2021 Skate Canada International (ISU GP #2) - Vancouver - Oct. 29-31

[Elizabeth]

The current list of entries, by discipline, is here: http://results.isu.org/events/fsevent00110985.htm

Skate Canada has opened media accreditation for this event according to this press release: https://skatecanada.ca/2021/10/media-ac ... rnational/

Skate Canada International will be held in person, but due to the pandemic and health regulations most media members will be off site. Skate Canada will allow a small number of TV Rights Holders on site as well as Skate Canada’s photographer and the ISU’s photographer on site. Skate Canada looks forward to hosting media in a virtual setting for this year’s event. The event will take place from October 29-31, 2021, in Vancouver, B.C.

Skate Canada will continue to monitor the provincial and federal health guidelines and determine on a per event basis whether media will be held in a virtual setting. We encourage our media partners to access the media accreditation form to apply for accreditation for the 2021-2022 season.

Regarding tickets - this is from the event page: https://skatecanada.ca/2021-skate-canad ... /#tab-id-1

At this time, tickets are not available for Autumn Classic International and Skate Canada International. Skate Canada continues to closely monitor the provincial and federal health authorities’ position on the global health crisis, including international travel restrictions and event capacity. We are committed to the health and safety of the athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators. If tickets are to be sold for these events, information will be released as soon as it is confirmed.

[Elizabeth]

CBC is now the Skate Canada broadcast partner and will be providing streaming and TV coverage of Skate Canada International - here's the current schedule from their website (times in EDT through November 7th): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... /broadcast

TV
Sat Oct 30 - 4:00 PM - Road to the Olympic Games: Championship Figure Skating - Skate Canada
Sun Oct 31 - 12:00 PM - Road to the Olympic Games: Championship Figure Skating - Skate Canada - Check local listings
Mon Nov 8 - 12:00 AM - Road to the Olympic Games: Championship Figure Skating - Skate Canada Gala - Check local listings

Streaming
Fri Oct 29

• 4:00 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Pairs Short Program (as on TV)
• 5:35 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Men's Short Program
• 8:00 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Ice Dance Free Dance
• 9:45 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Women's Short Program

Sat Oct 30

• 4:00 PM Road to the Olympic Games: Championship Figure Skating - Skate Canada (as on TV)
• 4:00 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Pairs Free Program
• 5:47 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Men's Free Program
• 8:30 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Ice Dance Free Dance
• 10:30 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Women's Free Program

Sun Oct 31

• 12:00 PM Road to the Olympic Games: Championship Figure Skating - Skate Canada (as on TV)
• 5:00 PM 2021 Skate Canada International: Gala

[Elizabeth]

The current entries, by discipline: http://results.isu.org/events/fsevent00110985.htm

The time & practice schedule: http://results.isu.org/schedules/gpcan2 ... hedule.pdf

US TV coverage available in Canada via the NBC network:

• Saturday, Oct. 30 Skate Canada International 4 – 6 p.m. NBC

Canadian coverage is in the post above in this thread.

[Elizabeth]

Rika Kihira has unfortunately withdrawn from SCI, according to today's lates updated list of GP Women's entries: https://t.co/qYFCzgMlra?amp=1

[Elizabeth]

A limited number of all event tickets will go on sale to the public on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

[fred]

I just received this from Skate Canada"

&

"To all our dedicated skating fans, we are so pleased to announce that a limited number of all-event tickets for 2021 Skate Canada International will go on sale, Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 10 am EDT. This will be a 24-hour pre sale exclusive for Skate Canada Registrants and Fans. On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 10 am EDT, all-event tickets will go on sale to the general public. Thank you for your continuous support during the pandemic and we cannot wait to see some of you in person later this month.

The 2021 Skate Canada International will take place in Vancouver, B.C., at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre from October 29-31, 2021."

"All-Event ticket packages will include all competitions and the exhibition gala. Practices are closed to the general public. Fans will be able to choose from seats in the lower portion of the bowl for $300 CAD and in the higher portion of the bowl for $250 CAD plus applicable fees and taxes. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000. Please note, a maximum of eight tickets can be purchased per individual.

This event will not have a Super Fan Section, but we do look forward to bringing this back to future events.

[Elizabeth]

I received the same message, Fred - that's what my post was based on

[Elizabeth]

A Japanese news story about the withdrawal of Rika Hihira from Skate Canada International: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/202 ... te-canada/

Mai Mihara has now been assigned to SCI to complete the field of 12 Women:

[Elizabeth]

Limited all-event tickets are now available to the public via Ticketmaster - there will be NO single day/single event tickets according to Skate Canada via Twitter.

