The 2009/2010 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating continues with the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan November 6 to 8. 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 of the series will proceed to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Tokyo, Japan.

This week, a couple of skaters are entering their first Grand Prix event of the season while others are fighting for a ticket to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December.

The Men’s event promises to be highly competitive. 2009 European Champion Brian Joubert (FRA) wants to rally back from a fourth-place finish in Paris in October. 2008 Four Continents Champion Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) makes his comeback after missing the past season due to injury. Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) wants to follow up on his silver medal from the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow two weeks ago. Johnny Weir (USA), the reigning Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, is looking to come back from a fourth place in Moscow. World Junior Champion Adam Rippon (USA) and 2008 World junior silver medalist Artem Borodulin (RUS) both took bronze in their first Grand Prix events in Paris and Moscow and hope to be on the podium again. Reigning Grand Prix Final Champion Jeremy Abbott (USA) is entering the series now and looking for a strong start. 2009 World junior silver medalist Michal Brezina (CZE) is debuting on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Miki Ando (JPN) is aiming at a second Grand Prix gold medal this season after taking the title at Rostelecom Cup two weeks ago. She will meet the silver and bronze medalists from Moscow, Ashley Wagner (USA) and Alena Leonova (RUS), who want to challenge the 2009 World bronze medalist. Yukari Nakano (JPN), the bronze medalist from the Trophée Bompard in Paris, is another contender who wants to assure her spot in the Final. Reigning European Champion Laura Lepistö (FIN) and two-time European silver medalist Sarah Meier (SUI) both will compete in her first Grand Prix this season and are eying the podium as well. Reigning ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Becky Bereswill (USA) debuts on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

In the Pairs event, Rostelecom Cup Champions Qing Pang/Jian Tong (CHN) and Rostelecom Cup silver medalists Yuko Kavaguti/Alexander Smirnov (RUS) will face each other again and are also up against Rena Inoue/John Baldwin (USA) and Caydee Denney/Jeremy Barrett (USA). 2008 World Junior Champions Ksenia Krasilnikova/Konstantin Bezmaternykh (RUS), Narumi Takahashi/Mervin Tran (JPN), Mylene Brodeur/John Mattatall (CAN) and Paige Lawrence/Rudi Swiegers (CAN) are competing as well.

2009 Four Continents Champions Meryl Davis/Charlie White (USA) are leading the Ice Dance competition. They won the Rostelecom Cup and want to book their ticket to the Final here in Nagano. Sinead Kerr/John Kerr (GBR) took the bronze medal at the Trophée Bompard and want to challenge Davis/White. Also hoping for a podium finish are 2008 World junior silver medalists Vanessa Crone/Paul Poirier (CAN) and 2007 World Junior Champions Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev (RUS). Other competitors include Xintong Huang/Xun Zheng (CHN), Lucie Mysliveckova/Matej Novak (CZE), Cathy Reed/Chris Reed (JPN) and Anna Zadarozhniuk/Sergei Verbillo (UKR).

The full list of entries is available at www.isu.org

The schedule of the NHK Trophy is as follows:
Friday, November 6: Compulsory Dance, Ladies, Men and Pairs Short Program
Saturday, November 7: Original Dance, Ladies, Pairs and Men Free Skating
Sunday, November 8: Free Dance, Exhibition Gala