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116-1034: Athletes and officials who represent the United States at international figure skating competitions are selected by U.S. Figure Skating. The Association is a non-profit organization. In 1921 the United States Figure Skating Association was formed and became a member of the International Skating Union . At the time of its formation, the Association was composed of seven (7) charter member clubs including: Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club, The Skating Club of Boston , Chicago Figure Skating Club The Skating Club of New York , Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society , Sno Birds of Lake Placid, and Twin City Figure Skating Club (which became

232-431: A certain level of proficiency, and in some cases, after trialing or taking written examinations. In most cases, officials are appointed at three (3) levels; regional, sectional, and national. Below is a list of officials at a typical large competition. For the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, 70 officials were assigned along with over 50 alternate officials. The parenthetical number is how many people were assigned to

348-407: A circle, their turns' points either pointing up or down or lying along the figure's long axis. Skaters also performed a group of smaller figures called loops. The diameter of the loop's circular shape had to be about the height of the skater, and they could not have any scrapes or points on the ice. The place in which the skater entered into or exited out of the crossing of both the loop tracing and

464-468: A club and the individual members depends on the prior year's paid registered member. Athlete delegate representation is required to be 20 percent of the prior year's registered delegate and proxy votes. Collectively these delegates meet annually (typically early May) to review, amend and ratify the actions taken by the Board since the prior year's Governing Council. This annual meeting of the appointed delegates

580-544: A difference in treatment of amateur and professional skaters wishing to qualify for the Olympic Games. In 1986, the limitations imposed on professional skaters were removed and the categories of "eligible" and "ineligible" persons were introduced to replace the concepts of "amateurs" and "professionals" . In 1998, Eligibility rules established a comprehensive pre-authorisation system by stipulating that eligible skaters could only take part in competitions approved by

696-494: A living by other means to attain the same level of skill as those who were independently wealthy or who practiced professions that allowed for flexible scheduling". According to Kestnbaum, this had implications for attaining proficiency in compulsory figures, which required long hours of practice and purchasing time at private rinks and clubs. In 1897, the ISU adopted a schedule of 41 school figures, each of increasing difficulty, which

812-625: A neutral flag. On 11 June 2023 the ISU responded to the IOC 28 March statement, saying that the ISU Council "decided to explore the feasibility issues with regard to potential pathways to implement the IOC recommendations within ISU Sports. ...The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity as well as the decisions and their implementation within

928-428: A reference to the patch of ice allocated to each skater to practice figures. Figure skating historian James Hines reports that compulsory figures were "viewed as a means of developing technique necessary for elite skaters". He states, "As scales are the material by which musicians develop the facile technique required to perform major competitions, so compulsory figures were viewed as the material by which skaters develop

1044-421: A series of circle-eight figures that skaters still use today. George Anderson, writing in 1852, described backward-skating figures, including the flying Mercury and the shamrock, as well as the Q figure, which became, in its various forms, an important part of the repertoire of skating movements for the rest of the 1800s. Anderson also described two combined figures, the salutation (already described by Jones) and

1160-446: A series of events titled ‘Icederby Grand Prix’ scheduled to run for six consecutive years from 2014 to 2020. Run by a Korean event organiser, it offered unprecedented prize money to attract the world's best skaters. In 2011, Icederby International approached the ISU to enter into a partnership agreement and presented its action plan. Initially, Icederby included betting in connection with its planned Grand Prix in countries where betting

1276-527: A single clean edge up to and after the turn, but with no double tracings, no skids or scrapes, or no illegal edge change either before, during, or after a turn. The turns' cusps had to be the same size, and the entry into and out of a turn had to be symmetrical. The simple "figure eight" shape was executed by connecting two circles "about three times the height of the skater with one circle skated on each foot". The figure eight has four variations: inside edges, outside edges, backward, and forward. A turn added at

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1392-460: A single clean edge, with no subcurves or wobbles. Brokaw insists that curves had to be done on all four edges of the skate while skating both backwards and forwards. He states, "It is the control of these circles that gives strength and power, and the holding of the body in the proper and graceful attitudes, while it is the execution of these large circles, changes of edges, threes and double-threes, brackets, loops, rockers and counters, which makes up

1508-427: A time, demonstrating their mastery of control, balance, flow, and edge to execute accurate and clean tracings on the ice. The compulsory figures used by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1897 for international competitions consisted of "two or three tangent circles with one, one and a half, or two full circles skated on each foot, in some with turns or loops included on the circles". The patterns skaters left on

1624-492: A whole. Each individual team member must have passed the appropriate moves-in-the-field test. Preliminary moves in the field, dance, or figure is also acceptable. Every year, U.S. Figure Skating sanctions numerous non-qualifying competitions, shows, and carnivals. In addition, it annually sanctions qualifying regional and sectional competitions, in various disciplines, that lead up to championship competitions. The Association also selects those athletes and officials that represent

1740-464: A wide range of skill and interest levels. Testing allows figure skaters to demonstrate that they have achieved a certain level of skating proficiency. Tests progress in increasing difficulty and focus on power, strength, speed, quickness, flow, extension, and edge quality and control. Tests are conducted under the auspices of member clubs and administered during test sessions. Usually, three (3) test judges (the judge panel), of appropriate level, determine

