcoming Season prepared.

All IDTC members attended the ISU Congress where all Proposals submitted by the IDTC were accepted. Committee members condu-

cted training and examinations in Frankfurt for new and promoted Technical Controllers and Specialists, in addition to the Recertification of current Technical Panel members. The ISU Examination for promotion of Dance Judges to the ISU Level was held in Oberstdorf (GER).

Synchronized Skating Following the Congress decision to harmonize the rules with the other Figure Skating Branch disciplines, the Synchronized Skating Technical Committee (SySTC) has been busy with the preparation of the new regulations following the ISU Congress in Dublin. The Committee has also been busy with setting the requirements for the upcoming season and further simplifying the rules. An application for inclusion of Synchronized Skating in the Olympic Winter Games was prepared and submitted to the IOC for their consideration.

A number of successful examinations of Technical Controller, Technical Specialist and Judging candidates took part in the Frankfurt Global seminar. A seminar for Judges and Referees was held in Zurich (SUI) in September.

adopted by the Congress, including the new format of the ISU Championships as well as the new starting procedure rules. A number of important Communications were prepared and published over the summer. The STSSTC organized the Frankfurt (GER) Seminar last September where 89 Officials, moderators, ISU Council members and Technical Committee members took part. A number of high standard presentations were shown through instructional DVDs. The usual exam for Officials took place and yielded positive results.

Finally the Technical Committee is working on a number of projects including the production of an instructional video for training Referees.

The DVD will be provided to Officials and ISU Members in order to tutor young Short Track Referees. The other two projects include a Database of all Officials which is in the process of being finalized and the “RRS” (Race Report System) project which has continuously been improved over the seasons.

Speed Skating

The ISU Congress voted on a number of rule changes and proposals by the Speed Skating Technical Committee (SSTC), consequently as of 2015 Mass Start races will be an official event at ISU World Single Distances Championships and ISU World Junior Championships with a more complete set of racing rules. The Congress also endorsed the intention to have Mass start included in the Olympic program as from 2018. The SSTC concluded the planning of the competition program for the ISU World Cup Series 2014/15 based on the new standardized ISU calendar and the new role of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series in the qualification process for ISU Championships. The annual ISU Communications for the ISU World Cup and the ISU Junior World Cup Series 2014/15 were issued and the SSTC reviewed and published the list of ISU Referees and Starters. The bi-annual ISU Speed Skating Referees’ course took place in St. Petersburg (RUS) on September 25 - 28 where 45 ISU and International referees attended. The SSTC also met up during the course to discuss and prepare for the 17 ISU Speed Skating Events of the 2014/15 season.

Short Track Speed Skating Officials’ Course in Frankfurt (GER)

Social Media

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series was available as a live stream on YouTube. This was a very successful step forward in the ISU social media strategy which was paired with the launch of a Twitter campaign so fans, sponsors, media and the skating family can follow Figure Skating Events @ISU_Reporter. The ISU will continue to strengthen its social media presence in all ISU disciplines.

Short Track

All 26 proposals of the Short Track Speed Skating Technical Committee (STSSTC) were

ISU WEBSITE : WWW.ISU.ORG

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ISU CONGRESS REVIEW

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ISU Office Holders following the 55th Ordinary ISU Congress

The 55th ISU Ordinary Congress took place in Dublin (IRL) on June 9 -13, where over 220 Delegates from 79 ISU Member federations were present to vote on over 450 proposals. For the first time in the history of the ISU, a Forum was held to provide a platform to the ISU Members to discuss a number of topics including the future of the ISU and the upcoming 2016 elections.

Following the 2012 Congress to discontinue the Sports Directorate, Congress voted to adjust and better outline the ISU Bodies, Office Holders and Coordinators. Provisions have been added to the ISU Constitution and General Regulations in case the IOC accepts Synchronized Skating and Speed Skating Mass Start into the Olympic Program and a proposal to call the third placed Competitors to the podium followed by the second then first was rejected.

A number of proposals to either change or remove the age limit of ISU Office Holders and Officials, were rejected by the Congress and the minimum requirements for Members activities are now better defined and Provisional ISU membership is open to countries not having an operating ice rink under the condition that the Council may apply special conditions to those Members.

It was announced that the 56th Ordinary Congress will be held in Dubrovnik (CRO) in June 2016.

