The ISU Grand Prix is in full swing, with the North American segment finishing at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C. this week before moving on to Europe. The top entries:
Men:
● Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) ~ 2014-18 Olympic Champion, 2014-17 World Champion
● Matteo Rizzo (ITA) ~ 7th at 2019 Worlds
● Deniss Vasiljevs (LAT) ~ 6th at 2018 Worlds
Women:
● Gabriele Daleman (CAN) ~ 2017 Worlds bronze medalist
● Marin Honda (JPN) ~ 2016 World Junior Champion
● Rika Kihara (JPN) ~ 4th at 2019 World Champs
● Evgenia Medvedeva (RUS) ~ 2016-17 World Champion; 2018 Olympic bronze
● Alexandra Trusova (RUS) ~ 2018-19 World Junior Champion
● Bradie Tennell (USA) ~ 6th/7th at 2018-29 Worlds; second at Skate America
Pairs:
● Kirsten Moore-Towers/Michael Marinaro (CAN) ~ 6th/7th at 2018-19 Worlds
● Aleksandra Boikova/Dmitrii Kozlovskii (RUS) ~ 6th at 2019 Worlds
● Evgenia Tarasova/Vladimir Morozov (RUS) ~ 3rd/2rd/2rd at 2017-18-19 Worlds
● Alexa Scimeca Knierim/Chris Knierim (USA) ~ 2015 & 2017 U.S. Champions
Ice Dance:
● Piper Gilles/Paul Poirer (CAN) ~ 8-6-8-8-6-7 at last six World Champs
● Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker (USA) ~ 10th & 9th at 2018-19 Worlds
● Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue (USA) ~ 3rd-2nd at 2018-19 Worlds; won Skate America
While two-time OG champ Hanyu is the headliner, Medvedeva will be a major focus. She left for Canada to train with famed coach Brian Orser after the 2017-18 season and won the bronze medal at the 2019 Worlds, with her best-ever score of 223.80. Still just 19, her progress will be monitored closely.
The usual prize money is available: $18,000-13,000-9,000-3,000-2,000 for the first five placewinners. Look for results here.
