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USA Roller Sports Figure Skating
figurecommittee@usarollersports.org
402-483-7551
Combining Skill, Grace and Music
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Roller figure skating demands that its skaters combine a careful balance of precision, strength, and artistry into a single, impressive performance. The results are as spectacular to witness as they are to perform, and they demonstrate a mastery of the sport in all its intricacy.
The breadth of roller figure skating is also reflected in the diversity of its members. Skaters of all ages can take an active part in the sport, finding any number of challenges to inspire them to reach their individual goals - from a beginner class to world-class championship competition. This diversity, both in appeal and participants, has made roller figure skating the largest division of competitive roller skating in the United States.
Skaters enter events in one or more categories - Singles, Pairs, Figures, Solo Dance, Team Dance, Precision, or Show skating. They are judged on content and manner of performance. This includes the skater's ability to do identifiable, difficult content items, like jumps, spins, and footwork, while utilizing those movements in an artistic interpretation of accompanying music. Skaters may choose to skate in a variety of categories or concentrate on only one.
Figures
Figure skating demands tracing accuracy, body control, and extreme
concentration. Each skater retraces a series of figure
patterns--combining a variety of difficult take-offs, edges, and
turns--on a set of circles painted on the skating surface. Figure
skating, considered the basis of all skating, teaches balance, control,
and discipline. Skaters at the national level devote hours of silent
and demanding practice each week to figure skating in order to attain
their success. Skaters in this event are judged on their tracing of the
figure circle, execution of turns and takeoffs, and posture. Loop
figures are also another part of figure skating.
Singles 
Singles free skating demands creativity, technical agility,
and virtuosity. The objective is for skaters to blend the necessary
ingredients of singles skating--jumps, spins, and footwork--with music
to create a performance that embraces both sport and art. Judges search
for speed and height in jumps, control, velocity and variety of
position in spins, and originality and confidence in the footwork
segments used to connect each item in the program. These elements are
scored as technical merit. Manner of performance reflects the skater's
poise, showmanship, and expression during a routine.
Pairs
Pairs skating combines all of the difficulty of singles
skating with the complexity of adding a partner. Harmony is the key to
pairs skating, with partners mirroring each other as they move through
their program. Skaters strive for the perfect conversion of music to
movement by executing simultaneous spins, jumps, and footwork,
punctuated by exciting and physically demanding overhead lifts.
Contestants in this event are also scored according to both technical
merit and manner of performance.
Dance
(Team and Solo)
In
dance skating, each team or individual skates to prescribed patterns
and rhythms. Solo Dance is the only individual event where men and
women compete against each other. Judges look for timing, posture,
accuracy of the steps, and musical expression. In the World Class
events, an Original Dance (OD) is skated to rhythms yearly designated
by CIPA and requires the team to create their own original dance that
must include four (4) required elements. The third portion in World
Class events is the free dance, where teams skate their own original
choreography to music of their choice. Each team tailors its program
with music and moves best suited to its particular skating style. The
judges focus on creativity, step execution, and musical interpretation
within their “A” Mark (Technical Merit) and “B” Mark (Artistic
Impression) in determining the best overall team.
Precision
Team Skating
Precision Skating is a group of skaters all working together
as a unit. Maneuvers and formations are done to music with a focus on
unity of movement, accuracy of formations, and synchronization of the
team. Required elements are: circle, line, wheel, intersecting lines,
block, and three different handholds. Teams may consist of men and
women with Senior Teams having 12-24 team members and Junior &
Novice Teams having 8-16 team members. Two scores are given, one for
composition and one for presentation. Qualifying teams in the Senior
Division go on to the World Figure Skating Championships.
Show
Team Skating; Large and
Small
The Show Team Skating is similar to Precision Team Skating in
that required elements must be performed however only a maximum of four
(4) Precision required elements are allowed in the routines. The main
performance of a show group must be “Show”, not “Precision”. Props or
accessories may be used within a show group. The Large Show Teams may
consist of men and women having 16-30 team members and the Small Show
Teams may consist of 6-12 team members. Qualifying teams go on to the
World Figure Skating Championships.
