201XName of Event Figure Skating Championships
Story Ideas
Media contact: Name, title
Contact information
STATE/CITYFocus
Economic impact of 201XEvent Name Figure Skating Championshipson Jackson Hole.Example: More than #### athletes have already booked #### room nights in the region. What will they spend and what will they do when they are here? Key contacts: citynameChamber of Commerce, sports commissions,corporate sponsors, participating hotels, shops and restaurants.
State/City skaters competing at Name of CompetitionChampionships– past and present: Several skaters with city/stateroots are competing, performing in the opening ceremonies andvolunteering, andthey already have memories to share. Key Contacts: competitors, local organizing committee, coaches, judges, volunteers, etc.
Meet the local organizing committee: What does it take to pull off a qualifying event?Months of planning, a decision-making process and hundreds of volunteers will be deployed at the rink over four days of competition. Key contacts:host club, local organizing committee, volunteers, venue.
How successful isCityand the surrounding areaathosting mid-sized events? How many events of this size/magnitude doescityhost? Has it been successful or unsuccessful at attracting events of this kind? What could help attract more events like this?Has it held this specific event in the past? Key contacts: local organizing committee, host club, venue, chamber of commerce, sports commissions.
Opening ceremonies. (Does this event have an opening ceremony?If it is something that took a while to put together or features something meaningful to locals?) Key contacts: host club, opening ceremonies participants and coordinators, venue, participants’ parents.
Figure skating in State…from learn to skate to elite athletes: What does it take to nurture a child from their first steps on the ice to national competition? Many well-known skaters have emerged from State, including ######.Key contacts: coaches, parents, elite skaters, rink managers, host club members, board members.
Community.A reader’s guide to tickets, schedules, events and opportunities for all ages to take part in this event. Key contacts: local organizing committee, host club, venue.
Sport Focus
What is the international judging system (IJS)?When/why was the IJSimplemented?What are its advantages and disadvantages? How does it work, and how is it different from the “old” 6.0 system?How havethe skaters adapted to the scoring system? Key contacts: judges, skaters, coaches.
History of figure skating in City and the surrounding area. There are ### in city name and the surrounding area, including (insert surrounding cities).Insert some historical facts about thehost club, other clubs and arena/facility. Answer this: Is the sport growing or is there declining interest in the area? And why is it growing or declining? Key contacts: coaches, local figure skating club board members, rink managers, host club members and board members.
What happens after regional/sectional championships? The road to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships each year, and to the Olympic Winter Games every four years, begins with the U.S. Figure Skating qualifying structure of regional and sectional events. The structure is comprised of nine regional and three sectional events. Skaters who place in the top four at a regional competition qualify for either a sectional (novice, junior and senior) or the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships (juvenile and intermediate); skaters who place in the top four at a sectional qualify for the U.S. Championships. Key contacts: skaters, parents, coaches, judges.
Day in the life. More than ### skaters will vie for four spots in each category (ladies, men’s, pairs,ice dancing) to compete at the sectional championships and U.S. Championships or U.S. Junior Championships.Shadow a local skater and see what his/her life is like on and off the ice, and follow his or her journey that may culminate at the 2012 U.S. Championships in San Jose, Calif. Key Contacts: skaters, coaches, parents.
Challenges. Has a competitor overcome any serious hurdles, such as illnesses, family illnesses or death, missing a military parent who is deployed, etc.? These are compelling stories. Key contacts: skaters, parents, coaches.
Coaches. Figure skating coaches often include well-known Olympians and U.S. titlists. Are there any notable coaches mentoring skaters at this competition or in the area? Key contacts: local clubs, coaches.
Skate sharpening. It is an art form! Key contacts: skate sharpeners at the event, local organizing committee.
Technology. How are computers used in competition, in the sport and by U.S. Figure Skating? There is a growing online frenzy. Figure skating fans, especially the young fan base, are excited about the inside access and competition coverage U.S Figure Skating provides through Facebook ( Twitter ( the INcrowd ( more. Key contacts: U.S. Figure Skating, skaters, anyone backstage at the event, including judges, music people, accountants.
Health/Nutrition.Feeding the skaters, dietary needsand workout regimens. Injury prevention and rehabilitation. Key contacts: skaters, parents, trainers, coaches, nutritionists.
Science behind the sport.Guide to figure skating (use a graphic of the jumps and spins) with descriptions and definitions of the terms and concepts. Key contacts: U.S. Figure Skating, local organizing committee, coaches, judges, technical controllers.
Away from the rink. Facts that we may not know about these athletes off the ice. Are any of them a musical genius, artist, environmentalist, writer, actor or future doctor? Key contacts: skaters, parents, teachers, coaches.
Fashion.Who creates the costumes? How is a costume chosen? How expensive are they? Famous designers, including Vera Wang and Heatherette, design skating costumes.Key contacts: local clubs, skaters, figure skating apparel shops, costume designers.
Hair, makeup and costumes. It takes a lot of work to prepare for the big performance: hairspray, makeup, gluing, skate sharpening, pinning, sewing, finishing touches to costumes. Sometimes, malfunctions can make the getting-ready process even more difficult and time consuming. Go behind the scenes and find out what it takes to put “the look” together.Key contacts: skaters, coaches, parents, volunteers, costume repair shop.