INTERNATIONAL SKATING UNION OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER NO 45 OCTOBER 2011

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

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ISU World is the official newsletter of the International Skating UnionPublished and produced by ISU, Chemin de Primerose 2, 1007 Lausanne, SwitzerlandTelephone: +41 21 612 66 66. Facsimile: +41 21 612 66 77. Editorial board: Selina Vanier, Rodney Lajoie. Designed by www.moserdesign.ch.Front cover photograph: Ivan Skobrev (RUS) © Getty Images SportPhotography: © Getty Images Sport ©AFP John Macdougall

ISU COUNCILThe ISU Council met in Amsterdam (NED) on June 10-12 and agreed to grant provisio-nal 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 num-ber 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 atten-tion to their individual abilities, how to get involved, and in the awareness of some new directions in the sport and in sport adminis-tration. 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 DIRECTORATEThe 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 Regu-lations 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

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 per-formances worldwide. You will probably realize that in one weekend the three sports have the same number of specta-tors that Theatre obtains in ten years!

The reason of such an impressive difference is probably rela-ted to the strong curiosity for a result that is unpredictable in sport matches, versus the high quality interpretations of ac-tors 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 administra-tors 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 organi-zations 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 Inter-national 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 disci-plines at best for the full satisfaction of its fans.

Ottavio Cinquanta President, International Skating Union

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ISU NEWS

International Skating Union Facebook page

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 COMMITTEESSingle & Pair SkatingThe 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 va-rious ISU Officials Seminars and Development Projects in Seoul (KOR), Milan (ITA), Sheffield (GBR) Odintsovo (RUS), Frankfurt (GER) and Vantaz (FIN).

Ice DanceThe 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 com-plete 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 avai-lable on the ISU website. New Handbooks and Q&As for Judges and Technical Panels are also available on www.isu.org.

Synchronized SkatingThe Synchronized Skating Technical Com-mittee (SySTC) prepared ISU Communication 1696 which includes program content and ele-ment 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 develop-ment 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 SkatingThe 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 com-petition schedules and regulations for the Es-sent 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 Com-mittee 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 TrackThe 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 ex-pected 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 KUTSCHERAIt 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 SECRETARIATAfter 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 MEDIAThe ISU launched a social media initiative in order to promote the disciplines it adminis-ters. 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 Cham-pionships or who wish to engage with the ISU through social media. All information can be found on the ISU website www.isu.org

ISU WEBSITE: WWW.ISU.ORG

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Men1. Han Yan CHN

2. Petr Coufal CZE

3. Keiji Tanaka JPN

4. Dong-Won Lee KOR

Ladies

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

Pairs

1. Klara Kadlecova/Petr Bidar CZE

2. Magdalena Klatka/Radoslaw Chruscinks POL

Ice Dance

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)

Figure Skating

Zijun Li (CHN)

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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. Deanna Lockett AUS

2. Veronika Denes HUN

3. Martina Valcepina ITA

4. Agne Serekaite LTU

5. Ekaterina Baranok RUS

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

ISU SCHOLARSHIPS 2011 / 2012

Speed Skating

Short track

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)Zijun Li (CHN)

ISU EVENT CALENDAR 2011/ 2012

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August 31 - ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Riga

September 4 LATVIA

September 7 - 11 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Brisbane

AUSTRALIA

September 14 - 18 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Gdansk

POLAND

September 21 - 25 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Brasov

ROMANIA

September 28 – ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Innsbruck

October 2 AUSTRIA

October 5 - 9 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Milan

ITALY

October 12 - 16 ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Tallinn

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 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Colorado Springs Championships USA

February 27 - March 4 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships Minsk BELARUS

March 26 - April 1 ISU World Figure Skating Championships Nice FRANCE

April 19 - 22 ISU World Team Trophy Tokyo

JAPAN

SingLe and pair Skating / ice dance Speed Skating

November 12 - 13 ISU Junior World Cup Erfurt Ladies and Men: GERMANY 2x500m, 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit

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

November 18 - 20 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Chelyabinsk Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m , Team Pursuit RUSSIA Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

November 25 - 27 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Astana Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, Mass Start KAZAKHSTAN Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Mass Start

December 2 - 4 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Heerenveen Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m ,1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit NETHERLANDS Men: 2x500m, 1000m ,1500m, 10000m, Team Pursuit

January 7 - 8 ISU Junior World Cup Astana Ladies and Men: KAZAKHSTAN 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

