Questions! Grand Prix Events! | Golden Skate

Questions! Grand Prix Events!

LilyBerg

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 21, 2003
Can someone please explain it to me?!

I know what a Grand Prix is, but I need some info on how it begun and where the different events are held and why.

Thank You! /Lily
 

lil_icesk8er915

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

Dear Lily,

Heya! The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating includes various competitions in different countries in which a skater can earn points (ie: the higher the placement, the higher the points), and if a skater earns enough points, they can enter the ISU Grand Prix Final. The places can vary each season, but this year they include:

-NHK Trophy (Asahikawa, Japan)
-Cup of Russia (Moscow, Russia)
-Trophée Lalique (Paris, France)
-Cup of China (Beijing, China)
-Skate Canada (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)
-Smart Ones Skate America (Reading, Pa.)
and the ISU Grand Prix Final in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Hope I could help!
 

Meisje24

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 30, 2003
I believe they started the GP series in 1999 with prize money to make it interesting for skaters to stay eligible. Before that many skaters turned pro because the only way for them to make money was to skate in professional competitions and shows.

Annemarie
 

berthes ghost

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
The individual GP events all existed before 1995, when they were all strung together with the creation of the GP series and GPF.

We had an interesting thread on this a few months back, but I don't remember all the facts. IIRC, most of the events (Skate America, etc... go back to the mid 70s).

The 95-96 season was the first to have the GPS, and they were indeed an attempt by the ISU to disuade skaters from turning pro early, giving prize money, apearance fees, etc... It was also an attempt to bring attention and hence money to the individual events which were all strugling to sell tickets. My making it a series, it was more TV friendly than idividual unrelated events that may or may not have a star skater in them, hence more money from TV deals. Pro skating was gobbling up TV contrats at the time and the ISU needed a "hit show" so to speak to compete with all of the Ice Wars type shows the pros were selling to TV.

The six events are fixed (Skate America, Skate Canada, Lalique, Cup of Russia, Cup of China and NHK) The only change in all the years is that this year, the German event was cancelled for the Chinese event to spread the events more evenly throughout the continents.

The location varies. For example, Lalique is always (or almost always) in Paris. Skate America is in a different US city each year, although cities can repeat as hosts. Etc... The GPF is in a different country each year.

The 2 LP format for the GPF began in 99-2000 with a face off, then changed to the present format the following year.
 

berthes ghost

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
Just another clarification: IIRC eligable skaters were allowed to earn endorsement money starting in 92-93. Kerrigan's Seiko adds come to mind, and of course her Disney work.
 

gsk8

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Country
United-States
Although the Bofrost Cup (in Germany) which was replaced with Cup of China used to be a part of the series, I believe this event is still on the "waiting" list for approval - although it won't be considered a GP event.
 
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