Fred's, (Used to be Barb's), Board

This series of 10 events provides an opportunity for skaters, especially those not participating in the Grand Prix events, to earn the technical scores necessary to participate in ISU championship events such as Europeans, Four Continents and Worlds. One of the events, the Nebelhorn Trophy, is also the only opportunity for countries to qualify for the last remaining spots in the Olympics.

Some skaters take advantage of one of the Challenger Series events to get their programs out before the International judges, even though they may also be participating in one or more GP events later in the season.

The events are:

• US International FS - Sept. 13-17 - Salt Lake City, USA - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111445.htm

• Lombardia Trophy - Sept. 14-17 - Bergamo, Italy - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111446.htm

• Autumn Classc International - Sept. 20-23 - Montreal, QC - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111449.htm

• Ondrej Nepela Trophy - Sept. 21-3 - Bratislava, Slovak Republic - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111451.htm

• Nebelhorn Trophy 2017 - Sept. 27-30 - Oberstdorf, Germany - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111453.htm

• Finlandia Trophy - Oct. 6-8 - Espoo, Finland - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111455.htm

• Minsk-Arena Ice Star - Oct. 26-29 - Minsk, Belarus - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111463.htm

• Warsaw Cup - Nov. 16-19 - Warsaw, Poland - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111473.htm

• Tallinn Trophy 2017 - Nov. 21-26 - Tallinn, Estonia - entries (not yet available)

• Golden Spin of Zagreb - Dec. 6-9 - Zagreb, Croatia - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111484.htm

Information about the series, including the standings as events proceed, can be found here: http://www.isu.org/en/single-and-pair-s ... ger-series

As the events draw closer the schedule/entries/results links should become available on the same pages where the entries links are found now.

Skate Canada usually posts news articles about the Canadian participants & results - check here: https://skatecanada.ca/category/skating-stories/

I would be lost without you Elizabeth. Thank you!

Remember when the season started the end of October and ended with World's in March? And then skaters had a 4 or 5 month break to recoup, regroup and maybe get a job. Now, the top ones have a 2 week vacation in June and right back to the ice, gym and maybe dance classes too to be ready for early fall competition.

Judy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2017 12:07 pm I would be lost without you Elizabeth. Thank you!

Remember when the season started the end of October and ended with World's in March? And then skaters had a 4 or 5 month break to recoup, regroup and maybe get a job. Now, the top ones have a 2 week vacation in June and right back to the ice, gym and maybe dance classes too to be ready for early fall competition.

Happy to help, Judy

I certainly do remember the shorter "season" of the past. The skaters should certainly get a lot of respect for their hard work and athleticism!

That's what has happened alright, it's harder on the skaters, longer entertainment season for the fans, and the driving factor is, more money for the ISU and the Skating federations. Hopefully the skaters see a good chunk of that.

fred wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:21 pm That's what has happened alright, it's harder on the skaters, longer entertainment season for the fans, and the driving factor is, more money for the ISU and the Skating federations. Hopefully the skaters see a good chunk of that.

There certainly is prize money involved as well as money to the federations who successfully deliver an event - this is explained in this document about the Challenger Series: http://static.isu.org/media/520340/cs20 ... -final.pdf

Judy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2017 12:07 pm I would be lost without you Elizabeth. Thank you!

Remember when the season started the end of October and ended with World's in March? And then skaters had a 4 or 5 month break to recoup, regroup and maybe get a job. Now, the top ones have a 2 week vacation in June and right back to the ice, gym and maybe dance classes too to be ready for early fall competition.

Me too Judy! Thanks Elizabeth! Yeah, I agree that they are much more organized now. Remember watching the live streaming with the skaters looking like someone sat on their head and they were actually looking fat?!! It's so sophisticated in Canada now and no more aspect ratio problems!

