With grace and extreme talent, 2,500 athletes will descend on Wichita to compete in the 2020 Midwestern & Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectionals, blocking, twirling, leaping and sliding their way toward a national title.  Here’s all you need to know about this rare opportunity to see these athletes in action:

Championships in Wichita

This event is returning to Wichita after a successful 2018 sectional event where skaters, families and friends all said they loved Wichita, and couldn’t wait to come back. The teams who place in the top four at the sectionals competition will go on to the championships in Providence, Rhode Island, and eventually, Worlds.

More than 2,500 athletes representing 160 teams will battle it out on the ice showing off their skills through their unique choreographed routines. Visit Wichita, and the Wichita Figure Skating Club are proud to welcome the athletes, families, friends and fans of US Figure Skating to our great city. The competition will take place at INTRUST Bank Arena from Jan. 15-19, with practices at Wichita Ice Center.

What is synchronized skating? 

The sport started about 50 years ago, but has only had a national championship event since 1984. As a form of figure skating, synchronized skating is a spectator sport that involves 8-20 skaters performing a routine including several elements, in unison. From circles, wheels, lines and intersections to move elements, creative elements, spins and pair moves, skaters take to the ice for up to four minutes at a time to perform their choreographed routines.

There are more than 550 synchronized skating teams registered with US Figure Skating and more than 5,000 athletes who compete annually for their chance to head to the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, happening in Sweden this year.

Levels of Difficulty/Team Categories

• Preliminary – 8-16 skaters under the age of 12, with the majority under the age of 10
• Pre-Juvenile – 8-16 skaters under the age of 12
• Open Juvenile – 8-16 skaters with the majority under the age of 20
• Open Collegiate – 8-16 skaters enrolled as full-time students at a college or university
• Open Adult – 8-16 skaters, with the majority of skaters being 19 years old or older
• Open Masters – 8-16 skaters who are 25 years old or older, but the majority is over the age of 30
• Juvenile – 12-20 skaters under the age of 13
• Intermediate – 12-20 skates under the age of 18
• Novice – 12-20 skaters under the age of 16 with up to four teammates ages 16 or 17
• Junior – 12-16 skaters ages 13-19
• Senior – 16 skaters at least 15 years old
• Collegiate – 12-20 skaters enrolled as full-time students at a college or university
• Adult – 12-20 skaters at least 21 years old and up to four teammates ages 18-20
• Masters – 12-20 skaters at least 25 years old with the majority being over age 30

Ticket Information

All Session Pass - $75 GA ($65 senior; $50 student)
January 15 - $16 (all)
January 16 - $26 GA ($21 senior; $16 student)
January 17 - $26 GA ($21 senior; $16 student)
January 18 - $26 GA ($21 senior; $16 student)
January 19 - $26 GA ($21 senior; $16 student)

Schedule

Wednesday – Jan. 15
1:10 p.m. Midwest Pre-Juvenile Preliminary Round A
2:15 p.m. Midwest Pre-Juvenile Preliminary Round B

Thursday – Jan. 16
1:40 p.m. Pacific Coast Pre-Juvenile Championships
2:41 p.m. Midwest Pre-Juvenile Final Championships
4:04 p.m. Midwest Open Juvenile Qualifying Round A
5:14 p.m. Midwest Open Juvenile Qualifying Round B
6:29 p.m. Midwest Open Juvenile Qualifying Round C
7:48 p.m. Pacific Coast Open Juvenile Championships
9:25 p.m. Awards: Midwest, Pacific Coast Pre-Juvenile & Pacific Coast Open Juvenile Championships

Friday – Jan. 17
2:10 p.m. Midwest Open Juvenile Final Round Championships
3:49 p.m. Midwest Intermediate Championships
6:25 p.m. Pacific Coast Intermediate Championships
7:10 p.m. Awards: Midwest Open Juvenile, Midwest Intermediate & Pacific Coast Intermediate

Saturday – Jan. 18
9:10 a.m. Midwest Preliminary Championships
10:21 a.m. Pacific Coast Preliminary Championships
10:35 a.m. Pacific Coast Juvenile Championships
10:57 a.m. Midwest Juvenile Championships
12:11 p.m. Awards: Midwest Preliminary, Pacific Coast Preliminary, Midwest and Pacific Coast Juvenile Championships
1:11 p.m. Pacific Coast Adult Championships
1:40 p.m. Midwest Adult Championships
2:54 p.m. Pacific Coast Masters Championships
3:28 p.m. Midwest Masters Championships
4 p.m. Awards: Midwest and Pacific Coast Adult, Midwest and Pacific Coast Masters Championships
5 p.m. Midwest Collegiate Championships
6:20 p.m. Midwest Junior Free Skate Championships
7 p.m. Awards: Collegiate and Junior

Sunday – Jan. 19
7:40 a.m. Midwest Open Collegiate Championships
8:52 a.m. Midwest and Pacific Coast Open Masters Championships
9:39 a.m. Midwest and Pacific Coast Combined Open Adult Championships
10:37 a.m. Awards: Open Collegiate, Open Adults and Open Masters

While you’re downtown either participating or enjoying the 2020 Midwestern and Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, be sure to check out the great shopping and dining options in downtown Wichita. You can also check out our calendar of events for a look at what else is happening between competitions.

US Figure Skating Theatre on Ice

Wichita will be hosting another ice skating event in June at INTRUST Bank Arena. The 2020 National Theatre on Ice Competition brings teams to the heart of the country June 26-30.

Theatre on Ice is a form of competitive skating that combines figure skating with theater and dance. Teams include eight to 24 skaters and are judged on technical merit and presentation, with an emphasis on originality, costumes, artistry and musicality. This is the first time Wichita has hosted this event.