2009 United States Figure Skating Championships

Infobox Figure Skating Competition
title= 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships


imagesize=
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comptype= National Championship
startdate= January 18
enddate= January 25
skatingseason= 2008/2009
location= Cleveland, Ohio
host=
venue= Quicken Loans Arena
prizemoney=
defendmen= Evan Lysacek
defendladies= Mirai Nagasu
defendpairs= Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker
defenddance= Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto
championmen=
championladies=
championpairs=
championdance=
previouscomp= 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
nextcomp= 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating national championship to be held in 2009 to determine the national champions of the United States for the 2008/2009 season. The event will take place in Cleveland, Ohio from January 18 to 25th, 2009 at the Quicken Loans Arena. [ [http://www.theqarena.com/publish/events/event_437.php Quicken Loans Arena - Upcoming Event ] ] It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions, the event will also be used to determine the U.S. teams for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, the 2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and the 2009 Four Continents Championships.

Skaters will compete in four disciplines across three levels. The disciplines of the competition are men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, and the levels of competition are Senior, Junior, and Novice. Medals will be given out in four colors: gold (first), silver (second), bronze (third), and pewter (fourth).

Qualifying

Qualification for the U.S. Championships begins at one of nine regional competitions. The regions are New England, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Upper Great Lakes, Eastern Great Lakes, Southwestern, Northwest Pacific, Central Pacific, and Southwest Pacific. The top four finishers in each regional advance to one of three sectional competitions (Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast). Skaters who place in the top four at sectionals advance to the U.S. Championships.

The top five finishers in each discipline from the previous year are given byes to the U.S. Championships, as are any skaters who qualify for the Junior or the Senior Grand Prix Final. Skaters are also given byes through a qualifying competition if they are assigned to an international event during the time that qualifying event is to take place. For example, if a skater is competing at an event at the same time as his or her regional competition, that skater would receive a bye to sectionals. If a skater is competing at an event at the same time as his or her sectional competition, that skater would qualify for the national event without having had to compete at a sectional championship.

Byes

The following skaters have earned the right to compete at the 2009 Nationals without qualifying through Sectionals due to their placement at the 2008 Nationals.

References