Reigning ISU World Champions Alysa Liu (USA), Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN), Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) as well as ISU World silver medallist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) will hit the ice at Saatva Skate America in Lake Placid, NY (USA) this week in pursuit of a spot in the ISU Grand Prix Final. As this is the fifth and penultimate stop of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series 2025/26, less and less spots become available. With the palpable Olympic vibes in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic venue, prepare for a fierce battle for the spots on the podium.

The top contenders in Lake Placid 

ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) aims for her first Final

ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) can qualify for her first ISU Grand Prix Final in Lake Placid © ISU

• Reigning ISU World Champion Alysa Liu (USA) has a chance to qualify for her first ISU Grand Prix Final after taking silver at the Cup of China
• Cup of China bronze medallist Rinka Watanabe (JPN) has a shot at making the Final as well
• 2025 ISU European silver medallist Anastasiia Gubanova is aiming at the podium after missing it narrowly in Chongqing
• 2024 ISU World bronze medalist Chaeyeon Kim (KOR) hopes to improve from her sixth-place finish from the Grand Prix de France
• Also watch out for Lara Naki Gutmann (ITA), Hana Yoshida (JPN) and Wakaba Higuchi (JPN)

ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) leads the field

ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) is still waiting for his first ISU Grand Prix title © ISU

• ISU World silver medalist Mikhail Shaidorov (KAZ) is still waiting for his first ISU Grand Prix title and he needs a first place finish to make sure to get into the ISU Grand Prix Final after taking bronze in China
• Cup of China silver medalist Daniel Grassl (ITA) is hoping for another podium finish and a ticket to the Final
• Kevin Aymoz (FRA) lost his chance for the Final by placing 10^th at Skate Canada International but he can take points away from others if back to form
• Jason Brown (USA) enters the series just now and can’t wait to perform for a home crowd
• Other contenders include Kazuki Tomono (JPN) and Nikolaj Memola (ITA)

ISU World Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) headline the Pairs event

ISU World Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) look for second win on the circuit in Lake Placid © ISU

• Two-time and reigning ISU World Pairs Champions Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) are looking to secure their spot in the Final after winning the Grand Prix de France
• Competition should come from Anastasiia Metelkina/Luka Berulava (GEO) that come off a gold medal at the Cup of China
• Several teams are eying the podium: ISU Skate to Milano silver medalists Karina Akopova/Nikita Rakhmanin (ARM), 2023 Skate America Champions Annika Hocke/Robert Kunkel (GER) and two-time ISU Four Continents silver medalists Emily Chan/Spencer Akira Howe (USA)

ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) going for ninth ISU Grand Prix gold

ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) are aiming to qualify for their ninth Grand Prix Final in Lake Placid © ISU

• Three-time and reigning ISU World Champions Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) are the top favorites looking to qualify for their ninth ISU Grand Prix Final and ninth ISU Grand Prix event title
• Skate Canada bronze medalists Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN) and Cup of China bronze medalists Evgenia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud (FRA) will fight for a medal and a ticket to the Final. They need silver at least to keep their chance for the Final.
• Don’t count out Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko (USA) who missed the podium at Skate Canada by just a little over one point

The schedule of the ISU Grand Prix Saatva Skate America is as follows:

Friday, November 14: Pairs & Men’s Short Programs
Saturday, November 15: Rhythm Dance, Pairs Free Skating, Women’s Short Program, Men’s Free Skating
Sunday, November 16: Free Dance, Women’s Free Skating

ISU Grand Prix Standings

Check out who is on their way to qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final:

Men                 Women        Pairs       Ice Dance

For full entry lists and further information regarding the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series please visit here.

Where to Watch

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Follow the ISU Grand Prix events:

The schedules of each ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event are available below:

5. 17 - 19 Oct 2025       Grand Prix de France in Angers (FRA)
6. 24 - 26 Oct 2025       Cup of China in Chongqing (CHN)
7. 31 Oct-2 Nov 2025   Skate Canada International in Saskatoon (CAN)
8. 07 - 9 Nov 2025        NHK Trophy in Osaka (JPN)
9. 14- 16 Nov 2025      Skate America in Lake Placid (USA)  
10. 21 - 23 Nov 2025     Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki (FIN)  

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final: 

5. 04 - 07 Dec 2025      Nagoya (JPN)