Is $150 a lot for a USFSA skate comp? (May Day Open, Laurel)

[Query]

The local Gardens Figure Skating Club (Laurel, MD) May Day Open, going on now, cost $150 to register for one event, if the level is high enough to be judged by IJS rules.

Here was the schedule of fees:

• First IJS Event and solo dance combined event $150
• Additional IJS Event and solo dance combined event $100
• First Regular Event except solo dance combined event $110
• Additional Regular Event except solo dance combined event $60
• First Basic Skills Event $55
• Additional Basic Skills Event $35
• Theatre On Ice/Production $300
• Basic Skills Theatre On Ice $55
• Late Fee $55
• Changes after deadline $35

It's a big event by local standards- hundreds of skaters (I think the club person said 450, though that probably includes theatre on ice groups), 3 simultaneous ice sheets, at a private skating facility. It includes people from a few states away. (I shared a public skate session today with a very graceful young lady from Chicago, who did lovely twizzles, among other skaters.) Club reps told me that it is their main money-making event for the year. But it isn't a qualifying event, and it isn't televised, AFAIK.

Is $150 a lot, or is it typical? It sounds like a lot, to me, but I don't compete.

They also have a way for you to hear an explanation of your IJS scores from the judges - is that typical at IJS-scored USFSA events?

(Incidentally, if anyone here is going, I have a list of local skating rinks, where you might practice, on my web page. Or are there USFSA rules against practicing elsewhere? If you need to economize on lodging, maybe you can camp at Greenbelt National Park, Cherry Hill Campgrounds, or Cabin John Regional Park. For that matter, I think you can camp in your RV behind the rink, if you make arrangements - but I don't know the details.)

[sarahspins]

Seems pretty standard... though the regular entry fee seems a bit lower than what is typical locally ($130).

Fees will vary from region to region.... and includes the expense of both the ice time and officials expenses (travel, lodging, food).  There are more officials required for IJS, which is why that rate is higher.

Most clubs try to run competitions at a profit (but we're really not talking huge amounts - competitions are EXPENSIVE to put on), because it's an awful lot of work involved to just "break even" or potentially even do it at a loss (which is obviously NOT sustainable) - they need to make money so clubs can offer more to their skaters.

[FigureSpins]

The cost is around the same.  See if a DVD is included - that's raised the cost at several competitions.  It becomes the skater's gift at many events, rather than a favor/token/gift bag.

Most competitions that offer IJS events also offer a critique session for each skater. Sometimes, it's an extra charge, but not always.  In it, the coach, the skater, a tech specialist and judge review the skater's performance and give feedback for improving scores going forward.

The cost for IJS events is higher than 6.0 events if local judges aren't available and if they have to rent the IJS equipment.  The programs themselves are longer, thus requiring more ice time. 

[Query]

A DVD, from a separate private company, is extra.

I guess the cost to Basic Skills skaters is fairly reasonable - only $5 - $10 more than local low level ISI competitions, where the coaches volunteer to act as judges too, so there are no travel expenses for judges, and no IJS equipment to rent - and the ISI doesn't take a cut.

To the very serious competitors who spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per week on ice, coaches, and other professionals, taking lessons every day, and may spend a few hundred dollars in travel expenses to get and stay here, $150 may not seem a lot. But to ordinary local recreational skaters, and their parents, it is a lot. I guess it's just a part of our sport.

Perhaps one must also take into account that not every rink or club can conveniently host events with many competitors, because there aren't enough full size local ice surfaces.

When I mostly did outside sports - recreational hiking, paddling, skiing, etc. - I was puzzled when someone claimed that they were cheap, compared to some sports. After all, we spent hundreds of dollars per sport to get good equipment, and often spent $10 - $30 each per weekend on gas (gas was cheaper then). Skating has helped to explain how other sports might really be more expensive.

[FigureSpins]

Nevermind