Olympic, World Champions to compete in ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series
The World's top figure skaters including reigning Olympic Champions Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN), Tatiana Volosozhar/Maxim Trankov (RUS), Adelina Sotnikova (RUS), World and European Champions and medalists will compete in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2015/16 that starts this week with Progressive Skate America.
The level of competition promises to be high as in addition to three Olympic Champions all four reigning World Champions – Javier Fernandez (ESP), Elizaveta Tuktamysheva (RUS), Pair champions Meagan Duhamel/Eric Radford (CAN) and Ice Dance champions Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) have been entered for the Grand Prix. Add the returning three-time World Champion Mao Asada (JPN) and 2014 Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan (CAN) to the mix and expect an exciting start of the senior season.
Prize money of US $ 180,000 per individual event of the Grand Prix series is available.
144 skaters/couples from 26 ISU Members have been invited (43 Men, 44 Ladies, 27 Pairs, 30 Ice Dance couples). The number of entries for each event is 12 Ladies, 12 Men, eight Pairs and eight Ice Dance couples. The top six qualifiers in each discipline will proceed to the Final in Barcelona, Spain, December 10 to 13, 2015.
Selection of skaters
The skaters are seeded and invited to the six Grand Prix of Figure Skating events based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2015. Skaters/couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are seeded and assigned to two events. Skaters/ couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and skaters with a top 24 high seasons best score as well as those placed in the top 24 of the World Standings can also be invited. Medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships and the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final gold medalists are guaranteed one spot.
In order for a skater/couple to be eligible to compete at a Grand Prix event, a minimum total score or minimum technical score must have been achieved in the previous or current season in an ISU event (GP, JGP, Championships, WTT or selected international competitions). Exceptions apply to host country skaters, previously ranked skaters or split ranked couples who return with new partners.
The minimum technical score is as follows:
SP/SD FS/FD
Ladies 26.46 40.05
Men 29.94 56.07
Pairs 24.75 44.34
Ice Dance 23.10 33.39
The minimum total score is as follows:
Ladies 126.21
Men 164.34
Pairs 132.93
Ice Dance 110.58
Prize money
Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the Grand Prix Final. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
1st place US $ 18,000
2nd place US $ 13,000
3rd place US $ 9,000
4th place US $ 3,000
5th place US $ 2,000
The points are awarded as follows:
1st place 15 points
2nd place 13 points
3rd place 11 points
4th place 9 points
5th place 7 points
6th place 5 points
7th place 4 points
8th place 3 points
Pairs and Ice Dancers collect points up to 6th place. The global prize money for the Grand Prix Final is US $ 272,000.
For full entry lists of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015/16 please refer to www.isu.org.