ISU World No45 October 2011

INTERNATIONAL SKATING UNION OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

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

NO 45 OCTOBER 2011

ISU COUNCIL

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Take three major sports: American football, Basketball and Soccer. Make the grand total of spectators they collect worldwide in one weekend of their season. Compare that number with the number of spectators attending Theatre performances worldwide. You will probably realize that in one weekend the three sports have the same number of spectators that Theatre obtains in ten years!

The reason of such an impressive difference is probably related to the strong curiosity for a result that is unpredictable in sport matches, versus the high quality interpretations of actors that no longer generates enough attraction. One might eventually consider that uncertainty prevails on quality.

There might be a further observation: if in the three sports the quality of the matches is not as good as expected, then the spectators would not be satisfied and would probably be unhappy for the decision they took to attend the sport event.

But this is not the point. In fact, it does not matter which are the considerations at the end of each sporting event. It is of paramount importance to note that people decided beforehand to go to the American football, Basketball and Soccer match in a very high number. It is what one chooses to do that counts and in the example exposed it is that the three sports offer a potential of entertainment higher than the one obtainable through the Theatre. But the comparison is not limited to the three mentioned team sports versus Theatre only. Of course the same situation can occur between the three sports mentioned above and other, allow us to define as “minor sports”.

Probably television and its viewers give a remarkable contribution to the promotion in favour of the three team sports and the consequence is that we are really tackling an issue related to the dominant position of certain sports versus others. At this point the sport administrators in general have to pay tribute to all those who promote and organize sport events not comprised within the major ones. It is for the merit of those passionate people and organizations that many sports can continue, also through the protection that dedicated entities have for all sports.

In this specific area all the International Sport Federations shall truly commend the International Olympic Committee for maintaining the high reputation of the Olympic Games, the most important and attractive sport Event existing, granting the possibility for all sports to continue.

In this summary we intentionally have not tackled the point of the knowledge and culture of spectators when they decide to follow their preferred activity. Up to now we have compared the spectators’ presence in different activities. We have specifically spoken of spectators, but there is the high probability that television and other video systems might expand their success so much, at the detriment of the number of spectators in attendance at a stadium, without speaking of the possible future of Theatre. Why television, Internet, etc. should remarkably progress? The answer is simple: not all spectators have the knowledge to follow and personally evaluate the performance. A commentator can better explain and involve the TV viewers in what is happening, in technical rules, statistics and any other point of interest for those watching the performance, it is this kind of information and education which helps develop a sport and make the number of spectators grow.

The ISU is conscious of the above conditions and will do the utmost to follow its sport disciplines at best for the full satisfaction of its fans.

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.

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Front cover photograph: Ivan Skobrev (RUS) © Getty Images Sport Photography: © Getty Images Sport ©AFP John Macdougall

The ISU Council met in Amsterdam (NED) on June 10-12 and agreed to grant provisional ISU Membership for the Figure Skating Branch to the Cyprus Skating Federation, Association of Moroccan Ice Sports and to the Grenada Figure Skating Association. A number of definite and provisional allotments for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 ISU Championships were announced.

The Council homologated Speed Skater Martina Sábliková (CZE) Ladies 5000 meters as a new World Record. In Short Track Speed Skating Jinkyu Noh’s (KOR) Men 3000 meters and Great Britain’s Men 5000 meters Relay new World Records were also homologated.

Following the approval of the ISU Council, the first Seminar for youth in Figure Skating was held during the time of the training program for the sport in July 2011 in Frankfurt (GER).

The seminar directed by the Figure Skating Vice President Mr. David Dore and Sports Directorate Chair Mr. Peter Krick, hosted 41 young people from 26 different Member countries. Each participant was under the age of 45 and displayed potential for future involvement in the sport at some level either nationally or internationally. The seminar was reviewed on site by the participants and considered a huge success. The individuals spoke of the knowledge gained, the attention to their individual abilities, how to get involved, and in the awareness of some new directions in the sport and in sport administration. Participants said they would take this new knowledge to their Federation and pursue involvement in future activities. The participants will be monitored following the seminar as to their future success. The ISU Council will review the results of this seminar in regard to possible future activity of a similar nature.

The next ISU Council meeting will take place in Milan (ITA) from October 14-16, 2011.

SPORTS DIRECTORATE

The end of the season 2010/11 was the start of the new one with all Inspection visits for major ISU Championships and Events done including a first visit to Sochi for the Olympic Winter Games 2014. Meetings with the Council, the Technical Committees, and internally within the Sports Directorate where important steps for the new season and for updates and amendments of Rules and Regulations in view of the ISU Congress 2012.

