ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: Preview
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2007/2008 cumulates
with the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino,
Italy from December 14 to 16.
36 skaters/couples from eleven ISU members are competing
in the Final. Six skaters/couples in each category qualified
in the six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
Series Skate America in Reading, Skate Canada in Quebec City,
Cup of China in Harbin, Trophee Bompard in Paris (FRA), Cup
of Russia in Moscow and NHK Trophy in Sendai (JPN) and are
now vying for a prize money of U.S. $ 272,000. For the first
time in the 13 years of history of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating, the Final is held in a country that is not organizing
one of the qualifying events.
The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples
as follows:
Men and Ladies Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place USD $ 25,000 1st place USD$ 25,000
2nd place USD $ 18,000 2nd place USD$ 18,000
3rd place USD$ 12,000 3rd place USD$ 12,000
4th place USD$ 6,000 4th place USD$ 6,000
5th place USD$ 4,000 5th place USD$ 4,000
6th place USD$ 3,000 6th place USD$ 3,000
Yu-Na Kim (KOR) and Mao Asada (JPN) both advanced with the
maximum of 30 points to the Final after claiming gold medals
in their two events. Kim won in Harbin and Moscow and posted
a new personal best total score of 197.20 points at the Cup
of Russia. Asada claimed the title in Quebec City and in Paris
and comes with a seasons best of 179.80 points to the Final.
Kim is the defending Grand Prix Final Champion while Asada
was the silver medalist last year in St. Petersburg. Kimmie
Meissner (USA/seasons best: 163.23 points) will compete in
her first Final after winning Skate America and finishing
second in France. Carolina Kostner (ITA) is another newcomer
to the Final. She captured the gold at NHK Trophy and was
third in China (seasons best: 164.69 points). Yukari Nakano
(JPN) comes back to the Final with two silver medals from
Skate Canada and the Cup of Russia (seasons best: 172.77 points).
She won the bronze medal in the Final of the 2005/2006 season.
Reigning World Junior Champion Caroline Zhang (USA) made it
to Torino in her first year on the senior Grand Prix. She
earned a bronze in Reading and a silver in Harbin (seasons
best: 156.34 points).
The substitute skaters are: Sarah Meier (SUI), Miki Ando (JPN)
and Joannie Rochette (CAN).
In the Men’s category, Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) and
Johnny Weir (USA) took two gold medals en route to Torino.
Takahashi won Skate America and the NHK Trophy and scored
a seasons best of 234.22 points. Weir was the Champion at
the Cup of China and the Cup of Russia and got a new personal
best score of 231.78 points. Takahashi collected already a
bronze (2005 in Tokyo) and a silver medal (2007 in St. Petersburg)
in the Final. Patrick Chan (CAN) competes in his first Grand
Prix Final and qualified by winning the Trophee Bompard and
placing third at Skate America (seasons best: 214.94 points).
Evan Lysacek comes with two silver medals from the circuit
to Italy (seasons best: 229.36 points). Lysacek and Weir both
qualified for the Grand Prix Final before, but never competed.
Lysacek withdrew last year before the Short Program due to
injury and Weir dropped out after the Short Program after
aggravating a hip injury. Two-time World Champion Stéphane
Lambiel (SUI) advanced with a silver and a bronze medal from
Russia and China to the Final (seasons best: 218.84 points).
He won the Final in 2005 but didn’t qualify last year
after competing in only one Grand Prix event. Kevin van der
Perren (BEL) comes back to the Final after competing here
in 2004. The reigning European bronze medalist booked his
ticket to Torino with a silver medal in Quebec City and a
fourth place finish in Paris (seasons best: 204.75).
The substitute skaters are: Stephen Carriere (USA), Jeffrey
Buttle (CAN), Tomas Verner (CZE).
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) lead the Pairs at the Final and
are the only couple to have won their two events, the Trophee
Bompard and the Cup of Russia. The Olympic silver medalists
come with a seasons best of 196.96 points to Italy. European
Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) qualified
with a gold medal from Skate Canada and a silver from the
Cup of Russia (seasons best: 190.64 points). World silver
medalists Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) picked up the gold at
their home event and the silver at Skate America on their
way to Torino (seasons best: 186.93 points). All three couples
competed in and medaled at the Grand Prix Final before. The
remaining three couples are all newcomers to the event. Jessica
Dube/Bryce Davison (CAN) advanced after winning in Reading
and taking the silver in Canada (seasons best 174.20 points).
Reigning World Junior Champions Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker
(USA) earned two silver medals at the Cup of China and the
NHK Trophy and thus qualified for the Final in their first
senior year (seasons best: 166.48 points). Yuko Kawaguchi/Alexander
Smirnov (RUS) captured two bronze medals in the series to
qualify for Torino (seasons best: 181.71 points).
The substitutes are: Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS),
Jessica Miller/Ian Moram (CAN) and Tiffany Vise/Derek Trent
(USA).
Ice Dancers Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) claimed
the gold medals at Trophee Bompard and NHK Trophy, while Tanith
Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) came in first at Skate America
and the Cup of China. The European Champions scored a seasons
best of 197.54 points while the Americans got a seasons best
of 195.11 points. Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin (RUS) took
the gold in Moscow and the silver in Harbin. They achieved
a new personal best total score of 205.24 in the series. The
European silver medalists won the bronze medal at the Final
last year. Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) will compete in their
first Grand Prix Final after capturing the title at their
home event and finishing second in Japan (seasons best: 197.07
points). Nathalie Pechalat/ Fabian Bourzat (FRA) are newcomers
as well and qualified with two silver medals from Skate America
and the Cup of Russia (seasons best 184.38 points). Jana Khokhlova/Sergei
Novitski (RUS) are coming back to the Final after getting
in last year as first alternates. They advanced with a silver
from Paris, a bronze from Sendai and a new personal best score
of 191.01 points.
The substitutes are: Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA), Federica
Faiella/Massimo Scali (ITA) and Meryl Davis/Charlie White
(USA).
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