Competitive figure skating: The exciting year ahead

June 14, 3:58 PMFigure Skating ExaminerColeen Chase

Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Figure Skating Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Now that Michelle Kwan has received her college diploma, she
may turn her sights on competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
(AP Photo/University of Denver)

Figure skating fans have much to look forward to in the upcoming 2009-2010 season! Right now, ice rinks across the United States are buzzing with activity as skaters train for their qualifying competitions. Qualifying competitions are the pipeline for singles, pairs and ice dancers to advance to the U.S. Junior Championships, the U.S. Championships, World Championships and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Regional Competitions

U.S. singles skaters begin their qualifying season at one of nine regional competitions. “Regionals,” as they are called, are held in October. For example, if Michelle Kwan decides to train for the Olympics and returns to skate for the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club, she will need to begin her season at the Southwest Regional Championships which will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona beginning October 23. The top four Juvenile and Intermediate singles skaters at each regional competition will head to the U.S. Junior Championships beginning December 14 at the Hoover Arena in Strongsville, Ohio.

Sectional Competitions

The top four Novice, Junior and Senior skaters will head to their respective sectional championships which each begin on November 17, 2009. There are three U.S. sectional championships: Eastern Sectionals which will be held in Newark, Delaware; Midwestern Sectionals which will take place in Wichita, Kansas and the Pacific Coast Sectionals in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Also competing at sectional competitions are the ice dance and pairs teams. The top eight teams in Juvenile and Intermediate Ice Dance and Pairs at each sectional competition will head to the U.S. Junior Championships.

Nationals, Worlds and Olympics

The top four skaters in singles, pairs and ice dance at the Novice, Junior and Senior level at sectionals will advance to the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Washington which begin January 14th. Since this is an Olympic year, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will help determine which skaters will represent the United States in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games which start February 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as well as the athletes who will be eligible to compete at the 2010 World Championships which begin March 22, 2010, in Torino, Italy.

For more info: United States Figure Skating