2024 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships will be held at Wichita’s INTRUST Bank Arena, Jan. 24-28
U.S. Figure Skating announced, today, the selection of host cities for the 2024 Synchronized Sectional Championships. Wichita, Kansas was selected for a third time to host the Midwestern Skating Championships. Wichita first hosted the Midwestern and Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in January 2018 and again in January 2020.
2024 dates are slated for Jan. 24-28 with all competitions being conducted at INTRUST Bank Arena and practices taking place at the Wichita Ice Center.
“Wichita has always provided an exceptional experience to our athletes, and we are excited to be returning once again for the 2024 Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships,” said Megan Romeo, events manager at U.S. Figure Skating. “Hosting a synchronized skating competition at the caliber of the sectional championships is no small task, and Wichita consistently steps up to the challenge.”
Visit Wichita and the Wichita Figure Skating Club will be providing local support to host the competition.
"This is an exciting win for our city, and we’re very proud U.S. Figure Skating has selected Wichita as host to this event for the third time,” said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. “Additionally, we hosted U.S. Figure Skating’s Theatre on Ice competition in 2022. Being in a regular rotation is a real testament to the quality facilities we have in the city, the strength of our local figure skating club and our ability to successfully host such high levels of competition.”
The competition will attract more than 127 teams, 1,800 athletes and 350-plus coaches and team personnel to Wichita. In total, the athletes, coaches, competition organizers and fans will generate more than $2.7 million in local economic impact. Those competing will range in age from 7 to 70.
“Wichita is excited to again welcome U.S. Figure Skating to the Heart of the Country,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO at Visit Wichita. “Visitors will not only enjoy mesmerizing, synchronized skating competitions while they are here, but also the city’s many amenities and Midwest hospitality.”
President Jolene Taylor of the Wichita Figure Skating club says she is proud to bring this qualifying event back to Wichita. "The Wichita Figure Skating Club is excited to have been awarded the Midwestern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships in 2024. It is an honor to host this competition and we look forward to working closely with Visit Wichita once again.”
Synchronized skating features teams of up to 20 skaters performing themed routines, lasting less than five minutes and set to music that ranges from Disney classics and Broadway tunes, to jazz, hip-hop and classical.
The qualifying season begins in January with the first opportunities to advance to the 2024 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships coming at the 2024 Eastern and Pacific Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, which each take place Jan. 18-20.
To continue growing synchronized skating and provide better opportunities, the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships will be held separate from the Midwest Sectional Championships for the first time since 2006. The Pacific Coast Sectional will take place in Irvine, California. The U.S. Championships will take place at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Feb. 21-24, 2024.
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About U.S. Figure Skating
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 770 member clubs, collegiate clubs, school-affiliated clubs and more than 1,000 registered Learn to Skate USA programs representing 222,890 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.
About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the greater Wichita area as a major convention and tourism destination, thereby enhancing the economic development of the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2017 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.1 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.
About Wichita Figure Skating Club
The Wichita Figure Skating Club (WFSC) was established in 1932 and became a full member of the United States Figure Skating Association in 1941. They encourage the instruction, practice and advancement of the members in any or all of the disciplines of figure skating, up to and including participation at national and international levels; to encourage and cultivate a spirit of harmony and fraternal feeling among ice skaters; and to carry out the general policies and objectives of United States Figure Skating.
