Laurel Ridge Skating Club

Competitions

Each year skating clubs offer competitions which are referred to as "non-qualifying" or "local" competitions”.  Check the events calendar for local competitions.  Competitions which are used to qualify competitors for the U.S. National Championship are referred to as "qualifying competitions” and include the Regionals and the Sectionals.

Non-Qualifying Competitions

Non-Qualifying Competitions provide skaters the opportunity to experience in the competitive environment, the chance to earn medals and ribbons, and the opportunity to preview the work of skaters in other clubs.

Basic Skills competitions enjoy a relaxed rules structure and are available to both USFSA members and non-members.  These competitions hold events at various levels, equivalent to those specified in the Basic Skills training curriculum (see "Events for Basic Skills Competitions" elsewhere in this booklet).

Judges for Basic Skills competitions may be officially-appointed USFSA judges, or may be other eligible persons (i.e. Instructors) approved by the sponsoring club or organization (note: occasionally Basic Skills competitions include events for Pre-Preliminary or Preliminary tested skaters - if this is the case, these events are judged by official USFSA judges).

For non-qualifying competitions, the Competition Announcement is the "rulebook" for the competition.

Qualifying Competitions

Qualifying competitions refers to all those competitions which lead to US National and World competitions. These competitions start at the Regional level. Successful competitors from Regional competition advance to Sectional level competition, and then onto the US Nationals competition.

Qualifying competitions follow the Rulebook format for events and all age and test-level qualification. See Qualifying Competition Progression prepared by www.sk8stuff.com for a graphic depiction of the relationships between these competitions.

Regionals

There are 9 Regions in the US, each of which holds an annual Regional competition. The Laurel Ridge Skating Club is located in the New England Region which includes the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.  The location for the Regional competition within each region is established by the USFSA on the basis of applications by potential sponsoring clubs, and is usually known about a year in advance. Regional competitions are generally held in early October, and the application deadline is Sept 1.

Regionals include levels ranging from Juvenile to Senior.  Organizers are permitted to hold additional events if time permits and often Pre-Juvenile and other non-qualifying events will be included.

There is no requirement other than test level (and, for some levels, age) for entering into Regional competition.  Any eligible USFSA skater of the appropriate test level may enter his or her region's Regional Competition.

Sectionals

There are 3 Sections in the US, each of which holds an annual Sectional competition.  The New England Region is part of the Eastern Sectional.  The location for the Sectional competition within each section is established by the USFSA each year on the basis of applications by potential sponsoring clubs, and is usually known about a year in advance.

Sectional Competition is the second rung on the road to Nationals; skaters qualify to skate in Sectionals based upon performance at Regionals.

Sectional competitions are generally held in late November or early December.

United States Figure Skating Championships (US Nationals)

US Nationals is held annually in a city whose location is established by the USFSA each year on the basis of applications by potential sponsoring clubs. The location is generally known about 2-3 years in advance, and always rotates between sections.

US Nationals holds events for Novice, Junior, and Senior level skaters.

US Junior National Championships

The Junior Nationals is the national level competition for skaters at the Juvenile and Intermediate levels. Qualification for Junior Nationals is through Regional performance. Junior Nationals is generally held in December of each year.

Other Nationally-Scoped Competitions

US Adult Figure Skating Championships (Adult Nationals)

The US Adult Figure Skating Championships is the National level competition for adult (age 25 and over) skaters. At present, there is no requirement for Regional or Sectional qualification to enter the US Adult Nationals at most levels, although some higher-level events do require qualification.

Like US Nationals and Junior Nationals, Adult Nationals has begun to rotate from section to section annually.

National Collegiate Championships

Each August at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, college students gather for a skating competition called the "National Collegiate Championships".  This competition is open to all USFSA members who are enrolled in a college degree program. Junior and Senior level events are offered in singles Freeskating, Pairs, Dance, and Figures. No Regional or Sectional qualification is required for entry to this competition.  Note that the element requirements are slightly relaxed for the singles short program.

To qualify as a college student for this competition, singles skaters must be enrolled full-time in a college or university degree program, or have graduated from such a program the previous academic year, or be currently admitted for the coming academic year.  Pairs skaters must meet the same criteria, except that "half-time" enrollment is acceptable.