The Grand Prix Final takes place Dec. 14-17 at the St. Petersburg Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, opening with the original dance on Friday (there is no compulsory dance) and concluding with Sunday’s exhibition. Thirty-six skaters from 10 countries will vie for more than $270,000 in prize money at the event. 

With the biggest U.S. team ever, both newcomers and Grand Prix Final veterans will compete in Russia. The pairs team of Rena Inoue and John Baldwin and ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto return to the final, while Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir have each qualified for the competition in the past but had to withdraw due to injury. Ice dancers Denis Petukhov and Melissa Gregory will make their first appearance at the prestigious event. The United States is the only country to have competitors competing in at least three of the four disciplines.

U.S. skaters won the most medals throughout the six Grand Prix Series events this season with 15. Among those were three golds: Inoue and Baldwin took the pairs prize at Skate America, Lysacek placed first at the Cup of China, and Belbin and Agosto won a gold medal at the Cup of Russia. Each of the U.S. finalists went home with two medals, as did second ladies alternate Kimmie Meissner. Japan came in second place with 14 medals, and Russia finished a distant third, with eight.

Although Meissner is the second alternate to the ladies competition, her total combined score of 335.81 from her two competitions is higher than three of the competitors ranked above her. Due to deep fields at her events, her total placement points (i.e. 15 for first place, 13 for second, etc.) are lower than others she beat at the actual competitions. Visit http://www.isu.org/ for the complete standings.

U.S. TEAM AT THE 2006 ISU GRAND PRIX FINAL

MEN
The U.S. men’s finalists are getting a second try at the Grand Prix Final, after Lysacek and Weir each had to withdraw previously due to injury (in 2005 and 2004, respectively). Lysacek earned his spot this year by placing second at Skate America and first at the Cup of China. He is the two-time World bronze medalist, and he placed fourth at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. Weir placed second at the Cup of Russia and third at Skate Canada to qualify for this year’s final. The three-time, reigning U.S. champion, Weir finished fifth at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games and seventh at the 2006 World Championships.

PAIRS
Inoue and Baldwin are making a return appearance to the Grand Prix Final after competing there in 2004. In the 2006 series, the pair earned three medals (one gold and two silver) for their three competitions. Though they competed in three events, only the first and last counted for points toward the final. Inoue and Baldwin are the reigning U.S. champions, placed fourth at the 2006 World Championships and seventh at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

ICE DANCING
Belbin and Agosto have medaled at each of their previous turns at the Grand Prix Final — silver in 2004 and bronze in 2003. They go to the final this year on the strength of their gold at the Cup of Russia and silver at the Cup of China. Belbin and Agosto are the reigning U.S. champions and won the first U.S. ice dancing medal at the Olympics since 1976, a silver. They are also two-time World medalists. Gregory and Petukhov earned their berth in Russia by winning a silver medal at Skate America and a bronze at the NHK Trophy. The U.S. silver medalists placed ninth at the 2006 World Championships and second at the 2005 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.