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2026 Competition Announcement

2026 Snowflake Classic December 12, 2026 Registration Deadline: November 6, 2026

Referee: Sandra Bowen

Scoring Official: Kelly Gillette

Hosted by

The Snowflake Classic will be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of U.S. Figure Skating and Compete USA, as set forth in the current U.S. Figure Skating Rule Book.

Competition announcement

This announcement template is for competitions that are only running Compete USA events. If you are running Compete USA events in conjunction with a nonqualifying event, please use the standard nonqualifying announcement template.

Competition announcement

Rules for compete USA competitions

3100 Rules for Compete USA Competitions

3110 Compete USA Competitions - Approvals

• 3111 Compete USA competitions may include events up to and including preliminary singles, adult bronze singles, and pre-bronze pattern dance without applying for a U.S. Figure Skating sanction. However, an approval number is required and may be obtained from the appointed Learn to Skate USA ® representatives.

3120 Compete USA Competitions - Officials

• 3121 For Compete USA competitions, a chief referee and chief scoring official are required. In addition, three judges not related to the competitors are required for each event. Officials may be any official certified by U.S. Figure Skating or Skate Canada or any other qualified eligible or ineligible person.
• 3122 For Compete USA competitions, the member club or other organization sponsoring and conducting the competition will approve all officials. All persons serving as officials must be current U.S. Figure Skating member and/or Learn to Skate USA ® member, be at least 16 years of age and, if 18 years of age or older, pass a background check and complete SafeSport TM training.

3130 Compete USA Competitions - Announcements

• 3131 For all Compete USA competitions, a copy of the announcement and an approval request shall be sent to the appointed Learn to Skate USA ® representative for approval and issuance of a Compete USA approval number 30 days prior to the release of the competition announcement to the public. The approval is to be publicly displayed during the competition.
• 3132 Compete USA competitions will follow the event structure as outlined in the Compete USA Manual. Any registered Learn to Skate USA ® program may conduct a Compete USA competition.

3133 Compete USA competitions may be

1. 'In house' - the competition is available only to those skaters who are members of the club or program conducting the competition, or
2. 'Open' - the competition is available to any registered U.S. Figure Skating Learn to Skate USA ® member or full U.S. Figure Skating member.

3055 Entries

At nonqualifying competitions, if only one eligible competitor/team enters an event, the competitor/ team will be offered the option to skate an exhibition, compete in an equivalent event one level above or one level below (as qualified by test level) or, for prejuvenile and lower and adult bronze and lower singles events, compete in an equivalent event against skaters of the opposite gender.

1. If said competitor chooses to skate an exhibition, judges will award their marks according to the rules and the applicable judging system used, and the competitor/team will receive first place.
2. If said competitor chooses to compete in an equivalent event against skaters of the opposite gender, the skater will be entered accordingly.
3. If said competitor/team chooses not to skate, the entry fee will be refunded, and the event will be cancelled.

3064 Skating Accommodations Memorandum (S.A.M.) for Nonqualifying Competitions

A singles skater with a documented physical disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), may request exemption from certain technical rules or element requirements or expectations on the basis that such rule or requirement penalizes them in the assessment.

Eligibility rules for participants

Competition announcement

Eligibility rules for coaches/instructors

It is very important to the success of the competition that skaters are placed in the correct divisions. This will ensure that every event is as fair as possible to the competitors. It is an ethical violation for coaches to sandbag an event.

Choosing a competitive level that is right for your skater: It is the responsibility of the instructor, coach, or skating director to place the skater at the correct competitive level. This decision should be based upon skill proficiency, athlete development, and fairness. Placing skaters at a level that challenges them appropriately while fostering their ongoing development is key to nurturing their growth.

Eligibility and test requirements

The competition is open to ALL skaters who are current members of either Learn to Skate USA and/or those who are full members of U.S. Figure Skating (including Aspire). Members of other organizations are eligible to compete but must be a current registered member of Learn to Skate USA or a full member of U.S. Figure Skating.

