| Bofrost Cup on Ice | |
|---|---|
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | ISU Grand Prix |
| Location | Gelsenkirchen |
| Country | |
| Years active | 1986–2004 |
| Organized by | German Ice Skating Union |
TheBofrost Cup on Ice was an annualfigure skating competition sanctioned by theInternational Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by theGerman Ice Skating Union (German:Deutsche Eislauf-Union). The first iteration was held in 1986 inFrankfurt. When the ISU launched theChampions Series (later renamed theGrand Prix Series) in 1995, the German competition – then called theNations Cup – was one of the five qualifying events. It remained a Grand Prix event until 2002, after which point it was supplanted by theCup of China. This event was held under several names, including theFujifilm Trophy and theSparkassen Cup on Ice. The last installment of the competition took place in 2004.
Medals were awarded inmen's singles, women's singles,pair skating, andice dance. Skaters earned points based on their results at the qualifying competitions each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were invited to then compete at theGrand Prix of Figure Skating Final.Evgeni Plushenko of Russia holds the record for winning the most Bofrost Cup on Ice titles in men's singles (with four), whileMaria Butyrskaya, also of Russia, holds the record in women's singles (with three).Mandy Wötzel andIngo Steuer of Germany hold the record in pair skating (with four), whileAnjelika Krylova andOleg Ovsyannikov of Russia hold the record in ice dance (with four).
Beginning with the 1995–96 season, theInternational Skating Union (ISU) launched theChampions Series – later renamed theGrand Prix Series – which, at its inception, consisted of five qualifying competitions and theChampions 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] The five qualifying competitions during this inaugural season were the1995 Nations Cup, the1995 NHK Trophy, the1995 Skate America, the1995 Skate Canada, and the1995 Trophée de France.[2] 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 theChampions Series Final.[1]
The inaugural competition – the1986 Fujifilm Trophy – was held inFrankfurt.Petr Barna of Czechoslovakia won the men's event, Dianne Takeuchi of Canada won the women's event, Melanie Gaylor andLee Barkell of Canada won the pairs event, andLia Trovati andRoberto Pelizzola of Italy won the ice dance event.[3] From 1986 to 1987, the competition was known as the Fujifilm Trophy.[3][4] There was no event held in 1988. In 1989, the competition – now known as the Nations Cup – moved toGelsenkirchen,[5] where it remained for the entirety of its run. In 1998, the competition changed its name to the Sparkassen Cup on Ice,[6] and in 2002, it again changed its name, this time to the Bofrost Cup on Ice,[7] in recognition of its sponsor, the frozen foods company Bofrost.
In 2003, the Bofrost Cup on Ice lost its spot in the Grand Prix series after theChinese Skating Association reached a more lucrative television contract with the ISU, being replaced by theCup of China on the schedule. Reinhard Mirmseker, then-president of theGerman Ice Skating Union, tried to convince the ISU that rather than stripping the rights to a Grand Prix event from Germany, they should hold a seventh Grand Prix event instead, or rotate the sixth event among the nations of Europe, but those suggestions were turned down.[8]
Despite losing its spot in the Grand Prix series, the German Ice Skating Union continued to stage the competition anyway, but with a unique format. In lieu of the usual short programs,singles skaters competed in ajumping event, where each skater performed a particular jump or jump combination in around-robin format and were scored by a panel of judges. After each skater received their score, they had the option of either keeping it, or risk performing the jump again for a potential higher score. Skaters with the lowest average scores were eliminated in each round.Carolina Kostner of Italy praised the format of the event: "This competition was very cool. Every skater had a second chance."[8] Likewise,Joannie Rochette of Canada stated: "This competition is really good. It's exciting and thrilling. I like the combination of a jump competition with a free program."[8] The comparable event forpair teams involved performingthrow jumps, side-by-side jumps, andlifts in the same competitive format.Ice dance teams performed theiroriginal dances as they would have at a normal competition. All skaters and teams performed theirfree skates orfree dances for the second half of the competition. Although this new format was well received, and the German Ice Skating Union had hoped to continue it as an annual invitational event,[8] the Bofrost Cup on Ice did not continue after 2004.
| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Frankfurt |
| [3] | ||
| 1987 | [4] | ||||
| 1988 | No competition held | ||||
| 1989 | Gelsenkirchen |
| [5] | ||
| 1990 | [9] | ||||
| 1991 | [10] | ||||
| 1992 | [11] | ||||
| 1993 | [12] | ||||
| 1994 | [13] | ||||
| 1995 | [14] | ||||
| 1996 | [15] | ||||
| 1997 | [16] | ||||
| 1998 | [6] | ||||
| 1999 | [17] | ||||
| 2000 | [18] | ||||
| 2001 | [19] | ||||
| 2002 | [7] | ||||
| 2003 | [20] | ||||
| 2004 | [21] | ||||
| Year | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Frankfurt |
| [3] | ||
| 1987 | [4] | ||||
| 1988 | No competition held | ||||
| 1989 | Gelsenkirchen |
| [5] | ||
| 1990 | [9] | ||||
| 1991 | [10] | ||||
| 1992 | [11] | ||||
| 1993 | [12] | ||||
| 1994 |
| [13] | |||
| 1995 | [14] | ||||
| 1996 | [15] | ||||
| 1997 | [16] | ||||
| 1998 | [6] | ||||
| 1999 | [17] | ||||
| 2000 | [18] | ||||
| 2001 | [19] | ||||
| 2002 | [7] | ||||
| 2003 | [20] | ||||
| 2004 | [21] | ||||
| Discipline | Most titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skater(s) | No. | Years | Ref. | |
| Men's singles | 4 | 1999–2002 | [22] | |
| Women's singles | 3 | 1999–2001 | [23] | |
| Pairs | 4 | 1992; 1994; 1996–97 | [11][13] [15][16] | |
| Ice dance | 4 | 1995–98 | [24][11] | |
| [a] | 5 | 1992; 1995–98 | ||
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | |
| 2 | United States | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (11 entries) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 5 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Totals (13 entries) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 14 | |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6 | United States | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Totals (14 entries) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | |
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 8 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| 9 | United States | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Totals (14 entries) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 54 | |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 44 | |
| 2 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 | |
| 3 | United States | 9 | 12 | 12 | 33 |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 28 | |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 | |
| 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 14 | |
| 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 13 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Totals (24 entries) | 72 | 72 | 72 | 216 | |