Eight Americans are headed to the first event of the 2019 International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JGP) Series this week in Courchevel, France. Competition starts on Thursday, Aug. 22, with the ladies and men's short programs. The rhythm dance and ladies free skate will take place on Friday, Aug. 23, and the event will conclude with the men's free skate and free dance on Saturday, Aug. 24.

In the ladies competition, Hanna Harrell will skate in her third JGP event to kick off the 2019-20 season. Harrell is the 2019 U.S. pewter medalist and finished seventh at JGP Armenia last season. Calista Choi makes her international debut in France. She is the reigning U.S. novice champion.

In the men's competition, Maxim Naumov and Matthew Nielsen will represent the U.S. in France. Naumov is entering his second JGP season after taking the 2018-19 season off due to injury. Nielsen will make his JGP debut. The Ohio-based skater is the 2019 U.S. novice silver medalist.

In the ice dance field, 2019 U.S. novice champions Elizabeth Tkachenko and Alexei Kiliakov will also make their JGP debut this weekend. Additionally, Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen will make their debut as a team in France.

Entering its 23rd season, the JGP Series consists of seven international events in a cumulative point-scoring format. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the seven scheduled events (pairs can compete in two of four designated events). The top six point-earners in each discipline qualify for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2019, Dec. 5-8 in Torino, Italy. The ISU will stream the event live on its YouTube page.

U.S. Entries at JGP France
Ladies: Calista Choi, Hanna Harrell
Men's: Maxim Naumov, Matthew Nielsen
Ice dance: Elizabeth Tkachenko and Alexei Kiliakov, Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen