ISU Junior Grand Prix in Canada

History

The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JGP) was established by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1997 and consists of a series of seven international figure skating competitions exclusively for junior-level skaters. The locations of the Junior Grand Prix events change every year. While all seven competitions feature the men's, women's, and ice dance events, only four competitions each season feature the pairs event. Skaters earn points based on their results each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are then invited to compete at the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

Skaters are eligible to compete on the junior-level circuit if they are at least 13 years old before 1 July of the respective season, but not yet 19 (for single skaters), 21 (for men and women in ice dance and women in pair skating), or 23 (for men in pair skating). Competitors are chosen by their respective skating federations. The number of entries allotted to each ISU member nation in each discipline is determined by their results at the prior World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Canada hosted its first Junior Grand Prix competition in 1999 in Montreal. Soshi Tanaka of Japan won the men's event, Irina Nikolaeva of Russia won the women's event, Chantal Poirier and Craig Buntin of Canada won the pairs event, and Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States won the ice dance event.

Canada has twice hosted the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, the culminating event of the Junior Grand Prix series. The 2011 Grand Prix Final was held in Quebec City. Jason Brown of the United States won the men's event, Yulia Lipnitskaya of Russia won the women's event, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China won the pairs event, and Victoria Sinitsina and Ruslan Zhiganshin of Russia won the ice dance event. The 2018 Grand Prix Final was held in Vancouver. Stephen Gogolev of Canada won the men's event, Alena Kostornaia of Russia won the women's event, Anastasia Mishina and Aleksandr Galliamov of Russia won the pairs event, and Sofia Shevchenko and Igor Eremenko of Russia won the ice dance event.

In May 2020, Skate Canada informed the ISU that they could not host the Junior Grand Prix event scheduled to be held in August in Richmond, British Columbia, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The International Skating Union eventually cancelled all scheduled Junior Grand Prix events for the 2020–21 season, citing increased travel and entry requirements between countries and potentially excessive sanitary and health care costs for those hosting competitions.

Canada was originally scheduled to host the second event of the 2021 Junior Grand Prix Series in Edmonton, but cancelled the event due to uncertainties surrounding the ongoing pandemic. The event was reallocated to France, where the French Federation of Ice Sports was already scheduled to host the first 2021 Junior Grand Prix competition in Courchevel. Thus, two Junior Grand Prix competitions were held back-to-back at the Patinoire du Forum in Courchevel.

Medalists

Men's singles

Women's singles

Pairs

Ice dance

References

References

1. "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating".
2. (15 July 2024). "Communication No. 2655: Single & Pair Skating".
3. "Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024/25 – Announcement".
4. (26 May 2020). "Cancellation ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating, Richmond (CAN)".
5. (20 July 2020). "ISU Junior Grand Prix Series 2020/21 cancelled".
6. (23 June 2021). "Second ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating event moves from Edmonton (CAN) to Courchevel (FRA)".
7. "Canadian Junior International".
8. "2002 JGP Canada".
9. "2005 JGP Montreal".
10. "2011 Jr Grand Prix Final".
11. "2018 JGP Canada".
12. "2018 Jr Grand Prix Final".