COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 31, 2007) –
Nine U.S. skaters will compete in four disciplines: ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. The U.S. team hails from seven different states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New York and Virginia.
The Grand Prix Series, now in its 13th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Approximately 300 athletes from 29 countries are expected to participate in the series. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each of the disciplines then qualify for the Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy, Dec. 13-16. Athletes will be vying for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series.
At last week’s Skate America, Team USA gave a strong showing, taking home medals, including gold for four-time U.S. champion ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto and U.S. champion Kimmie Meissner. World Junior champion Caroline Zhang took home the ladies bronze in her first senior event.
LADIES
This will be the second Grand Prix assignment this season for Emily Hughes, who turned in a fourth-place finish last weekend at Skate America. Hughes will be joined by World Junior bronze medalist Ashley Wagner. Skate Canada will be Wagner’s first senior event. Competing in the junior division, Wagner also brought home bronze from the 2007 State Farm U.S. Championships.
PAIRS
Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent return to Skate Canada following a sixth-place finish in 2006. The pair secured a fifth-place finish at both the 2007 Nebelhorn Trophy and the 2007 U.S. Championships.
ICE DANCING
Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov will make their first Grand Prix assignment of the season. The four-time U.S. silver medalists hope to improve on their last Skate Canada appearance in 2005, when they secured bronze.
U.S. ENTRIES
| DISCIPLINE | NAME | HOMETOWN | TRAINING TOWN |
| Ladies | Emily Hughes | Great Neck, N.Y. | Great Neck & Bellmore, N.Y. |
| Ashley Wagner | Alexandria, Va. | Alexandria, Va. | |
| | |||
| Pairs | Tiffany Vise Derek Trent | Colorado Springs, Colo. Colorado Springs, Colo. | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| Ice Dancing | Melissa Gregory Denis Petukhov | Chicago, Ill. Hartford, Conn. | Newark, Del. |
In addition to Skate Canada, the Grand Prix consists of the remaining events:
Nov. 8-11 Cup of China, Harbin, China
Nov. 16-18 Trophée Eric Bompard, Paris, France
Nov. 22-25 Cup of Russia, Moscow, Russia
Nov. 29-Dec. 1 NHK Trophy, Sendai, Japan
Dec. 13-16 Grand Prix Final, Torino, Italy
