The "Series" concept has been a huge success for beginning skaters and their families in Florida, Colorado, Michigan and Wisconsin. While the growth of the series has been important, it is the ease with which it runs that makes it so appealing. The general principle of a series is at least three or more local competitions join forces and share one standard announcement, and all participating skate
rs earn points for their placements, which are totaled up throughout the series (loosely modeled after the ISU Grand Prix Series concept). During the last competition of the series, the top three winners in each level receive an additional award for their participation. Some additional benefits have been the collaboration of the participating programs and clubs on the master schedule, allowing skaters and their families to plan their travel as soon as the announcement is posted with the competition dates and locations within the series. Each series shares one standard, consistent announcement, so skaters, coaches and judges know exactly what is expected of them in each level at each event. Programs and clubs advertise and support each other and hopefully earn a profit from a well-attended competition. The idea for the Basic Skills Competition Series started in 2003, when Kent Johnson, skating program director for Kendall Ice Arena in Miami, Fla., started contacting the skating directors of local rinks who were operating U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills programs. His thought was to use just one competition announcement that would advertise and promote a series of competitions equally to promote Basic Skills and arena cooperation in south Florida. At the time, cooperation between the local arenas was at an all-time low, and grass-roots skating had degenerated into mostly in-house events. With the new Basic Skills Competition Series concept, each arena hosting an event would agree to participate fully in all the events, guaranteeing success and opportunity to all parties involved. Johnson soon realized that all the rinks contacted were very interested in participating and eager to give it a try. Finalists in the Colorado Basic Skills Competition Series
Since starting the series, now known as the South Florida Basic Skills Series, the Kendall Ice Arena Basic Skills Program has seen steady growth. Skaters are encouraged to compete as much as possible, and they are able to gain valuable competition experience in a fun atmosphere. In addition to the normal placement medals, skaters are rewarded with points based on their placements. The shiny trophies that are awarded to the skaters at the end of the series provide an incentive for the skaters to work hard.