Eligibility will be based on skill level as of closing date of entries. All Snowplow Sam and Basic 1-6 skaters must skate at highest level passed or one level higher, and NO official U.S. Figure Skating tests may have been passed, including skating skills or individual dances.

Special Olympics events are for skaters with intellectual disabilities. Skate United events are for skaters with physical disabilities. Skate United skaters have the option to compete in the standard track or Skate United track. Accommodations may be made upon request. Adaptive events are for skaters with any type of disability.

For synchronized skating eligibility and requirements refer to the synchronized skating page.

There will be no more than six competitors maximum in an event, and all six should receive an award.

When hosting a Compete USA competition, it is important that you verify the compliance of each coach/instructor who plans to coach onsite at the event.

For credentials at a Compete USA event, coaches/ instructors are required to have:

• Learn to Skate USA instructor compliant

OR

• U.S. Figure Skating coach compliant

If a coach/instructor attempts to work at your event without the proper credentials, he or she is in violation of U.S. Figure Skating ethics and code of conduct rules and, as such, is subject to disciplinary action.

All officials and adult volunteers assisting Compete USA events must also be SafeSport Trained™.

Competition announcement

Program requirements

Events offered

Program requirements for the events listed below can be found HERE

Additional information

Showcase events are limited to: Character Performance, Lyrical Pop, and Duet/Trio Solo Pattern Dance - Please see the Compete USA handbook for the required dances.

Refund Policy

Entry fees will not be refunded after the entry deadline, November 6. 2026, unless no competition is held. No Exceptions.

Facilities

The competition will be held at ImOn Ice Arena, 1100 Rockford Road SW, Cedar Rapids,

Iowa 52404. ImOn Ice Arena's Olympic ice surface is 85 x 200. ' Locker rooms are available. USFSA locker room rules will be in effect.

Music

Competitors must provide music for all events, as appropriate.

Music must be uploaded to Entryeeze only - no music will be played from CDs unless there is a technical issue. All music must be uploaded by December 4, 2026 - a $20 late fee will be charged for each event for late music and will be payable at registration before the skater is allowed to compete. A duplicate of the music on CD or other easily accessed format should be readily available. If a CD is used during an event, music may be picked up at the registration table following each event. Every reasonable care will be taken, but the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena cannot be responsible for CDs left at the end of the competition.

Registration

The registration table will be open throughout the competition. Each skater must check in upon arrival, at least 45 minutes before each event. The registration table will be located in the lobby of the ImOn Ice Arena.

Practice Ice

Competitors will be able to reserve practice ice time slots. The length of each practice session is 20 minutes, with a maximum number of 15 skaters on the ice. The sessions may be designated by skating level based on entries. All practice ice reservations will be through Entryeeze. The deadline for practice ice reservations will be Thursday, December 10, 2026. The practice ice will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. There is a limit of one (1) practice session per skater during event registration and two (2) practice sessions total if space allows. Fees for practice ice are $18 per session at time of event registration, $20 per session during online purchase window and $22 at the rink if space is available.

Photography

No flash photography will be permitted inside the competition ice area.

Awards

All competitors will receive an award of participation. Medals will be given for first, second, third, and fourth places in each level.

Schedule

A tentative schedule of events will be posted prior to the competition on Entryeeze. Skaters are requested to arrive 45 minutes prior to the scheduled time of their event. The final schedule and skating order will be posted the day of the competition.

Liability

U.S Figure Skating, Eastern Iowa Figure Skating Club, ImOn Ice Arena, City of Cedar Rapids, VenuWorks of Cedar Rapids, LLC, VenuWorks, Inc.; their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, insurers, and agents accept no responsibility for injury or damage sustained by any participant in this competition. This is in accordance with Rule 1600 of the official U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook

Competition announcement

Competition announcement