JGP France kicks off this week in Courchevel
Eight U.S. athletes scheduled to compete in season-opening event
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| Max Aaron is one of eight U.S. skaters that will compete at the JGP France. (Michelle Harvath) |
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Eight athletes will represent the United States at the event in three disciplines: ladies, men's and ice dancing. A pairs competition will be held at only four of the seven JGP events this season.
LADIES
Both members of the U.S. ladies contingent are making their JGP debuts in Courchevel. Yasmin Siraj is the 2010 U.S. junior silver medalist, and she placed second as a novice at the 2010 Gardena Spring Trophy. Nina Jiang, who most recently finished fifth as a junior at the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, has U.S. juvenile (2007) and intermediate (2008) titles to her credit.
MEN
Like their ladies counterparts, Jason Brown and Max Aaron will be making their first appearances in the Junior Grand Prix Series. Brown, the 2010 U.S. junior champion, and Aaron, the 2010 U.S. junior bronze medalist, placed one-two, respectively, as juniors at the 2010 Gardena Spring Trophy.
ICE DANCING
Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus are competing in the JGP Series for the second year. They finished seventh at both JGP Turkey and JGP Belarus last season. Joining them are Alexandra Aldridge and Daniel Eaton, the 2010 U.S. novice champions.
In addition to Courchevel, France, the 2010 Junior Grand Prix Series consists of the following events (*includes pairs)
JGP Romania: Brasov, Romania - Sept. 8-12
JGP Austria: Graz, Austria - Sept. 15-19*
JGP Japan: Karuizawa, Japan - Sept. 22-26
JGP Great Britain: Sheffield, England - Sept. 29-Oct. 3*
JGP German: Dresden, Germany - Oct. 6-10*
JGP Czech Republic: Ostrava, Czech Republic - Oct. 13-17*
JGP Final: Beijing, China - Dec. 9-12*