January 6 - 8 Essent ISU European Speed Budapest Skating Championships HUNGARY

January 21 - 22 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Salt Lake City Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 2x1000m USA

January 28 - 29 Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships Calgary CANADA

January 28 - 29 ISU Junior World Cup Collalbo Ladies and Men: ITALY 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

February 10 - 12 ISU Junior World Cup Calgary Ladies and Men: CANADA 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

February 11 - 12 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Hamar Ladies: 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit NORWAY Men: 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

February 18 - 19 Essent ISU World Allround Speed Moscow Skating Championships RUSSIA

March 2 - 4 ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships Obihiro JAPAN

March 2 - 4 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Heerenveen Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Mass Start NETHERLANDS Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 10000m, Mass Start

March 9 - 10 ISU Junior World Cup Final Obihiro Ladies and Men: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, JAPAN Team Pursuit, Mass Start

March 9 - 11 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final Berlin Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m , GERMANY Team Pursuit ,Mass Start Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start

March 22 - 25 Essent ISU World Single Distances Heerenveen Speed Skating Championships NETHERLANDS

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ISU EVENT CALENDAR 2011/ 2012Speed Skating

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 ISU European Short Track Mlada Boleslav Speed Skating Championships CZECH REPUBLIC

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 Melbourne Speed Skating Championships AUSTRALIA

March 9 - 11 ISU World Short Track Shanghai Speed Skating Championships CHINA

Short track Speed Skating

April 13 -14 ISU World Synchronized Göteborg Skating Championships SWEDEN

Synchronized Skating

November 12 - 13 ISU Junior World Cup Erfurt Ladies and Men: GERMANY 2x500m, 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit

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

November 18 - 20 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Chelyabinsk Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m , Team Pursuit RUSSIA Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

November 25 - 27 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Astana Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, Mass Start KAZAKHSTAN Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Mass Start

December 2 - 4 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Heerenveen Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m ,1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit NETHERLANDS Men: 2x500m, 1000m ,1500m, 10000m, Team Pursuit

January 7 - 8 ISU Junior World Cup Astana Ladies and Men: KAZAKHSTAN 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

January 6 - 8 Essent ISU European Speed Budapest Skating Championships HUNGARY

January 21 - 22 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Salt Lake City Ladies and Men: 2x500m, 2x1000m USA

January 28 - 29 Essent ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships Calgary CANADA

January 28 - 29 ISU Junior World Cup Collalbo Ladies and Men: ITALY 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

February 10 - 12 ISU Junior World Cup Calgary Ladies and Men: CANADA 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mass Start

February 11 - 12 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Hamar Ladies: 1500m, 3000m, Team Pursuit NORWAY Men: 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit

February 18 - 19 Essent ISU World Allround Speed Moscow Skating Championships RUSSIA

March 2 - 4 ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships Obihiro JAPAN

March 2 - 4 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Heerenveen Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Mass Start NETHERLANDS Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 10000m, Mass Start

March 9 - 10 ISU Junior World Cup Final Obihiro Ladies and Men: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, JAPAN Team Pursuit, Mass Start

March 9 - 11 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final Berlin Ladies: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m , GERMANY Team Pursuit ,Mass Start Men: 2x500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, Team Pursuit, Mass Start

March 22 - 25 Essent ISU World Single Distances Heerenveen Speed Skating Championships NETHERLANDS

Team Ice Magic from Australia

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

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. Mongo-lia is taking part for the first time in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating. Grand Prix of Figure SkatingThe 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 Mississau-ga, 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.

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 Polina Shelepen (RUS)

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.

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

SINGLE AND PAIR SKATING / ICE DANCEThe 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 SkatingThe ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating

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THE SEASON AHEAD

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. Compe-tition 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. Two-time 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 two-events 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 Vir-tue/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/Johna-than Guerreiro (RUS) and bronze medalists

Charlotte Lichtman/Dean Copely will debut in the Grand Prix. ISU ChampionshipsThe 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 SKATINGSynchronized skating teams will compete in a number of major international events this sea-son. The highlight of the season will be the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Göteborg (SWE) on 13-14 April.

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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 Cham-pionships on January 21-22 where the Sprin-ters 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 renova-ted ice stadium in Berlin (GER).

SPEED SKATINGThe 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

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 De-cember 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-

Kang-Seok Lee (KOR)

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THE SEASON AHEAD

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 Ska-ting 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 ex-pected to make his come-back after a season out due to injury. Over the summer Martina

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

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

SHORT TRACKThe 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.