The figure skating season is the period of time in which competitions are contested in the sport of figure skating. The skating season begins on July 1 of one year and goes until the end of June of the next. The seasons are referred to by the years they span. For example, the 2006/2007 season began in July 2006 and ended in June 2007.
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Fall international events have existed for decades. In 1995, the International Skating Union brought five of the most popular senior events together into a series offering prize money[1] in response to the then-success of professional skating.[2] The events were Skate America, Skate Canada International, Trophée de France, Nations Cup (later known as Sparkassen Cup and Bofrost Cup), and the NHK Trophy.[1][2] They comprised the Champions Series, since renamed the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, and took up the fall. They concluded with a Final held in the spring before the World Championships in which the top six skaters in each discipline compete against each other. In 2001, the Final was moved to December. This leads to the confusion of having had two Finals within one calendar year. In 1996, a sixth event was added: the Cup of Russia.[3] The event in Germany was replaced in 2003 with the Cup of China.
Other internationals traditionally held in the fall, such as the Nebelhorn Trophy, exist independently of the Grand Prix circuit.
In 1997, the ISU instituted the ISU Junior Series, since renamed the ISU Junior Grand Prix, which contains more competitions than its senior counterpart and allows more skaters to compete in the Final. The Final was originally held in March, but was moved to December in 1999. The Junior Grand Prix currently holds its first competition in August and so kicks off the ISU calendar of competitions for the season.[4]
Most countries hold annual national championships, often referred to informally as Nationals. There is no set specific time in which national championships must be held. While some countries rely on the results of their nationals to choose the teams for the ISU Championships, others have more varied criteria depending on international placement or testing results.
The ISU holds five championships every season. Currently, the first one to be held is the European Figure Skating Championships. It usually takes place in January.[3] The European Championships, often referred to informally as Europeans, is the oldest of the five championships. It is open to skaters from European Member Nations of the ISU.[5]
The next one held is the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. It usually takes place in early February. The Four Continents Championships were established in 1999 to be the equivalent of Europeans for skaters from non-European Member Nations.[3]
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships, often informally called Junior Worlds or World Juniors, were for many years held in late November or December. Following the 1998/1999 season, they were moved to late February/early March, and have been held after the Four Continents Championships. Even when they were held before the New Year, the events were officially referred to by the next calendar year, and the champions are listed in results by that year. For example, Ilia Klimkin, who won it in November 1998,[6] is officially the 1999 World Junior Champion.[7] By ISU regulation, the World Junior Championships should be held in the first half of March.[5] The World Junior Championships are open to skaters who fit into a certain age category. Currently, skaters must be between the ages of 13 and 19 (or 13 and 21 for the men in pairs and ice dancing) in order to compete.
The World Figure Skating Championships, commonly referred to informally as Worlds, are the next ISU Championship to be held. By ISU regulation, they must take place following the fourth Monday in February and there should be at least fourteen days between Worlds and the Four Continents Championships or European Championships, whichever happens later.[5] The World Championships are open to all member nations of the ISU.
The final ISU Championship of the year is the World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Every four years, figure skating is contested at the Winter Olympic Games. The Olympics usually take place in February. Since the inception of the Four Continents Championships, both the European and Four Continents Championships have been held before the Olympics, with the World Junior Championships, World Championships, and World Synchronized Skating Championships occurring after.
Unlike in some other sports, there are World Championships in Olympic years.
Other international competitions take place throughout the season. These competitions do not hold the prestige of the Grand Prix or ISU championships, but have an ISU sanction. The international season typically ends with the Triglav Trophy, a competition for novice, junior, and senior-level skaters, held annually in April.
Club competitions take place over the year, with the largest usually taking place in the summer. Although summer club competitions can be large and attract high-level skaters, they are not prestigious events and do not count towards anything.