Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, duos, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, when contested at the 1908 Olympics in London. The four Olympic disciplines are men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance; the non-Olympic disciplines include synchronized skating, Theater on Ice, and four skating. From intermediate through senior-level competition, skaters generally perform two programs, which, depending on the discipline, may include spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals, and other elements or moves.
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of Figure skating in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating Union ("ISU"). Although the name of the organization is “the United States Figure Skating Association” it is now known as and conducts business under the name “U.S. Figure Skating.” Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions and all other figure skating related activities. U.S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits, and offering a wide variety of programs.
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. Medals may be awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels.
The 2007 World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Oberstdorf, Germany from February 26 to March 4. The event is open to figure skaters from ISU member nations who have reached the age of 13 by 1 July the previous year, but have not yet turned 19. The upper age limit for men competing in pairs and dance is 21. Skaters compete in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
The 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships were held from February 25 through March 2 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion. The event is open to figure skaters from ISU member nations who have reached the age of 13 by July 1 of the previous year, but have not yet turned 19. The upper age limit for men competing in pairs and dance is 21. Skaters compete in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
The International Skating Union organizes six annual Championships for figure skating. It is at the discretion of each member country which skaters, pairs or synchronized skating teams are sent to which championship.
The 1997–98 ISU Junior Series was the first season of what was later named the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was designed to be a junior-level complement to the ISU Champions Series, which was for senior-level skaters. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The top skaters from the series met at the Junior Series Final in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 5–8, 1998.
The NRW Trophy is an annual international figure skating competition organized by the Skating Union of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2007, it has been sanctioned by the Deutsche Eislauf Union and the International Skating Union. It is held every autumn at Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. The competition is held in two parts. The Ice Dance Trophy is held for ice dancing levels pre-novice to senior in early November. The Figure Skating Trophy is held for singles and pairs skating levels novice to senior in late November or early December.
The 1978 European Figure Skating Championships was a senior-level international competition held in Strasbourg, France from January 31 to February 5. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU member nations competed for the title of European Champion in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
The 2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was an international figure skating competition during the 2010–11 season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", the event crowned the World Junior Champions in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.
The 2010–11 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the 14th season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–11 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance.
The 2011 Canadian Figure Skating Championships were held from January 17 to 23, 2011 in Victoria, British Columbia. The event determines the national champions of Canada and is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The junior-level and senior-level events were held at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Skaters competed at the senior, junior, and novice levels in the disciplines of men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Although the official International Skating Union terminology for female skaters in the singles category is ladies, Skate Canada uses women officially. The results of this competition were used to pick the Canadian teams for the 2011 World Championships, the 2011 Four Continents Championships, and the 2011 World Junior Championships, as well as the Canadian national team.
The 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships were a national figure skating competition during the 2010–11 season. Skaters competed for the title of U.S. national champion in men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels. The event was part of the selection process for several international events, including the 2011 World Championships. The competition was held in Greensboro, North Carolina on January 22–30, 2011.
The 2011–12 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the 15th season of the series of junior international competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2011–12 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating contested by senior-level skaters. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance.
The 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial was the 19th edition of an annual international figure skating competition held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The competition was held from September 28 to October 2, 2011 at the Ondrej Nepela Ice Rink in. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing at the senior level.
The 2011 Finlandia Trophy was an international figure skating competition in the 2011–12 season. It was the 16th edition of the annual event and held on October 6–9, 2011 at the Valtti Areena in Vantaa. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, and ice dancing on the senior level.
The 2011 NRW Trophy was an international figure skating competition during the 2011–2012 season. An annual event organized by the Skating Union of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), it has been sanctioned by the Deutsche Eislauf Union and the International Skating Union since 2007.
The 2011 Golden Spin of Zagreb was the 44th edition of an annual senior-level international figure skating competition held in Zagreb, Croatia. It was held at the Dom Sportova on December 8–11, 2011. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior level.
The Mentor Toruń Cup is an annual figure skating competition held in January in Toruń, Poland. The competition may include men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing at various levels.
Piruetten was a senior international figure skating competition held in Hamar, Norway. Medals were awarded in men's singles, ladies' singles, and ice dancing. It later became a junior event held in some years as part of the ISU Junior Grand Prix series.