Icenetwork.com Trophee Eric Bompard Event Page
(10/14/09) - The 2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series begins this week at Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris, France. Athletes from Team USA will compete against skaters from 13 other countries, all vying for points and prize money in this first of six events in the series.
Trophée Bompard will take place at Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy in Paris. Competition will begin Friday, Oct. 16 with the compulsory and original dances, and the men's, pairs and ladies short programs.
Icenetwork.com will provide live and on-demand coverage of the event for “Season Pass” subscribers within the contiguous United States. U.S. Figure Skating, via a joint partnership with MLB Advanced Media, has secured the exclusive U.S. broadband rights for the 2009 ISU Grand Prix Series. Visit icenetwork.com for the complete broadcast schedule.
In addition, NBC Sports and Universal Sports will provide same-day coverage of select events.
NBC Sports/Universal Sports Trophee Eric Bompard Broadcast Schedule
Friday, Oct. 16 (Universal Sports) - 5-7 p.m. ET/Encore Presentation: 8-10 p.m. ET
Saturday, Oct. 17 (Universal Sports) - 5-7 p.m. ET/Encore Presentation: 10-11 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 18 (NBC Sports) - 1-3 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 18 (Universal Sports) - 5-7 p.m. ET
The Grand Prix Series, now in its 15th 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 two of the six scheduled events. The top six point-earners in each of the disciplines then qualify for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 3-6. Athletes will be vying for a total of more than $1.35 million in prize money throughout the series.
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| Caroline Zhang Photo by Paul Harvath |
Caroline Zhang, the reigning two-time World Junior silver medalist and 2009 U.S. bronze medalist, will compete in Paris alongside Alexe Gilles, the 2008 U.S. junior champion. Zhang placed fourth at the 2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and is also the 2007 World Junior champion. She won bronze at last year's Trophée Bompard. This is Gilles' senior international debut. She won bronze at last year's Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Goyang City, Republic of Korea. Sasha Cohen was slated to compete in Paris but was forced to withdraw because of tendonitis in her right calf. The 2006 Olympic silver medalist is scheduled to appear later this season at Skate America.
Men
Ryan Bradley, the 2007 U.S. silver medalist, will look to improve on his seventh-place finish at last year's Trophée Bompard. He won the silver medal at 2008 Skate Canada and finished fourth at the 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Bradley will be joined by reigning two-time World Junior champion Adam Rippon. The 2008 U.S. junior and Junior Grand Prix Final titlist placed eighth last season at Skate America and fifth at the Cup of Russia.
Pairs
This is the third appearance at Trophée Bompard for two-time U.S. champions and 2009 U.S. bronze medalists Rena Inoue & John Baldwin, who won silver in their 2006 appearance at this event. This will be Inoue and Baldwin's seventh season on the Grand Prix circuit. Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir, the 2009 World Junior and U.S. junior bronze medalists, round out the U.S. pairs contingent in Paris. They are making their senior international debut at this event.
Ice Dancing
Emily Samuelson & Evan Bates, the 2009 U.S. silver medalists, will begin their second season in the Grand Prix Series. The 2008 World Junior champions won bronze last year at the NHK Trophy and placed fourth at Skate America. They are joined by reigning two-time U.S. bronze medalists Kimberly Navarro & Brent Bommentre, who are competing for the first time at Trophée Bompard after three years in the Grand Prix Series. The team placed fifth at 2008 Skate Canada and took the bronze at the 2008 Four Continents Championships. Brother-and-sister dance team Madison Hubbell & Keiffer Hubbell are making their senior international debut. The Hubbells won silver at the 2008 Junior Grand Prix Final.
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