In Speed Skating it was agreed that a proposal will be submitted for the inclusion of Mass Start in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games program and the 500 meters for Ladies and Men at Olympic Winter Games will be held over one race only. The World Sprint Speed Skating Championships will have a fixed number of participants of 32 Ladies and 32 Men. Various changes regarding the format and qualification procedure for Championships were approved and detailed Rules for Mass Start and Team Sprint races have been implemented. The Team Sprint event will be included in the program of the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships and Single Distance titles will be awarded at the ISU European Speed Skating Championships starting from season 2016/17.

For the World, World Junior and European Short Track Speed Skating Championships new formats will be implemented and B Finals for all distances have been added.

A minimum qualifying time is required for entry into the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships and the qualification for the Olympic Winter Games will be held over four World Cup Competitions instead of two. Modification in the starting procedure has been implemented and in case of a second false start, the offending skater will be disqualified. Finally it was decided that Single Distance Champion titles will be awarded for each distance at the European

Short Track Speed Skating Championships starting from season 2016/17.

The Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance Technical Committees submitted a proposal to have the same time requirements for the Free Skating/Dance across all disciplines, 4 minutes for Ladies, Men, Pairs and Ice Dance and 3 ½ minutes for the Junior skaters which was rejected by Congress. The proposal for the Free Skating/Dance to be skated in reverse skating order to the skaters’ preceding segment result of the competition, with the best placed Competitor skating last was also rejected along with the removal of judges’ anonymity. Competitors from the Host Member of the Olympic Winter Games who did not qualify through the normal qualification process will still be able to participate as long as they have achieved the required minimum Total Technical Score and finally the Ice Dance Program Component will be multiplied by a higher factor as of season 2014/15.

The Synchronized Skating Technical Committee presented to the Congress a number of proposals that would harmonize the Rules with Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance Rules which were subsequently accepted.

For additional information see Communications 1874, 1875, and the Constitution and General Regulations 2014, Speed Skating and Short Track and Single & Pairs Skating and Ice Dance Special Regulations and Technical Rules are now available on the ISU website.

ISU SCHOLARSHIPS 2014 / 2015 FIGURE SKATING

Ladies 1. Elizabet Turzynbaeva

KAZ

2. Lutricia Bock

GER

3. Jenni Saarinen

FIN

4. Deimante Kizalaite

LTU

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Men 1. Deniss Vasiljevs

LAT

2. Daniel Samohin

ISR

3. Ivan Pavlov

UKR

4. Illya Solomin

SWE

Pairs 1. Anna Duskova / Martin Bidar

CZE

Ice Dance 1. Estelle Elizabeth / Romain Le Gac

FRA

2. Carolina Moscheni / Ádám Lukács

HUN

Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT)

SHORT TRACK

SPEED SKATING

Men Ladies 1. Anna Seidel

GER

1. Denis Nikizha

KAZ

2. Katrin Manoilova

BUL

2. Felix Spiegl

GER

3. Kathryn Thomson

GBR

3. Shaoang Liu

HUN

4. Natalia Maliszewska

POL

4. Armstrong Lazenby

AUS

With the help of the ISU Development Program, the Kia Speed Skating Academy in Inzell (GER) is responsible for rewarding Speeed Skating Scholarships in 2014.

Ladies 1. Saskia Alusalu

EST

2. Marit Böhm

NOR

3. Marie Haugli

NOR

4. Jana Vodičkova

SVK

Men

Kathryn Thomson (GBR)

1. Gustav Åkesson

SWE

2. Jordan McMillen

NZL

3. Iñigo Vidondo

ESP

4. Artur Was

POL

SPEED SKATING

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SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING / IC

November 14 - 16 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit, Team Sprint Men: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit, Team Sprint

Obihiro JAPAN

November 21 - 23 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start, Team Sprint Men: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 10000 m, Mass Start, Team Sprint

Seoul REPUBLIC OF KOREA

November 22 - 23 ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating

December 5 - 7

ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit, Men: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit

August 20 - 24

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

August 27 - 31

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

September 3 - 7

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

September 10 - 14

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

Calgary CANADA

September 10 - 14

U.S. International Figure Skatin Challenger Series

Berlin GERMANY

September 18 - 21

Lombardia Trophy Challenger Se

September 24 - 28

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

September 25 - 27

Nebelhorn Trophy Challenger Se

October 1 - 5

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

December 12 - 14 ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit, Men: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start, Team Pursuit

