History
Beginning with the 1995–96 season, the International Skating Union (ISU) launched the Champions Series – later renamed the Grand Prix Series – which, at its inception, consisted of five qualifying competitions and the Champions Series Final. This allowed skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the same skaters whom they would later encounter at the World Championships. This series also provided the viewing public with additional televised skating, which was in high demand. [1] Skaters earned points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were then invited to compete at the Champions Series Final. [1]
The first edition of the Grand Prix of Finland was held in 2018 in Helsinki as a replacement event for the Cup of China – a long-time event in the Grand Prix series – after the Chinese Skating Association declined to host any international skating events in order to prepare its venues for the 2022 Winter Olympics. [2] [3] Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan won this inaugural men's event, while Alina Zagitova of Russia won the women's event. Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert of Russia won the pairs event, and Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin, also of Russia, won the ice dance event. [4]
No competitions were held from 2019 to 2021 since the Grand Prix of Finland – at that point called the Grand Prix of Helsinki – had been a one-time substitute for the Cup of China. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from participating in international figure skating competitions. [5] [6] The ISU also ordered that no international competitions would be held in Russia or Belarus. Therefore, the Rostelecom Cup, which had been scheduled for that November, was cancelled. [7] As such, the Grand Prix of Finland – now retitled the Grand Prix of Espoo – was staged to serve as a replacement. [8]
In 2024, the Grand Prix of Finland adopted the name Finlandia Trophy, [9] which had previously been the name of Finland's Challenger Series event. [10] The 2025 Finlandia Trophy is scheduled to be held 21–23 November in Helsinki. [11]
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