Grand Prix Series Continues With Seven U.S. Skaters At Cup Of Russia

Colorado Springs, Colo.- The 2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series continues with its fifth event, the Cup of Russia, in Moscow, Nov. 20-23. Approximately 56 skaters from 15 countries are competing for points and prize money. The Cup of Russia begins Friday with the compulsory dance.

Seven skaters from the United States will compete in three disciplines: ladies, men's and ice dancing. The U.S. team hails from five states: Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Grand Prix Series, now in its 14th season, consists of six international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Approximately 300 athletes from 30 countries are expected to participate in the series. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each of the disciplines then qualify for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final which will be combined with the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final this year in Goyang City, Republic of Korea, Dec. 10-14. Athletes will be vying for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series.

At last week's Trophée Eric Bompard, Team USA took home one medal. Caroline Zhang captured the ladies bronze, her third career medal in the Grand Prix Series.

LADIES
Leading the U.S. ladies contingent is reigning World Junior champion Rachael Flatt. The 2008 U.S. silver medalist finished fourth last month at Skate America. Flatt will be joined by 2006 World champion Kimmie Meissner, who won gold at 2007 Skate America and finished eighth at the event this year. With her bronze-medal performance three weeks ago at Skate Canada, Alissa Czisny earned her second Grand Prix Series assignment of the season. She won gold at the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy and took bronze at the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

MEN
Jeremy Abbott won the gold medal two weeks ago at the Cup of China and, in the process, recorded the highest score by a U.S. man in an international competition since the international judging system was implemented. Last season Abbott finished fourth at both the NHK Trophy and the 2008 U.S. Championships, and he won the bronze at the 2007 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. Joining him in Moscow is reigning U.S. junior and World Junior champion Adam Rippon, who finished eighth last month at Skate America.

ICE DANCING
Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the 2008 U.S. silver medalists, won gold at last month's Skate Canada. Davis and White earned the silver at the 2008 Four Continents Championships and finished sixth at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships.

Within the United States, icenetwork.com Season Pass subscribers are able to view the entire Cup of Russia competition live and on demand. U.S. Figure Skating, via a joint partnership with MLB Advanced Media, has secured the exclusive U.S. broadband rights for the entire 2008-09 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series as well as several other ISU events. Visit icenetwork.com for the complete broadcast schedule.

In addition to the Cup of Russia, the Grand Prix Series consists of the remaining two events:

• NHK Trophy: Tokyo, Japan - Nov. 27-30
• Grand Prix Final: Goyang City, Republic of Korea - Dec. 10-14

- U.S. Figure Skating -
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 1,425 member clubs and Basic Skills Programs representing approximately 184,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.