The 2023/2024 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series reaches its halfway point as the Grand Prix de France returns to Angers for the second year in a row.

When is it on?

Grand Prix de France begins Friday, 3 November with the women’s short programme and concludes Sunday, 5 November with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

It is fair to say that the men’s event is pretty stacked, even with the late withdrawal of 2022 European silver medallist Daniel Grassl (ITA). Ilia Malinin (USA) will be seeking to seal his place in next month’s Grand Prix Final after his runaway victory at Skate America. The American will face a challenge from Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) who spent most of last season sidelined through injury. The 2022 Olympic silver medallist made a winning comeback at September’s Lombardia Trophy. Local favourite Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA) is the defending champion from last season. 2022 Junior Grand Prix Final gold medallist Nikolaj Memola (ITA) and 2023 European bronze medallist Lukas Britschgi (SUI) finished one-two at last month’s Budapest Trophy.

The women’s competition in Angers will also be extremely competitive. Haein Lee (KOR) had a superb 2022/2023 season culminating in her taking a World silver medal in Saitama, Japan earlier this year. So far this season, she has two silver medals to show from her appearances at Nepela Memorial and Shanghai Trophy. Isabeau Levito (USA) already has a silver medal from this season’s Skate America and will be looking for a similar result or better to put herself into her second Grand Prix Final. European champion Anastasiia Gubanova (GEO) won Lombardia Trophy in September and took third at Finlandia Trophy last month. European bronze medallist Kimmy Repond (SUI) may also have something to say about the medals, while all eyes will be on 2018 World silver medallist Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) as she makes her return to international competition.

World bronze medallists Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii (ITA) are the frontrunners in the pairs competition. The Italians have already won Lombardia Trophy and Tayside Trophy so far this season and will be aiming to keep their winning streak going. Lia Perreira and Trennt Michaud (CAN) were in impressive form at Skate America where they placed and another good finish in France will set them up for a first appearance at a Grand Prix Final. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea (USA) are making their Grand Prix debut as a team. The Americans won Finlandia Trophy last month.

Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) are favoured to retain the title they won last year in Angers. The Italian ice dancers have pocketed gold medals at Lombardia Trophy and Shanghai Trophy this season. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN) had a disastrous rhythm dance at Autumn Classic and ultimately they only finished third at the event. They will be attempting to put their best feet forward in Angers where they won silver last year. Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) ended up third last time round at the French Grand Prix behind the Italians and Canadians and will be hoping to match that position at the very least.

Everything you need to know (and some things you did not) about the skaters, the competition schedule and results can be viewed here.

When is the skating on?

Morning till lunchtime in North America, afternoon till evening in Europe and night time till the early hours in Asia. The times listed for Grand Prix de France are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Angers then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

This season’s Grand Prix de France can be viewed on the Skating ISU YouTube channel. Geographic restrictions apply.

What are the hashtags?

#GPFigure #FigureSkating