Two Challenger Series events are happening this weekend:

• US International FS - Sept. 13-17 - Salt Lake City, USA
  - entries (seniors only): http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111445.htm
  - article on Canadian team: https://skatecanada.ca/2017/09/canadian ... g-classic/
  - full schedule (all disciplines): http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/docu ... 11-17_.pdf
  - schedule for seniors events: http://web.icenetwork.com/schedule/2017 ... tl_classic
  - live results should become available here http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderbo ... sults.html
  - the official website: http://www.usfigureskatingclassic.com/

• Lombardia Trophy - Sept. 14-17 - Bergamo, Italy
  - entries: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111446.htm
  - Schedule/Entries/Results: http://www.fisg.it/upload/result/4468/index.html
  - live stream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXXlBz8Ntcw

As described in another thread, the ISU has done some site re-design. Here's a link to the section for the Challenger Series: http://www.isu.org/figure-skating/figur ... ger-series

My friend Danielle has done the time zone conversions for both events for this weekend:

The start orders for the short programs at Lombardia can be found here: http://www.fisg.it/upload/result/4468/index.html

There were no Canadians competing in the Lombardia Trophy but the Canadian team in Salt Lake City will be coming home with two medals.


CBC article about Moore-Towers & Marinaro: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winte ... -1.4293211

Congratulations!! This season is going to be soo exciting.

WOW, Elizabeth. Colourful & easy to read. You've gone above & beyond the call of duty. That's lovely!

fred wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:47 pm WOW, Elizabeth. Colourful & easy to read. You've gone above & beyond the call of duty. That's lovely!

I just posted links to the images tweeted by Skate Canada

Well it worked wonderfully. I'm a little busy right now. Catch you later.

This week's Challenger Series events are the Autumn Classic International taking place in Montreal from Sept. 20-23 and the 25th Ondrej Nepela Trophy event taking place in Slovakia from Sept. 21-23.

AUTUMN CLASSIC INTERNATIONAL:

• The entries in each discipline (the seniors) can be found here: http://www.isuresults.com/events/fsevent03111449.htm

• There are also junior men and ladies competing - they can be found here: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/uploa ... -Sep-8.pdf

• The start orders and results will be posted on the Skate Canada event page - there will be a link from here: https://skatecanada.ca/2017-autumn-clas ... rnational/

• There will be a live stream - information can be found on a link here: https://skatecanada.ca/2017-autumn-clas ... rnational/

Stay tuned for more information

ONDREJ NEPELA TROPHY:

• Schedule/entries/results website: http://www.kraso.sk/wp-content/uploads/ ... 70921_ont/

• Article on Canadian team: https://skatecanada.ca/2017/09/skate-ca ... la-trophy/

The information you might need regarding time zones:

As posted in the JPG thread by kittykins, the direct link for the Autumn Classic on Dailymotion is: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x60qkns

An article from Skate Canada about the Autumn Classic International with a focus on the Canadian team: https://skatecanada.ca/2017/09/internat ... rnational/

Apparently there will be a live stream for at least part of the Ondrej Nepela event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cTCrbPEYs4

Yes. It's going right now and the Live Chat is flying along on the side, but it's mostly in Russian, so I can't read it.

fred wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2017 8:01 am Yes. It's going right now and the Live Chat is flying along on the side, but it's mostly in Russian, so I can't read it.

You can click on "HIDE CHAT" to remove that distraction, Fred

Autumn Classic International live stream: https://t.co/ACpGjDZjfR
Today's schedule:

Elizabeth, are you actually writing the time conversions so neatly and posting them here, you deserve a medal!!!!

happyheini wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:37 pm Elizabeth, are you actually writing the time conversions so neatly and posting them here, you deserve a medal!!!!

Thanks but that's not me - it's Danielle Earl, a wonderful skating photographer, who posts them on Twitter. I just share them

Here's the link for Day 2 of the Ondrej Nepela Trophy competition: https://youtu.be/DeVvcWl3Ln8

Unfortunately, unlike the JGP events which are "live", the results at this weekend's Challenger events are only being posted after each segment of the competition is complete

you still deserve a medal!!
Happy Weekend everyone