Do you have any fun and exciting plans on Sunday, May 5th? I just checked the weather forecast for that day and it’s suppose to rain the entire day. But wait, I’ve got a great idea on how you and your family can spend a dreary rainy afternoon- come out and watch some great basic skills skating competition!

A basic skills competition is a warm and friendly event intended to introduce beginner skaters to the excitement of a skating competition. The event is open to all Learn to Skate USA program and/or US Figure Skating members from beginners to preliminary skaters who perform moves they learn from their group basic skills classes. Levels include Snowplow Sam, Basic 1-6, Beginner, High Beginner, Pre-free skate through free skate 1-6, No test Pre-preliminary though Preliminary Test Track and well balanced events as well as synchronized skating, dance, Showcase, Theater On Ice, and Therapeutic. There’s usually only a maximum of four skaters in each event to ensure each receives a medal, fostering feelings of accomplishment for the skaters.

I’m showing off my forward outside edge clockwise circle and added feature of hands above my head

I still remember my first skating competition, Shore Skate Basic Skills, and I competed in basic skills level 4 to the music of ‘The Syncopated Clock’ by Leroy Anderson. I wore a pink sparkly dress and had my hair was up in a ponytail. It was the first time ever I got to wear makeup! It was such an exciting day and don’t recall being nervous at all because as I always loved performing especially in front of an audience and I was thrilled in my beautiful skating outfit. It was the best day ever because I had won first place at my first skating competition!