For the Figure Skating Branch the ISU Global Seminar in Frankfurt in July 2011 was another proof of the importance of one central point in the year for educational and promotional purposes.

In the Branch of Speed Skating the last preparations are underway for the start of

ISU NEWS the new season. Particular focus is on the two ISU Junior World Cups taking place in Erfurt (GER) from November 12-13 and Bjugn (NOR) from November 18-19 which will also be the qualifying opportunity for the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympic Games. Short Track Speed Skating is analyzed in detail in order to identify possible solutions to improve the presentation of the Events in order to attract larger audiences.

ISU TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Single & Pair Skating

The Committee Members met in Moscow (RUS) and Rimini (ITA) to evaluate the list of Officials from the previous season and propose appointments of Officials for the new 2011/12 season. Members of the Committee were examiners at the ISU Judges Examination last September in Oberstdof (GER) and also served as moderators at various ISU Officials Seminars and Development Projects in Seoul (KOR), Milan (ITA), Sheffield (GBR) Odintsovo (RUS), Frankfurt (GER) and Vantaz (FIN).

Ice Dance

The Ice Dance Technical Committee met in May to finalize the Season 2010/11 and to begin working on the new season. Lists of Officials for the Season 2011/12 are complete and recommendations for assignments made according to designated availability forms received. Suggestions for Technical Rule changes have been reviewed and some Committee Members were present at the Oberstdorf ISU Ice Dance exam.

A new DVD on Calling Procedures for Key Points aimed at Technical Panels is now available on the ISU website. New Handbooks and Q&As for Judges and Technical Panels are also available on www.isu.org.

Synchronized Skating

The Synchronized Skating Technical Committee (SySTC) prepared ISU Communication 1696 which includes program content and element levels, guidelines for Technical panels and GOE guidelines for Judges and Referees applicable for the new Season. With the help of the ISU Development Fund, a development camp for skaters, coaches and Officials was held in Harbin, China. A Global Coaches Seminar moderated by Chris Buchanan and coach Andrea Dohany from Sweden, was held in Turnhout, Belgium. The SySTC is currently preparing the Synchronized Skating Seminar and a Technical Panel Officials Seminar which will take place early November in Lyon (FRA).

Speed Skating

The Speed Skating Technical Committee met in Amsterdam (NED) to review the season 2010/11 and prepared ISU Communications 1689, 1690 and 1697, which details the competition schedules and regulations for the Essent ISU World Cup and the ISU Junior World Cup 2011/12. Inspection visits in Chelyabinsk (RUS) and Bjugn (NOR) took place as they will host an ISU Event for the first time. The Committee is in close contact with the Organizing Committee of the Essent ISU European Speed Skating Championships 2012 who will host an ISU Event for the first time since 2001 in the newly renovated ice rink in Budapest (HUN).

The Committee also reviewed and confirmed the ISU Referees and Starters for the coming season. The Technical Committee will next meet during the bi-annual ISU Speed Skating Starters’ course organized in Enschede (NED) from October 20-23.

Short Track

The Short Track Speed Skating Technical Committee concluded a successful Referees’

course over the summer. The involvement of younger Officials, as well as improvement of the Rules, have contributed greatly to the development of the discipline. The sport of Short Track Speed Skating is once again expected to draw large numbers of participants and countries, as additional countries plan to become more active in the discipline. The Star Class and Danubia Cup Events, coupled with additional development programs around the world, will enable Short Track Speed Skating to continue to grow and develop globally.

MR. HANS KUTSCHERA

It is with deep sorrow that the ISU learned of the death of ISU Honorary Member Mr Hans Kutschera on 5 July 2011 at the age of 85.

Mr. Kutschera was a Member and Chair of the Board and Honorary President of the Austrian Figure Skating Association, a Member of the ISU Ice Dance Technical Committee and for many years he was a Referee at ISU Events.

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

ISU SECRETARIAT

After more than 13 years Ms. Becky Cairns, ISU Anti-Doping Administrator leaves the ISU due to her family moving to Singapore. Ms. Christine Cardis has joined the ISU and will replace Ms. Cairns. Ms. Laurence Nusbaumer (Clerc), ISU Accountant, leaves the ISU after 9 years for family reasons and is replaced by two part time employees Ms. Maryline Jaccard and Ms. Nicole Manxholli. And finally, Ms. Ruth Beck ISU Assistant to the Director General leaves the ISU after 2 years and is replaced by Ms. Manuela Alberti. The ISU thanks Ms. Cairns, Ms Nusbaumer and Ms. Beck for their invaluable efforts in favor of the ISU.

