ISU Junior Grand Prix

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (titled the ISU Junior Series in the 1997–98 season) is a series of international junior-level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.[1] The series was inaugurated in 1997 to complement the senior-level ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.[2] Skaters earn qualifying points at each Junior Grand Prix event and the six highest-ranking qualifiers meet at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, which is held concurrently with the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.[1]

History

The ISU Junior Series was established in the 1997–98 season.[3][2] Six qualifying competitions took place from late August to early November 1997, leading to the final, which was held in early March 1998. The following season, the series was expanded to eight qualifying events and renamed the ISU Junior Grand Prix.

The series was composed of seven qualifying competitions in the 2001–02 season after U.S. Figure Skating cancelled its event in Arizona following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and returned to eight the following year. The International Skating Union permanently reduced the number of qualifying competitions to seven beginning in the 2009–10 season.

Competitions

There are generally seven qualifying events which lead to a final. All seven hold competitions in men's singles, ladies singles, and ice dancing. Four or five of the events also include a pairs competition. The locations of the ISU Junior Grand Prix events change yearly. The eighth event is the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.[1] Beginning in the 2008–09 season, it has been held concurrently with the senior final.[4]

Event First held Last held
Andorra 2005 2005
Australia 2011 2011
Austria 2007 2015
Belarus 2008 2013
Bulgaria 1997 2007
Canada 1999 2011
China 1998 2010
Chinese Taipei 2006 2006
Croatia 1999 2015
Czech Republic 1999 2016
Estonia 2005 2016
France 1997 2016
Germany 1997 2016
Hungary 1997 2009
Italy 2001 2011
Japan 1999 2016
Latvia 2011 2015
Mexico 1998 2013
Netherlands 1999 2006
Norway 1999 2006
Poland 1999 2015
Romania 2004 2011
Russia 2012 2016
Serbia 2002 2004
Slovakia 1997 2015
Slovenia 1999 2016
South Africa 2008 2008
Spain 2008 2015
Sweden 1999 2003
Turkey 2009 2012
Ukraine 1997 2004
United Kingdom 2000 2010
United States 1999 2015

Qualifying

Unlike the senior ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, competitors are entered by their national federations rather than seeded by the ISU. The number of entries allotted to each ISU member federation is determined by the country's placements at the previous season's World Junior Championships in each respective discipline.[4][5]

The host country is allowed to enter up to three skaters/teams in singles and dance, with no limit on its pair entries. For a number of years, pairs were allowed to compete on both the junior and senior Grand Prix series in the same season but this option was removed before the 2012–13 season.[6]

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Junior Grand Prix series, skaters must be at least 13 but not 19 (or 21 for male pair skaters and ice dancers) before the preceding July 1. A skater must meet the age requirement before it turns July 1 in their place of birth.[7] For example, Adelina Sotnikova was born a few hours into July 1, 1996 in Moscow and consequently, was not eligible to compete until the 2010-11 season.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2014 - 15 Announcement" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  2. 1 2 "Some key dates in ISU history". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "1997/1998 ISU Junior Series". Figure Skating Corner.
  4. 1 2 "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2008 - 09 Announcement". International Skating Union.
  5. ↑ "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2009 - 10 Announcement". International Skating Union.
  6. ↑ "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2012 - 13 Announcement". International Skating Union.
  7. ↑ "ISU Communication No. 1874" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  8. ↑ Vaytsekhovskaya, Elena (December 13, 2010). Елена Буянова: "Сотникова намного лучше, чем была я" [Elena Buianova: "Sotnikova is much better than I was"]. sport-express.ru (in Russian). Retrieved December 19, 2010.
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