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

December 13 - 14

ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating

Minsk BELARUS

October 1 - 5

22nd Ondrej Nepela Memorial Challenger Series

January 10 - 11

ISU European Speed Skating Championships

Chelyabinsk RUSSIA

October 8 - 12

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure

January 10 - 11

ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating

Changchun CHINA

October 9 - 12

Finlandia Trophy Challenger Se

October 14 -17

Skate Canada Autumn Classic C

October 24 - 26

Hilton HHonors Skate America Figure Skating

October 31- November 2

Skate Canada ISU Grand Prix of

November 5 - 9

25th Volvo Open Cup Challenge

November 7 - 9

LEXUS Cup of China ISU Grand

January 17 - 18

ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating

Collalbo ITALY

January 31 February 1

ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start Men: 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start

Hamar NORWAY

February 7 - 8

ISU World Cup Speed Skating Ladies: 2x500 m, 2x1000 m Men: 2x500 m, 2x1000 m

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

February 12 - 15

ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

November 11 - 16

Ice Challenge Challenger Series

February 14 - 15

ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating

Warsaw POLAND

November 14 - 16

Rostelecom Cup ISU Grand Prix

February 20 - 22

ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships

Warsaw POLAND

November 20 - 23

Warsaw Cup Challenger Series

February 28 - March 1

ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships

Astana KAZAKHSTAN

November 21 - 23

Trophee Bompard ISU Grand Pri

March 7 - 8

ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships

Calgary CANADA

November 28 - 30

NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix of F

December 4 - 7

Golden Spin of Zagreb Challeng

March 21 - 22

ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final Ladies: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, Mass Start Men: 2x500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, Mass Start

Erfurt GERMANY

December 11 - 14

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

ISU EVENT CALENDAR 2014 / 2015

CE DANCE

Skating

Courchevel FRANCE

January 26 - February 1

ISU European Figure Skating Championships

Stockholm SWEDEN

Skating

Ljubljana SLOVENIA

February 9 - 15

ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

Seoul REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Skating

Ostrava CZECH REPUBLIC

March 2 - 8

Skating

Aichi JAPAN

ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships

Tallinn ESTONIA

March 23 - 29

ISU World Figure Skating Championships

Shanghai CHINA

April 16 - 19

ISU World Team Trophy

Tokyo JAPAN

ng Classic

Salt Lake City USA

eries

Sesto San Giovanni/ Milano ITALY

Skating

Tallinn ESTONIA

eries

Oberstdorf GERMANY

Skating

Dresden GERMANY

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

Bratislava SLOVAKIA

November 7 - 9

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

Zagreb CROATIA

Salt Lake City USA

November 14 - 16

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

eries

Espoo FINLAND

Montreal CANADA

December 12 - 14

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

Challenger Series

Barrie Ontario CANADA

Shanghai CHINA

December 19 - 21

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

ISU Grand Prix of

Seoul REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Chicago IL USA

January 23 - 25

ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships

Dordrecht NETHERLANDS

f Figure Skating

Kelowna B.C. CANADA

February 6 - 8

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

Dresden GERMANY

er Series

Riga LATVIA

February 13 - 15

ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating

Izmir TURKEY

Prix of Figure Skating

Shanghai CHINA

February 27 - March 1

ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships

Osaka JAPAN

s

Graz AUSTRIA

March 13 - 15

ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships

Moscow RUSSIA

x of Figure Skating

Moscow RUSSIA

s

Warsaw POLAND

ix of Figure Skating

Bordeaux FRANCE

Figure Skating

Osaka JAPAN

ger Series

Zagreb CROATIA

g Final

Barcelona SPAIN

Skating

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING March 13 - 14

ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships

Zagreb CROATIA

April 10 - 11

ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships

Hamilton CANADA

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FIGURE SKATING The post Olympic 2014/15 season opened with the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in August and will be followed by the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series starting in October leading up to the ISU

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Grand Prix Final and ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. In early 2015, the focus will shift to the ISU Championships.

Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating All ISU Members can enter athletes for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating and

344 young skaters / couples from about 50 ISU Members competed in this year’s junior series. Indonesia and Morocco were represented for the first time on the ISU Junior Grand Prix.

The Series started with the first of seven events in Courchevel (FRA) in August followed

by Ljubljana (SLO), Ostrava (CZE), Aichi (JPN), Tallinn (EST), Dresden (GER) and Zagreb (CRO).

Four events included Pair Skating. The top six skaters and couples in each category will advance to the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Barcelona (ESP) in December.