ISU SOCIAL MEDIA

The ISU launched a social media initiative in order to promote the disciplines it administers. Two Facebook pages have been opened, one for the International Skating Union and one for the Branch of Figure Skating. More pages will open as the season for Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating approaches. The ISU also made the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating available via its YouTube Channel. For the first time thousands of fans and members of the skating family were able to watch the series. The ISU published social media guidelines for all persons attending an ISU Event or Championships or who wish to engage with the ISU through social media. All information can be found on the ISU website www.isu.org International Skating Union Facebook page

ISU WEBSITE: www.isu.org

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Figure Skating Ladies

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1. Zijun Li

CHN

2. Gerli Liinamae

EST

3. Risa Shoji

EST

4. Maral-Erdene Gansukh

MGL

5. Monika Simancikova

SVK

6. Patricia Glescic

SLO

Men 1. Han Yan

CHN

2. Petr Coufal

CZE

3. Keiji Tanaka

JPN

4. Dong-Won Lee

KOR

Pairs 1. Klara Kadlecova/Petr Bidar

CZE

2. Magdalena Klatka/Radoslaw Chruscinks POL

Ice Dance

Zijun Li (CHN)

1. Yiji Zhang/Nan Wu

CHN

2. Tiffany Zahorski/Alexis Miart

FRA

3. Karina Uzurova/Ilias Ali

KAZ

4. Cagla Demirsal/Berk Akalin

TUR

Zijun Li (CHN)

ISU SCHOLARSHIPS 2011 / 2012 Short Track

Ladies 1. Deanna Lockett

AUS

2. Veronika Denes

HUN

3. Martina Valcepina

ITA

4. Agne Serekaite

LTU

5. Ekaterina Baranok

RUS

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Men 1. Pierre Boda

AUS

2. Sebastien Lepape

FRA

3. Jack Whelbourne

GBR

4. Bence Beres

HUN

5. Itzhak De Laat

NED

6. Mackenzie Blackburn

TPE

Speed Skating The Kia Speed Skating Academy in Inzell (GER) is responsible for rewarding Speed Skating Scholarships 2011 through the help of the ISU development program.

Ladies 1.

Anna Badayeva

BLR

2.

Saskia Alusalu

EST

3.

A’gota Toth

HUN

4.

Cristina Radu

ROU

5.

Johanna Östlund

SWE

Men 1.

Mart Markus

EST

2.

Szabolcs Szöllösi

HUN

3.

Haralds Silovs

LAT

4.

Galbaatar Uuganbaat ar

MGL

5.

Marius Paraschivoiu

ROU

6.

Benjamin Macé

FRA

7.

Shruti Kotwal

IND

8.

Valentin Anghel

ROU

9.

Marian Cristian Ion

ROU

Petr Coufal (CZE)

SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING / ICE DANCE

August 31 -

6

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Speed Skating

Riga

September 4

LATVIA

September 7 - 11

Brisbane

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

AUSTRALIA

September 14 - 18

Gdansk

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

POLAND

September 21 - 25

Brasov

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

ROMANIA

September 28 –

Innsbruck

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

October 2

AUSTRIA

October 5 - 9

Milan

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

ITALY

October 12 - 16

Tallinn

ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

ESTONIA

October 21 - 23

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Ontario, CA

2011 HHonors Hilton Skate America

USA

October 28 - 30

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Mississauga, ON

Skate Canada International

CANADA

November 4 - 6

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Shanghai

Cup of China

CHINA

November 11 - 13

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Sapporo

NHK Trophy

JAPAN

November 18 - 20

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Paris

Trophée Eric Bompard

FRANCE

November 25 - 27

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Moscow

Rostelecom Cup

RUSSIA

December 8 - 11

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Quebec City

(Junior and Senior)

CANADA

January 23 - 29

ISU European Figure Skating Championships

Sheffield

GREAT BRITAIN

February 7 - 12

Colorado Springs

ISU Four Continents Figure Skating

November 12 - 13

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 1500m, 3000m, Te

November 18 - 19 ISU Junior World Cup Ladies and Men: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000

November 18 - 20 Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 15 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 15

November 25 - 27 Essent ISU World Cup Spee

Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 150 Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 15

