The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series continues this week with Skate Canada International in Vancouver, BC. Skate Canada is the second of six events of the series in which the world’s best Figure Skaters compete and collect points towards the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN) on December 7-10. Reigning ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) and ISU World medalists Junhwan Cha (KOR) and Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) lead the line-up in Vancouver.
Second stop: Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN) (Oct. 27-29, 2023)
Women contenders
Two-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) headlines the Women’s field. The Japanese star has enjoyed a strong start to the season with wins at the ISU Challenger Autumn Classic and at the Japan Open. Assuming she is successful in Canada, the battle for the remaining podium spots should be exciting. Defending Skate Canada Champion Rinka Watanabe (JPN) returns to Canada having claimed silver at the ISU Challenger Finlandia Trophy. After winning the ISU Challenger Nepela Trophy, Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) is aiming for a medal in her senior-level ISU Grand Prix debut. Others to watch include Canadian Champion Madeline Schizas, Rino Matsuike (JPN), Audrey Shin (USA) and Lindsay Thorngren (USA).
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
Men contenders
In the Men’s event, 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR) will meet 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN). While Miura won his season-opening Finlandia Trophy, Cha came second at Shanghai Trophy and only sixth at the ISU Challenger Nepela Trophy. Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist Sota Yamamoto (JPN) will challenge for the podium as well. Others to watch include 2023 ISU European silver medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA), Wesley Chiu (CAN) and 2022 ISU World Junior silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ).
Junhwan Cha (KOR) reacts after the Men's Free Skating during the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan. © ISU
Pairs contenders
The 2023 ISU Four Continents bronze medalists Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) lead the Pairs event. Competition should come from 2023 ISU World Junior silver medalists Anastasia Golubeva/Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (AUS) who debut on the ISU Grand Prix Series and from Lucrezia Beccari/Matteo Guarise (ITA) who claimed silver in their ISU Challenger event, Nebelhorn Trophy. Others to watch are Maria Pavlova/Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN), Brooke McIntosh/Benjamin Mimar (CAN) and Kelly-Ann Laurin/Loucas Ethier (CAN).
Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps skating to the bronze medal at the 2023 ISU Four Continents in Colorado Springs (USA) © ISU
Ice Dance contenders
In the Ice Dance event, 2023 World bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) will start their season and face current ISU European silver medal winners Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR). While the Canadians skate for the first time this season, the British Ice Dancers have already won the ISU Challenger events Nebelhorn Trophy and Nepela Trophy. Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU) are aiming for their first ISU Grand Prix podium having finished second to Fear/Gibson at Nebelhorn Trophy. Other contenders include Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN), Jennifer Janse van Rensburg/Benjamin Steffan (GER) and 2022 ISU World Junior Champions Oona Brown/Gage Brown (USA).
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) perform during the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series consists of six events: Skate America, Skate Canada International, Grand Prix de France, Cup of China, the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) and NHK Trophy (JPN). Skaters collect points to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN).
ISU Grand Prix Standings
The General Announcement of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series is available here on the ISU website. The individual announcements are published on the ISU Event section under each dedicated Grand Prix event (filter with the relevant Event Series).
For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.
All Media Accreditations details and deadlines for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series can be found here.
Where to Watch
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events will be live streamed on the official ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating YouTube Channel in most countries. Find out Where to watch the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competitions.
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ISU Grand Prix Schedule
The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events are available below:
20 - 22 Oct, 2023 Skate America, Allen (Texas, USA)
27 – 29 Oct, 2023 Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN)
03 - 05 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA)
10 - 12 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Cup of China, Chongqing (CHN)
17 - 19 Nov, 2023 Grand Prix Espoo, Espoo (FIN)
24 - 26 Nov, 2023 NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN)
07 - 10 Dec, 2023 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Beijing (CHN)
About ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series started in 1995 (previously known a s the ISU Champions Series) and consists of six invitational international senior events and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The top six of the past World Championships are seeded. Competitors collect points in their events towards the qualification for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Only the top six Skaters / Couples in each discipline can qualify for the Final.
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