1856-456: Is an association of clubs, governed by its members and its elected officers at national, regional and club levels. As of June 2011, U.S. Figure Skating had 688 member, collegiate, and school-affiliated clubs and a membership of 180,452. Each member club may send delegates to the annual Governing Council meeting. U.S. Figure Skating has a representational government. Clubs and individual members appoint delegates. The number of delegates representing

1972-592: Is called the Governing Council. The Board of Directors is charged with the management of the business and affairs of U.S. Figure Skating. It is currently composed of sixteen (16) members including: the president, three (3) vice presidents (one from each section), the secretary, the treasurer, four (4) group coordinators, two (2) coaches, and four (4) athletes. Samuel Auxier is the current president of U.S. Figure Skating. He began his term in 2022. The prior presidents are listed below. Committees, in particular

2088-421: The 1983 European Championships , the compulsory segment began at 8 am, and lasted six hours. According to Louise Radnofsky, who claimed that the execution of figures could be "very boring—and worse to watch", the most exciting physical move was a change of direction. Radnofsky also stated, "Results of a performance were generally visible only to skaters and judges before being swept away". The ISU published

2204-467: The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah , the ISU implemented changes to many of its events. The ISU approved the use of video replay, when available, to review referee decisions. The rules for judging figure skating were also overhauled as a direct result of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal . According to Ottavio Cinquanta , former president of the ISU, "'Something

2320-558: The Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis in 1929). Since its inception through 1947, the governance activities of the Association were centered in New York City. The annual Governing Council meetings, as well as the annual Executive Committee meetings, were all held in New York City. In 1949 the Association transferred its offices to Chicago, Illinois. The offices were again moved, this time to Boston, in 1950. In 1979,

2436-607: The Olympic Winter Games and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating are not ISU Championships. However, they do count towards Personal Best scores . Dates and locations of first world championships in various disciplines held under the auspices of the ISU: Source: Medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest overall placements in each discipline. The short program , along with

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2552-665: The World Figure Skating Championships , and the Olympic Games . Although the participants for Worlds and the Olympics are most often the top placers at US Nationals, there have been several times when other skaters have been selected due to injuries preventing them from competing at Nationals; Nancy Kerrigan being selected for the 1994 Olympics over 2nd-place finisher Michelle Kwan is one example. Most recently 2014 4th-place finisher Ashley Wagner

2668-440: The free skating program , is a segment of single skating , pair skating , and synchronized skating in international competitions and events for both junior and senior-level skaters. It has been previously called the "original" or "technical" program. The short program was added to single skating in 1973, which created a three-part competition until compulsory figures were eliminated in 1990. The short program for pair skating

2784-568: The American Skating Congress, precursor to U.S. Figure Skating , adopted a series of movements used during competitions between skaters from the U.S. and Canada. Until 1947, for approximately the first 50 years of the existence of figure skating as a sport, compulsory figures made up 60 percent of the total score at most competitions around the world. Other competitions held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries included special figures , freeskating, and compulsories, most of

2900-754: The Association moved into its current headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This followed the USOC 's move to Colorado Springs a year earlier in July 1978. In the 1930s, the Association made an effort to increase the number of competitive events by creating the three sectional championships, Eastern (1938), Midwestern (1933), and Pacific Coast (1936). In 1959, the Eastern and Pacific Coast Sections expanded their qualifying competitions by adding three Sub-Sectionals Championships each. The Eastern Section created

3016-615: The Director General and the ISU Secretariat. The Director General is responsible for the daily management of all business and financially related activities of the ISU and the operation of the Secretariat. As of the summer of 2008, the ISU consisted of 63 member nations, with a governing council of 11. To add any proposal to the agenda of meetings, it must have support from four-fifths of the members. Proposals on

3132-551: The Dutch seaside town of Scheveningen . The meeting was attended by 15 men, as the national association representatives from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany/Austria, and two clubs from Stockholm (Sweden) and Budapest (Hungary). The ISU was the first international winter sports federation to govern speed skating and figure skating, as it laid down the rules for speed skating, shortly followed by figure skating. In 1895,

3248-556: The Figure Skating Branch and a vice president, and five members for the Speed Skating Branch. In 1967, Jacques Favart, who was the ISU's vice president for figure skating, replaced Ernst Labin as ISU president due to Labin's death six weeks after taking office; Favart served for the next 13 years. Also in 1967, Sonia Bianchetti of Italy became the first woman council member. The council is assisted by

3364-530: The ISU Anti-Doping Rules, and ISU Anti-Doping Procedures contain further guidelines. Additional provisions and updates can also be found in ad-hoc published ISU Communications. The members of the ISU are the individual national associations whose task is to administer figure and speed skating on ice at the national level. Members are typically composed of skating clubs and athletes are individual members of those clubs. As of 20 February 2020,

3480-607: The ISU policy and the approved budget. The main functions of the ISU Technical Committees include the preparation, monitoring and maintenance of the Technical Rules. The following Technical Committees are established: Single and Pair Skating, Ice Dance, Synchronized Skating, Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating. ISU's role as an international sports federation involves setting the rules to ensure proper governance of sport, notably in terms of

