The best skaters in the world gather in Grenoble, France this weekend for the ISU Senior and Junior Grand Prix Finals.

When is it on?

The ISU Grand Prix Final begins Thursday, 5 December with the Junior Pairs short programme and concludes Sunday, 8 December with the exhibition gala.

Who is skating?

Ilia Malinin (USA) has outscored the rest of the men’s field by a considerable margin this season and is the hot favourite to win back-to-back titles. Yuma Kagiyama (JPN) is the only other man besides Malinin in the final to have emerged victorious at both of his Grand Prix assignments and should be the American’s closest challenger. On paper the bronze medal is likely to come down to Shun Sato (JPN) who took his first Grand Prix title at Cup of China and local boy Kevin Aymoz (FRA) who was back close to his best at Skate America even beating Malinin in the free skating. Daniel Grassl (ITA) will be aiming to improve on his previous best finish of sixth place at the 2022 Grand Prix Final, while Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) got called up to compete following the withdrawal of Adam Siao Him Fa (FRA). Shaidorov becomes the first Kazakh skater to participate in a senior Grand Prix Final.

Japanese women captured 13 of the 18 medals on offer during this season’s Grand Prix series and five of the six qualifiers who will skate in Grenoble will be from Japan. Three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto (JPN) had an indifferent start to her season, but a comprehensive win at NHK Trophy shows that she is rounding back into form and on course to retain the Grand Prix Final crown. Amber Glenn (USA) vanquished Sakamoto at Lombardia Trophy back in September and with a consistent triple Axel in her arsenal she will pose a threat. Mone Chiba (JPN) was perhaps unfortunate to face both Sakamoto and Glenn alternately at her Grand Prix assignment as she has the third highest total score out of the skaters in the women’s event. Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) nabbed her first Grand Prix title at Skate America and returns to the Grand Prix Final for the first time since 2017. Hana Yoshida (JPN) collected a bronze medal at last season’s Grand Prix Final and will be hoping to repeat that podium placing from twelve months ago. Rino Matsuike (JPN) is making her Grand Prix Final debut.

Reigning World champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps (CAN) were the only pair with two Grand Prix golds in their pockets until they withdrew earlier this week. 2023 World champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) have had an up and down season so far with a first place at Skate America sandwiched between unexpected losses at Lombardia Trophy and NHK Trophy. Defending Grand Prix Final champions Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (GER) hold the highest total score this season so far, but came unstuck somewhat at Cup of China where they finished second behind Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (ITA). The Italians have reversed their fortunes from last season with wins at Lombardia Trophy and Cup of China. 2023 Junior Grand Prix Final champions Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (GEO) have made the step up to the senior edition this time thanks in large part to their surprise gold medal at NHK Trophy over Miura and Kihara. Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea are in their very first Grand Prix Final. Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini (ITA) received the call up to replace Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps.

To say that it has been an unpredictable Grand Prix season in ice dance is an understatement. However, all the main players have made it to Grenoble. Each of the 2024 World medallists had one Grand Prix assignment where things went awry. Madison Chock and Evan Bates (USA) lost at Skate America before rebounding at NHK Trophy with the highest total score of the season of any team. It was a similar situation for Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ITA) in their Grand Prix opener as they (in their own words) skated the worst they have ever done in their careers at Grand Prix de France. On the other hand, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (CAN) performed excellently at Skate Canada at the beginning of their campaign and then had things fall apart at Finlandia Trophy. In America and Finland, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (GBR) were ready and waiting and are the only ice dance team with two golds from their Grand Prix assignments. The British will be there again if any of the leading three teams mess up. Evgeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) took their first Grand Prix title at Grand Prix de France and will be looking to get their home fans behind them again this week. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (CAN) qualified for the final on the strength of two silver medals in Canada and China.

A busy weekend of skating will also see this season’s Junior Grand Prix Final held on the same ice as the senior events. Mao Shimada (JPN) will be going for her third consecutive title in the Junior Women’s category. Yanhao Li (NZL) will become the first Kiwi skater to participate in a Junior Grand Prix Final when he takes to the ice in the Junior Men’s event.

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?

Late morning till early evening in North America, afternoon till evening in Europe and through the night in Asia. The times listed for the Grand Prix Final are local and if you want to know what the time difference is between where you are and Grenoble then this link is your friend.

Where can I watch the pretty skaters?

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

What are the hashtags?

#GPFigure #FigureSkating