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Figure Skating Grand Prix
By Scottie Bibb // U.S. Figure Skating // November 8, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 7, 2007) – The 2007 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series continues with the Cup of China in Harbin, China, Nov. 8-11. The Cup of China, which is taking place at the Harbin International Conference Exhibition and Sports Center, begins Thursday with the pairs and ladies short programs and the compulsory dance.
More than 60 skaters from 19 countries are competing for points and prize money at the Cup of China. Nine skaters from the United States will compete in four disciplines: ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. The U.S. team hails from four different states: California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Grand Prix Series, now in its 13th 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 Torino, Italy, Dec. 13-16. Athletes will be vying for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series.
At last week’s Skate Canada, U.S. skaters were shut out of the medal haul. The best U.S. finisher was Emily Hughes, who finished fourth in ladies. Japan’s Mao Asada and France’s Brian Joubert won the ladies and men’s competitions, respectively. Rounding out the gold medal winners were the German pair of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy and Canadian ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. U.S. ice dancers Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov withdrew from the competition after suffering a serious fall during Sunday’s free dance warm-up.
LADIES
Alissa Czisny is back for her third Grand Prix season, and her first Grand Prix assignment of this season. The bronze medalist at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships, Czisny finished fourth at Skate Canada and ninth at the Cup of Russia last year. Bebe Liang, the 2007 U.S. fourth-place finisher, is back for her second Cup of China, having finished fifth at last year’s event. Czisny and Liang will be joined by Caroline Zhang. This is the first year of senior-level competition for Zhang, who is fresh off her bronze-medal-winning debut at Skate America in Reading, Pa. The reigning World Junior champion, Zhang had an outstanding Junior Grand Prix (JGP) season in 2006, taking home gold from each of her two JGP assignments and winning the gold at the JGP Final.
MEN
After winning a silver medal at his first Grand Prix assignment – Skate America – Evan Lysacek heads to China with hopes of qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. The two-time World bronze medalist and reigning U.S. champion, Lysacek won medals at both of his 2006 Grand Prix events: silver at Skate America and gold at Cup of China. Three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir is making his 2007 Grand Prix debut this weekend. In 2006 Weir garnered silver at Cup of Russia and bronze at Skate Canada.
PAIRS
The pairs team of Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker hope to continue their gold-medal winning streak at Cup of China. The pair has brought home a total of five gold medals, one in every competition they’ve entered since their debut at last year’s JGP Hungary.
ICE DANCING
Reigning U.S. champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto return to Cup of China, having brought home gold in 2004 and silver in 2006. The 2006 Olympic silver medalists come to Harbin fresh off winning the gold at Skate America.
U.S. ENTRIES
DISCIPLINE
NAME
HOMETOWN
TRAINING TOWN
Ladies
Alissa Czisny
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Bebe Liang
Grenada Hills, Calif.
El Segundo, Calif.
Caroline Zhang
Brea, Calif.
Artesia and Lakewood, Calif.
Men
Evan Lysacek
Naperville, Ill.
El Segundo, Calif.
Johnny Weir
Quarryville, Pa.
Wayne, N.J. & Anaheim, Calif.
Pairs
Keauna McLaughlin, Rockne Brubaker
Los Angeles, Calif.
Algonquin, Ill.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ice Dancing
Tanith Belbin
Ben Agosto
Kirkland, Quebec, Canada Chicago, Ill.
Canton, Mich.
In addition to Skate Canada, the Grand Prix consists of the remaining events:
Nov. 16-18 Trophée Eric Bompard, Paris, France
Nov. 22-25 Cup of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 NHK Trophy, Sendai, Japan
Dec. 13-16 Grand Prix Final, Torino, Italy
– U.S. Figure Skating –
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 1,425 member clubs and Basic Skills Programs representing approximately 184,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States, including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.
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