The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2014/2015 continues this week with Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia, the fourth of six events in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. While several skaters aim at qualifying for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Barcelona (ESP), others are entering the series just now. The world's top figure skaters are competing for a prize money of US $ 180,000 per individual event of the Grand Prix.
56 skaters/couples from 12 ISU Members will compete at Rostelecom Cup. The event is headlined by Olympic and World silver medalists Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS) and European Champion Javier Fernandez (ESP).
Fernandez comes with a silver medal from his first event Skate Canada and wants to book the ticket to the Final. Competition should come from Skate America silver medalist Jason Brown (USA) and Skate Canada bronze medalist Max Aaron (USA) who also hope to qualify for Barcelona. Other contenders include Michal Brezina (CZE) and Sergei Voronov (RUS). 2011 World silver medalist Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) wants to improve on his performance from Skate Canada two weeks ago.
Stolbova/Klimov are competing in their first Grand Prix event this season. Skate America silver medalists Haven Denney/Brandon Frazier (USA) and Skate Canada bronze medalists Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) are eying the podium and the Grand Prix Final.
Skate Canada gold medalist Anna Pogorilaya enters her second event and aims at qualifying for the Grand Prix Final again. Rika Hongo (JPN), So Youn Park (KOR), Alaine Chartrand (CAN) and Mirai Nagasu (USA) all are hoping for podium finish in Moscow.
Skate America Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) lead the Ice Dance competition. European bronze medalists Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland (GBR) are starting into the Grand Prix series here in Moscow. Skate America bronze medalists Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin (RUS) are hoping to bring home another medal and 2014 World Junior Champions Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) are debuting on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
For full entry lists and results of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2014/15 please refer to www.isu.org/en/single-and-pair-skating-and-ice-dance/series/isu-grand-prix-of-figure-skating.
The schedule of Rostelecom Cup is as follows:
Friday, November 14: Ladies, Pairs, Men’s Short Program, Short Dance
Saturday, November 15: Ladies, Pairs, Men’s Free Skating, Free Dance
Sunday, November 16: Exhibition Gala