ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: Trophee Eric Bompard
Preview
The 2007/2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues
this week with the Trophee Eric Bompard in Paris, France from
November 16 to 18. The Trophee Bompard is the fourth of six
events in the series. The skaters compete for a a global prize
money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand
Prix of Figure Skating and receive points according to their
placements. The top six skaters/couples then qualify for the
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino, Italy (December
13-16).
2007 European silver medalist Tomas Verner (CZE) who competes
in his first Grand Prix event this season and European bronze
medalist Kevin van der Perren (BEL), who finished second to
Brian Joubert (FRA) at Skate Canada are the top contenders
in Paris. Reigning World Junior silver medalist Patrick Chan
(CAN) hopes to add another medal to his collection after taking
the bronze at Skate America end of October. Alban Préaubert
(FRA) wants to improve on his 5th place finish from the same
event. Other competitors include Christopher Mabee (CAN),
Kensuke Nakaniwa (JPN), Sergei Voronov (RUS) and Ryan Bradley
(USA).
Reigning World Champion Brian Joubert withdrew from the Trophee
Bompard Thursday morning citing illness. He is suffering from
the flu.
Both 2007 World silver medalist Mao Asada (JPN) and 2006
World Champion Kimmie Meissner (USA) are entering their second
Grand Prix event and both have won their first: Asada took
the gold at Skate Canada (177, 66 points) while Meissner came
out on top at Skate America (163, 23 points). They’ll
be challenged by reigning European silver medalist Sarah Meier
(SUI), who competes in her first Grand Prix event of the season.
Also competing are 2007 World Junior bronze medalist Ashley
Wagner (USA), Elena Glebova (EST), Valentina Marchei (ITA),
Aki Sawada (JPN).
Reigning World silver medalists Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN)
come fresh from a victory at the Cup of China (176, 75 points)
and are already qualified for the Grand Prix Final. The Trophee
Bompard will be their additional, non scoring event. The couple
will face stiff competition from 2006 Olympic silver medalists
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) and Tatiana Volosozhar/Stanislav
Morozov (UKR), who placed 4th at the 2007 World Championships.
Both couples enter the Grand Prix series just now. Others
to watch include Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS) and
Cup of China bronze medalists Jessica Miller/Ian Moram (CAN).
European Champions Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder
(FRA) headline the ice dancing field. They are competing in
the ir first Grand Prix event and will meet 2007 Grand Prix
Finalists Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS) and two couples,
who hope to qualify for the Final with a podium finish here
in Paris: Skate Canada silver medalists Anna Cappellini/Luca
Lanotte (ITA) and Skate Canada bronze medalists Pernelle Carron/Mathieu
Jost (FRA). Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) are also aiming
for a podium finish and hope to improve on their fourth place
finish from Skate America end of October. The field is completed
by Anastasia Grebenkina/Vazgen Azrojan (ARM), Barbora Silna/Dmitri
Matsjuk (AUT), 2007 World junior bronze medalists Kaitlyn
Weaver/Andrew Poje (CAN), Xiaoyang Yu/Chen Wang (CHN) and
Zoe Blanc/Pierre-Loup Bouquet (FRA).
The schedule of the Trophee Bompard is as follows:
Thursday, November 8: Compulsory Dance, Ladies and Pairs Short
Program
Friday, November 16: Compulsory & Original Dance, Men,
Ladies, Pairs Short Program
Saturday, November 17: Free Dance, Ladies, Pairs and Men Free
Skating
Sunday, November 18: Exhibition Gala
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