USFS 2021-22 Qualifying Season Announced

[cheremary]

USFS announced the 2021-22 dates and locations of domestic competitions today, including the Championship Series, which will be used again to qualify for nationals. Each skater/team can compete at up to two events, and they are currently planned to be in person.

Press release here: https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...s-figure-skating-competition-season-announced

The events are:
Blaine, Minnesota - Oct. 4-10, 2021
Hosted by Northern Blades NSC FSC, National Sports Center
Disciplines: Singles, Ice Dance

Henderson, Nevada - Oct. 12-16, 2021
Hosted by Vegas Golden Knights Center of Excellence, Lifeguard Arena
Disciplines: Singles, Pairs

Allen, Texas - Oct. 13-17, 2021
Hosted by Dallas FSC, Allen Event Center
Discipline: Singles

Leesburg, Virginia - Oct. 27-30, 2021
Hosted by Ion FSC & SC of Northern Virginia, Ion International Training Center
Discipline: Singles

Fort Wayne, Indiana - Nov. 2-5, 2021
Hosted by Fort Wayne ISC, SportONE/Parkview Ice House
Discipline: Singles

Norwood, Massachusetts - Nov. 9-13, 2021
Hosted by The Skating Club of Boston
Discipline: Singles, Pairs

Spokane, Washington - Nov. 17-20, 2021
Hosted by Lilac City FSC, Eagles Ice Arena
Discipline: Singles

Alpharetta, Georgia - Nov. 17-20, 2021
Hosted by the Atlanta FSC, The Cooler
Disciplines: Singles, Ice Dance

 

[Aceon6]

Ooooh. Looking forward to Norwood/SCOB.

 

[Carolla5501]

Oh there’s one just up the road. We will see if fans are allowed by November

 

[MacMadame]

Is the Championship series in place of the old Regionals/Sectionals or in addition to? I feel like I should know this but I am confused as I thought the series was just for this past season due to CV.

 

[Wyliefan]

Leesburg isn't far from me. Maybe I should look into this . . .

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Is the Championship series in place of the old Regionals/Sectionals or in addition to? I feel like I should know this but I am confused as I thought the series was just for this past season due to CV.

Copied from the linked page above:

2022 U.S. FIGURE SKATING QUALIFYING SEASON​

Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championship Series presented by Toyota will again be used for the 2021-22 season. The series of eight competitions replaces the traditional U.S. Qualifying Season competitions (Challenges and Finals).

Athletes will have the opportunity to compete at up to two competitions in the location of their choice. Advancement to the 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships and assignment to the National High Performance Development Team, will be based on each skaters’ highest score earned rather than placement at each competition. Additional details will be available in the coming months.

 

[hoptoad]

Considering how large some regionals fields used to be, some of these competitions could be mobbed. Is there going to be any limit on entries?

 

[Evgeniafan]

Ooooh. Looking forward to Norwood/SCOB.

me too.

 

[concorde]

Last year they capped the number of entries.

The way it worked was you selected your #1 choice of location. Then entries were shut for awhile (I think ~2 weeks) so USFS could tabulate the number of entries. When registration reopened, you could select from the remaining "open" site. As skaters signed up, sites hit their max #of entries and were shut. I think by the end, only 2 sites has openings.

I assume they will follow a similar model as last year.

 

[Sylvia]

Local article about the planned qualifying competition in Leesburg, Virginia:

Leesburg’s Ion Selected for U.S. Figure Skating Championship Series

Ion International Training Center in Leesburg will be one of eight sites across the nation included in the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championship Series.

loudounnow.com

I noticed that USFS kept the 8 qualifying competition locations they originally announced last August that were cancelled later (the only rink change is from Frisco to Allen, Texas).

 

[Debbie S]

Except Leesburg no longer has dance.

 

[concorde]

Wonder why Leesburg does not have dance.

Maybe unfair home rink advantage? Not sure if Wheaton still exists or is now only the Ion-Wheation Ice Dance Academy.

 

[Karen-W]

Wonder why Leesburg does not have dance.

Maybe unfair home rink advantage? I know that lots of top ice dancers now train there. Mi impression is the Wheaton Academy relocated there -can anyone confirm that?

Could be a matter of rink availability and scheduling. They seemed to spread the ice dance and pairs events out - and the Leesburg qualifying event is in the middle of the series whereas both the ice dance and pairs events are the first two and last two weekends of the entire series.

 

[concorde]

Could be a matter of rink availability and scheduling. They seemed to spread the ice dance and pairs events out - and the Leesburg qualifying event is in the middle of the series whereas both the ice dance and pairs events are the first two and last two weekends of the entire series.

I agree with this.
Last year, Leesburg was at the end.

 

[Debbie S]

USFS held a webinar on Thursday night for clubs hosting club comps this spring/summer, to go over protocols. Among them is no spectators - a parent can be allowed if the skater is under 18. From what I was told, it sounds like they didn't address the qual comps - probably haven't gotten that far - but I wouldn't be surprised if spectators weren't allowed.

Hopefully, Peacock/Fan Zone will live-stream.

 

[ЭPiKUilyam]

At least I am driving distance to Allen, TX. Might be the only competition I attend this year, unless Skate America is on in LV. Or Nationals if rates go down.

 

[mattiecat13]

Any word (or rumors) regarding a location for Skate America?

 

[missing]

Any word (or rumors) regarding a location for Skate America?

Wherever it is, Philip Hersh won't approve.

 

[MacMadame]

Wherever it is, Philip Hersh won't approve.

Nor half of FSU.

And tickets will be too expensive.

 

[MacMadame]

I have a question about ticket prices for single event tickets and other packages other than All-Event tickets (like the Championship weekend package they often have). At what point does buying those things end up costing more than an All-Event ticket?

(I'm making plans with my sister and I want to give her good info.)

 

[Rukia]

At least I am driving distance to Allen, TX. Might be the only competition I attend this year, unless Skate America is on in LV. Or Nationals if rates go down.

It's a great arena! And very close to everything you need. Definitely come if you can.

 

[emilieh]

USFS held a webinar on Thursday night for clubs hosting club comps this spring/summer, to go over protocols. Among them is no spectators - a parent can be allowed if the skater is under 18. From what I was told, it sounds like they didn't address the qual comps - probably haven't gotten that far - but I wouldn't be surprised if spectators weren't allowed.

Hopefully, Peacock/Fan Zone will live-stream.

I just went to an event where each skater was allowed 2 spectators. They were escorted in for their skater's event and then had to leave when the event was over. It seemed to run as well as could be expected. the club definitely needed extra volunteers to organize the traffic flow.

There's a general hopeful feeling among parents/club volunteers that events will get easier to hold by the end of summer.

 

[Debbie S]

I just went to an event where each skater was allowed 2 spectators. They were escorted in for their skater's event and then had to leave when the event was over. It seemed to run as well as could be expected. the club definitely needed extra volunteers to organize the traffic flow.

There's a general hopeful feeling among parents/club volunteers that events will get easier to hold by the end of summer.

I hope so, since that's when my club's comp is. I was under the impression it was 1 per skater max, but perhaps there is a bit of leeway....or given that this webinar was Thurs, comps this weekend didn't have time to implement. In any event, it doesn't sound like the general public is going to be allowed into comps anytime soon, so I won't be making my usual trip to Liberty/Philly in July. Hopefully in 2022. Maybe by fall, the policy will change.