The penultimate leg of the 2023/2024 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series brings us to Finland this weekend for the Grand Prix Espoo.

When is it on?

Grand Prix Espoo begins Friday, 17 November with the men’s short programme and concludes Sunday, 19 November with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

Four men who have medalled at earlier Grand Prix events this season will battle it out for the title. Kevin Aymoz (FRA) laid down a superb performance at Skate America to take home silver and will be gunning for a place in the Grand Prix Final. Kao Miura (JPN) has already tasted victory inside the Espoo Metro Areena already once this season at last month’s Finlandia Trophy. He will be hoping to repeat that success or at the very least match his second place from Skate Canada. Shun Sato (JPN) and Matteo Rizzo (ITA) bagged bronze at Skate America and Skate Canada respectively and will aim for the podium again.

Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) headlines the women’s event and blew the rest of the field away in winning Skate Canada. Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) was the skater who got closest to the two-time World champion in Vancouver and they will face each other again in Finland this weekend. Rion Sumiyoshi (JPN) is back competing in Europe after capturing bronze at Grand Prix de France two weeks ago.

Despite their unexpected loss at Grand Prix de France, Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii (ITA) are favourites in the pairs competition. The Italians will be seeking to avoid the errors that cost them dearly in Angers. Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko (HUN) became the first pairs team representing Hungary to win a Grand Prix medal when they placed second at Skate America. Cheng Peng and Lei Wang (CHN) are fresh off their first Grand Prix medal (bronze) as a pair at last weekend’s Cup of China. 2023 Nebelhorn Trophy champions Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) make their Grand Prix debut as a pair.

World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) began their season with a fourth Skate America ice dance title. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (CAN) appear to be a good bet to at least equal their silver medal performance from Grand Prix de France. Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis (FIN) might give the home fans something to cheer about if they can repeat their feat of winning a medal like they did last year in Espoo.

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 Espoo are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Espoo 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