ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating – originally known as the Champions Series – is a series of senior-level international figure skating competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Though none of the events were new, they debuted as a unified series in 1995. The Grand Prix consists of six qualifying events, held in succession over a span of six weeks, plus the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Currently, Grand Prix events are hosted by Canada, China, Finland, France, Japan, and the United States. Previous events were hosted by Germany and Russia. Medals are awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Skaters earn points based on their results at their respective competitions, and after the six qualifying events, the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to compete at the Grand Prix Final.
History
Beginning with the 1995–96 season, the International Skating Union launched the Champions Series – later renamed the Grand Prix Series – which, at its inception, consisted of five qualifying competitions and the Champions Series Final. This allowed skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters whom they would later encounter at the World Championships. This series also provided the viewing public with additional televised skating, which had been in demand. The five qualifying competitions during the inaugural season were the 1995 Nations Cup, the 1995 NHK Trophy, the 1995 Skate America, the 1995 Skate Canada, and the 1995 Trophée de France. Skaters earned points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were invited to compete at the Champions Series Final.The Grand Prix Series currently comprises the following competitions:
- Skate Canada International: The first Skate Canada competition was held in 1973 in Calgary, Alberta. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, Skate Canada International was one of the five qualifying events. It has been a Grand Prix event every year since, except for 2020, when it was cancelled due to the Impact of [the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#Figure skating|COVID-19 pandemic].
- Cup of China: The first Cup of China was held in 2003 in Beijing as a replacement for the Bofrost Cup on Ice. The Cup of China has been interrupted three times in its history: in 2018 when the Chinese Skating Association elected to forgo hosting any international skating events in order to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics, and then in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Grand Prix of Finland: The first Grand Prix of Finland was held in 2018 in Helsinki as a replacement for the Cup of China. It returned in 2022 as a replacement for the Rostelecom Cup after Russia was banned from hosting any international figure skating competitions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This event has been held under several names, including the Grand Prix of Helsinki, the Grand Prix of Espoo, and the Finlandia Trophy.
- Grand Prix de France: The first iteration of the Grand Prix de France – then called the Grand Prix International de Paris – was held in 1987 in Paris. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, the Grand Prix de France was one of the five qualifying events. It has been a Grand Prix event every year since, except for 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.' The Grand Prix de France has been held under several names, including the Trophée de France, the Trophée Lalique, the Trophée Éric Bompard, and the Internationaux de France.
- NHK Trophy: The first NHK Trophy was held in 1979 in Tokyo. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, the NHK Trophy was one of the five qualifying events. It has been a Grand Prix event every year since.
- Skate America: The first Skate America – then called the Norton Skate – was held in 1979 in Lake Placid, New York, as a test event for the 1980 Winter Olympics. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, Skate America was one of the five qualifying events. It has been a Grand Prix event every year since.
- Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: This event is the culminating event of the Grand Prix Series. Skaters earn points based on their results at qualifying competitions each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to then compete at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Grand Prix Final was at first postponed, and then cancelled in December 2020.' In response to the discovery of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in November 2021, the 2021 Grand Prix Final was cancelled as well.
- Bofrost Cup on Ice: The first iteration of the Bofrost Cup on Ice – then called the Fujifilm Trophy – was held in 1986 in Frankfurt. When the ISU launched the Champions Series in 1995, the German competition – at that point called the Nations Cup – was one of the five qualifying events. It remained a Grand Prix event until 2002, after which point it was supplanted by the Cup of China. This event was held under several names, including the Sparkassen Cup on Ice. Despite losing its spot in the Grand Prix series, the German Ice Skating Union continued to stage the competition, but it did not continue after 2004.
- MK John Wilson Trophy: In July 2022, the ISU announced the cancellation of the 2022 Cup of China due to China's ongoing travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MK John Wilson Trophy was held as a replacement event in Sheffield, England, in November 2022.
- Gran Premio d'Italia: The 2021 Cup of China was cancelled due to travel and quarantine restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gran Premio d'Italia was held as a replacement event in Turin in November 2021.
- Rostelecom Cup: The first iteration of the Rostelecom Cup – originally known as the Cup of Russia – was held in 1996 in Saint Petersburg as part of the Champions Series. It was a Grand Prix event every year until the ISU barred Russia from hosting international skating competitions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.