A figure skating competition is a judged sports competition in figure skating .
31-468: The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (4CC) is an annual figure skating competition . The International Skating Union established it in 1999 to provide skaters representing non-European countries with a similar competition to the much older European Figure Skating Championships . The event's name refers to the Americas ( North America and South America ), Africa , Asia and Oceania (four of
62-439: A figure skating competition . It is so named because the skaters and coaches often kiss to celebrate after a good performance, or cry after a poor one. The area is usually located in the corner or end of the rink and is furnished with a bench or chairs for the skaters and coaches and monitors to display the competition results. It is often elaborately decorated with flowers or some other backdrop for television shots and photos of
93-466: A local figure skating club . These events have open entries and typically many age or test level divisions, and are sanctioned by, and conducted using the rules of, the national skating federation in the country where they are held. Skaters from other countries may enter these events with the permission of their own federation. Made-for-television competitions in a variety of formats. At an international or major national skating competitions, skaters in
124-443: A somewhat modified procedure. Because of the impossibility of having more than one team on the ice at the same time, each team gets their own designated practice time before the competition, and a short warmup period immediately before their performance in which the team members usually file onto the ice and skate around in a choreographed formation to take up the opening position for their program. At synchronized skating competitions,
155-450: A very large number of competitors, they may be divided into groups for a qualifying or initial round, from which the best-placed skaters from each group advance to the final round. At club competitions it is also very common for the short program and free skating to be held as separate events with separate entries. Podium ceremonies are usually held in an off-ice area, and there is rarely a gala. Competitions in synchronized skating follow
186-484: Is also a more rigorous set of qualifying events called Championship events. Skaters must qualify for the Championship events through their respective adult sectional championship, which is held separately from standard-track sectionals. Adult Sectionals are typically held in late February or early March, with Nationals occurring in mid-April. Skate Canada organizes the annual Canadian Figure Skating Championships and
217-833: The Canadian Figure Skating Championships , while novice and pre-novice skaters qualify to skate at the Junior National Skating Championships, held separately from the national championship for juniors and seniors. Juveniles qualify directly from their sectional championships to the Junior National event. Skate Canada runs two separate tracks for synchronized skating competitions. The "festival" or recreational track allows for smaller teams, no test requirements, and more lenient age groupings, to encourage as many clubs as possible to field teams. The elite competitive track comprises competition at
248-583: The Canadian Figure Skating Championships . As in the United States, top finishers from the previous year and skaters with conflicting international assignments receive byes to the national championships. The top junior, novice, and pre-novice skaters from each sectional championship qualify to skate at either the Eastern or Western Challenge competitions. From the Challenge events, junior skaters qualify to skate at
279-665: The United States , and Uzbekistan . Figure skating competition International competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) are governed by the union's rules. Skaters are entered by their respective national skating federations. National championships are held by individual national skating federations and governed by their domestic rules. Results from national championships are excluded from SB and PB scores. Club competitions , also known as non-qualifying competitions , organized by
310-702: The Olympics appeared in Sarajevo 1984 . The term "kiss and cry" was widely used by the early 1990s, and is now officially a part of the International Skating Union Regulations. Showing the "kiss and cry" area has personalized the sport and has helped make figure skating more popular in televised Olympic competition . Many national federations, including the Americans, train skaters on how they should appear on camera while waiting. A kiss and cry area
341-476: The US Figure Skating national championship stands. The US Figure Skating Junior national championship has been removed, and all skaters juvenile and above must advance through their respective sectional championship, whether it be Eastern, Midwestern, or Pacific Coast. The qualifying season for juvenile skaters through senior skaters begins at one of nine regional championships, which are now typically held in
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#1732848973801372-526: The US these are test or skill levels. For example, a skater who competes in the junior division must have passed the junior skating test in that particular discipline, but not yet the senior test. In practice, the skills required to pass the tests are well below those that are required to be competitive at the corresponding level, and skaters choose which level to test based on the level they think they can compete at successfully, rather than vice versa. As of 2012, only
403-503: The actual competition ice surface for each competition segment before the event, which allows them to orient themselves in the arena and check for any problems with the timing or sound quality of their music. Coaches are not permitted on the ice with their skaters at competition practices, and instead stand or sit behind the rink boards. At international competitions except for the Olympic Games, skaters are not permitted to skate except on
434-511: The competition, the start orders and warmup groups are determined by current standings, with either a random draw within each group or competitors skating in reverse order of standing, depending on the rules of the particular competition. As of 2007, all international and most national competitions use the ISU Judging System to determine competition results. The judges, event referee, and technical panel officials sit together on one side of
465-542: The competitions leading up to them. The competition levels in Canada, from highest to lowest, are: Canada's figure skating organization is divided into 13 sections which generally correspond to provincial boundaries. Sectional championships for singles, pair skating , and ice dancing are generally held in November. The top four finishers at each level advance to the next event. Senior skaters qualify directly from sectionals to