3596-466: The ISU's inception in 1892, 58 ordinary meetings in total have been organized. The ISU Council constitutes the highest ISU body between two Congresses. It is the executive body of the ISU and is responsible for determining the policies of the ISU and deciding upon the general coordination of the ISU structure and strategy. The Council consists of the President, a vice president, and five members for

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3712-542: The ISU, and conducted under the ISU Regulations by ISU-approved officials. Under the 2014 Eligibility rules, the person who breached the Eligibility rules could not be reinstated. This resulted in a lifetime ban , since the loss of eligibility is not limited in time. There were attempts of independent organisers to hold alternative speed skating events. Icederby International co., Ltd sought to set up

3828-445: The ISU, between 1976 and 1980, were held under different names but have retrospectively received World Championship status. The discipline was known as "indoor speed skating" at first, until being renamed "short track speed skating" when indoor rinks for the longer speed skating events were introduced. By 1988, 38 nations had joined the ISU. Over the next few years, the organization abandoned one of its long-held practices, eliminating

3944-614: The ISU, leaving the United States as the only major competitor to not be a member. This changed in 1923, when the United States Figure Skating Association joined the ISU and in 1926, the Japanese sport governing body followed to acquire ISU membership. The first ISU competitions to emerge were the World and European Speed Skating and Figure Skating Championships. Both disciplines were included in

4060-688: The Icederby event would be subject to the lifetime ban established by the Eligibility rules. In consequence, Icederby decided not to organise the Dubai Icederby Grand Prix 2014 due to its difficulty to secure the participation of speed skaters. Two professional speed skaters, Mark Tuitert and Niels Kerstholt , lodged a complaint and on 5 October 2015, the European Commission initiated formal antitrust proceedings into alleged anti-competitive restrictions imposed by

4176-631: The International Skating Union counts 98 members. The highest-ranking body of the ISU is the ISU Congress which consists of the ISU Members. The Congress meets once every two years for an ordinary meeting. Ordinary resolutions are passed by a simple majority of votes of the ISU Members represented and voting at a Congress. Proposals require a two-thirds majority of ISU Members in favor in order to be accepted. Since

4292-454: The International Skating Union on athletes and officials' economic activities and alleged foreclosure of competing alternative sport event organisers. Compulsory figures Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly a segment of figure skating , and gave the sport its name. They are the "circular patterns which skaters trace on the ice to demonstrate skill in placing clean turns evenly on round circles". For approximately

4408-734: The New England, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic Regions, while the Pacific Coast Section established the Central Pacific, Northwest, and Southwest Pacific Regions. It wasn't until 1962 that the Midwestern Sectional finally added their regional championships to the qualifying competition cycle. The abbreviated name, "USFSA" was first used in April 1921 and trademarked in 1972. The distinctive shield logo

4524-508: The Olympic Games and in 1962, the IOC issued the Eligibility rules which specified that persons receiving remuneration and other material advantages for participation in sport were not eligible to compete in the Olympic Games. However, the concept of amateur sport developed over time, moving by the end of the 1980s towards professionalisation. Respecting the Olympic principles, the ISU rules made

4640-508: The Olympic Movement. In the meantime, ISU Communication 2469 remains in force". On 28 July the IOC responded to questions about its position. List of 80 Countries (101 Association, Some nations have 2 or 3 organ member) in 5 Zones (Updated at 21 July 2024): In addition to sanctioning other international competitions, the ISU designates the following competitions each year as "ISU Championships": The events such as

4756-512: The Permanent Committees, are responsible for proposing and enforcing the rules of the U.S. Figure Skating. Other special committees may undertake other projects, such as nominations and other ad hoc matters. The following table shows the Association's permanent committees: “As the national governing body, the mission of the United States Figure Skating Association is to provide programs to encourage participation and achievement in

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4872-465: The United States at international competitions. The following regional competitions are held in singles skating: The following sectional competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, adult, and synchronized skating: The following championship competitions are held in singles, pairs, ice dance, synchronized, adult, and collegiate skating: * Effective September 1, 2012, the U.S. Junior Championships (for Juvenile and Intermediate level competitors)

4988-469: The agenda are approved with a two-thirds majority vote. Following the ISU Congress 2018, the organizational chart of the ISU includes alongside the ISU Congress and ISU Council, assisted by the ISU Secretariat, the following bodies: The ISU Disciplinary Commission (DC) constitutes a judicial body of the ISU. It is an independent body elected by the ISU Congress. The ISU Athletes Commission

5104-427: The art of skating". Curves also included the forced turn (or bracket ) and the serpentine. A change of foot, which happened during the short time the skater transferred weight from one foot to the other, was allowed in the execution of figures, but had to be done in a symmetrical zone on each side of the long axis. Skaters could choose the exact point in which they placed their foot in this zone, although it typically

5220-413: The association either financially or by supplying other goods and services. U.S. Figure Skating also makes available its logo and sanctioned content, primarily competitions, to various licensees. In 2005, U.S. Figure Skating partnered with MLB Advanced Media to set up Ice Network, LLC. Ice Network, LLC is a wholly owned by U.S. Figure Skating. In 2018, Ice Network's website closed. On February 15, 1961,