December 2 - 4 Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m ,15 Men: 2x500m, 1000m ,150

January 7 - 8 ISU Junior World Cup Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, M

January 6 - 8 Essent ISU European Spe Skating Championships January 21 - 22

Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 2

January 28 - 29 Essent ISU World Sprint

January 28 - 29

ISU Junior World Cup Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Ma

February 10 - 12 ISU Junior World Cup Ladies and Men:

2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Ma

February 11 - 12 Essent ISU World Cup Spee Ladies: 1500m, 3000m, Tea

Men: 1500m, 5000m, Team

February 18 - 19 Essent ISU World Allroun Skating Championships March 2 - 4 ISU World Junior Speed

March 2 - 4

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

March 9 - 10 ISU Junior World Cup Final USA Ladies and Men: 500m, 100

Team Pursuit, Mass Start February 27 - March 4 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships Minsk March 9 - 11 Essent ISU World Cup Spee

BELARUS Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 15

Team Pursuit ,Mass Start March 26 - April 1 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Nice

Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500

FRANCE

Mass Start Championships

April 19 - 22

ISU World Team Trophy

Tokyo JAPAN

March 22 - 25 Essent ISU World Single Speed Skating Champion

ISU EVENT CALENDAR 2011/ 2012 Short Track Speed Skating

eam Pursuit

0m, Mass Start

Erfurt GERMANY Bjugn NORWAY

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

Chelyabinsk RUSSIA

ed Skating 00m, 3000m, Mass Start 500m, 5000m, Mass Start

Astana KAZAKHSTAN

ed Skating 500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit 00m, 10000m, Team Pursuit

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

Mass Start

Astana KAZAKHSTAN

eed

Budapest HUNGARY

ed Skating 2x1000m

Salt Lake City USA

October 21 - 23 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Salt Lake City USA

October 28 - 30 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Saguenay CANADA

December 2 - 4 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Nagoya JAPAN

December 9 - 11 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Shanghai CHINA

January 27 - 29

Mlada Boleslav CZECH REPUBLIC

ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships

February 3 - 5 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Moscow RUSSIA

February 10 - 12 Korean Air ISU World Cup Short Track

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

February 24 - 26 ISU World Junior Short Track

Speed Skating Championships

Melbourne AUSTRALIA

March 9 - 11

Shanghai CHINA

ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships

Speed Skating Championships Calgary CANADA

ass Start

ass Start

Collalbo ITALY

Synchronized Skating

Calgary CANADA

ed Skating am Pursuit m Pursuit

Hamar NORWAY

nd Speed

Moscow RUSSIA

Skating Championships

Obihiro JAPAN

ed Skating 00m, 5000m, Mass Start 00m, 10000m, Mass Start

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS

00m, 1500m, 3000m,

Obihiro JAPAN

April 13 -14

ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships

ed Skating Final Berlin 500m, 3000m , GERMANY

0m, 5000m, Team Pursuit,

e Distances nships

Heerenveen NETHERLANDS Team Ice Magic from Australia

Gรถteborg SWEDEN

7

Single and pair skating / ice dance

8

The 2011/12 season opened on August 31 with the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating followed by the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in October. The Grand Prix series will cumulate with the Grand Prix Final for Juniors and Seniors. In early 2012, the focus will shift to the ISU Championships.

Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

started with the events in Riga (LAT), Brisbane (AUS), Gdansk (POL) and Basov (ROM). At press time, the remaining three events are to be held in Innsbruck (AUT), Milan (ITA) and Tallinn (EST). Latvia and Australia hosted a Junior Grand Prix for the first time. The top six skaters and couples in each category will advance to the Junior Grand Prix Final.

Hicks (USA), Julia Lipnitskaia (RUS). In the Men’s: Joshua Farris (USA), Ryuju Hino (JPN), Jason Brown (USA). Ice Dancers Nicole Orford/Thomas Willliams (CAN), Maria Nosulia/ Evgen Kholoniuk (UKR), Victoria Sinitsina/Ruslan Zhiganshin (RUS) as well as Pair skaters Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) and Brittany Simpson/Matthew Blackmer (USA).

