Adult figure skating
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Adult figure skating is a category referring for skaters older than 21. Most commonly, it means skaters who began figure skating after this age, although it can also refer to skaters who continued their skating into adulthood.
In many countries, adult skaters have separate tests and competitions.
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[edit] United States
The U.S. was one of the earliest and most thorough adaptors of adult skating. The U.S. Adult Championships began in 1995. Adult freestyle tests were introduced in the mid-1990s, and adult moves tests followed in 2002.
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[edit] Testing
Standard tests are open to skaters of any age, but due to the physical and personal limitations that being an adult skater entails, the United States Figure Skating Association created adult tests specifically tailored to meet adult skaters' abilities. There are both moves in the field and freestyle tests at the following levels:
- Pre-Bronze
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Skaters must pass the moves in the field test before testing the corresponding freestyle test.
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 to accommodate the limitations of an adult body.
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| Pre-Bronze | Pre-Preliminary |
| Bronze | Preliminary |
| Silver | Pre-Juvenile |
| Gold | Juvenile |
| Skaters who wish to continue beyond Gold may switch to the standard test track beginning with Intermediate moves in the field. | |
There is also an adult component to ice dancing tests. Beginning with the pre-silver dances, adult skaters may switch to the adult track. Adult 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. All dances prior to the pre-silver level are tested standard track.
[edit] Competitions
U.S. figure skating has four official adult competitions: Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast Sectionals, and the Adult Championships (Nationals). Sectionals only includes the qualifying track, 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 events are normally held in conjunction with the qualifying events. 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 adult levels (Pre-Bronze through Gold) or Masters levels (Intermediate through Senior). Pairs, dance, and interpretive events are also held. All Championship events are scored using the new judging system.
Because of the number of entries and abilities, USFS divides competitions into age groups. They are currently as follows: I (21-29), II (30-39), III (40-49) and IV (50+). Until 2005, adult skating was for skaters 25 years old and up, but a rule change was instituted to cover skaters who were no longer in college but not yet 25.
Skaters who passed the Juvenile freestyle or 2nd figure test must compete in the Masters level. Adult skaters who have completed the adult track and want to continue testing and competing in higher levels can continue to test the standard track and compete Masters beginning after they pass the Intermediate freestyle test.
[edit] Canada
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[edit] International
Several European countries host adult-only competitions. They include the Vana Tallinn Cup (Estonia) and Le Coupe de la Montagne (Mountain Cup) (France). The International Skating Union held the first international adult competition in Obertsdorf, Germany in spring 2005.