5336-530: The association's day-to-day affairs. The Association is a non-profit organization. As of June 30, 2011, U.S. Figure Skating had revenue, support, and gains of approximately $ 24.9 million derived primarily from dues, admissions and activity fees, skating events, sponsorships, broadcast and licensing, publications, grants, and other sources. The association expended approximately $ 12.9 million on its various programs and services plus an additional $ 2.4 million on management and general administrative expenses, under which

5452-438: The body's balance over the blade affected the tracings left on the ice". She adds that many skaters found figures and their visible results calming and rewarding. Sports writer Christie Sausa insists that training in figures "helps create better skaters and instills discipline, and can be practiced over a lifetime by skaters of all ages and abilities". As Louise Radnofsky put it, for skaters that practiced figures, "there's joy in

5568-403: The center of the loop had to sit on the figure's long axis, where the loop was divided into symmetrical halves. The center of the loop figure to the place in which the skater entered into or exited out of the loop's crossing had to measure five-sixths of the circle's diameter. The loop's length had to be about one-third of the distance from the place in which the skater entered into or exited out of

5684-457: The circle), and its shape. There were three types of three turns : the standard three, the double three, and the paragraph double three. The three turn had to be skated on a circle, its turns' points either pointing up or down or lying along the figure's long axis. For the double three, the points of both threes had to be directed towards the center of each circle, and had to divide the circle into three equal curves. The middle curve had to divide

5800-429: The circles into halves by the figure's long axis. The paragraph double three, which was executed at the highest levels of competition, was done by tracing "two circles with two turns at each circle, all on one foot from one push-off". The paragraph double three was difficult to accomplish because the shape and placement of the turns had to be perfectly symmetrical, the turns had to be done on a true edge with no scrapes on

5916-629: The competitors' total scores. Special figures were not included in World Championships, although they were included as a separate discipline in other competitions, including the Olympics in 1908 . The early Olympics movement valued and required amateurism , so figure skating, almost from its beginnings as an organized sport, was also associated with amateurism. Athletes were unable to support themselves financially, so as Kestnbaum put it, "thus making it impossible for those who had to earn

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6032-406: The departments listed under the “Operations – Departments” are included. Member clubs arrange to hold test sessions and competitions. The competitions are conducted under the supervision and authority of U.S. Figure Skating appointed officials. The member club (for competitions, the club is sometimes called the local organizing committee or “LOC”) is responsible for many of the ancillary functions of

6148-412: The edges of one blade of their skates by leaning in or out, moving forward or backward. They also had to use their right or left foot while balancing the other foot in order to avoid going off course, then they had to repeat everything five more times. Louise Radnofsky stated, "Controlling the trails a skate blade leaves requires timing, precision, body awareness, nailing an upper body turn without throwing

6264-457: The entire United States figure skating team was killed when Sabena Flight 548 crashed en route from New York City to Brussels, Belgium. The team was going to participate in the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Among the team members that perished were 18 athletes, seven coaches and managers, three judges and referees, and six team family members. Within one week of

6380-522: The evolution of school figures. Artistic skating in France, which was derived from the English style of figure skating and was influenced by ballet , developed figures that emphasized artistry, body position, and grace of execution. Jean Garcin, a member of an elite group of skaters in France, wrote a book about figure skating in 1813 that included descriptions and illustrations of over 30 figures, including

6496-467: The facile required for free-skating programs". Compulsory figures has been called "the slow-sports movement" or "yoga on ice". Hines also states that although compulsory figures and free skating are often considered as "totally different aspects of figure skating", historically they were not, and insisted that " spirals , spread eagles , jumps , and spins were originally individual figures". Skaters were required to trace these circles using one foot at

6612-585: The figure skating community considered them necessary to teach skaters basic skills. Skaters would train for hours to learn and execute them well, and competing and judging figures would often take up to eight hours during competitions. Skaters traced compulsory figures, and were judged according to their smoothness and accuracy. The circle is the basis of all figures. Other elements in compulsory figures include curves, change of foot, change of edge , and turns. Skaters had to trace precise circles while completing difficult turns and edges. The simple "figure eight" shape

6728-443: The first 50 years of figure skating as a sport, until 1947, compulsory figures made up 60 percent of the total score at most competitions around the world. These figures continued to dominate the sport, although they steadily declined in importance, until the International Skating Union (ISU) voted to discontinue them as a part of competitions in 1990. Learning and training in compulsory figures instilled discipline and control; some in

6844-417: The first judges' handbook for during compulsory figure competitions in 1961. Skaters were judged on the ease and flow of their movement around the circles, the accuracy of the shapes of their bodies, and the accuracy of the prints traced on the ice. Judges took note of the following: scrapes, double tracks that indicated that both edges of their blades were in contact with the ice simultaneously, deviations from

6960-451: The following: circles, curves, change of foot, change of edge , and turns. The circle, the basis of all figures, was performed on both its long and short axes. Skaters had to trace precise circles, while completing difficult turns and edges. Most figures employ "specific one-foot turns not done in combination with other one-foot turns". Each figure consisted of two or three tangent circles. Each circle's diameter had to be about three times

