Dornbush, Mahbanoozadeh and Razzano finish fifth, seventh and ninth in the short program at Skate America.

Three-time and reigning World Champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany are favored in the pairs competition.

Richard Dornbush, Armin Mahbanoozadeh and Douglas Razzano represent the United States in Ontario, Calif.

Alissa Czisny and Carolina Kostner are the leading contenders in the ladies competition.

The 2011 International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series opens this week.

U.S. Figure Skating today selected Douglas Razzano to compete at 2011 Hilton HHonors Skate America, the opening event of the 2011 International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, Oct. 21-23 in Ontario, Calif.

After a long day on the ice, Alissa Czisny had time for a quick chat as she waited to drive Adam Rippon home. Czisny lives in the same complex as 14 other skaters from her rink, and has been living with Rippon all summer since his apartment didn’t open until August. She’s still driving him home every day, but doesn’t mind because she said it’s nice to have company.

Less than a year after contemplating retirement, Alissa Czisny is the Grand Prix Final Champion. She claimed the gold medal Saturday in Beijing, China, becoming only the third American woman to win the event since its inception in 1997.

Former U.S. Champion Alissa Czisny is won the short program at the Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China, on Friday with Italian Carolina Kostner (62.13 points) and Japan’s Kanako Murakami (61.47) finishing second and third. All three competitors got a new seasons best score, led by Czisny’s personal best score of 63.76.

Two-time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott started the fall with a silver medal performance at the first Grand Prix event of the season, NHK Trophy, and now has his eyes set on gold at the Rostelecom Cup, Nov. 19-21. Figure Skaters Online sat down with Abbott for a quick chat before he left for Moscow, Russia.