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 their 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 full list of entries is available at Entries/Results
The schedule of the Trophee Bompard is as follows:
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
