ENSEMBLE

This event is open to groups of 3-7 skaters of all levels and ages. Skaters will be judged on the performance value of the program. There are no required maneuvers, no maneuver limitations and there is no technical score for this event.

The group should use music, costumes & props to enhance the theme while creating an entertaining performance. The costume & prop guidelines are the same as for Solo Spotlight events. Props are not allowed on warm-up. Event groups are divided by number of skaters first and then by age, if necessary. Duration: 3 minutes.

FOOTWORK 1-10

(2025) Special Discounted Entry Fee for Footwork events at 2025 national events!

Freestyle skaters perform a one-minute program to music using various turns and connecting steps with limited jumps or spins. Skaters are judged on correct turns & edges as well as flow, variety of moves and choreography. Duration: 1 minute.

FREESTYLE SYNCHRO TEAM 1-10

Three to seven skaters from the same Freestyle level can enter this new form of group skating. They must perform the same identical Freestyle program in unison. All test level requirements must be included. All skaters must have passed the same freestyle test level to compete in this event. Skaters cannot skate above or below their freestyle test level.

Hockey Skating

Skaters will race one or two at a time skating one forward lap around the rink carrying the puck on the stick. After completing the forward lap, the skater will drop the puck, keep the stick and skate another lap around the rink backwards. The skater with the fastest time in that event group wins. There will be a short warm-up for each hockey event.

INTERPRETIVE 1-10 (Freestyle Levels Only)

Freestyle level skaters will hear a piece of music once off the ice; twice during the group warm-up; and once more before competing while they mentally choreograph a skating routine – with no help from friends, parents or coaches. The emphasis is on the skater’s ability to choreograph an entertaining skating routine to music and not on the difficulty of the skating maneuvers performed.

For most national events, we will use a two-panel (A/B) format. Skaters will wear colored numbers during this event for easy identification by the Judges. There will be 2 skaters competing simultaneously on full ice. Those 2 skaters will not be competing against each other in the same group. One skater will be from Panel A and one from Panel B.

Forward spirals are allowed at all levels, but NO BACKWARD SPIRALS are allowed in this event at any level for the safety of all competitors – if the 2-panel format is used.

JUMP & SPIN 

(2025) Special Discounted Entry Fee for Jump & Spin events at 2025 national events!

Two skaters enter the ice as a team. The first skater performs their choice of a required jump 2 times, followed by the second skater performing their choice of a required spin 2 times. Only the best attempt of each required element will be judged. Only the technical accuracy of the required element is judged – the difficulty of the chosen element is not considered during judging for this event.

ALL JUMP & SPIN EVENTS will be done on ½ ICE ONLY.

Category Levels:

If two skaters from different category levels wish to compete together, the team will be entered in the highest level of the two skaters.

Required Elements:

KALEIDOSKATE (All Levels)

(2025) Special Discounted Entry Fee for Kaleidoskate vents at 2025 national events!

A group of 8 or more skaters perform a fun and entertaining group number. Minimal skating skills are required for this event. Each skater represents a piece of color – and those color pieces are used to choreograph and create constantly changing patterns, designs and formations on the ice. Creativity, use of color and props are also an important part of the overall “design”.

OPEN FREESTYLE – Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum

There are no required maneuvers for the Open Freestyle events and any spin can be performed at any level; but all skaters and coaches should carefully check the jump limitations for the Bronze, Silver & Gold levels.  The program should be well-balanced including jumps, spins, connecting moves, gliding maneuvers, etc.

Skaters who have passed the traditional ISI Freestyle 1-10 tests are not required to take any additional test to compete at the equivalent level of Open Freestyle events.

Skaters who have passed tests from other skating organizations are only required to take the equivalent level test to compete at that level,  In some cases, skaters will have to also test to move up to a higher Open Freestyle level – based on their current program content.

Open Freestyle event judging criteria includes Correctness of Jumps, Correctness of Spins, Correctness of Turns & Edges, Variety of Moves, Music Interpretation, Posture, Choreography & Pattern, Presentation, Duration and General Overall (by all 3 judges).

OPEN PAIR – Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum

There are no required maneuvers for the Open Pair events; but all skaters and coaches should carefully check the maneuver limitations for the Bronze, Silver & Gold levels.  The program should be well-balanced including jumps, spins, pair lifts, pair spins, footwork, and connecting moves.

Skaters who have passed the traditional ISI Pair 1-10 tests are not required to take any additional test to compete at the equivalent level of Open Pair events.

