Skate America is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating

Figure skating

Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...

 competition organized by the USFSA

United States Figure Skating Association

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...

. It is the first ISU Grand Prix

ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Elite figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing...

 event to be held. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: men's singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, ladies' singles

Single skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...

, pairs

Pair skating

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...

, and ice dancing

Ice dancing

Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....

.

The 1997 competition was held at the Joe Louis Arena

Joe Louis Arena

Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...

 in Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

, from October 23–25, 1997. The compulsory dance was the Golden Waltz.

Men

Rank	Name	Nation	Fact. Places	SP	FS
1	Todd Eldredge Todd Eldredge Todd James Eldredge is an American figure skater. He is the 1996 World Champion and a six-time national champion .-Biography:...		1.5	1	1
2	Evgeni Plushenko Evgeni Plushenko Evgeni Viktorovich Plushenko is a Russian figure skater. He is the 2006 Winter Olympics Gold Medalist, 2002 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, and 2010 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, three-time World Champion, six-time European Champion, a four-time Grand Prix Final champion and an eight-time...		3.0	2	2
3	Alexander Abt Alexander Abt Alexander "Sasha" Viktorovich Abt is a Russian figure skater and coach. He competed as an elite senior skater for about ten years. He placed fifth at the 2002 Winter Olympics.- Career :...		5.0	4	3
4	Scott Davis		6.5	5	4
5	Viacheslav Zagorodniuk Viacheslav Zagorodniuk Viacheslav Zagorodniuk Viacheslav Zagorodniuk Viacheslav Zagorodniuk (born 11 August 1972 in Odessa, Ukraine (then USSR) is a former Ukrainian figure skater. He represented the USSR until its dissolution and then represented Ukraine. He is the 1994 World bronze medalist, 1996 European champion,...		8.5	3	7
6	Evgeny Pliuta		10.5	11	5
7	Takeshi Honda Takeshi Honda in Kōriyama, Fukushima is a Japanese retired competitive figure skater. He is a two-time World bronze medalist , two-time Four Continents champion , and six-time Japan national champion.-Biography:...		10.5	9	6
8	Jayson Dénommée Jayson Dénommée Jayson Denommee is a Canadian figure skater. He is the 2001 Canadian national silver medalist. He won the bronze medal at the 1999 Nebelhorn Trophy.-Results:-External links:...		11.0	6	8
9	Michael Chack Michael Chack Michael Chack is an American figure skater. He is the 1993 U.S. bronze medalist. His name became a synonym for a performance not being aired during the broadcast after his 3rd place finish at the 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Championships was not shown on television. He currently tours with Holiday on...		14.0	10	9
10	Jens ter Laak Jens Ter Laak Jens ter Laak is a German figure skater. He is the 1997 German bronze medalist. He is an International Technical Specialist for Germany.-References:...		14.5	7	11
11	Gabriel Monnier Gabriel Monnier Gabriel Monnier is a French figure skater. He is the 2002 French national champion. His highest placement at an ISU Championship was 10th at the 2002 European Figure Skating Championships....		16.0	12	10
12	Stanick Jeannette Stanick Jeannette -External links:*...		16.0	8	12

Ladies

Rank	Name	Nation	Fact. Places	SP	FS
1	Michelle Kwan Michelle Kwan Michelle Wingshan Kwan is an American figure skater. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time U.S...		1.5	1	1
2	Tara Lipinski Tara Lipinski Tara Kristen Lipinski is an American figure skater. At the age of 15, she won the Ladies' Singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Lipinski remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She is also the 1997 World...		3.0	2	2
3	Elena Sokolova Elena Sokolova Elena Sergeevna Sokolova is a Russian figure skater. Sokolova is a three-time Russian national champion , a three-time European medalist and the 2003 World Silver Medalist. In the 2006 Olympic Games, she stumbled badly and only finished 14th. She redeemed herself in the 2006 World Championships...		6.0	6	3
4	Angela Nikodinov Angela Nikodinov Angela Nikodinov , is an American figure skater. She is the 2000 Four Continents Champion.-Biography:Nikodinov is the daughter of Bulgarian immigrants and speaks Bulgarian fluently...		6.0	4	4
5	Yulia Lavrenchuk Yulia Lavrenchuk Yulia Lavrenchuk is a Ukrainian retired competitive figure skater. She is the 1997 European bronze medalist and 1995 & 1997 Ukrainian national champion. Her highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was 9th, in 1997 and 1999...		6.5	3	5
6	Julia Lautowa Julia Lautowa Julia Lautowa is a figure skater who competed in ladies singles. She was born in Russia but moved to Austria and competed for them internationally. She was briefly married to Roman Kostomarov.-Results:-Navigation:...		8.5	5	6
7	Yuka Kanazawa		11.0	8	7
8	Fanny Cagnard		13.0	10	8
9	Angela Derochie Angela Derochie Angela Derochie was a Canadian figure skater. She competed in ladies singles and won the gold medal at the 1998 Canadian Figure Skating Championships...		13.5	9	9
10	Tony Bombardieri		13.5	7	10
11	Franziska Guenther		16.5	11	11

