Here we go again – this is what you have been waiting for all summer: the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series 2023/24 kicks off next week. Leading international Figure Skaters including all four reigning World Champions – Shoma Uno (JPN), Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN), and Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) – as well as Olympic and World medalists, European Champions and medalists will compete for placements and points to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2023/24 in Beijing (CHN), from December 7-10.
Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2022 in Torino, Italy © ISU
Overview of the events
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). The Cup of China is back after being canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Skate America, Allen, Texas (USA) (Oct. 20-22, 2023)
The ISU Grand Prix starts traditionally with Skate America, this year to be held in Allen, Texas (USA), from October 20-22. Kicking off their Grand Prix season will be ISU World Ice Dance Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) and 2023 ISU World bronze medalist Ilia Malinin (USA), as well as 2019 ISU Grand Prix Finalist Kevin Aymoz (FRA).
Ilia Malinin (USA) poses for a photo during the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
World Pairs Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN), meanwhile, have withdrawn from the event due to Ryuichi Kihara’s lumbar spondylosis. Two-time ISU World medalist Loena Hendrickx (BEL) will meet ISU Grand Prix Final silver medalist Isabeau Levito (USA) in the Women’s event. ISU World Junior Ice Dance Champions Katerina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek (CZE) will debut in the ISU Grand Prix Series.
Katerina Mrazkova/Daniel Mrazek (CZE) perform at the 2023 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada © ISU
Skate Canada International, Vancouver (CAN) (Oct. 27-29, 2023)
Next up is Skate Canada International in Vancouver (CAN), from October 27-29. The event features two-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN), 2023 ISU World silver medalist Junhwan Cha (KOR), and 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Kao Miura (JPN).
Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) during the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2022 in Torino, Italy © ISU
In the Ice Dance event, 2023 World bronze medalists Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) will start their season and face current ISU European silver medalists Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR). The 2023 ISU Four Continents bronze medalists Deanna Stellato-Dudek/Maxime Deschamps (CAN) headline the Pairs competition.
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (CAN) on their way to Ice Dance bronze at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
Grand Prix de France, Angers (FRA) (Nov. 3-5, 2023)
The circuit then heads to Europe for the third event, the Grand Prix de France, in Angers (FRA), from November 3-5. Here, Malinin will try to secure his spot in the Final and is up against ISU European Champion Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) and 2022 Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama (JPN).
Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs at the 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France © ISU
The Women’s competition features 2023 ISU Four Continents Champion Haein Lee (KOR), Levito, and ISU European Champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO). The Ice Dance event is led by 2023 ISU European Champions Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (ITA) and 2023 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen (CAN). The 2023 ISU European Champions Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) headline the Pairs.
Sara Conti/Niccolo Macii (ITA) perform at the 2023 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland © ISU
Grand Prix Cup of China, Chongqing (CHN) (Nov. 10-12, 2023)
The Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN), from November 10-12, will be the first 2023/24 Series event for reigning ISU World Champion Shoma Uno (JPN), where he will meet Siao Him Fa. The Cup of China also welcomes Hendrickx, ISU Grand Prix Final Champion Mai Mihara (JPN) and 2023 ISU Four Continents silver medalist Yelim Kim (KOR).
Shoma Uno (JPN) performs at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2022 in Torino, Italy © ISU
Gilles/Poirier are the top contenders in the Ice Dance event while Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps will be challenged in the Pairs by 2022 ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan/ Spencer Akira Howe (USA).
Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA) pose with their medals at the 2023 ISU Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs, USA © ISU
Grand Prix Espoo (FIN) (Nov. 17-19, 2023)
The ISU Grand Prix circuit then returns to Europe for the Grand Prix Espoo (FIN), from November 17-19. Competing in Finland will be Sakamoto, 2023 ISU European bronze medalist Kimmy Repond (SUI), Cha, Aymoz, Miura, 2023 ISU European silver medalist Matteo Rizzo (ITA), Conti/Macii and Chock/Bates.
Kimmy Repond (SUI) performs during the 2023 ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Espoo, Finland © ISU
NHK Trophy, Osaka (JPN) (Nov. 24-26, 2023)
The last spots for the Final will be decided at the NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN), from November 24-26. World Champions Uno and Miura/Kihara lead the line-up and are joined by Kagiyama, Lee, Mihara and Gubanova. The Ice Dance event includes the top two in Europe, Guignard/Fabbri and Fear/Gibson.
Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) celebrate their win at the 2023 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan © ISU
Currently more than 135 Skaters/Couples representing 25 ISU Members have been invited to the Series. The maximum number of entries for each event is 12 Women, 12 Men, eight Pairs and 10 Ice Dance couples.
Selection Criteria
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 2023. 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 Season Best Scores (from the 2022/23 season), as well as those placed in the top 24 of the ISU World Standings, can also be invited. If available, medalists from the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships can also be selected.
In order for a skater/couple to be eligible to compete at an ISU Grand Prix event, a minimum total score must have been achieved in the 2022/23 or current 2023/24 season in an ISU event (Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix, Championships) or a Challenger Series event. Exceptions apply to host country skaters, previously ranked skaters or split ranked couples who return with new partners.
The International Skating Union (ISU) has supported the Skating Federation of Ukraine since the start of the war, implementing ISU Communication 2469, and also granting financial support to assist Ukrainian Skaters. The ISU reiterates its sympathy for and solidarity to all affected by the war in Ukraine. The ISU maintains its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. The ISU Council met on June 9-11, 2023 and discussed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations of March 28, 2023 for International Federations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions. The ISU Council decided to explore the feasibility issues with regard to potential pathways to implement the IOC recommendations within ISU Sports. The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity as well as the decisions and their implementation within the Olympic Movement. In the meantime, ISU Communication 2469 remains in force.
Prize Money
Competitors collect points in their Grand Prix events towards the qualification for the Grand Prix Final. The global prize money per individual event of the Grand Prix is US $ 180,000 and the prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples at the events 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:
Men and Women:
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
Pair Skating and Ice Dance
1st place: 15 points
2nd place: 13 points
3rd place: 11 points
4th place: 9 points
5th place: 7 points
6th place: 5 points
*Pairs and Ice Dance receive points only up to sixth place included.
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 Accreditation 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)
3 - 5 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)
7 - 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 qualify for the Final.
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