Adult figure skating is a category referring to amateur ice skaters older than 18 to 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 Solo Dance, Figures, Moves in the Field, Compulsory Moves, Spins and Jumps may be offered.
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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[1]. 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:
| Adult Test Level | Standard Test 'Equivalent' |
|---|---|
| Adult Pre-Bronze | Pre-Preliminary |
| Adult Bronze | Preliminary |
| Adult Silver | Pre-Juvenile |
| Adult Gold | Juvenile |
| Skaters who wish to continue beyond Gold may switch to the standard test track beginning with Intermediate moves in the field. |
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Skaters must pass the moves in the field test before testing the corresponding freeskate test.
There is also an adult component to ice dancing and pair skating [1] tests.
Beginning with the pre-bronze dances, adult skaters may switch to the adult track (age 21+) or masters track (above Adult Gold).
Skaters who trained as children tend to skate more relaxed and "flow" better while most skaters who started as adults tend to skate more tensely and lack flow. This means that testing the adult track through the Gold tests is very difficult for most adult skaters even with many years of dedicated training. Thus the Masters skaters are almost always skaters who trained and passed difficult skating tests before reaching college age.
Adult and masters dance tests are identical to standard tests, but do not require the tester to also perform a solo pattern of the dance, and the tester is marked on a lower passing average. Preliminary dances are tested standard track.
Adult Pairs tests are the Adult Bronze, Adult Silver and Adult Gold[1].
Competitions
For competitions, skaters are grouped in events by age. (The age groups may be merged depending on the number of entries). In 2008, the age ranges in the US were changed to the following:
| Age Classification | Age Range |
|---|---|
| I | 21-30 years old |
| II | 31-40 years old |
| III | 41-50 years old |
| IV | 51-60 years old |
| V | 61+ years old |
U.S. Figure Skating has four official adult competitions: Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast Sectionals, and the U.S. Adult Championships (Nationals). Sectionals offers qualifying events called "Championship," which is typically more competitive. The top four skaters in each Championship event qualify for the Championship event at Nationals. Other non-qualifying (open) events are also held at Sectionals. Prior to the creation of Sectionals in the late 1990s, adult skaters had their events at a standard regional competition.
Nationals includes both the qualifying Championship events, as well as open adult level events (Pre-Bronze through Gold) and Masters levels (Intermediate through Senior). Pairs, dance, and interpretive events are also held. All Championship and Gold or higher events are scored using the ISU Judging System. All other events, including Interpretive, are scored with the 6.0 judging system.
Skaters who have passed the standard track Intermediate freeskate or 2nd figure test must compete at the Masters level (Intermediate, Novice, Junior and Senior level skaters). Masters levels include: Masters Intermediate, Masters Novice, Masters Junior, Masters Senior, Championship Intermediate/Novice, and Championship Junior/Senior.
List of US Adult Figure Skating Championships
| Year | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bloomington, MN [2] | April 13 - April 17, 2010 |
| 2009 | Grand Rapids, MI[3] | April 22 - 15, 2009 |
| 2008 | Lake Placid, NY[4] | April 9 - 12, 2008 |
| 2007 | Bensenville (Chicago), IL[5] | April 11 - April 14, 2007 |
| 2006 | Dallas, TX[6] | March 29 - April 1, 2006 |
| 2005 | Overland Park, KS[7] | April 13 - 16, 2005 |
| 2004 | Lake Placid, NY[8] | April 14 - 18, 2004 |
| 2003 | Ann Arbor, MI[9] | April 9 - 12, 2003 |
| 2002 | Ann Arbor, MI[10] | April 3 - 6,2002 |
| 2001 | Marlborough, MA | April 25 - 29, 2001 |
| 2000 | Lake Placid, NY [11] | April 13 - April 16, 2000 |
| 1999 | Ann Arbor, MI [12] | April 8 - April 11, 1999 |
Several clubs host all-adult competitions throughout the skating year. These include:
| Competition | Location | Club | First Held | Usually Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peach Classic[13] | Duluth, GA (near Atlanta) | Georgia FSC | 1997 | September |
| Halloween Classic [14] | Aston, PA (near Philadelphia) | IceWorks SC | 2004 | November |
| New Year's Invitational [15] | Ashburn, VA (near D.C.) | Washington FSC | 2002 | January or February |
| Deborah Burgoyne North American Invitational [16] | Wyandotte FSC | February |
Many clubs include Adult events in their standard track competitions.
Canada
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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
| Competition | Location | Club | First Held | Usually Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Coupe de la Montagne (The Mountain Cup) | Villard-de-Lans, France | Club de danse sur glace Villard-de-Lans |
1999 | May or June |
| Vana Tallinn Trophy | Tallinn, Estonia | SC Põhjatäht | 2004 | May or June |
| Peach Classic[13] | Duluth, GA, USA | Georgia FSC | 1997 | September |
| Dune of Flanders Cup (Coupe des Dunes de Flandres) | Dunkerque, France | Dunkerque Patinage | 2000 | November/December |
| French Cup (Coupe de France) | France | FFSG (french ice skating federation) | 2007 | March/April |
The French Cup is a non-qualifying event, open to international skaters. The first competition took place in Le Havre, then Bordeaux, and Limoges. In 2010, it will take place in Besançon.
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.
| ISU Adult Age Classification | Age Range |
|---|---|
| I | 28-37 years old |
| II | 38-47 years old |
| III | 48-57 years old |
| IV | 58-71 years old |
External links
- US Figure Skating's adult page*
- SkateCanada's adult page*
- Official Mountain Cup website*
- International All Adult Competition listing*
- Recreational Figure Skating FAQ*
ADULT SKATING TRAINING CAMPS:
References
- ^ a b c Geriatric Figure Skating Crew - Adult Tests
- ^ 2010 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2009 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2008 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2007 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2006 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2005 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2004 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2003 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2002 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 2000 US Adult Nationals
- ^ 1999 US Adult Nationals
- ^ a b Georgia FSC - Peach Classic News
- ^ IceWorks Skating Club
- ^ Washington Figure Skating Club - Home Page
- ^ Adult Skater's Focus
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