Adult figure skating

Adult figure skating is a category referring to amateur ice skaters older than 21, who are actively training to improve skills, pass tests or to compete.

However, this category does not include 'elite' skaters who are still competing and performing past this age.

Several national skating organizations have separate test tracks and competitions for adults. Adults traditionally compete in Freeskate (singles), Pairs, Dance (couples), Interpretive and Synchronized team skating. However, depending on the competition, other events such as Figures, Moves in the Field, Compulsory Moves, Spins and Jumps may be offered.

United States

US Figure Skating was the earliest sport governing body to codify tests and competition standards for adult skating. The U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships began in 1995. Adult freeskate tests were introduced in the mid-1990s, and adult moves in the field (MITF) tests followed in 2002.

Testing

Standard track tests are open to skaters of any age, but due to needs and limitations of adult skaters, U.S. Figure Skating created adult tests [http://www.gerfsc.com/rules.htm Geriatric Figure Skating Crew - Adult Tests ] ] . The tests have roughly the same elements as the standard track Pre-Preliminary through Juvenile, but with a more relaxed judging standard and some moves rearranged.

There are both moves in the field and freeskate tests at the following levels:

Many clubs include Adult events in their standard track competitions.

Canada

Adult skating in Canada has been around for a while but did not have a national event until Skate Canada started the first Canadian adult championships in March 2004 after some lobbying from Canadian adult skaters wishing to have their own nationals. The event is known as the Skate Canada Adult Championships. The first Skate Canada Adult Championships were held in Burnaby, BC with just over 70 adult skaters competing. In 2007 Calgary hosted the Skate Canada Adult Championships to just over 120 adult skaters competing in event categories ladies freeskate, men's freeskate, ladies interpretive, men's interpretive, compulsory dances, freedance and pairs using the CPC (Cumulative Points Calculation) which is similar to the ISU's COP but with adjustments for StarSkaters and AdultSkaters. Note: there were no marks for Waltz jumps in the ISU marking system until 2007. Also the CPC has away to record marks for interpretive programs. The best adult skaters in Canada register to compete at adult championships. We don't presently have qualifying for Adult Canadians do to the fact that the competition is still new and the adults coming to compete are still low enough not to warrant qualifying. Also, not many sections have a section competition for their adult skaters. Western Ontario Section is one of the few that does have events for adults to compete at the annual StarSkate Sectionals in the form as showcase events.

We Canadian adult skaters still test the same as the kid StarSkaters. We don't have our own tests yet. But when we compete freeskate they are Adult Bronze (preliminary), Adult Silver (Junior Bronze), Adult Gold (Senior Bronze), Masters Novice (Junior Silver), Masters Junior (Senior Silver) and Masters Senior (Gold) (There aren't many adult skaters at the Masters level so for the most part Masters Skaters usually get grouped together in competition. Interpretive skating starts in Pre-Introductory (not passed the introductory interpretive test), Introductory, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Dance has Preliminary, Junior Bronze, Senior Bronze, Junior Silver, Senior Silver, Gold and Diamond in compulsory dances. Currently Freedance is an open event. Pairs is also an open event as not many skaters in Canada train pairs, can find a local partner and/or are willing to train in the most dangerous discipline in figure skating because most have a day job.

Some Canadian adult skaters compete in the US and/or overseas; Germany, France, Russia, Switzerland and Estonia.

International Competitions

Inter-club

Several clubs host annual adult-only competitions attended by skaters from several countries. These competitions use similar levels and age ranges as those used in the U.S. They include the

ISU

The International Skating Union held the first ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Obertsdorf, Germany June 10-12, 2005. The ISU event has slightly different age ranges than used in the other adult-only competitions. The minimum age is 28 and the maximum age is 71.

External links

* [http://www.usfigureskating.org/Programs.asp?id=46 US Figure Skating's adult page] *
* [http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/skate_for_life/programs/adultskate/ SkateCanada's adult page] *
* [http://barbara.standke.free.fr/cdlm2006/coupewelcome.html Official Mountain Cup website] *
* [http://gerfsc.com/intl.htm International All Adult Competition listing] *
* [http://home.pacbell.net/anamga/intro.html Recreational Figure Skating FAQ] *

ADULT SKATING TRAINING CAMPS:
* [http://www.lakeplacidskating.com/newsite/programs/adultweeks/index.php] *
* [http://www.aspenrecreation.com/pages.cfm?category3id=67&contentid=165] *

References