The United States will send 10 athletes to compete at 2019 Internationaux de France this week in Grenoble, France. Competition starts on Friday, Nov. 1 with the short programs and rhythm dance, and closes on Saturday, Nov. 2 with the free skates and free dance. Official practice will be held on Thursday, Oct. 31. The event is the third stop on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. Additionally, five athletes will skate at 2019 Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Dongguan, China, set for Oct. 30 – Nov. 3. The event is the eighth of 10 stops on the ISU Challenger Series circuit.
In the ladies competition in France, Starr Andrews and Mariah Bell will take the ice for the U.S. Andrews finished fifth at Finlandia Trophy and Lombardia Trophy earlier this month. Bell comes off a gold medal-finish at Nebelhorn Trophy in September. The reigning U.S. bronze medalist will look to secure her second career Grand Prix Series medal.
Two-time World champion Nathan Chen headlines the men’s competition in Grenoble. Chen claimed the 2019 Skate America title earlier this month in record fashion and will look to punch his ticket to his fourth consecutive Grand Prix Final in Torino, Italy. Also representing Team USA, Tomoki Hiwatashi will make his Grand Prix debut this weekend. Hiwatashi is the reigning World Junior champion and U.S. pewter medalist.
The United States will send two pairs teams to France this week. Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier recently claimed bronze at Skate America and will skate to claim a spot in their first Grand Prix Final. 2019 U.S. pairs champions Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc are also making their second Grand Prix appearance of the season, finishing fifth at Skate America.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates are the sole U.S. ice dance team in France. The 2019 Four Continents champions return to Grand Prix ice after missing the 2018 Series due to injury. Earlier this season, the duo claimed gold at both U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and Finlandia Trophy.
Fans can watch the entire event live, commercial-free and on-demand with the Figure Skating Pass on NBC Sports Gold. Fan can also watch NBC’s recap show on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 4-6 p.m. ET.
The Grand Prix Series, now in its 25th 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 up to two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each discipline qualify for the 2019 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, set for Dec. 5-8, in Torino, Italy.
The United States will send one lady, two men and one ice dance team to Asian Open. Gabriella Izzo will compete at her first Challenger Series event as a senior competitor. Earlier this fall, the reigning U.S. junior champion finished eighth and ninth at her two Junior Grand Prix assignments.
In the men’s competition, Andrew Torgashev and Ryan Dunk will represent the United States. Torgashev finished fourth at his two JGP events and reigning U.S. junior champion Dunk finished fifth and sixth at JGP events in the U.S. and Poland.
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko will compete in their third Challenger Series event of the season. The Novi-based team claimed silver and bronze at U.S. International Classic and Nebelhorn Trophy, respectively.
Additionally, two U.S. ladies, Mia Kalin and Isabeau Levito, will compete in the advanced novice competition.
The ISU Challenger Series is a group of 10 senior-level international figure skating competitions held each year to help skaters prepare and qualify for ISU Championship events.
