Adult figure skating is a term used by skating organizations to refer to tests and competitions for amateur ice skaters over 21. The category was originally aimed at skaters who had taken up the sport as adults, but more recently has expanded to include adult skaters performing and competing at an 'elite' level (Adult Masters), many of whom had skated competitively as children or adolescents. Adults who are learning to skate without prior experience are also included. In addition, a "Young Adult" category (ages 18 – 20) has been added to many Adult events.
In 2011, figure skating historian James R. Hines called adult figure skating "one of the newest and fastest growing areas of competitive figure skating".
United States US Figure Skating was the earliest sport governing body to codify tests and competition standards for adult skating.
Adult freeskate tests were introduced in the mid-1996s, and adult moves in the field (MITF) tests followed in 2002.
Testing Standard track tests are open to skaters of any age, but because adults who take up skating have more limitations than young beginners, the U.S. Figure Skating introduced special tests for this category. 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*. 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 tests.
Beginning with the pre-bronze dances, adult skaters may switch to the adult track (age 21+) or masters track (age 50+).
Effective September 2, 2010, USFS has added an adult test track to Intermediate - Senior moves in the field tests. The patterns in these tests are identical to standard tests, however, the tester is marked on a lower passing average.
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.
Competitions
The first adult figure skating competition in the U.S. was held in 1995.
For competitions, skaters are grouped in events by age. (The age groups may be merged depending on the number of entries). In May 2014, the age ranges in US Figure Skating were changed to the following:
Age Classification Age Range I 21–35 years old II 36–45 years old III 46–55 years old IV 56–65 years old V 66+ years old
Many Adult events now include a "Young Adult" category for skaters from 18 – 20 years old.
U.S. Figure Skating has four official adult competitions: Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast Sectionals, and the U.S. Adult Championships (Adult Nationals). Adult Sectionals offer qualifying events called "Championship," which are required events for skaters attempting to qualify to compete in the Championship events at Adult Nationals. 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 standard regional competitions.
The U.S. Adult Championships includes the Championship events, as well as open Adult level events (Bronze through Gold) and Masters level events (Intermediate through Senior). Along with the freeskate events, pairs, dance, solo dance, and showcase events are held. The Showcase events are split between Artistic/Dramatic and Light Entertainment for each level. All Championship and Gold or higher events are scored using the ISU Judging System. All other events, including Showcase, 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 Results2024Cleveland, OHApril 3-6, 20242023Salt Lake City, UTApril 12-15, 2023 2022 Newark, DE April 6–9, 2022 2021Rochester, MIJune 23–26, 2021 2020 Newark, DE April 14–18, 2020 Canceled 2019 Salt Lake City, UT April 3–6, 2019 2018 Marlborough, MA April 11–14, 2018 2017 Wake Forest, NC April 18–22, 2017 2016 Ann Arbor, MI April 5–9, 2016 2015 Salt Lake City, UT2015 US Adult Nationals April 14–18, 2015 2014 Hyannis, MA April 8–12, 2014 2013 Scottsdale, AZ April 9–13, 2013 2012 Bensenville (Chicago), IL April 10–14, 2012 2011 Salt Lake City, UT April 12–16, 2011 2010 Bloomington, MN April 13–17, 2010 2009 Grand Rapids, MI April 22 - 15, 2009 2008 Lake Placid, NY April 9–12, 2008 2007 Bensenville (Chicago), IL April 11–14, 2007 2006 Dallas, TX March 29 - April 1, 2006 2005 Overland Park, KS April 13–16, 2005 2004 Lake Placid, NY April 14–18, 2004 2003 Ann Arbor, MI April 9–12, 2003 2002 Ann Arbor, MI April 3–6, 2002 2001 Marlborough, MA April 25–29, 2001 2000 Lake Placid, NY 2000 US Adult Nationals April 13–16, 2000 Highlights 1999 Ann Arbor, MI April 8–11, 1999 1998 Oakland, CA April 16–19, 1998 1997 Lake Placid, NY April 17–20, 1997 Highlights 1996 Lake Placid, NY April 18–21, 1996 Highlights 1995 Wilmington, DE April 20–23, 1995
Several clubs host all-adult competitions throughout the skating year. These include:
Competition Location Club First Held Usually Held Neal Wood Memorial Open Hershey, PA Hershey FSC August Peach ClassicGeorgia FSC – Peach Classic News Duluth, GA (near Atlanta) Georgia FSC 1997 September Halloween Classic IceWorks Skating Club Aston, PA (near Philadelphia) IceWorks SC 2004 November New Year's Invitational Washington Figure Skating Club – Home Page Ashburn, VA (near D.C.) Washington FSC 2002 January or February Deborah Burgoyne North American Invitational Adult Skater's Focus Wyandotte, MI (near Detroit) Wyandotte FSC 2003 February
Many clubs include Adult events in their standard track competitions.