[Judy]

And our Dr Henry is lifting all capacity limitations as of Oct 26th for fully vaccinated people. Whether or not Skate Canada will take advantage of this change, and try to fill the rink, I don’t know.

Either way I’ve decided not to attend. Seems I’m very risk adverse in my dotage. So sorry, no live report from me.

[Elizabeth]

And our Dr Henry is lifting all capacity limitations as of Oct 26th for fully vaccinated people. Whether or not Skate Canada will take advantage of this change, and try to fill the rink, I don’t know.

Either way I’ve decided not to attend. Seems I’m very risk adverse in my dotage. So sorry, no live report from me.

I will not be attending in person either, Judy - I am also taking a risk-adverse stance to most in-person activities and expect to be wearing a mask even beyond the end of "mandates". It will work against other things like the flu

[Elizabeth]

From Twitter on Friday:
"The Russian Federation have announced that several athletes and coaches have yet to receive Canadian visas to attend Skate Canada next week. These include: Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Kostornaia, Semenenko, Ignatov, Mishin and Rukavitsyn, and others."

A clarification: "The problem isn't the visa. They all got approved for visas earlier this month. It's the retrieval of the passports that is the problem. the visa center hasn't delivered the passports to them yet."

Here's what IFS Magazine posted on Twitter:
"The Russian federation issued a press release today stating that only some team members headed to Skate Canada will be able to leave on Sunday as Valieva, Tuktamysheva, Kostornaya, Semenenko, Ignatov, Alexei Mishin & others have not yet received their Canadian visas."

[Elizabeth]

UPDATE - Apparently the Russian skaters coming to Skate Canada have today received their passports with the required visas.

In a "side note", Trusova confirmed in interviews at Skate America that none of the skaters under 18 are (yet) vaccinated as the Russian vaccine is not (yet) approved for those under 18. She said that, in light of the requirement for vaccines before the Olympics, she was sure that those chosen to compete would be vaccinated in time for that. As we already know, many of the Russian skaters and coaches have already had COVID, some suffering long-term impacts. We have also observed a disrespect for the correct wearing of masks, especially among the coaches

[Elizabeth]

A promotional press release from Skate Canada with a focus on the Canadian team: https://skatecanada.ca/2021/10/isu-gran ... rnational/

[Elizabeth]

An article from USFS about the team going to Vancouver for Skate Canada: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/news ... ional.aspx

[Elizabeth]

This week SkateGuard blog looks back to the very first Skate Canada competition in 1973: https://skateguard1.blogspot.com/2020/0 ... ional.html

[Elizabeth]

If you've seen Jason Brown competing over the years, you are probably aware that he has an affiliation with Ronald McDonald Houses around the world. He has encouraged fans to contribute stuffed toys to be donated to the local House and he made in-person visits to deliver them. He will be competing at Skate Canada International but pandemic restrictions have caused him to change his approach this year.

Read more here: https://give.rmhbc.ca/campaign/jason-brown/c371907

Not only is he a wonderful skater but also a really good person!

[Elizabeth]

Announced today - limited number of single day tickets for Skate Canada are now available for sale through Ticketmaster. Proof of double vaccination is required to be shown.

[Judy]

What a truly beautiful person Jason is as well as being a beautiful skater.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Elizabeth. A donation will be my Christmas gift to a fellow fan who, under normal circumstances, would be a volunteer at the event.

[Elizabeth]

Jackie Wong is doing previews for Skate Canada - here's a link to that for the Women: https://t.co/xM6auAlF8I?amp=1

[Elizabeth]

A reminder of the entries for Skate Canada International from the ISU:





These are the competition times in Pacific Daylight Saving Time (i.e. local) - that's 3 hours behind EDT.

[Elizabeth]

An article on US ice dancers Carreira & Ponomarenko who now train in I.AM's London, ON location: https://t.co/cYjPiESnMl?amp=1

There are 5 I.AM teams competing at Skate Canada International:

• Smart/Diaz ESP
• Fear/Gibson GBR
• Lajoie/Lagha CAN
• Carreira/Ponomarenko USA
• Sales/Wamsteeker CAN

[Elizabeth]

By the way, for those in Canada, we will not have access to the ISU YouTube live stream for Skate Canada International - they are obviously bowing out in favour of CBC Sports/CBC GEM coverage, at least for this GP event.

[Elizabeth]

A CBC article about the live stream broadcast team (including some comments from them), some preview information, etc.: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... -1.6227627

[Elizabeth]

The Schedule/Entries/Start Orders/Results link is now available: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2122/gpcan2021/

The link for the CBC Sports live stream: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/wint ... -1.6223113