Competition registration fees rant

[Query]

Let me change my mind. I don't think it's that over-priced.

If you do an individual program, and it takes 6 minutes to get on and off the ice, do the program, and judge the program, together with your share of warm-up time, and the extra ice surfacing times, and ice time is $300 / hour (fairly typical, though not universal), then $30 would just cover the ice.

Add to that the costs of playing the music, which may or may not be done by a volunteer, the cost of judges, if applicable - I know judging is usually done by the coaches, but maybe upper level competitions require ISI judges. Add the cost of doing all the paperwork, the extra load on the facility created by the spectators (water, clean up, bathroom problems, wear and tear, people requiring assistance, programs, extra heating/cooling because the door keeps being opened, extra dehumidification), cost of using the dressing rooms, phone time, and the staff time needed while booths are set up and put down, and the extra clean up. On top of that counties sometimes add extra personnel requirements for public events, like a fire truck, EMT, an electrician, security, etc.

I haven't even considered the extra time the rink has to budget because they don't know exactly how long the event will take.

So I don't think $40 / individual competitor or so is at all unreasonable, for competitors with individual programs. If that 6 minute / competitor total time is about right, it's a bargain. I'm not trying to be offensive - just practical.

Synchro teams can be a little cheaper / person, because they collect from all team members for simultaneous ice time.

[Sk8tmum]

Okay. What I Pay at a Canadian Comp and Annually:

Annual mandatory Skate Canada membership:  $36/skater
Per Skate Per Comp above LTS level:  $75 - $95
Per Skate Test:  $28-$42. I have been charged $56 for a dance test when I tested my kid at another club's test day.  

All of the above does not include coaches fees. I recently spent $235 in entry fees alone for one comp which was a "triathlon" which comprises 3 skates - one freeskate, one creative skating skills, and one interpretive plus one freeskate.

For my other kid, $150-$175 for competing a short and a long program.  

For a "learn to skate" comp charges have ranged from $35 to $65 for a 1 minute program.

Welcome to Canada , at least in the regions of Ontario where we compete

We sometimes get a small "goodie" bag but those are pretty rare except at the very very very "baby" levels for the tinies.  Sometimes a small skating related token (value maybe $2) if there is a sponsor. Admission is usually around $5/person, waived for skaters.

All judges and officials are volunteers. They are not paid, however, all of their expenses (food, hotel, transportation) are reimbursed.