The winners of the first four ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Riga, Brisbane, Gdansk and Brasov have a good shot to make it to the Final. Among the top contenders in the Ladies: Polina Shelepen (RUS), Courtney

All ISU Members can enter athletes for the Junior Grand Prix. This year approximately 470 skaters representing over 50 countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania are expected to participate in the series. Mongolia is taking part for the first time in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Grand Prix of Figure Skating The 2011/12 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 Quebec City, Canada (8-11 December). As in the past three years, the Junior Grand Prix Final and the Grand Prix Final will be held together.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating kicks off with Hilton HHonors Skate America in Ontario, California (21-23 October), followed

by Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ontario (28-30 October). The series then continues in Asia with the Cup of China in Shanghai (4-6 November) and the NHK Trophy in Sapporo, Japan (11-13 November). The two European events are at the end of the series: Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris, France (18-20 November) and Rostelecom Cup in Moscow (25-27 November).

Seeded and non seeded skaters are assigned to two events. The top six from the 2011 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in each category are seeded and had the choice to compete in three events. The remaining spots in each event are awarded in accordance with the ranking of the 2011 World Championships and ISU World Standings and Season’s Best lists. In order to assure the high standard of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, only skaters or couples that meet a minimum score are eligible to compete in the events. The minimum score for Men is 168.60 points, for Ladies 117.48 points, for Pairs 130.71 points and for Ice Dancers 111.15 points.

The Grand Prix series will feature exciting competitions between accomplished veterans and talented newcomers.

Polina Shelepen (RUS)

Reigning World Champion Patrick Chan (CAN), World silver medalist Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) and World bronze medalist Artur Gachinski (RUS) will be challenged by former World

THE SEASON AHEAD

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Narumi Takahashi/Mervin Tran (JPN)

Champions Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) and Brian Joubert (FRA). Other top contenders include 2011 European Champion Florent Amodio (FRA), two-time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott, Tomas Verner (CZE), Michal Brezina (CZE) and Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN). World Junior Champion Andrei Rogozine (CAN) and bronze medalist Alexander Majorov (SWE) will debut at the senior scene.

2011 World bronze medalist Carolina Kostner (ITA) and Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada (JPN) headline the Ladies field. Kostner has opted to compete in three events. Competition will come from Mirai Nagasu (USA), Akiko Suzuki (JPN), Alena Leonova (RUS), Rachael Flatt (USA) and Kanako Murakami (JPN). 2011 World Junior Champion Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) and World Junior silver medalist Elizaveta Tuktamisheva (RUS) seem ready to challenge the senior skaters. Twotime World junior medalist Agnes Zawadzki (USA) is back on the circuit as well.

In the Pairs, World Champions Aljona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) have chosen to compete in three events. They will meet two-time World bronze medalists Yuko

Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) in twoevents while current World silver medalists Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS) have been seeded for two other events.

Multiple World medalists Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) are aiming at a comeback after sitting out the past season recovering from injury. Other challengers hoping to qualify for the Grand Prix Final are two-time World Junior Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN), Vera Bazarova/Yuri Larionov (RUS), Four Continents silver medalists Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford and Narumi Takahashi/ Mervin Tran (JPN).

In Ice Dance, reigning World Champions Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA), World silver medalists and Olympic Champions Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) as well as World bronze medalists Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) will face a challenge from European Champions Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat (FRA), European silver medalists Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev (RUS) as well as from Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov (RUS) and Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje (CAN).

Silver medalists Ekaterina Pushkash/Johnathan Guerreiro (RUS) and bronze medalists

Charlotte Lichtman/Dean Copely will debut in the Grand Prix.

ISU Championships The ISU Championships in 2012 start with the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2012 in Sheffield (GBR) on 23-29 January while athletes from North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia/Oceania will compete at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2012 in Colorado Springs (USA) on 7-12 February. The best Juniors will compete at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Minsk (BLR) from 27 February-4 March. Belarus will host an ISU Championships for the first time. The season will conclude with the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Nice (FRA), on 26 March-1 April.

SYNCHRONIZED SKATING Synchronized skating teams will compete in a number of major international events this season. The highlight of the season will be the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Göteborg (SWE) on 13-14 April.

SPEED SKATING

10

The ISU Speed Skating season starts with the ISU Junior World Cup Series on November 12 - 13 in Erfurt, Germany, and continues the next week in Bjugn, close to Trondheim, Norway. These first two races in the Junior circuit will give skaters between the ages of 15 and 16 the opportunity to qualify for the first Winter Youth Olympic Games that will take place in Innsbruck next February. The Junior World Cup will continue on Jaunary 7-8 in Astana (KAZ), then move to Collalbo (ITA) on January 28-29, Calgary (CAN) from February 10-12 to then compete in the World Cup Final in Obihiro, Japan on March 9-10 only a week after the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships which will take place in the same venue.

