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]

For the current season, see 2023–24 ISU Junior Grand Prix.

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.

The ISU officially cancelled the events of the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing increased travel and entry requirements between countries and potentially excessive sanitary and health care costs for hosting members.[4]

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.[5]

Event First held Last held
Andorra20052005
Armenia20182023
Australia20112017
Austria20072023
Belarus20082017
Bulgaria19972007
Canada19992018
China19982010
Chinese Taipei20062006
Croatia19992019
Czech Republic19992022
Estonia20052016
France19972022
Germany19972016
Hungary19972023
Italy20012022
Japan19992017
Latvia20112023
Lithuania20182018
Mexico19982013
Netherlands19992006
Norway19992006
Poland19992023
Romania20042011
Russia20122021
Serbia20022004
Slovakia19972021
Slovenia19992021
South Africa20082008
Spain20082015
Sweden19992003
Thailand20232023
Turkey20092023
Ukraine19972004
United Kingdom20002010
United States19992019

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.[5][6]

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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

References
  1. "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2014 - 15 Announcement" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2014-12-07.
  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. "ISU Junior Grand Prix Series 2020/21 cancelled". International Skating Union. July 20, 2020.
  5. "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2008 - 09 Announcement". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11.
  6. "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2009 - 10 Announcement". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22.
  7. "ISU Junior Grand Prix 2012 - 13 Announcement". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
  8. "ISU Communication No. 1874" (PDF). International Skating Union.
  9. 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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