GP seeding – what (INT ranking/TES/etc) determines whether a skater gets two events? One? One not in their home country? Are host picks filled at the same time as seeding/can they change? What could allow a skater who only got 1 compete in a 2nd anyway? (Like, host pick or replacement ofc, but can someone who did well then be invited to another event?) But wouldn't that be skewed towards skaters who a. their home countries host and b. the home event that year came later than their seeded event?
Apologies for the delay in response to this question, but seeding is an ISU secret. I’m not even sure they really know how it’s done (I’m totally kidding, it’s in their rulebook) but it took me a bit of digging to find. Also, the rules for seeding have been adjusted over time, as most things are, so keep that in mind if you’re sending our boys through time and space (Note: Is there a Doctor Who AU because…that would hilariously awesome. “Yuuuriii, I’m the doctor!”)
The full treatise on seeding for the Grand Prix from the ISU can be found here. (It’s from 2016-2017). It’s a seventeen page document that answers all of your questions, but is really difficult to summarize.
Basically, if you finish 1-6 in your discipline at World’s, you are guaranteed to be considered to be seeded, by draw, for two events. If there are any vacancies (due to injury, retirement, etc.) after the first six in each discipline, the next highest ranking skater/team from Worlds will be moved up.
Skaters can be invited to compete if they finish 7-12 (Men’s and Ladies) or 7-10 (Ice Dancing/Pairs) at Worlds. If you invited and have this ranking, you are guaranteed to be selected for two events, should your score meet the requirements. You are also eligible to be invited if you previously qualified for the Grand Prix, but could not compete for some reason. Also, skaters who have an ISU World Standing of 1-24 and couples who have a SCORE in the Top 24 but do not hold an ISU World Standing placement of 1-24 will be considered for one event. Even if they don’t meat the minimum score for qualification, which is 3/5 of the highest score per discipline at the ISU World Championships the previous season. So it CHANGES every year.
Each host country can have three skaters maximum competing in a each discipline at their event. BUT, it looks like a host country must must have between 8-12 entries (Men’s and Ladies), between 6-8 entries for Pairs, and 8-10 entries for Ice Dance). This includes the skaters who are selected using the method above. You cannot have more than three skaters. And if you don’t max out your spots, using the above method, you can invite a skater with a top 75 best score. So, to answer your question, no host country gets an unfair advantage.
So, for instance, if you were at Skate Canada, the Canadian Federation can only have three competitors representing Canada in each of the four disciplines. But other Canadian skaters can be competing in other Grand Prix competitions, not hosted in Canada.
There are minimum scores to compete in the Grand Prix, if you are coming in from other ISU events, such as the challenger Series, Junior Worlds, Junior Grand Prix, etc. They are listed in the document.
Non-seeded skaters/couples cannot compete in more than one event. Invited skaters/couples cannot compete in more than two. It does not look like there is a way to get a second event by competing well. If any skater misses an event due to illness, injury, or other circumstances, it does not look like you are allowed to be assigned another and are thus, out of the competition and circumstances depending, a replacement team/skater will take your place in the competition.
I am assuming seeding begins with the Top finishers at Worlds. If those skaters/teams confirm, then it moves to the next top placers. And then so on down the line. Host seeding probably occurs as the last part of the process, once a federation knows if its top placers have qualified etc. so they can put forth the strongest lineup.
Yuuri it looks like, was seeded under the complicated caveat of “Returning Skater” because he did not compete at World’s the previous year…but this is really complicated (no, seriously, try and read this document) and I could be incorrect on this assumption.
I hope that answered all your questions, friend!