The top three qualified in each category are Serafima Sakhanovich (RUS), Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS), Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) for the Ladies, Boyang Jin (CHN), Alexander Petrov (RUS), Shoma Uno (JPN) for the Men, Anna Yanovskaya / Sergey Mozgov (RUS) Mackenzie Bent / Garrett Mackeen (CAN), Betina Popova / Yuri Vlasenko (RUS) in Ice Dance and Julianne Seguin/Charlie Bilodeau (CAN), Maria Vigalova / Egor Zakroev (RUS) Lina Fedorova / Maxim Miroshkin (RUS) in Pairs.

Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje (CAN)

The 2014/15 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 Barcelona, Spain (December 11 - 14). Spain will host the ISU Grand Prix Final for the first time. The ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and the ISU Grand Prix Final will be held together.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating traditionally starts with Hilton HHonors Skate America in Chicago (October 24 - 26), followed by Skate Canada in Kelowna, BC, (October 31November 2). The series then moves to Asia with the Lexus Cup of China in Shanghai (November 7- 9) and Europe with Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (RUS) on November 14 -16 followed by Trophée Bombard in Bordeaux (FRA) on November 21- 23. The sixth and last event will be the NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN) on November 28 - 30.

The top twelve skaters/couples of the 2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships are assigned to two events. The remaining spots in each event are awarded in accordance with the ISU World Standings and Season’s Best lists. In order to assure the high standard of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, only

THE SEASON AHEAD skaters or couples that meet a minimum score are eligible to compete in the events. The minimum total score for this season is: Men 169.56 points, Ladies 130.02 points, Pairs 134.94 points, Ice Dance 105.27 points.

The Grand Prix series in the post Olympic season will see Olympic Champions from two disciplines, Olympic and World medalists as well as up and coming skaters seeking to confirm their position and newcomers from the junior ranks.

Olympic and World Champion Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) will start his season at Cup of China and his home event NHK Trophy, while World silver medalist Tatsuki Machida (JPN) competes at Skate America and Trophée Bompard. European Champion and World bronze medalist Javier Fernandez (ESP) is entered for Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup. Olympic bronze medalist Denis Ten (KAZ) is slated for Skate America and Trophée Bompard. Current and former World, Four Continents and European medalists on the circuit include Takahiko Kozuka (JPN), Florent Amodio (FRA), Kevin Reynolds (CAN), Michal Brezina (CZE), Sergei Voronov and Han Yan (CHN). World Junior Champion Nam Nguyen (CAN) debuts on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Olympic Champion Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) headlines the Ladies’ field and will compete in Russia and Japan. European Champion and World silver medalist Julia Lipnitskaia (RUS) is scheduled for Bordeaux and Shanghai. Four Continents Champion Kanako Murakami (JPN) will meet Lipnitskaia in China and Sotnikova in Osaka. Two-time World Junior Champion Elena Radionova (RUS) has been selected for Skate America and Trophée Bompard. Other challengers on the circuit include 2014 Four Continents silver medalist Satoko Miyahara (JPN), 2013 European bronze medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS), ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final bronze medalist Ashley Wagner (USA) and Gracie Gold (USA).

Olympic and World silver medalists Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS) are competing in Moscow and Bordeaux. World bronze medalists Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford (CAN) start their season at Skate Canada and NHK Trophy. Other top contenders include ISU Grand Prix finalists Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN), Cheng Peng/Hao Zhang (CHN) and Vanessa James/Morgan Cipres (FRA).

2010 European Champions Yuko Kavaguti/ Alexander Smirnov (RUS) return to the circuit

after sitting out the past season due to injury.

World Junior Champions Xiaoyu Yu/Yang Jin (CHN) want to challenge the senior-level teams. Also newly formed couples such as Vera Bazarova/Andrei Deputat (RUS) and Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (CAN) are hoping to draw attention.

World and European Champions Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA) will open their season at Cup of China and Trophée Bompard.

World silver medalists Kaitlyn Weaver/ Andrew Poje (CAN) are scheduled for their home event in Kelowna and for Bordeaux.

Other top teams on the circuit are Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA), Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) and Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland (GBR). Olympic bronze medalists Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) split up and return with their new partners. Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS) and Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS). 2014 World Junior Champions Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) will debut at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

ISU Championships Europe will find out who its best skaters are at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2015 in Stockholm (SWE) January 26February 1 while athletes from the rest of the world will compete at the ISU Four Continents Championships in Seoul (KOR) February 9 -15.

