After six weeks of exciting competitions in six countries on three continents, the 2006/2007 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating cumulates with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in St. Petersburg, Russia from December 15 to 17.
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating consisted of the six qualifying events Skate America (USA), HomeSense Skate Canada International (CAN), Cup of China (CHN), Trophee Eric Bompard (FRA), Cup of Russia Bosco Sport (RUS) and NHK Trophy (JPN). The top six skaters/couples in each discipline proceeded to the Final. 24 Skaters and couples from eleven ISU members are vying for the global prize money of U.S. $ 272,000 in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
1st place USD $ 25,000
2nd place USD $ 18,000
3d place USD$ 12,000
4th place USD$ 6,000
5th place USD$ 4,000
6th place USD$ 3,000
By competing in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final the athletes earn points towards the World Standings as well. The three skaters/couples per discipline having earned most World Standing points during the 2006/2007 season will be awarded with the World Standing Bonus.
The following amounts will be awarded to the concerned skaters/couples:
Ladies & Men Pairs & Dance (per couple)
1st: USD$ 45,000 1st: USD$ 67,500
2nd: USD$ 27,000 2nd: USD$ 40,500
3rd: USD$ 18,000 3rd: USD$ 27,000
Brian Joubert (FRA) tops the Grand Prix standings in the Men’s event with the maximum of 30 points. The reigning World silver medalist was the only skater to win both of his competitions, the Trophee Bompard and the Cup of Russia Bosco Sport. There, he established a seasonal best score of 237.83 points. But competition promises to be tough as his rivals gave excellent performances as well this season. Daisuke Takahashi proceeded with 28 points to the Final after placing second at Skate Canada and taking the gold at his home event with new personal best scores in Short Program and Free Skating which accumulated to a seasonal best of 247.93 points, which is the highest total score achieved this season so far. His teammate Nobunari Oda, who collected 28 points on the circuit as well and scored 244.56 points at the NHK Trophy, is not far behind. Evan Lysacek (USA) got 28 points from a win in China and a second place in the USA. He comes with a seasonal best of 221.09 points to St. Petersburg. Alban Preaubert (FRA) is a newcomer to the Final and qualified with 24 points after claiming a silver and a bronze medal in his events (seasonal best: 212.67). Johnny Weir (USA) got a silver and a bronze on the circuit as well (seasonal best: 198.70). Weir and Lysacek are also competing for the first time in the Final. Lysacek had qualified last season but withdrew due to injury.
Miki Ando (JPN) is coming with a victory at Skate America and a silver medal in Paris to St. Petersburg (28 points). She got her seasonal best of 192.59 points at Skate America. Mao Asada (JPN) advanced with a gold medal from NHK Trophy, a bronze from Skate America (26 points) and a seasonal best of 199.52 to the Final. This score is also the highest a Lady has achieved so far. Reigning World Junior Champion Yu-Na Kim (KOR) qualified for the Final in her first year on the senior Grand Prix by winning the Trophee Bompard and finishing third at Skate Canada. She performed a new personal best total score of 184.54 points in Paris. Fumie Suguri (JPN), who collected two silver medals on the circuit, comes with a seasonal best of 179.31 points to Russia. Sarah Meier (SUI) will compete in the Final for the first time after earning a bronze at Skate America and the gold in Russia (seasonal best 169.01). Julia Sebestyen (HUN) made a comeback to the Final with a victory in China and a second-place finish at the Cup of Russia (seasonal best: 153.80).
Two-time World Champions Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao (CHN) lead the Pairs’ Grand Prix standings after claiming the title at the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy (30 points). They also have the highest seasonal best so far at 193.59 points. Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov (RUS) and Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) proceed with 28 points from a win and a silver medal at their Grand Prix competitions each to the Final. Zhang/Zhang performed a seasonal best of 190.97 points at Skate Canada, Petrova/Tikhonov earned their seasonal best of 178.03 at the Trophee Bompard. Rena Inoue/John Baldwin (USA) advanced with a gold and a silver medal to the Final as well, scoring a seasonal best of 169.90 points at Skate America. Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy qualified with a gold medal from the Cup of Russia and a bronze from Cup of China for St. Petersburg (seasonal best: 179.45 points). Valerie Marcoux/Craig Buntin (CAN) will compete in the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final for the first time. They secured two bronze medals at Skate Canada and NHK Trophy (seasonal best: 166.19 points).
Reigning World Champions Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviski (BUL) and World silver medalists Marie-France Dubreuil/Patrice Lauzon (CAN) both qualified with the maximum of 30 points by winning their two Grand Prix competitions. Denkova/Staviski achieved a seasonal best of 201.58 points at Skate America while Dubreuil/Lauzon had a seasonal best score of 196.68 at Skate Canada. Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin (RUS) come to the Final with a gold medal from China and a silver from Russia (seasonal best: 188.41 points). Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) booked their ticket to St. Petersburg by placing second at the Trophee Bompard and third at the Cup of Russia (seasonal best: 194.62 points). Melissa Gregory/Denis Petukhov (USA) and Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS) are in the Final for the first time. Both couples earned a silver and a bronze medal on the circuit. Gregory/Petukhov performed a seasonal best total score of 180.98 at Skate America while Khokhlova/Novitski got their seasonal best of 180.57 at the NHK Trophy. The Russian couple replaces Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) who qualified with 28 points for the Final but withdrew due to injury. Agosto suffered a back injury.
The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is as follows:
Friday, December 15: Original Dance, Ladies, Men and Pairs Short Program
Saturday, December 16: Free Dance, Ladies, Men and Pairs Free Skating
Sunday, December 17: Exhibition Gala