Skaters who have passed tests from other skating organizations are only required to take the equivalent level test to compete in that level,  In some cases, skaters will have to also test to move up to a higher Open Pair – based on their current program content.

Open Pair event judging criteria includes:  Correctness of Jumps, Correctness of Spins, Correctness of Turns & Edges, Variety of Moves, Music Interpretation, Posture, Choreography & Pattern, Presentation, Duration and General Overall (by all 3 judges).

Together two skaters perform a choreographed routine to music. This program should include all the required maneuvers from their current Pair test level. The event is similar to Couples.  However, unlike Couples, Pairs includes pair lifts and pair spins. Both skaters must pass the required Pair Test to compete in this event.

PATTERN SKATING (Delta level and above)

This unique form of group skating is done by at least 4 people. Working off a common circle, skaters “draw” patterns, formations, and designs on the ice to music. The skaters skate in unison, all doing the same thing at the same time, each in their own area of the pattern.  All kinds of maneuvers can be performed i.e. jumps / spins / footwork / spirals / etc. as long as the circular symmetry is predominantly evident throughout the routine.

PRE ALPHA – DELTA SOLO

Skater performs a one-minute program routine to music that emphasizes the required test level maneuvers from Pre-Alpha through Delta. Depending on each test level requirement, specific skating skills must be performed. All skaters must pass the Pre-Alpha – Delta test to compete in this event. Skaters must include one maneuver from Freestyle 1 in their program.

PRODUCTION TEAM (All Levels)

This team event is for groups of 8 or more skaters.  Team will be judged on the performance value of the program.  There are no required maneuvers and no technical score for this event.  The group should use music along with elaborate costumes and props to enhance the theme while creating an entertaining performance.  Skaters from all levels can participate in this event.  Event entries will be divided in to Small / Medium / Large / Extravaganza categories, as registration warrants.

RHYTHMIC SKATING

This new entertaining event requires the use of one hand-held prop listed below. The program should contain elements that employ the use of the prop throughout the routine. The skater must maintain control of the prop at all times. Props of the same kind (i.e. Ball / Hoop / Ribbon) must be grouped together and cannot be combined for competition event groups.

The skater chooses only one rhythmic prop per routine (ball, hoop or ribbon) and must maintain control of the prop at all times throughout the program. This means the prop must be used by the skater throughout the routine. It can be thrown, bounced or juggled but control should be maintained. The prop should not be put down on the ice while the skater does jumps & spins. No additional props are permitted.

Props are not allowed on the event warm-up. If it is obvious that skater’s prop does not meet the following specifications, the panel Referee can determine if any point deduction should be taken.

Choice of One:

1.  Hoop – Must be made from wood or plastic (from a rigid, non-bending material).  The hoop diameter should measure between 2 feet 7 inches – 2 feet 11 inches. The hoop can have colored tap or fabric to match or contrast the skater’s costume, but it cannot have any other decoration (i.e. fringe, lights, etc.) on the prop.

2.  Ball – Must be made of rubber or plastic.  The ball diameter should measure approximately 7-3/4 inches. The ball must be smooth (without any texture).

3.  Ribbon – Stick must be made of wood, plastic or fiberglass.  Stick length should be between 20-30 inches.  Ribbon material must be one single piece of satin or a non-starched fabric.  Ribbon width should be 2-4 inches wide and between 6 feet – 9 feet long – proportional to the size and ability level of the skater.

SOLO COMPULSORIES (Pre-Alpha – Freestyle 10)

(2025) Special Discounted entry fee for Solo Compulsories events at 2025 national events!

Skaters are to perform only the three maneuvers below in any order with a minimum of connecting steps. Each maneuver may only be attempted one time. Additional maneuvers, such as any jump, spin, or gliding maneuver from a test level or any uncaptured moves are not allowed.

Please Note: There is no penalty given for the quantity of swizzles, wiggles, strokes, or crossovers in the Pre-Alpha – Beta levels. Only the quality of these maneuvers is comparatively judged.

SELECTED MANEUVERS FOR 2025 NATIONAL EVENTS – Download PDF Here

Pre-Alpha – Freestyle 5 will be on ½ ICE ONLY    /    Freestyle 6 – 10 will be on FULL ICE

SPECIAL SKATER 1-10

This category is open to skaters of all ages with physical or mental disabilities. Skaters will perform a program to music for 1 minute that includes all of the compulsory maneuvers from their test level. Skaters will be grouped by age, gender, and disability classification. The Special Skater event is based on the ISI Special Skater test levels 1-10. These tests must be registered with the ISI national office.

