ISU Grand Prix 2011-2012

[Isk8NYC]

The schedule for the ISU Grand Prix events has been announced:

. Skate America - Ontario, Calif., Oct. 21-23
. Skate Canada - Mississauga, Ontario, Oct. 28-30
. Cup of China - Shanghai, China Nov. 4-6
. NHK Trophy - Sapporo, Japan, Nov. 11-13
. Trophee Eric Bompard - Paris, France Nov. 18-20
. Rostelecom Cup - Moscow, Russia Nov. 25-27

The top six qualifiers in each discipline will proceed to the Final.
. Quebec City (CAN), December 8 to 11, 2011.

The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:

1st place US $ 18,000
2nd place US $ 13,000
3rd place US $ 9,000
4th place US $ 3,000
5th place US $ 2,000

The points are awarded as follows:

1st place 15 points
2nd place 13 points
3rd place 11 points
4th place 9 points
5th place 7 points
6th place 5 points
7th place 4 points
8th place 3 points

Pairs and Ice Dancers collect points up to 6th place. The global prize money for the Grand Prix Final is US $ 272,000.

More details: http://www.isu.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-313979-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html

US Team skaters: http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=46281&type=media
(NB: Includes Evan Lysacek and Rachael Flatt)

[Isk8NYC]

Universal Sports has a grid showing some countries' currently assigned skaters for each Grand Prix event.

http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid=539244.html#2011+isu+grand+prix+assignments

[MadMac]

I seem to recall that in years past the skaters/couples who were fortunate enough to enter 3 GP events had to designate, in advance, which two would be their scoring events. The rule has changed (or maybe my memory is faulty yet again) to allow these skaters/couples to keep the best 2 out of 3 scores/placements.

I'm interested to hear what you think about this. Seems unfair to me since very few have the opportunity to skate 3 times. Of course, there have been the skaters who do not want to skate in the GP at all because it extends their competitive season too much, or disrupts training for Nationals. Is this just another of ISU's enticements to participate? Heaven knows ISU's strong-arm rules to "force" participation have not made them many friends.

http://www.isu.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-313979-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html
The skaters are seeded and invited to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating based on the results of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011. Skaters/couples who have placed 1 to 6 in each of the four categories are considered to be seeded and are assigned to two events. They also have the opportunity to compete in a third event, where they will be eligible to win prize money and earn a bonus of US $ 10,000. The skater/couple's best two out of three events will collect points towards the qualification for the Grand Prix Final.  Skaters/couples who have placed 7-12 at the ISU World Championships 2011 are selected for two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events, and skaters with a high seasons best score as well as those placed in the top of the World Standings can also be invited.  This season, in order for a skater/couple to be eligible to compete at a Grand Prix event, a minimum score must be achieved.