Four Continents event plays a more significant role
Saturday, February 9, 2008 | 03:29 PM ET
With the ISU Four Continents Championships about to get underway in Goyang City, Korea one thing is certain: the level of skating will be outstanding.
Having been at most of these championships since their creation in 1999, this has not always been the case. Often this has been an event where skaters from lesser-known countries have come to compete.
That said, the developmental opportunity available to these skaters has meant that some of the breakthrough performances have been memorable to say the least.
Names like 2006 Olympic pairs silver medallists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China, Japan's Takeshi Honda and Yu-Na Kim of Korea (in exhibition only). I spotted them first at these events. Jeffrey Buttle of Canada had his first significant win here, leaping on to the world stage as the men’s Four Continents champion in 2002 in Jeonju, Korea.
What’s at stake here? Most importantly, it's experience and gaining some points.
With enough points come the invitations for the skaters to compete in the Senior ISU Grand Prix series of events that takes place every fall. This event was originally intended to offer the same calibre of international competition for non-European skaters with the original heavy hitters coming from Canada and the United States. And with the meteoric rise of China, Japan and Korea, this event now plays a more significant role in setting the stage for the world championships, which will take place in Sweden in mid March.
Many of skating's big names are expected to compete, including 2007 world silver medallist Daisuke Takahashi of Japan. However, the men’s competition will not be a walk in the park for him given that Canada’s entries include Buttle, the 2006 Olympic bronze medallist, and three-time national men’s bronze medallist Shawn Sawyer along with Vaughn Chipeur. Not to be discounted is the American men’s team led by two-time world bronze medallist Evan Lycasek, 2007 Four Continents bronze medallist Jeremy Abbott, and 2007 world junior champion Stephen Carriere.
In the pairs event expect Canada’s new champions Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay to make a strong showing, but they will be facing two daunting teams from China, Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang and 2006 world champions Qing Pang and Jian Tong.
The women’s side was to be the most anticipated event of the competition with Korea’s Yu-Na Kim and rival Mao Asada from Japan expected to go head-to-head. Sadly, we will have to wait for that matchup until the worlds. In the week preceding the event, Brian Orser, Kim’s coach, said, “Yu-Na had to withdraw from the event in a decision that was really big for her. She really wanted to be able to skate in front of her fans in Korea but her body has to come first and we decided that with worlds coming up, she needed to be well.”
He explained that she was suffering from the same injury in her hip and back that plagued her last year and that the long plane trip “definitely wouldn’t help”.
The ice dance will be a two-team race for the top spot between Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and rival American team Meryl Davis and Charlie White. These two teams were ranked 6th and 7th, respectively, in the world in 2007. Also in the hunt for the other podium spot will be Canadians Ally Hann-McCurdy and Michael Coreno, along with Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje.
As much as watching familiar faces in this competition will be a treat, there is a thrill that always comes from seeing who is just around the corner and Korea 2008 could easily be the place where this happens.
Pj picks:
Men: Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)
Ladies: Mao Asada (JPN)
Pairs: Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang (CHN)
Dance: Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (CAN)
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About the Author
Pj Kwong is CBC Country Canada's figure skating expert. A television commentator since 2001, the veteran figure skating coach has covered five of the last seven ISU World Figure Skating Championships, two ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, several Four Continents and Grand Prix Finals for CBC, CTV, TSN and TBS, to name a few.
Fluent in English, French, German and Spanish, Pj has travelled the world as public address announcer, working at three Olympic Games, two world figure skating championsips and several Skate Canada and Canadian national championships.
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- Monday, March 24, 2008
- Buttle's performance the crown jewel of a brilliant worlds
- Saturday, March 22, 2008
- Virtue & Moir put on a mesmerizing performance
- Saturday, March 22, 2008
- Highs (Asada) and lows (Ando) colour compelling women's final
- Friday, March 21, 2008
- Women's free skate final should be a dandy
- Thursday, March 20, 2008
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Comments
Liz
USA
I love Davis and White. I am enjoying watching their success.
Posted February 18, 2008 01:45 AM
Brigitte Laskowski
Go team Canada!!!!!!!
Just Have Fun team Canada!!!!!!!
from singerskates who competes at SC WOS Boston Pizza StarSkate Sectionals in the Adult events in Windsor, ON, Canada this weekend.
Posted February 11, 2008 05:11 PM
Tom
USA
It's time to stop ignoring Wester & Barantsev..their technical skating skill is unmatched! Without injury & free to compete internationally will finally reward talent & tenacity. Overcoming major obstacles, especially corrupt unfairness, makes them 'champions of the heart' and winning metals could only be icing. Good Luck to them!
Posted February 11, 2008 02:05 PM
Hannah
I think PJ is right about her prediction of the winners. Takahashi has done well all year, so has Mao, Zhang & Zhang, and Virtue & Moir. But in figure skating anything can happen right? So I expect some newcommers such as Stephen Carriere, Patrick Chan, and Ashley Wagner could surprise, and hopefully Kimmie Meissner will do well
Posted February 10, 2008 05:08 PM
Sungchul
USA
To whom it may concern;
Is it confirmed that Yu-na Kim will perfom at the exibition of 4 Continents Event? Based on this article, it looks determined. Since it is the first report on this with such a high confidence level, I think it should be explained in a more detailed way. Since participating the event through a long travel is another tough decision to Yu-na due to her injury, I seriously doubt it. Otherwise, the backgroung on this decision also should be explained in this article.
Would you please confirm whether her participation is determined and why?
Thank you,
Sungchul
Posted February 10, 2008 12:04 AM
Jinnie
While reading the article, I had a questions about Yu-Na Kim's participation in the exhibition event. As far as I know, Yu-Na Kim has not officially confirmed that she will perform in exhibition. Could you please verify that?
Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Jinnie
Posted February 9, 2008 10:23 PM