BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 2019/20 season of figure skating kicks off with the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, which starts its first leg on August 22 in Courchevel, France.
The 2019/20 season marks the 23rd edition of the ISU Junior GP of Figure Skating that was first introduced in 1997.
The series features talented junior skaters from all over the world and provides young skaters aged 13 to 19 (21 for male ice dance and pair skating partners) with the opportunity to compete at a high international level.
More than 300 young skaters from over 50 ISU members are expected to compete in this year's series, which includes seven legs, Courchevel, France from August 22 to 24; Lake Placid, United States from August 29 to August 31; Riga, Latvia from September 5 to 7; Chelyabinsk, Russia from September 12 to 14; Gdansk, Poland from September 19 to 21; Zagreb, Croatia from September 26 to 28; Egna, Italy from October 3 to 5 and an ISU Junior GP Final, which will be held in Torino, Italy from December 5 to 8.
According to the ISU, two-time World Junior Pairs medalists Polina Kostiukovich/Dmitri Ialin from Russia, ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Champion Stephen Gogolev of Canada, and 2018 ISU Junior Grand Prix silver medalist Petr Gumennik of Russia will take part in the new season's series. At the same time, newcomers such as US Champion Alysa Liu are eager to leave their mark on the circuit.
The best six skaters and couples in each discipline qualify for the ISU Junior GP Final. Skaters qualify for the final by earning points according to their placements.