496-488: The event in order to qualify for a judging appointment. Following the competition, there may be a podium ceremony on the ice where medals, trophies, and flowers are awarded. Many competitions conclude with a gala or exhibition where the top finishers from each discipline, and sometimes invited skaters from the host country or club, perform show programs in a non-competitive setting. Qualifying and club competitions usually follow similar procedures. At these events, because of
527-511: The first half of October. The top four skaters from each regional advance to one of three sectional championships in November, from which the top four advance to the national championship in January. (Up until the 1990s, competitions were held later in the season, with regionals typically in November and sectionals often not until January.) The regions and sections are: Some skaters are also given "byes" through qualifying based on their results from
558-486: The five continents represented in the Olympic rings , omitting Europe ). Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, women's singles , pairs , and ice dance . Historically, the 4CC has been dominated by just four countries – the United States , Japan , Canada , and China – which have won a combined 287 out of 300 possible medals. South Korea (9), Kazakhstan (2), North Korea (1), and Uzbekistan (1) are
589-404: The ice together for few minutes of warmup, then each skater performs their program alone on the ice. The skaters then wait off the ice in the kiss and cry area for their marks to be read, while volunteers (usually children) called sweepers collect any flowers or other gifts from the ice. There is usually a break to resurface the ice after every 2 groups. In the second and subsequent phases of
620-427: The ice, close to the ice level. The referee is responsible for running the competition, such as signalling the announcer and music booth, timing the warmup periods, and resolving any issues involving accidents or disruptions. Accountants are responsible for tabulating the marks and competition results. At many competitions, there are also trial judges sitting in a group behind the working officials, who practice-judge
651-439: The judges' stand is positioned high above the ice for better visibility of the formations, and there is a second referee at ice level responsible for dealing with accidents and safety issues. The United States Figure Skating Association holds national championships in five skill divisions. From highest to lowest, these are: Unlike the International Skating Union , which categorizes novice, junior, and senior skaters by age, in
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#1732848973801682-510: The levels follow the ISU age guidelines for junior and senior level competitors, so that skaters who are age-eligible for both ISU junior and senior events often compete in both national competitions. The national championships in synchronized skating are also held as a separate event. Kiss and cry The kiss and cry is the area in a figure skating rink where figure skaters wait for their marks to be announced after their performances during
713-530: The national championships and qualifying events held separately from those in the other disciplines. There are no regional championships in this discipline; teams qualify for the U.S. Synchronized Team Skating Championships at one of three sectional competitions. Adults (skaters 21 and older) in the US have a separate competitive track which culminates in the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships (colloquially Adult Nationals). Most divisions at this competition are non-qualifying events with open entries, but there
744-890: The novice, junior, senior, and adult levels. The top 4 teams from each section qualify to compete at the Skate Canada Synchronized Nationals. Competitions organized by the Japan Skating Federation begin with 6 block championships: The block championships are held in October. In November, there are two regional championships—East Japanese and West Japanese—leading to the Japan Figure Skating Championships for senior-level skaters, which are usually held in December. National competitions for novice and junior competitors are held separately. In Japan,
775-406: The number of competitors, skaters may only get a brief practice without music on the competition ice surface. Particularly in the lower-level age or skill divisions, it is common to use closed judging to save time; in this case, the judges record each skater's marks after their performance, but the marks are not read, only posted at the conclusion of the competition. At competitions where there are
806-431: The officially designated practice sessions once they have been credentialed at the competition. The start order for the initial phase (short program or compulsory dance) of the competition has traditionally been determined by random draw, but at some competitions is now the reverse order of seeding or qualification placement. Again, skaters are divided into warmup groups. During the competition, each group of skaters takes
837-467: The only other countries to have earned Four Continents medals. Skaters must belong to a non-European member nation of the ISU . Each member country may enter up to three skaters or teams in each discipline, provided they obtain the minimum TES in the current or previous season. National governing bodies select their entries according to their own criteria. As with the other senior ISU Championships, eligible skaters must be at least seventeen before July 1 of
868-517: The previous season's competitions, if they qualify for the Junior or Senior Grand Prix Final, or if they are assigned by the USFSA to international competitions that conflict with their qualifying competitions. Skaters are currently not eligible for byes at any level if they cannot compete in their qualifying competition due to injury or illness. In the US, synchronized skating has its own competition track with
899-435: The previous year. As of 2018 Championships, the following countries are eligible to send skaters to the competition: Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Cambodia , Canada , China , Chinese Taipei , Hong Kong , India , Indonesia , Japan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Malaysia , Mexico , Mongolia , New Zealand , North Korea , Philippines , Singapore , South Africa , South Korea , Thailand , United Arab Emirates ,
930-456: The same event are divided into groups for practice sessions before the competition. Because of safety concerns, there are usually no more than 6 singles skaters, 4 pair skating teams, or 5 ice dancing couples on the ice at the same time. After a warmup period, each skater's program music is played in turn. The other skaters must exit the ice while each skater performs their program. Skaters are usually given at least one "official" practice on
961-496: The skaters as they react to their performance and scores. The term was coined by Jane Erkko , a Finnish figure skating official who was on the organizing committee for the 1983 World Figure Skating Championships which were held in Helsinki . Erkko came up with the name when visiting television technicians who were mapping the arena prior to the event wanted to know what the area was called. The first formal off-ice waiting area at