Eleven U.S. skaters will compete in four disciplines: ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. The U.S. team hails from seven different states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan.

The Grand Prix Series, now in its 12th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Approximately 300 athletes from 29 countries are expected to participate in the series. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each of the disciplines then qualify for the Grand Prix Final in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dec. 14-17. Athletes will be vying for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series.   

At the Cup of Russia, ice dancing team Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto won their first gold medal of the season, adding it to their previous silver from Cup of China. Johnny Weir also bettered his bronze-medal winning performance at Skate Canada with a silver medal in Russia. Team USA has earned 14 medals throughout the series.

LADIES
After placing fifth at Cup of China, Bebe Liang returns to Asia for her second assignment. Liang won the gold medal at the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy and placed fifth at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She also won a bronze at the 2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Joining Liang is Christine Zukowski. In her first year competing on the senior international circuit, Zukowski placed seventh at her first Grand Prix assignment, Trophée Eric Bompard. She won the bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships and placed sixth as a senior at the 2006 U.S. Championships.

MEN
Also in his first Grand Prix season is Geoffry Varner. His first assignment was Skate Canada, where he finished 11th. He placed ninth at the 2006 World Junior Championships after winning the bronze as a junior at the 2006 U.S. Championships. Varner took home the bronze medal from the 2005 JGP Final.

PAIRS
Reigning World Junior champions Julia Vlassov and Drew Meekins head to Japan for their second Grand Prix assignment, following a sixth-place finish at Cup of China. The 2006 U.S. junior bronze medalists won silver at the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy and are two-time Junior Grand Prix finalists. Their U.S. teammates Bridget Namiotka and John Coughlin withdrew from NHK Trophy due to injury, though they are still expected to compete at the 2006 JGP Final in December.

ICE DANCING
Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov hope to earn their first spot at the Grand Prix Final after placing second at Skate America. The three-time U.S. silver medalists placed ninth at the 2006 World Championships and 14th at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Meryl Davis and Charlie White placed fourth at Skate Canada, their first senior competition, and now look to continue their hot streak. The team is the reigning U.S. junior champion and placed third at the 2006 World Junior Championships. Joining them in Japan are Trina Pratt and Todd Gilles, who placed ninth at Skate Canada in their first Grand Prix event. Pratt and Gilles finished eighth at the 2006 U.S. Championships before taking sixth at the 2006 World Junior Championships. They were the 2005 U.S. junior champions.

TOP INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS
The Japanese ladies will be the ones to watch, with rising star Mao Asada, who won the 2005 Grand Prix Final, facing off against World silver medalist Fumie Suguri. In the men’s competition, Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland looks to add another gold to his collection in Japan. At Skate Canada, two-time World champion Lambiel placed seventh after the short program, but catapulted back up the standings after the free skate to win gold. He’ll face tough competition in a pair of Japanese men – Nobunari Oda, the 2006 Skate America and Four Continents champion, and Daisuke Takahashi, the 2005 Grand Prix Final silver medalist.

The pairs competition in Japan will be stacked, with two-thirds of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games medal stand competing. Olympic silver medalists Dan Zhang and Hao Zhang of China are well poised to grab a spot in the Grand Prix Final after their win at Skate Canada. Olympic bronze medalists Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao of Japan are in similar standing, following their Cup of China victory. Ice dancers Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon of Canada go to Japan also looking to add to their gold medal from Skate Canada. The duo is the 2006 World silver medalist.