7076-433: The frustration of never achieving perfection, zen in repetition, inclusivity in voluntarily doing something that generations of skaters complained about -- and, for once in a child-driven sport, superiority in maturity". The German magazine Der Spiegel declared in 1983 that compulsory figures stifled skaters' creativity because not much about figures had changed in 100 years of competitions. All compulsory figures had

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7192-467: The halfway point of each circle increased the level of complexity. Other figures included three-lobed figures with a counter turn or a rocker turn , which were completed at the points where the lobes touched. Counters and rockers had to be executed symmetrically, with no change of edge, with the points of their turns either pointing up or down or lying along the figure's long axis, and could not be beaked or hooked. Brackets, like threes, had to be skated on

7308-411: The health and safety of the athletes and the integrity of competitions. Similar to many international sports federations , ISU adopted eligibility rules. Under the ISU eligibility rules, skaters participating in competitions that are not approved by the ISU face severe penalties up to a lifetime ban from all major international skating events. Historically, only amateurs were allowed to qualify for

7424-457: The ice is the oldest form of figure skating, especially during its first 200 years of existence when it was a recreational activity practiced mostly by men. Combined skating, or "patterns of moves for two skaters around a common center marked by a ball and later an orange placed on the ice", had a "profound historical significance" to the sport that eventually manifested itself in ice dancing, pair skating , and synchronized skating , and dominated

7540-488: The ice, and the circles had to be the same size and exactly round. All combined compulsory figures are illustrated below: Der Spiegel compared judging compulsory figures to the work of forensic scientists. After the skaters completed tracing figures, the judges scrutinized the circles made, and the process was repeated twice more. According to Randy Harvey, compulsory figures took five hours to complete at U.S. National Championships and eight hours at World Championships. At

7656-408: The ice, rather than the shapes the body made executing them, became the focus of artistic expression in figure skating into the 20th century. The quality of the figures, along with the skater's form, carriage, and speed in which they were executed, was emphasized, not the intricacy of unique designs of the figures themselves. Skaters had to execute figures by positioning themselves to precisely control

7772-494: The individual national associations administer these sports at the national level, all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU. The ISU has been headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland , since 1947. Also in 1947, English was adopted as the ISU's official language. There was an attempt to set up an alternative association to replace the ISU for governing and promoting figure skating throughout

7888-496: The jurisdiction of Switzerland. Articles of Association define ISU's purpose as The objectives of the ISU are regulating, governing and promoting the sports of Figure and Speed Skating and their organized development on the basis of friendship and mutual understanding between sportsmen.The ISU shall work for broadening interest in Figure and Speed Skating sports by increasing their popularity, improving their quality and increasing

8004-463: The letter "q", but "simply employ a serpentine line and a three turn". United shamrocks, spectacles (shapes that trace the shape of eyeglasses), and united roses are alterations of the basic Q figures. Since the goal of figures is drawing an exact shape on the ice, the skater had to concentrate on the depth of the turn (how much the turn extends into or out of the circle), the integrity of the edges and cusps (round-patterned edges leading into or out of

8120-422: The loop's crossing of the loop tracing to the figure's short axis. The loop's width had to be about two-thirds of its length. The Q figure begins at the tail of the figure, on the skater's outside edge. It can also begin on any of the four edges, and the direction in which it can be skated can be reversed. When the circle is skated first, it is called a reverse Q. Altered forms of the Q figure often do not look like

8236-592: The loop, the Q, and other figures. The Mohawk, renamed in Canada to the C Step in 2020, a two-foot turn on the same circle, most likely originated in North America. Figure skating historian James Hines called grapevines, which was probably invented in Canada, "the most American of all figures". The Viennese style of figure skating, as described by Max Wirth's book in 1881, described connecting figures, which ultimately led to modern free skating programs. In 1868,

8352-452: The lower body off, tolerating punishing burn on the muscles of one leg". Olympic champion Debi Thomas stated, about the execution of figures, "It takes incredible strength and control. You are literally using every single muscle in your body. It looks slow and easy, but it's not … but if you lay our a great figure, it’s an amazing feeling". The highest quality figures had tracings on top of each other; their edges were placed precisely, and

8468-648: The number of participants throughout the world. The ISU shall ensure that the interests of all ISU Members are observed and respected. The ISU Statutes consist of the ISU Constitution including its Procedural Provisions, and ISU General Regulations setting out framework principles. More detailed provisions are contained in Special Regulations and Technical Rules for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance, Synchronized Skating Speed Skating, and Short Track Speed Skating. The ISU Code of Ethics,

8584-602: The official program of the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix in 1924. The discipline of ice dancing was introduced at the Innsbruck Games in 1976 . After 1945, the ISU slowly continued to grow with accession of members from other countries in Europe, Oceania, and (Southern) Africa. The ISU celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1967, when they published 75 Years of European and World Championships . The organization

8700-586: The oldest skating clubs in the world, described combined figures and those done by multiple skaters; interlocking figure eights were the most important. According to writer Ellyn Kestnbaum, the Edinburgh Skating Club required prospective members to pass proficiency tests in what became compulsory figures. The London Skating Club, founded in 1830 in London, also required proficiency tests for members and pioneered combined skating, which contributed to

