ISU GP#4 - Cup of China - Chongqing, China - 10-12 Nov. 2023

[Elizabeth]

The entries, by discipline, can be found here: https://results.isu.org/events/fsevent00117432.htm

The time and practice schedule: https://results.isu.org/schedules/gpchn ... hedule.pdf

Chongquing will be 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time.

[Elizabeth]

After the withdrawal of Bradie Tennell of the USA, Ekaterina Kurakova POL has been taken the open spot at the Cup of China

[Elizabeth]

Another withdrawal from the Cup of China - the Czech siblings in dance Apparently Filip is dealing with an injury that was present during Skate America that has turned out to be more significant and caused them to stop training.

[Elizabeth]

Despite the fact that Mark Hanretty is now training with a celebrity partner to compete in Dancing on Ice in the UK, he will be the commentator for the Cup of China as well as the GP in Finland and the Grand Prix Final. I, for one, am very happy to hear that as I really enjoy his well-prepared and constructive commentary. I am not sure yet who will be the commentator for the NHK Trophy - perhaps Chris Howarth who did Skate America.

UPDATE - 7 November 2023:
It has now been revealed that Mark's partner will be Adele Roberts - she is a broadcaster and DJ who, 2 years ago, was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She will be the first ostomate to participated in DOI.

[Elizabeth]

A withdrawal from the Cup of China Women's event - the Japan Skating Federation has announced the withdrawal of Mai Mihara from this week’s Cup of China due to the incomplete recovery of a right ankle injury.



From Mai:

“Thank you always for you warm support. My heart is filled with gratitude. Although I have been doing my best to practice and receive treatment in preparation for the competition, I have come to the very frustrating decision to withdraw. I would like to recover properly and work hard on training so that I can perform well and perfectly on the next stage.

[Elizabeth]

Canada's team going to CoC:

[Elizabeth]

Our CDN skaters on the ice in Chongqing

[Elizabeth]

Although the Entries/Start Orders/Results link is not yet available, this page will provide you with an idea of the time conversion for the events: https://skatingscores.com/2324/gpchn/00F/schedule/

[Elizabeth]

The ISU preview article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

The links for the competition are now up on the ISU YouTube channel - the times should show in your local time zone.
Overnight Thursday into Friday:

• Rhythm Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySPBxdOeR6M
• Women SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnjevK6KSTM
• Men SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrnY6VngRBQ
• Pairs SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWGzeqvwM7g

Overnight Friday into Saturday:

• Free Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s7dQErhPAY
• Women FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFYH_ZcIir4
• Men FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OMgKiLXu7w
• Pairs FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObH6BdkTxTo

Overnight Saturday:

• Exhibition Gala: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWtWFgKs7QQ

[Elizabeth]

The Entries/Start Orders/Results page is now up: http://www.isuresults.com/results/season2324/gpchn2023/

The start orders for the first day of competition which takes place overnight tonight into tomorrow morning Eastern time:

[Elizabeth]

The competition overview (in local time - 13 hours AHEAD of ET)


The skaters

[Elizabeth]

The Chinese put on a very elaborate opening ceremony before the actual competition got underway, including dragons, fish, big drums, and speeches aplenty.




If you think the English announcer's voice sounds familiar, it is none other than PJ Kwong

[Elizabeth]

The Rhythm Dance results:


Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha are the surprise leaders after the rhythm dance. An error by Piper Gilles on a twizzle sequence puts her and Paul Poirier in second going into the free dance but by less than a point.

The top 3 after the RD






The protocols of the top 3 teams:






Press conference photo


Despite the words in the link title, this is the ISU RD reveiw article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

By the way, Piper has another costume option for the RD which she wore in practice

[Elizabeth]

Women SP was a bit disappointing.
The results


Despite popping an Axel, Loena Hendrickx sits in first place by a significant margin.

The top 3








Protocols for the top 3







The ISU review article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

Men SP results


The top 3






Protocols for top 3






The ISU review article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

It was raining stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes after Boyang Jin skated his short program - he even helped collect them off the ice and toss them over the boards

There were reports of many of the judges and officials being hit over the head with the "rain storm" as the spectators were well back and above the ice
In a throwback to one of his popular programs, a number of them were Spiderman representations.

[Elizabeth]

Last event of the first day of competition was the Pairs SP.

The results



Even with a hand down on their throw jump, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps hold a comfortable lead.

The top 3






Protocols for top 3






Press conference photo



The ISU review article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

[Elizabeth]

The results of the Free Dance



The overall results:



Protocols for the top 3:






Press conference photo:

The medalists:

The ISU review article: https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/news ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

The second event of the day, the Women FS is finished. The results may be surprising:


Overall results:



Protocols of top 3






Press conference photo:

The medalists:


The ISU review article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

Men FS results



Overall results:




Protocols of top 3:






Press conference photo:


The medalists:

ISU review article: https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/new ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

Pairs FS results:


Overall results:


Not flawless today, but Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps got through the free skating to win the Cup of China pairs gold and book their place at the Grand Prix Final.



Protocols for top 3:







The medalists:

The ISU review article: https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/news ... teParam=15

[Elizabeth]

The Cup of China is now complete and all the medals have been awarded.

You can rewatch full segments of the event via CBC online - it is a restreaming of the ISU YouTube stream with commentary by Mark Hanretty - here are the links:

• Rhythm Dance - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281260611868
• Women Short - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281272387958
• Men Short - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281289795746
• Pairs Short - http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281302083968
• Free Dance - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281302083968
• Women Free - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281605187572
• Men Free - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281612867509
• Pairs Free - https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2281628739550

The ISU YouTube Channel also has full events plus selected programs from each event (excluding those geoblocked) - look under "Past Live Streams" or by the names of the event: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkatingISU


The Exhibition Gala takes place on Sunday (local time) and begins at 1:30 a.m. ET (very early Sunday morning).

[Elizabeth]

The link for the video of the Gala which streamed live overnight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWtWFgKs7QQ

The program for the Gala




Some photos
Taking a final bow

Gotta have that selfie

The "winners jump"

[Elizabeth]

I presume this photo was at the time of the post event banquet but I haven't been able to find confirmation

Update: Piper posted photos of her in the dress seen here and mentioned that she wore it to the banquet so I presumed correctly


A whole gallery of photos from the Cup of China, including practices, competition, and Gala: http://absoluteskating.com/index.php?ca ... highlights