The World’s top Juniors will meet at the World Junior Championships March 2-8 in Tallinn (EST). The season will conclude with the World Championships in Shanghai (CHN) March 23-29.

ISU World Team Trophy The top six teams, based on the individual results of skaters from the ISU Championships and ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, will qualify for the ISU World Team Trophy April 16 -19 in Tokyo (JPN).

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING

Zijun Li (CHN)

Synchronized teams will compete in a number of major international events this season. The highlights of the season will be the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb (CRO) March 13 -14 and the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Hamilton (CAN) April 10 -11.

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Ladies’ Mass Start race

SPEED SKATING World Cup During this post-Olympic season, the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series will contain seven Events. The first four events will have a full distance program aimed at both sprinters and allround skaters. The fifth leg is aimed at long distance skaters and the sixth to sprinters. The first of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating event will be held in Obihiro (JPN) on November 14 16, followed one week later by Seoul (KOR) on November 21 - 23. These Asian competitions will also include Team Sprint as a demonstration event. Skaters will then travel to Europe on December 5 -7 to compete in the third leg in Berlin (GER), from there they will go to

Heerenveen (NED) on December 12 - 14. In the new year the long distance skaters will meet in Hamar from January 31 - February 1 and the sprinters in Heerenveen on February 7- 8. The ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final will take place in Erfurt (GER) from March 21- 22.

Junior World Cup Calgary (CAN) will host the first ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating event from November 22 - 23 which is also the first Regional Junior World Cup of the season. The second Regional World Cup will take place in Minsk (BLR) on December 13 -14 and the third will be in Changchung (CHN) on January 10 -11. All skaters will then get together for the Global Junior World Cup in Col-

lalbo (ITA) on January 17 - 18 and the Final will take place in Warsaw (POL) on February 14 -15, one week before the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships which will take place in the same rink.

Championships The ISU Championships season begins on January 10 -11 with the ISU European Speed Skating Championships in Chelyabinsk (RUS).

On February 12 - 15 the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships will take place in Heerenveen (NED). The ISU World Sprint will be competed in Astana (KAZ) on February 28 - March 1 and the ISU World Allround Championships will be in Calgary (CAN) on March 7 - 8.

THE SEASON AHEAD SHORT TRACK World Cup The Short Track season will start shortly with the ISU World Cup Short Track series. This year the circuit is comprised of six events across North America, Asia and Europe. The format of the World Cup series goes back to its original format in that there is one day of qualification instead of two which only happens during the Olympic season. At each competition the Men and Ladies Relay races will take place and Men and Ladies individual

Men’s Relay 5000 m

races will be held over 500 m, 1000 m and 1500 m and single distances determine the winners with the exception of the fourth World Cup in Seoul where the second 1500 m race will be replaced with a 3000 m race. The series will kick off with in Salt Lake City (USA) on November 7-9 and the following week it will move to Montreal (CAN) on November 14 -16. Almost a month later the series will continue in Asia with Shanghai (CHN) on December 12 - 14 and then Seoul (KOR) on December 19 - 21. Short Trackers will compete in Europe in the new year with the fifth leg in

Dresden (GER) on February 6 - 8 and finally in Izmir (TUR) on February 13 - 15.

Championships The first Championships of 2015 will be the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dordrecht (NED) on January 23 - 25. The action then moves to Osaka (JPN) on February 27 - March 1 for the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships and the season will come to an end in Moscow (RUS) with the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships on March 13 -15.

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PAST MASTER

GERHARD ZIMMERMANN (GER): BORN 1942 Mr Zimmermann is a retired German speed skater who competed at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympic Games in the 500, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 m distances. He was crowned German Speed Skating Champion eight times between 1964 and 1972.

Shortly after his retirement in 1972 he was elected Council member of the German Speed Skating Federation and in 1984 he was promoted to President. He was the manager of the national Speed Skating Training center and the Chairman of the Speed Skating Club both based in Inzell (GER).

Mr Zimmermann was also a Speed Skating Referee for over twenty years. In 1982 he was elected as an ISU Speed Skating Technical Committee member and in 1984 he became Chair of the Committee. His impressive career in the sport continued in 1992 when he joined the ISU Council and in 1994 when he was voted in as the ISU Speed Skating Vice President.

His dedication and hard work have inspired many and Mr Zimmermann’s involvement in the sport has contributed to the development of many skaters and to the discipline of Speed Skating.