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The 2020–21
ISU Challenger Series The ISU Challenger Series is a series of international figure skating competitions. Established by the International Skating Union in the 2014–15 season, it is a group of senior-level events ranked below the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. E ...
was scheduled to be held from September 9 to December 5, 2020. It was the seventh season that the ISU Challenger Series, a group of senior-level international figure skating competitions ranked below the
ISU Grand Prix The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (known as ISU Champions Series from 1995 to 1997) is a series of senior international figure skating competitions organized by the International Skating Union. The invitational series was inaugurated in 1995, in ...
, was held. Originally a series of ten events, the 2020–21 Challenger Series featured only two individual events, with six events cancelled and two postponed to an unknown future date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The International Skating Union announcement on April 22, 2020 for the 2020–21 ISU Challenger Series issued the following caveat regarding the scheduling of the events: On May 1, the ISU established a working group, chaired by ISU Vice-President for Figure Skating Alexander Lakernik, to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Its responsibilities include determining the feasibility of holding events as scheduled, possibly behind closed doors, during the first half of the 2020–21 season and the financial impact of any potential cancellations. On May 16, the Slovak Figure Skating Association informed the ISU that it had cancelled all upcoming events that it was scheduled to host due to the ongoing pandemic, including the 2020 Nepela Memorial in
Bratislava Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...
. As of May 26, the initial event schedule announced for the 2020 Asian Open Trophy has been withdrawn. As of July 21, Skate Canada marked the 2020 Autumn Classic as postponed to an unspecified date. On July 13, the ISU announced that the 2020–21 Challenger Series events would be regarded as separate individual competitions, rather than as a series; as a result, no Challenger Series ranking will be determined and no prize money will be distributed at the end of the series. However, skaters competing will earn Challenger Series-level points for their World Ranking, as long as the competition meets ISU guidelines to qualify as a Challenger event. The decision was later revised by the ISU council on August 3, announcing that World Standing/Ranking points would not be awarded for the sake of fairness, due to the limited nature of the competitions. On July 13, the Japan Skating Federation announced that it would not assign any skaters to the Challenger Series, assuming the competitions proceeded as scheduled. On August 25, the
German Ice Skating Union The German Ice Skating Union (german: Deutsche Eislauf-Union, DEU) is the national amateur association for figure skating and ice dancing in Germany. The various German ice sports associations constitute the membership of the DEU; individuals ca ...
confirmed that 2020 Nebelhorn Trophy would be held as scheduled, but without spectators and would include extensive social distancing guidelines and procedures for the athletes and coaches in attendance. On August 28, the ISU removed the maximum entry limit per country of three skaters/teams per discipline. As of November 4, the 2020 Golden Spin of Zagreb was postponed to an unspecified date.


Events

The 2020–21 series will be composed of the following events in autumn 2020.


Cancelled

* May 16: The ISU announced that the Slovak Figure Skating Association had cancelled the 2020 Nepela Memorial, scheduled for September 16–19 in
Bratislava Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...
, Slovakia. * August 20: The
Finnish Figure Skating Association The Finnish Figure Skating Association (FFSA) ( fi, Suomen Taitoluisteluliitto, ''STLL'') is the national association for figure skating in Finland. The FFS has its origins in the Finnish Skating Association (''Suomen Luisteluliitto'') which was ...
cancelled the 2020 Finlandia Trophy, but mentioned that they were willing to host the competition virtually. * September 1: The 2020 Denis Ten Memorial Challenge was cancelled. * November 3: Skate Austria cancelled the 2020 Cup of Tyrol. * November 6: The ice dance portion of the 2020 Warsaw Cup is cancelled. * November 10: The Polish Figure Skating Association cancels 2020 Warsaw Cup entirely. * February 13: The 2020 Autumn Classic, originally listed as postponed and since removed from the official Skate Canada calendar, is referred to as cancelled.


Medal summary


Medalists


Men


Ladies


Pairs


Ice dance


Medal standings


Challenger Series rankings

Out of fairness to skaters impacted by travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ISU Council decided there will be no Challenger Series ranking this season and therefore no ISU prize money for the series will be awarded.


Top scores


Men


Best total score


Best short program score


Best free skating score


Ladies


Best total score


Best short program score


Best free skating score


Pairs


Best total score


Best short program score


Best free skating score


Ice dance


Best total score


Best rhythm dance score


Best free dance score


References


External links


ISU Challenger Series
at the International Skating Union {{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 ISU Challenger Series ISU Challenger Series Figure skating competitions Challenger Series
ISU Challenger Series The ISU Challenger Series is a series of international figure skating competitions. Established by the International Skating Union in the 2014–15 season, it is a group of senior-level events ranked below the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. E ...