Many adult-only nonqualifying competitions are offered throughout the skating season. These competitions divide skaters by test level and age and offer many different types of events including free skate, pairs, ice dance (both solo and partnered), showcase, compulsory moves, spins and jumps. In addition, some standard nonqualifying competitions also offer adult events as part of their regular competitions.
Although adult sectional championships and the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships are primarily geared toward the Adult Qualifying Structure, all of these competitions also include a nonqualifying competition which is open to all skaters. Some sectional championships will also include young adult events for 18- to 20-year-old skaters.
Nonqualifying events at the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships are open to all skaters and the events and levels offered include:
- Free skate (men’s and ladies): masters junior-senior, masters intermediate-novice, adult gold, adult silver and adult bronze
- Emotional performance: masters, adult gold, adult silver and adult bronze
- Lyrical pop/Character/Comedic: masters, adult gold, adult silver and adult bronze
- Pairs: masters, centennial, adult gold, adult silver and adult bronze
- Dance: masters open, adult gold, adult pre-gold, adult silver, adult pre-silver, adult bronze, adult pre-bronze and adult centennial
- Solo pattern dance: adult gold, adult pre-gold, adult silver, adult pre-silver and adult bronze
- Solo free dance: adult gold, adult silver and adult bronze
In addition, free skate, dramatic entertainment and light entertainment events are also divided by age, with the current age classes as follows:
- Class I: 21-35 years old
- Class II: 36-45 years old
- Class III: 46-55 years old
- Class IV: 56-65 years old
- Class V: 66 and older old
Solo pattern dance and solo free dance events are divided by age, with current age classes as follows:
- Class I/II: 21-45 years old
- Class III/IV/V: 46 years old and older
In addition, some competitions will offer a young adult age group (18-20 years old) for certain events.
Note that these age groups may be combined at competitions where only a few skaters have registered for these events.