8816-1569: The order of increasing difficulty. They may not be taken out of turn. However, a singles skater may take as many moves-in-the-field tests before taking any free skate tests. Once a free skate test is passed, a competitor may only compete at that level at qualifying competitions. There are four (4) test levels specific to adult figure skating. Adult skater must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older. The test panel consists of three test judges of these levels or higher, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS. The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher. A single bronze or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level. A single silver or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level. A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level. The test panel consists of three test judges of these levels or higher, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS. The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher. A single bronze or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level. A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level. A single silver or higher test judge, appointed in single/pairs or dance for MIF or in single/pairs for FS, may also judge this level. The Compulsory dance

8932-793: The organization streamlined its mission to deal only with amateur competitors , not professionals , and hosted its first amateur skating championship in February 1896 in St. Petersburg, Russia . The United States and Canada formed a competing organization, the International Skating Union of America (ISUA), in 1907. Over the next two years, 12 European nations had joined the ISU, while the ISUA had only its original two members. The ISUA folded in 1927. European and North American figure skaters rarely competed against each other because of differences in their styles of skating. The ISU had "systematized and arranged"

9048-538: The organization. In 2019, skating federations from Chile, Peru, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam acquired membership of the ISU. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , the ISU issued Communication No. 2469, banning all Russian and Belarusian athletes from events until further notice. On 28 March 2023 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a statement recommending that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to compete under

9164-404: The outcome of increasingly difficult tests. Test judges are invited by the member club to participate in a given test session. Skaters’ testing levels passed determines at what level they may compete. For qualifying competitions, skaters must pass the free skate test at the level for which they intend to compete. U.S. Figure Skating still offers tests in compulsory figures , however, this discipline

9280-495: The outcome of the tests on a pass / retry basis. Tests up to a certain level may be judged by a single, sufficiently qualified, judge. Some higher-level dance tests require judges certified in dance judging to attend. The member club is responsible for reporting the results to U.S. Figure Skating. U.S. Figure appoints test judges at various levels (bronze, silver, and gold) based on trial judging and their judging experience. According to their level, test judges are qualified to determine

9396-605: The points they earned going towards how they performed the same set of compulsory moves. The first international figure skating competition was in Vienna in 1882; according to Kestnbaum, it established a precedent for future competitions. Skaters were required to perform 23 compulsory figures, as well as a four-minute freeskating program, and a section called "special figures", in which they had to perform moves or combinations of moves that highlighted their advanced skills. Compulsory figures were an important part of figure skating for

9512-484: The production of a full-length feature documentary film commemorating the 50th anniversary of the loss of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating Championship team and exalting figure skating in the U.S. The movie, RISE, was produced and directed by the Emmy-award-winning company, Lookalike Productions of Englewood, NJ. The film was released on February 17, 2011, for a one-night presentation through NCM Fathom . It

9628-687: The respective positions. If there is no number, only one person was assigned. U.S. Figure Skating's members, clubs, and qualifying competitions are divided into three (3) geographical sections, that are further divided into nine (9) regions. Erie, PA excluding Erie, PA excluded for Synchronized only Upper Peninsula Lower Peninsula excluding Kansas City and St. Joseph's excluding Chattanooga Kansas City and St. Joseph's all cities north of and including Visalia for Synchronized only all cities south of Visalia Las Vegas excluding Las Vegas U.S. Figure Skating has nine (9) types of membership: U.S. Figure Skating offers many programs to accommodate

9744-560: The rest of the 19th century until the 1930s and 1940s. The first European Championships in 1891 consisted of only compulsory figures. In 1896, the newly formed International Skating Union (ISU) sponsored the first annual World Figure Skating Championships in St. Petersburg. The competition consisted of compulsory figures and free skating. Skaters had to perform six compulsory moves so that judges could compare skaters according to an established standard. Compulsory figures were worth 60 percent of

9860-533: The satellite. By the 1850s, the most important figures (eights, threes, and Qs) were developed and formed the basis for figure skating at the time. In 1869, Henry Vandervell and T. Maxwell Witham from the London Skating Club wrote System of Figure Skating , which described variations of the three turn (the only figure known before 1860), the bracket (first done on roller skates), the rocker, the Mohawk,

9976-469: The skater's height, and the radii of all half-circles had to be approximately the same length. Half-circles and circles had to begin and end as near as possible to the point in which the long and short axes intersected. The figure's long axis divided it longitudinally into equal-sized halves, and the figure's short axes divided the figures into equal-sized lobes . Curves, which are parts of circles, had to be performed with an uninterrupted tracing and with

10092-497: The skaters who achieved the highest short program or rhythm dance placements in each discipline. Stage 2 = Small medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest free skating or free dance placements in each discipline. Small Medals awarded only at ISU Championships: Small Medals not awarded in: The ISU has an agreement with the Federation of International Bandy to use the same arenas. The cooperation between

10208-498: The sport for 50 years in England during the 18th century. The Art of Skating , one of the earliest books about figure skating, was written by Robert Jones in 1772 and described five advanced figures, three of which were illustrated with large color plates. Jones' limited body of figures, which emphasized correct technique, were the accepted and basic repertoire of figures in 18th-century England. The Edinburgh Skating Club , one of