There are also some other lists that are kept of the upcoming all adult competitions
Canada
Adult skating in Canada did not have a national event until Skate Canada started the first Canadian adult championships in March 2004. The first Skate Canada Adult Championships were held in Burnaby, BC. In 2007 Calgary hosted the Championships with just over 120 competitors in ladies freeskate, men's freeskate, ladies interpretive, men's interpretive, compulsory dances, freedance and pairs. The CPC (Cumulative Points Calculation) scoring method used is similar to the ISU system, with adjustments for STARskaters and AdultSkaters. The CPC also has a method of recording marks for interpretive programs.
Competitors do not have to qualify to enter the championship as the competition is still new and the numbers applying are not high enough to warrant preselection.
Canadian adult skaters take the same tests as juvenile StarSkaters (there are no adult tests). The levels of competition are Adult Bronze (preliminary), Adult Silver (Junior Bronze), Adult Gold (Senior Bronze), Masters Novice (Junior Silver), Masters Junior (Senior Silver) and Masters Senior (Gold) Due to the small number of skaters at the Masters level, Masters Skaters usually get grouped together in competition. Interpretive skating starts in Pre-Introductory, Introductory, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Dance has Preliminary, Junior Bronze, Senior Bronze, Junior Silver, Senior Silver, Gold and Diamond levels in compulsory dances. Currently Freedance is an open event. Pairs is also an open event due to low enrollments.
Some Canadian adult skaters compete in the US and/or overseas; Germany, France, Russia, Switzerland and Estonia.
International Competitions
There are also some other lists that are kept of the upcoming all adult 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: Competition Location Club First Held Usually Held Le Coupe de la Montagne (The Mountain Cup) name="hines-23" /> 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 Duluth, GA, USA Georgia FSC 1997 September Dune of Flanders Cup (Coupe des Dunes de Flandres) Dunkerque, France Dunkerque Patinage 1997 November/December French Cup (Coupe de France) FranceFFSG French ice skating federation 2007 March/April Druids Cup (Coupe des Druides) France rolling ? January
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 2007, it will take place in Besançon.
ISU The International Skating Union held the first ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Oberstdorf, 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, new class was introduced for skaters over 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 V 72 years old and older
List of ISU Adult Competitions with links to results
Year Location Dates Results2024Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 12–17, 20242023Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 15–20, 20232022Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 23–28, 20222021Oberstdorf, GermanyNov 8–13, 2021(event cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak)2020Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 17–23, 2020 (event cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak)2019Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 19–25, 20192018Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 14–19, 20182017Vancouver, CanadaAugust 21–26, 2017 2017Oberstdorf, GermanyMay 22–27, 20172016Vancouver, CanadaAugust 28 - Sept. 2, 20162016Oberstdorf, GermanyJune 13–18, 2016 2015 Oberstdorf, Germany May 18–23, 2015 2014 Oberstdorf, Germany May 27 - June 1, 2014 2013 Oberstdorf, Germany May 15–18, 2013 2012 Oberstdorf, Germany May 22–26, 2012 2011 Oberstdorf, Germany June 8–11, 2011 2010 Oberstdorf, Germany May 19–22, 2010 2009 Oberstdorf, Germany May 28–31, 2009 2008 Oberstdorf, Germany May 29 - June 1, 2008 2007 Oberstdorf, Germany May 24–27, 2007 2006 Oberstdorf, Germany June 1–3, 2006 2005 Oberstdorf, Germany June 10–12, 2005
References
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