POSTED: Thursday November 11th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2010/2011: Skate America Preview
The 2010/2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues this Friday with Skate America in Portland, Oregon.
Skate America is the fourth of six events in the series. The skaters compete for a global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and the top six skaters/couples will advance to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.
Reigning World Champion Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) is looking to secure his spot in the Final after winning the NHK Trophy last month. Competition should be tough with Skate Canada silver medalist Nobunari Oda (JPN), and 2010 Four Continents Champion and Skate Canada bronze medalist Adam Rippon. 2010 World Junior silver medalist Nan Song (CHN) debuts at the senior Grand Prix. Other competitors include Kevin van der Perren (BEL), Shawn Sawyer (CAN), Adrian Schultheiss (SWE) and Armin Mahbanoozadeh (USA).
Two-time World Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER) are entering their first Grand Prix event of the season. The main challenge should come from 2010 World Junior Champions Wenjing Sui/Cong Han (CHN) who just took the silver at the Cup of China last week. Kirsten Moore-Towers/Dylan Moscovitch (CAN) are hoping for another podium finish after taking the silver at Skate Canada. Also competing are Caydee Denney/Jeremy Barrett (USA) and World Junior bronze medalists Ksenia Stolbova/Fedor Klimov (RUS).
Olympic silver medalists Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) headline the dance event and want to book their ticket to the Grand Prix Final. Skate Canada Champions Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier (CAN), NHK Trophy silver medalists Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje (CAN) and NHK Trophy bronze medalists Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani (USA) are aiming at a podium finish and have chances to qualify for the Final. Ekaterina Riazanova/Ilia Tkachenko (RUS) compete in their first Grand Prix this season.
Three-time European Champion Carolina Kostner (ITA) leads the Ladies competition and wants to assure her spot in the Final after taking the gold at NHK Trophy. She'll meet NHK Trophy silver medalist Rachael Flatt (USA) and NHK Trophy bronze medalist, World Junior Champion Kanako Murakami (JPN) again. Other competitors include Skate Canada bronze medalist Amelie Lacoste (CAN), Elene Gedevanishvili (GEO) and Caroline Zhang (USA).
The full list of entries is available at www.isu.org
The schedule of Skate America is as follows:
Friday, November 12: Pairs and Men Short Program
Saturday, November 13: Ladies Short Program, Short Dance, Pairs and Men Free Skating
Sunday, November 14: Free Dance, Ladies Free Skating, Exhibition Gala
For further information please contact
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating & Final Skate America
Devra Pitt-Getaz, Media Coordinator
Scottie Bibb, Press Officer
+41 21 612 66 66 (phone)
+1 719 229 37 36
email:pitt@isu.ch email:sbibb@usfigureskating.org
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Keywords · ISU · Skate America · Portland · Oregon · figure skating
Name: Devre Pitt
Organization: International Skating Union (ISU)
Email:
Phone: +41 21 612 66 66
URL: http://www.isu.org/
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