The Essent ISU World Cup Series has some novelties this season. For the first time, the Mass Start is an official part of the World Cup Series. Mass Start races will be held during three ISU World Cup Events and the races are

Kang-Seok Lee (KOR)

over 15 laps for the Ladies and 20 laps for the Men. As a demonstration event there will be Team Sprint races at both ISU World Cup Events held in Heerenveen.

Also new this season is a special prize for the “Grand Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating winner� which will be awarded to the best skater (one for Ladies, one for Men), based on a grand total of points earned from Essent ISU World Cup races throughout the season.

Three of the seven events in the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series will take place in the fall. On November 18-20 in Chelyabinsk, Russia, the next week in Astana, Kazakhstan (November 25-27) and then December 2-4 in Heerenveen, the Netherlands.

All three will be for Sprinters and Allround skaters combined who will race the double 500, the 1000 and 1500m. During the first two weekends the 3000m ladies and 5000m men are scheduled, in Heerenveen the longest distance of 5000m ladies and 10,000m men will be skated instead. The Team Pursuit will take place in both Chelyabinsk and Heeren-

veen, and the new Mass Start will be raced in Astana.

After the first three initial World Cup Events, the series will only start again after the Essent ISU European Speed Skating Championships on January 21-22 where the Sprinters will race the 500 and 1000m in Salt Lake City, USA, a week before the World Sprint Championships. On February 11-12, a week before the World Allround Championships, the Allround skaters will race the Team Pursuit, 1500m and the longest distance in Hamar, Norway. In March, the two remaining World Cup races take place, first returning to Heerenveen on March 2 to 4, with the same distances as in December, except there will be a Mass Start instead of Team Pursuit.

The following week the World Cup Final will feature both the Team Pursuit and the Mass Start, and all Olympic distances except the longest one. This will be in the newly renovated ice stadium in Berlin (GER).

THE SEASON AHEAD

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Front Elise Christie (GBR) back Katherine Reutter (USA)

The Championships season begins on 6-8 January at the beautifully renovated outdoor rink of Budapest (HUN) with the Essent ISU European Speed Skating Championships.

The natural ice of the 2001 Championships in Budapest has made way for an artifical ice floor. The Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships on January 28-29 will take place on the fast ice of Calgary, Canada and the Essent ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships on 18-19 February will be hosted by the Russian capital Moscow. On March 2-4, the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships will take place in Obihiro (JPN). The season will conclude on March 22-25 with the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen.

This new Season promises to be an extremely interesting one. Sven Kramer (NED) is expected to make his come-back after a season out due to injury. Over the summer Martina

Sáblíková (CZE) participated in the cycling World Championships – Women’s Team Trial with the hope that she will be even stronger for the new Speed Skating Season and Kristina Groves (CAN) recently announced her retirement from competitive Speed Skating.

SHORT TRACK The Short Track season kicks off in October with the ISU Korean Air 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 starts off in the United States of America at the Utah Olympic Oval in Salt Lake City on October 21 to 23 and continues the following weekend in Saguenay in Canada.

The second segment of the series takes place in Nagoya (JPN) from December 2-4, then the following weekend in Shanghai (CHN). The first ISU Championships 2012 will be the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Mlada Boleslav (CZE) on January 27-29. The ISU Korean Air World Cup Short Track series picks up again in Europe on February 3-5 in Moscow (RUS) with the final event in Heerenveen (NED) the following week. The action then moves to the Junior circuit with the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2012 which will take place for the first time in Melbourne, Australia from February 24 to 26. In March Shanghai, China will close the season by hosting the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2012. Skaters will race 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.

PAST MASTER DONALD E. LAWS (born 1929) As a young boy, Donald Laws took up Figure Skating and in 1948 he became U.S. Junior Ice Dance Champion with his partner Mary Firth. He then continued to compete solo and became U.S. Junior Men Champion in 1950. After retiring from competitive skating, Laws turned his efforts to coaching and with more than 57 years of experience, he is one of the best known and respected in his field. He coached 1984 Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, three time U.S. Champion Michael Weiss and four time Canadian Champion and 2011 World Champion Patrick Chan. From 1977 to 1983 Laws served as President of the Professional Skaters Association and in 1987 he became a Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary Member.

Laws spent many years on the ISU Coaches’ Commission and was one of the coaches who participated in the development of the International Judging System (IJS). With his continuous dedication to the sport, Mr Laws was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2001 not only as a skater but also as a coach.