10324-533: The sport of figure skating on ice.” The Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of U.S. Figure Skating. Mr. David Raith is currently serving in that capacity and has done so since 2005. He is charged with carrying out the policies, programs, and goals of the association as approved by the Board of Directors. The departments that support U.S. Figure Skating's operations reside at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. These departments are staffed by full-time employees. They administer and manage

10440-472: The sport of figure skating, with competitions including "a selection of ten or twelve numbers from the ISU programme, ... five minutes' free skating to music, ... [and] special figures" on one foot. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, the ISU was formed due to the necessity of establishing a schedule of compulsory figures and to adopt the international style of figure skating used outside of North America and Great Britain. In 1911, Canada joined

10556-519: The test session or competition (registration, transportation, event monitoring, hospitality, messengers, copying, etc.). For national and international events, U.S. Figure Skating headquarters staff also provides logistics and event support. The officials are responsible for actually running the test sessions, competitions, and associated individual events. All the officials at test sessions and competitions are unpaid volunteers. Officials receive their appointments from U.S. Figure Skating after demonstrating

10672-656: The tragedy, the association announced the formation of a memorial fund in honor of the lost team members. "The mission of the Memorial Fund is to provide qualified U.S. Figure Skating members in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both inside and outside the competitive arena. The fund is committed to awarding skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who have demonstrated excellent competitive results and/or academic achievements, and who have potential in national and international competitions." In 2009, U.S. Figure Skating commissioned

10788-688: The turns lined up exactly. The slightest misalignment or shift of body weight could cause errors in the execution of figures. American figure skating champion Irving Brokaw insisted that form was more essential to the production of figures than the tracings themselves because the skater needed to find a comfortable and natural position in which to perform them. He expected skaters to trace figures without looking down at them because it gave "a very slovenly appearance", and recommended that they not use their arms excessively or for balance like tightrope walkers. Brokaw wanted skaters to remain upright and avoid bending over as much as they could. Brokaw also thought that

10904-541: The two federations is increasing, since both have an interest in more indoor venues with large ice surfaces being built. The ISU is an international sport federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the body globally administering figure skating and speed skating sports with the following disciplines: Speed skating , Single & Pair skating , Ice dance , Short track speed skating , and Synchronized skating . Whereas

11020-509: The unemployed leg, which he called the "balance leg", was as important as the tracing leg because it was used as much in the execution of a figure as the tracing leg. The balance leg also should be bent only slightly, since he believed bending it too much removed its usefulness and appeared clumsy. Writer Ellyn Kestnbaum notes that skaters who were adept at performing compulsory figures had to practice for hours to have precise body control and to become "intimately familiar with how subtle shifts in

11136-595: The use of mandatory figures in the singles' figure skating competitions and reducing their use in ice dancing. During the 1970s and 1980s, several Asian countries joined the ISU, followed in the early 1990s by many new countries emerging from the breakup of the USSR , Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia . In 1994, synchronized skating was formally recognized as a separate discipline, and the first ISU World Championships were held in 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota . After

11252-519: The world. In March 2003, a group of several former figure skating champions (who at the time were still practicing as coaches, judges, referees) announced the creation of a new international governing body for figure skating, the World Skating Federation ("WSF") . This attempt ultimately failed. ISU is organized as an association pursuant to Swiss laws (art. 60 of Swiss Civil Code ). It has its own legal identity and falls under

11368-470: Was adopted in 1964 and used until 2003 when U.S. Figure Skating instituted its current logo. In 2006, the Executive Committee was eliminated. At the same time the Board of Directors was reduced to sixteen members from its previous 29 members. As of May 5, 2007, the Association officially adopted the name "U.S. Figure Skating" and dropped the abbreviated name of "USFSA". U.S. Figure Skating

11484-435: Was credited with revitalizing figures. By 2020, the championship and the revitalization of figures was supported by many skaters, including U.S. Olympian Debi Thomas, who competed at the 2023 Championships. Compulsory figures, also called school figures, are the "circular patterns which skaters trace on the ice to demonstrate skill in placing clean turns evenly on round circles". Compulsory figures are also called "patch",

11600-533: Was done blind, after the skaters left the ice and without the judges knowing which competitor completed which figure. The championships were postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic , although workshops and seminars were conducted online. Karen Courtland Kelly , 1994 Olympian and figures expert, who founded the World Figure Sport Society (WFSS) and organized its figures championships,

11716-575: Was eliminated and those levels are held in conjunction with the U.S. Championships. U.S. Figure Skating selects the athletes and officials that represent the United States at international figure skating competitions (Team USA). These competitions include the ISU Junior Grand Prix , Four Continents Figure Skating Championships , the ISU Grand Prix , the World Synchronized Skating Championships ,

11832-878: Was executed by connecting two circles; other figures included the three turn , the counter turn , the rocker turn , the bracket turn , and the loop. Since 2015 with the founding of the World Figure Sport Society and the World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships & Festival on black ice more skaters are training and competing in figures. More coaches are learning the new methods developed by World Figure Sport to teach them to skaters, as some skaters and coaches believe that figures give skaters an advantage in developing alignment, core strength, body control, and discipline. The World Figure Sport Society conducts workshops, festivals and world competitions in compulsory (now known as fundamental figures), special, creative, free, flying figures, and fancy skating Tracing figures in