Pairs

Rank	Name	Nation	Fact. Places	SP	FS
1	Marina Eltsova Marina Eltsova Marina Alexeevna Eltsova is a Russian pair skater. She represented the Soviet Union until its fall, and, after that, Russia. With partner Andrei Bushkov, she won the 1996 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1993 and 1997 European Figure Skating Championships...  / Andrey Bushkov		1.5	1	1
2	Kyoko Ina Kyoko Ina is a Japanese-American figure skater. With partner John Zimmerman, she is a three-time U.S. national champion and 2002 Olympian. With partner Jason Dungjen, she was a two-time U.S. Champion and a 1994 & 1998 Olympian.- Life and career :...  / Jason Dungjen Jason Dungjen Jason Dungjen is an American retired pair skater who was a two-time U.S. national champion. He is currently a skating coach....		3.5	3	2
3	Evgenia Shishkova Evgenia Shishkova Evgenia Vasilievna Shishkova is a Russian pair skater and coach. With partner Vadim Naumov, she is the 1994 World champion. They also won the 1998 World Professional Championship.- Career :...  / Vadim Naumov Vadim Naumov Vadim Vladimirovich Naumov is a Russian pair skater. With partner Evgenia Shishkova, he is the 1994 World champion. They also won the 1998 World Professional Championship.- Career :...		4.0	2	3
4	Michelle Menzies Michelle Menzies Michelle Menzies was a Canadian figure skater who competed in pairs. With partner Jean-Michel Bombardier, she won the gold medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1995 and 1996.-Results:...  / Jean-Micheal Bombardier		6.5	5	4
5	Mariana Khalturina / Andrey Kroukov		8.0	4	6
6	Danielle Hartsell Danielle Hartsell Danielle Hartsell is an American pair skater. With brother Steve Hartsell, she is the 1999 U.S. National Champion and 1997 World Junior Champion. She married Chris Minnis on September 20, 2003-Results:...  / Steven Hartsell		8.5	7	5
7	Shelby Lyons Shelby Lyons Shelby Lyons is an American retired competitive figure skater who competed in both singles and pairs. She originally competed as a single skater on the novice level before teaming up with Brian Wells...  / Brian Wells Brian Wells (figure skater) Brian Wells is an American retired competitive pair skater. He had the most success with partner Shelby Lyons, with whom he won four medals at the United States Figure Skating Championships, and competed with twice at the World Figure Skating Championships, placing 10th in 1996 and in 1998...		10.0	6	7
8	Oľga Beständigová Olga Beständigová Oľga Beständigová is a Slovak pair skater. She competed with her brother Jozef Beständig. She retired from skating following the 2002 Winter Olympics but returned to compete with her brother again for the 2004-2005 season. She participated in the Turkish show Buzda Dans in the winters of 2006-2007...  / Josev Bestandig		12.0	8	8

Ice Dancing

Rank	Name	Nation	Fact. Places	CD	OD	FD
1	Elizabeth Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,...  / Jerod Swallow Jerod Swallow Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics....		2.0	1	1	1
2	Barbara Fusar-Poli Barbara Fusar-Poli Barbara Fusar-Poli is an Italian ice dancer. With partner Maurizio Margaglio, she is the 2001 World champion, 2001 European champion, and 2002 Olympic bronze medalist. They won eight Italian titles and competed at three Olympics.-Career:Early in her career, Fusar-Poli competed with Matteo Bonfa...  / Mauritzio Margaglio		4.0	2	2	2
3	Anna Semenovich Anna Semenovich Anna Grigorievna Semenovich is a Russian retired competitive ice dancer, a singer, actress and model.-Skating career:Early in her career, she skated with Maxim Kachanov. They competed at the 1994 Goodwill Games and placed 5th. She teamed up with Vladimir Fedorov in 1995. They won the Finlandia...  / Vladimir Fedorov Vladimir Fedorov Vladimir Anatolyevich Fedorov or Fyodorov is a Russian retired competitive ice dancer. He is the 1993 World bronze medalist with Anjelika Krylova.-Career:...		7.0	4	4	3
4	Kateřina Mrázová Katerina Mrázová Kateřina Mrázová is a Czech retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Martin Šimeček, she is a multiple Czech national champion. They placed 10th at the 1992 Winter Olympics , 8th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and 13th at the 1998 Winter Olympics...  / Martin Šimeček Martin Šimecek Martin Šimeček is a Czech retired competitive ice dancer. With partner Kateřina Mrázová, he is a multiple Czech national champion. They placed 10th at the 1992 Winter Olympics , 8th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and 13th at the 1998 Winter Olympics...		7.0	3	3	4
5	Dominique Deniaud / Martial Jaffredo		10.6	5	6	5
6	Naomi Lang Naomi Lang Naomi Lang is an American ice dancer. With partner Peter Tchernyshev, she is the 1999-2003 U.S. national champion.-Biography:...  / Peter Tchernyshev Peter Tchernyshev - External links :* *- Navigation :...		11.4	6	5	6
7	Megan Wing Megan Wing Megan Wing is a Canadian ice dancer.Wing began skating at the age of five and took up ice dancing at 14. She joined forces with Aaron Lowe in 1986. The duo captured six bronze medals and four silver medals at the Canadian National Championships and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they...  / Aaron Lowe Aaron Lowe Aaron Lowe is a Canadian ice dancer, competing with Megan Wing from 1986-2006.Lowe began in hockey at the age of seven and switched to figure skating when he was nine. He began skating with Megan Wing in 1986. They won six bronze medals and four silver medals at the Canadian Figure Skating...		14.0	7	7	7
8	Sarka Vondrkova / Lukas Kral		16.0	8	8	8