Register for a U.S. Figure Skating Membership – Every serious figure skater must be a member of U.S. Figure Skating and pass official U.S. Figure Skating tests in order to compete. Most skaters join a U.S. Figure Skating memberclub. Club membership includes membership in U.S. Figure Skating. A membership with U.S. Figure Skating is required to take tests beyond the basic skills and to participate in competitions beyond the recreational level. You may also register for a Basic Skills membership through your Skate School.
Decide On Which Competitions You Want To Participate In Way In Advance – Opportunities to compete in figure skating competitions are available for all ages and levels. There are recreational, non-qualifying, and qualifying figure skating events that take place throughout the year. Skaters and their coaches need to decide in advance which competitions they’d like to compete in.
Pick Your Music and Choreograph a Figure Skating Program – A skater and his or her coach will choose a piece of music and get the music cut to a required length. Then, a program with required elements must be choreographed by a professional choreographer or coach. Once a skater program is choreographed, a skater must practice the figure skating elements in his or her program over and over and do at least one complete run-through (without stopping) of the program every day.
Pay Entry Fees and Fill Out Required Entry Forms Before Deadlines -In order to compete in figure skating competitions, entry forms and fees must be filled out, mailed, and paid in advance. Some competitions entry forms require signatures of club officers and/or coaches. Make sure that all competition entry forms are complete and include required signatures. It is wise to get skating competition applications in way before the entry deadline date.
Purchase and Reserve Practice Ice – When a skater goes to a competition, in addition to paying an entry fee, practice ice time fees must be paid in advance. Practice ice at competitions is usually very expensive per skater ($15 to 25 for twenty or thirty minutes). Practice ice and competition entry fees are paid directly to the club or rink that organizes a competition.
Get Competition Oufits – The costumes worn by competitive figure skaters can be elaborate. Many figure skaters get competition costumes custom designed and made. It is also common for rhinestones to be added to skating competition clothes so that skaters can “sparkle” during competitions. Find a dressmaker to make your skating competition clothes or look for a skating clothes supplier online. Don’t wait until the last minute. Decide on what you will wear during a competition way before the event. If possible, take time to practice before the event in your competition clothes.
Make Travel Arrangements – If you are competing in an out-of-town event, make your plane, hotel, and car rental reservations way in advance. Check for special hotel rates on your competition announcements.
Get Your Blades Sharpened – Figure skaters should get their skates sharpened about a week before leaving for a competition. This will give a skater time to get used to a new sharpening before arriving at the competition. Get at least 3-4 practices on your new sharpening.
Don’t Forget to purchase and pack Figure Skating Tights, Extra Laces, Boot Polish, Makeup, and Hair Supplies
It is expected that a figure skater will look his or her very best during a skating competition. Things like brand new tights and polished skates with clean laces are expected to be part of a competitor’s appearance. Hair and makeup should also be perfect. Don’t forget to bring extra tights, extra laces, and skate polish to a competition. Also, don’t forget makeup, hairspray, and whatever else you need so you will look your very best when you compete.
Coaching Fees Are Charged In Addition to Competition and Practice Ice Fees – Coaching fees are in addition to practice ice and competition fees and are paid directly to a skater’s coach. A skater’s family should be prepared for a large post coaching competition bill.
A Skater’s Family Should Also Expect to Pay For a Coach’s Food, Travel, and Hotel Costs
If a coach takes several students to a competition, the coach may split his or her total expense bill between all of his or her competitors.
If a coach takes only one skater to a competition, the skater’s family is expected to pay for all of his or her coach’s expenses which may include a round-trip plane flight, a rental car, several days in a hotel, and meals.
