ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Preview
12 Dec 2007 13:40
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2007/2008 cumulates with the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino, Italy from December 14 to 16. 36 skaters from eleven ISU members are competing in the Final.
Six skaters/couples in each category qualified in the six events of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series Skate America in Reading, Skate Canada in Quebec City, Cup of China in Harbin, Trophee Bompard in Paris (FRA), Cup of Russia in Moscow and NHK Trophy in Sendai (JPN) and are now vying for a prize money of U.S. $ 272,000. For the first time in the 13 years of history of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, the Final is held in a country that is not organizing one of the qualifying events.
The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
Men and Ladies Pairs and Dance (per couple) 好穷啊~也太不公平了~
1st place USD $ 25,000 1st place USD$ 25,000
2nd place USD $ 18,000 2nd place USD$ 18,000
3rd place USD$ 12,000 3rd place USD$ 12,000
4th place USD$ 6,000 4th place USD$ 6,000
5th place USD$ 4,000 5th place USD$ 4,000
6th place USD$ 3,000 6th place USD$ 3,000
Yu-Na Kim (KOR) and Mao Asada (JPN) both advanced with the maximum of 30 points to the Final after claiming gold medals in their two events. Kim won in Harbin and Moscow and posted a new personal best total score of 197.20 points at the Cup of Russia. Asada claimed the title in Quebec City and in Paris and comes with a seasons best of 179.80 points to the Final. Kim is the defending Grand Prix Final Champion while Asada was the silver medalist last year in St. Petersburg. Kimmie Meissner (USA/seasons best: 163.23 points) will compete in her first Final after winning Skate America and finishing second in France. Carolina Kostner (ITA) is another newcomer to the Final. She captured the gold at NHK Trophy and was third in China (seasons best: 164.69 points). Yukari Nakano (JPN) comes back to the Final with two silver medals from Skate Canada and the Cup of Russia (seasons best: 172.77 points). She won the bronze medal in the Final of the 2005/2006 season. Reigning World Junior Champion Caroline Zhang (USA) made it to Torino in her first year on the senior Grand Prix. She earned a bronze in Reading and a silver in Harbin (seasons best: 156.34 points).
The substitute skaters are: Sarah Meier (SUI), Miki Ando (JPN) and Joannie Rochette (CAN).
In the Men’s category, Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) and Johnny Weir (USA) took two gold medals en route to Torino. Takahashi won Skate America and the NHK Trophy and scored a seasons best of 234.22 points. Weir was the Champion at the Cup of China and the Cup of Russia and got a new personal best score of 231.78 points. Takahashi collected already a bronze (2005 in Tokyo) and a silver medal (2007 in St. Petersburg) in the Final. Patrick Chan (CAN) competes in his first Grand Prix Final and qualified by winning the Trophee Bompard and placing third at Skate America (seasons best: 214.94 points). Evan Lysacek comes with two silver medals from the circuit to Italy (seasons best: 229.36 points). Lysacek and Weir both qualified for the Grand Prix Final before, but never competed until the end. Lysacek withdrew last year before the Short Program due to injury and Weir dropped out after the Short Program after aggravating a hip injury. Two-time World Champion Stéphane Lambiel (SUI) advanced with a silver and a bronze medal from Russia and China to the Final (seasons best: 218.84 points). He won the Final in 2005 but didn’t qualify last year after competing in only one Grand Prix event. Kevin van der Perren (BEL) comes back to the Final after competing here in 2004. The reigning European bronze medalist booked his ticket to Torino with a silver medal in Quebec City and a fourth place finish in Paris (seasons best: 204.75).
The substitute skaters are: Stephen Carriere (USA), Jeffrey Buttle (CAN), Tomas Verner (CZE).
Dan Zhang/Hao Zhang (CHN) lead the Pairs at the Final and are the only couple to have won their two events, the Trophee Bompard and the Cup of Russia. The Olympic silver medalists come with a seasons best of 196.96 points to Italy. European Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) qualified with a gold medal from Skate Canada and a silver from the Cup of Russia (seasons best: 190.64 points). World silver medalists Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) picked up the gold at their home event and the silver at Skate America on their way to Torino (seasons best: 186.93 points). All three couples competed in and medaled at the Grand Prix Final before. The remaining three couples are all newcomers to the event. Jessica Dube/Bryce Davison (CAN) advanced after winning in Reading and taking the silver in Canada (seasons best 174.20 points). Reigning World Junior Champions Keauna McLaughlin/Rockne Brubaker (USA) earned two silver medals at the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy and thus qualified for the Final in their first senior year (seasons best: 166.48 points). Yuko Kawaguchi/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) captured two bronze medals in the series to qualify for Torino (seasons best: 181.71 points).
The substitutes are: Maria Mukhortova/Maxim Trankov (RUS), Jessica Miller/Ian Moram (CAN) and Tiffany Vise/Derek Trent (USA).
Ice Dancers Isabelle Delobel/Olivier Schoenfelder (FRA) claimed the gold medals at Trophee Bompard and NHK Trophy, while Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) came in first at Skate America and the Cup of China. The European Champions scored a seasons best of 197.54 points while the Americans got a seasons best of 195.11 points. Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin (RUS) took the gold in Moscow and the silver in Harbin. They achieved a new personal best total score of 205.24 in the series. The European silver medalists won the bronze medal at the Final last year. Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir (CAN) will compete in their first Grand Prix Final after capturing the title at their home event and finishing second in Japan (seasons best: 197.07 points). Nathalie Pechalat/ Fabian Bourzat (FRA) are newcomers as well and qualified with two silver medals from Skate America and the Cup of Russia (seasons best 184.38 points). Jana Khokhlova/Sergei Novitski (RUS) are coming back to the Final after getting in last year as first alternates. They advanced with a silver from Paris, a bronze from Sendai and a new personal best score of 191.01 points.
The substitutes are: Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte (ITA), Federica Faiella/Massimo Scali (ITA) and Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA). |
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