Figure Skating in Northern Ontario
National Teams
How do athletes get selected to compete
at different competitions and how do you become a member of the national
team? These are questions that are often asked. Read on to find out how
to qualify for the different levels of competitions and teams.
The National Team
To be named to the National Team a skater must finish in the top
five at the "Canadians: in Senior Singles, Pair and Dance disciplines.
If a skater in the top five retires the space is left open. These
skaters may be considered to represent Canada at one or more
international competitions.
Junior National Team
The Junior National Team is made up of athletes that placed in
the top five in Singles, Pair and Dance at the BMO Financial Group
Canadian Championships.
Some of these skaters will take part in international competitions
throughout the season, most notably the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure
Skating series and the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Development Team
Created in 2003 this team is comprised of athletes who finish in
the top three in Novice and top three in Pre-Novice in each discipline
at the BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals and who are age
eligible for Junior international events for two more years.
BMO Financial Group Sectional Skating Championships
These are the qualifying competitions for
BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Eastern and Western Challenge
competitions that are held annually in each of the 13 Sections (Ontario
is divided into four Sections). Skaters from the Juvenile to Senior
levels may compete. Single skaters must be members of the Section in
which they compete but Pair, Fours and Ice Dance teams may represent the
Section of one of the team members.
Novice and Junior
The top four placements (top eight in Quebec) in Pre-Novice,
Novice and Junior advance to one of the two BMO Financial Group Skate
Canada Challenge competitions.
Senior
The top four placements (top eight in Quebec) in Senior advance
to the BMO Financial Group Canadian Championships.
BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Challenge Competitions
These competitions qualify athletes for
the BM Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals and BMO Financial
Group Canadian Championships. These competitions are held annually in
each of the two Skate Canada Divisions: Eastern and Western.
Novice
The top third or top eight (whichever is greater) and any
athlete granted a bye in Pre-Novice and Novice advance to the BMO
Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals. Should there be eight or
fewer entries at either of the BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Eastern
or Western Challenge, skaters/teams in these competitions advance
automatically to the BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals..
Junior
The top half or top 10 (whichever is greater) and any athletes
granted a bye advance to the BMO Financial Group Canadian Championships.
Should there be 10 or fewer entries at either of the the BMO Financial
Group Skate Canada Eastern or Western Challenge, skaters/teams in these
competitions advance automatically to the BMO Financial Group Canadian
Championships.
BMO Financial Group Skate Canada Junior Nationals
Held each year in a different Canadian
city, this competition concludes the qualifying process for Juvenile,
Pre-Novice and Novice skaters/teams competing in Singles, Pair and Ice
Dance. Many skaters/teams are considered for international assignments
based on their performance at this event. It is also following this
event that Novice and Pre-Novice athletes are selected for the National
Development Team.
BMO Financial Group Canadian Championships
Canada's national championships or
"Canadians" are also held each year in a different Canadian city.
Competition takes place in Singles, Pair, and Ice Dance at the Junior
and Senior levels and Fours at the Senior level only. The previous
year's top three finishers at Canadians in the Senior category are
eligible for automatic entry into the Bank of Montreal Canadian
Championships. At the conclusion of "Canadians", the teams that will
represent Canada at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, the ISU
Four Continents and the ISU World Junior Championships are selected.
Byes
The granting of a bye permits a skater to
pass to the next level of competition without competing at a
prerequisite level. Byes may be granted through Sectional or Challenge
level of competition. Byes are classified as: (1) Automatic when granted
to all skaters or teams in a given situation (e.g. the competitors who
placed first, second and third in a particular event), (2) Individual
when granted to a particular skater for medical or international
assignment reasons.
