The 2007/2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues this week with the Cup of Russia in Moscow from November 22 to 25. The Cup of Russia is the fifth of six events in the series. The skaters compete for a global prize money of US $ 180, 000 per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and receive points according to their placements.
The top six skaters/couples then qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Torino, Italy (December 13-16). By now, most skaters have started their Grand Prix season and quite a few are hoping to assure their spot in the Final here in Moscow while others are entering the series just now.
Other competitors to watch include 2006 World Junior Champion Takahito Kozuka (JPN), Yannick Ponsero (FRA), Kristoffer Berntsson (SWE) and Gregor Urbas (SLO). Reigning World bronze medalist Yu-Na Kim (KOR) comes to Moscow with a gold medal and a new personal best of 180.68 points from the Cup of China. Competition should come from Skate Canada silver medalist Yukari Nakano (JPN/169.43 points) and Skate Canada bronze medalist jannie Rochette (CAN/168.18 points). 2006 World silver medalist Fumie Suguri (JPN) and 2004 European Champion Julia Sebestyen hope to improve from their fourth place (137.13 points) respectively fifth place finish in China (136.60 points). Also competing are European bronze medalist Kiira Korpi (FIN), Beatrisia Liang (USA) and Arina Martynova (RUS).