Published: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 7:20 PM     Updated: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 8:15 PM

Skate America, which will make a three-day run in the Rose Garden beginning Friday, marks the return of elite level skating competition to Portland.

It is the biggest skating event in the city since the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the first international skating event to come to Portland.

Skate America is the fourth stop in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, which comprises six events around the globe. It is the only U.S. event this year. The skaters in the series build points in the selection process for the next Olympics.

"We're thrilled to Skate America here," said Barbara Nydig, the co-chair of the local organizing committee. "It's a huge event."

The series has already made stops at cities in Japan, Canada and China. After Portland, it moves to Moscow and Paris. The Grand Prix final is Dec.9-12 in Beijing, China.

Among the 60 skaters in Portland this week, 16 different nations are represented. The competition is set up in an Olympic-style format and employs the rules of the International Judging System.

The entries include Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S., the ice dancing silver medalists at the Vancouver Games, and Japan's Daisuke Takahashi, the men's bronze medalist.

Unlike the U.S. championships, the entire field is world class at Skate America. Some of this week's skaters have been pegged as the sport's next big stars, and the ISU Grand Prix series gives them an arena in which to gain competitive experience and exposure in the building process to the next Olympics.

NBC will televise portions of the competition Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m.

Skate America schedule
(All Times Pacific)

Friday
7 p.m. - Pairs short program, men's short program (Session 1)
 
Saturday
2 p.m. - Ladies short program, short dance (Session 2)
7 p.m. - Men's free skate, pairs free skate (Session 3)

Sunday
11 a.m. - Free dance, ladies free skate (Session 4)
5 p.m. - Skating Spectacular (Session 5)

--Doug Binder, special to The Oregonian