Above the Special Skater 10 (Delta) level, Special Skaters can take and pass the test levels in Freestyle, Figures, Couples, Pairs, Dance and Free Dance so they are eligible to compete in those events – along with Artistic, Footwork, Interpretive, etc. If requested, the Competition Director can put special skaters into a separate event group for those events.

SPOTLIGHT SOLO PROGRAM (All Levels)

This is an entertaining & “fun” routine that emphasizes the skater’s acting ability and not technical skating skills.  There is no score for technical merit in this event.  The skater must pass a test for Tots, Pre-Alpha to Delta or Freestyle to determine the spotlight event level.

Spotlight events are divided into three categories listed below. Please mark the correct category on your entry form.

a) CHARACTER – a famous or easily identifiable character.

b) DRAMATIC – a theatrical performance that sets a mood and evokes an emotional response.

c) LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT – an entertaining or light-hearted performance.

STROKING (Alpha – Delta Only)

Skaters compete together in groups wearing colored numbers for easy identification by the Judges. They do only forward stroking in both directions and are judged on posture and correct stroking technique. Crossovers are required and will be judged. This is the very basic skill of skating.

SYNCHRONIZED COMPULSORIES – Formation / Skating

Synchronized Formation and Skating teams must perform 4 or 5 required elements to music, with no additional moves permitted. Teams will be divided by age groups. For details of compulsory maneuvers and program duration limitations, please see the current edition of the ISI Handbook

SYNCHRONIZED TEAM – Dance / Formation / Skating

This is a group number for 8 or more skaters to perform in unison. They can incorporate various skating formations such as circles, pinwheels, lines, footwork sequences and dance steps. For complete description of Formation, Skating, and Dance categories, please see the current edition of ISI Handbook.

TEAM COMPULSORIES 1-10 (Freestyle Levels Only)

Six skaters (or seven skaters for FS6-10 levels) perform a lively and entertaining routine in which each skater performs one required test level maneuver (in the order listed in the current edition of the ISI Handbook). Lively music with entertaining themes, great costumes and hand-held props are featured in this event. Skaters can compete on more than one team as long as those two teams are in different freestyle levels.  Skater may skate above, but not below their own freestyle test level.

TEAM SURPRISE (All Levels) 

(2025) Special Discounted Entry Fee for Team Surprise events at 2025 national events!

This is a new “team” version of Surprise events. Each team must have 4 skaters from the same category level (listed below). Each skater may only participate on one team. Skaters under 6 years are not permitted to compete in Team Surprise events.

Teams can be made up of all males, all females, or any combination – as long as the resulting test level category is the same for ALL TEAM MEMBERS. Entries will be divided into competition groups based on the average age and/or test levels of all 4 team members.

Category Levels:

Low ALL team skaters must be in Pre-Alpha to Delta levels only.

Medium ALL team skaters must be in Freestyle 1-3 / Bronze levels & below.

Intermediate ALL team skaters must be in Freestyle 4-5 / Silver levels & below.

High ALL team skaters must be in Freestyle 6-10 / Gold / Platinum levels & below.

Skaters may skate in a higher team category than their current test level – but not in a lower team category. If entries are received with a team of skaters from different category levels, the team will be entered into the level of the highest skater.

These team “surprises” will be a relay-type event where every member of the team must complete a required task. Some events might be related to skating ability – and some may not – SO GRAB YOUR FRIENDS AND JOIN THE FUN ! ! !

THEATER PRODUCTION

This new production event is for your entire skating team. Skaters of all ages and advanced ability level can participate in this theatrical team event. This is a creative and artistic program usually based on a story or theme, using costumes, props and technical skating to enhance the production performance.

THEMED COUPLES SPOTLIGHT / THEMED PRODUCTION / THEMED SOLO SPOTLIGHT (All Levels)

These events will use the same guidelines as for regular Couples Spotlight, Production teams & Solo Spotlight events regarding levels, maneuver limitations, duration, and costume/prop restrictions. All programs in this event category must be related to this national event theme set for the current year.

Our 2025 theme is “Around the World” — celebrating the people, customs and places in our wide, wide world!”

TOT 1-4

Tots (skaters age 6 and under) will perform a 1-minute program routine with music. They should only perform the required maneuvers from their test level. Additional maneuvers should not be included and will not be judged. 2-foot and/or 1-foot snowplow stops are permitted in Tot events.

All Tot competitors must have their current test registered with ISI to enter Tot competition events. Coaches may be allowed to be on the ice with their skaters if approved by the Competition Director.