11948-525: Was founded in Scheveningen , Netherlands , in July 1892, making it one of the oldest international sport federations. The ISU was formed to establish standardized international rules and regulations for the skating disciplines it governs, and to organize international competitions in these disciplines. It is now based in Switzerland . The International Skating Union (ISU) was founded in 1892 in

12064-406: Was introduced at the 1963 European Championships , the 1964 World Championships , and the Olympics in 1968 ; previously, pair skaters only had to perform the free skating program in competitions. Synchronized skating has always had two competition segments, the short program and free skating. Small Medals awarded only at ISU Championships since probably 2009: Stage 1 = Small medals awarded to

12180-555: Was introduced on the 56th ISU Ordinary Congress 2016 in Dubrovnik and represents Skaters’ positions within the ISU by providing advice to the ISU Council, Technical Committees, Sports Directors, Director General and other internal bodies. The ISU Medical Commission coordinates compliance with anti-doping regulations . The ISU Development Commission implements the ISU Development Program in accordance with

12296-420: Was just after the long axis, with the full weight of the body on the skate. It was at this point that tracing began. A change of edge happened at the point in which the long and short axes intersected. Its trace had to be continuously and symmetrically traced and could not be S-shaped. The edge change had to be as short as possible, and could not be longer than the length of the skate blade. Turns were skated with

12412-460: Was last competed at a national championship competition in 1999. Singles and adult skaters must show they are proficient at a given level by passing two (2) tests at each level, moves in the field ("MIF") and free skate ("FS"). Additional test are conducted in the pairs skating , free dance and pattern dance discipline. Each member of a synchronized skating team must pass the appropriate test of single's competitor. Tests must be completed in

12528-471: Was not prohibited. In January 2012, the ISU updated its Code of Ethics to rule out the participation in all forms of betting. Two years later, Icederby notified the ISU that no betting would be organised in connection with the planned Dubai Icederby Grand Prix as betting is illegal in Dubai . Nonetheless, the ISU did not authorise the Dubai Icederby Grand Prix 2014 and announced that all skaters who take part in

12644-542: Was proposed by the British. They remained the standard compulsory figures used throughout the world in proficiency testing and competitions until 1990, and U.S. Figure Skating continued to use them as a separate discipline in the 1990s. After World War II , more countries were sending skaters to international competitions, so the ISU cut the number of figures to a maximum of six due to the extended time it took to judge them all. The first judges' handbook for compulsory figures

12760-431: Was published by the ISU in 1961. The demise and revival of compulsory figures occurred, respectively, in 1990, when the ISU removed compulsory figures from international single skating competitions, and beginning in 2015, when the first competition focusing entirely on figures took place. Judging scandals and the broadcasts of figure skating on television have been cited as the reason for the decline of figures. The U.S.

12876-886: Was renamed pattern dance. Each level of pattern dance, with the exception of international, consists of three or four individual dances. Preliminary skaters must pass the Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, and Rhythm Blues, while gold-level skaters must pass the Viennese Waltz, Westminster Waltz, Quickstep, and Argentine Tango. There are currently ten dances at the international level. The test panel consists of three dance test judges of these levels or higher. The test panel consists of one or three dance test judges of these levels or higher. A single bronze or higher dance test judge may also judge this level. A single silver or higher dance test judge may also judge this level. Synchronized skating teams are not required to pass any tests as

12992-408: Was selected over 3rd place Mirai Nagasu ostensibly because of Wagner's more consistent international record; however, because of Wagner's many endorsement contracts, her selection has raised concerns about the fairness of the process (since U.S. Championships are not used as a straightforward Olympic trials). U.S. Figure Skating has a number of sponsors, suppliers, and licensees that provide support to

13108-409: Was shown again for an encore presentation on March 7, 2011. Proceeds of the movie were used to further the mission of the Memorial Fund. International Skating Union The International Skating Union ( ISU ) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating , synchronized skating , speed skating , and short track speed skating . It

13224-807: Was the last country to include figures in their competitions, until 1999. The elimination of figures resulted in the increase of focus on the free skating segment and in the domination of younger girls in the sport. Most skaters stopped training with figures, although many coaches continued to teach figures and skaters continued to practice them because figures taught basic skating skills and gave skaters an advantage in developing alignment, core strength, body control, and discipline. A revival of compulsory figures began in 2015. The first World Figure Championships (renamed to The World Figure and Fancy Skating Championships in 2017) occurred in Lake Placid, New York . By 2023, nine championships had taken place. Judging

13340-422: Was unable to celebrate its 25th and 50th anniversaries in 1917 and 1942 due to the two world wars. In 1991, the ISU celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1967, the ISU adopted short track speed skating . The first official ISU World Championships in speed skating took place in 1981. Short track speed skating became part of the official Olympic program in 1992. The earliest speed skating competitions hosted by

13456-552: Was wrong there,' ... 'Not just the individual but also the system. It existed for 70 years. Now we are trying to replace one system with another.'" A new judging system for figure skating took effect in 2005, replacing the 6.0 system of "perfect" scores and instead giving points for various technical elements. Since the 2000s, the ISU has experienced a new wave of expansion, with several countries in Asia and Latin America joining

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