Welcome from Lisa Erle, Chief Referee

To all Pacific Coast Sectional Competitors: 

Welcome to the 2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships hosted by the Jackson Hole Figure Skating Club and sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating.  The local organizing committee and I hope your experiences here will add to your knowledge of skating and will encourage good sportsmanship.

 Some competition information for you:

 Ø  All of your coaches must be currently registered with the PSA and have completed the U.S. Figure Skating coaches’ registration process again this year in order to participate in qualifying competitions this season.  If your coach has not done either of these tasks, they will not be allowed to coach during practice ice or competition events.  You can check if your coach is registered at http://www.usfigureskating.org/Shell.asp?sid=41529 (choose link on the right for alphabetical listing or listing by state).  In addition, you must have filled out and returned the Credentials form from the Announcement in order for your coach to receive his or her badge at this event.

Ø  Registration will open on Sunday, November 15, 2009.  Upon your arrival, you will need to check in at the Registration table to receive you credential.  Badges will need to be worn to enter the arena as well as for access to certain areas of the rink.  Please do not lose track of your credential.  If you have not already turned in your music for the competition, you must do so before you will receive your badge.

Ø  For official practices with music, please be ready to skate your program immediately when your name is called.  There will be no delay in starting your program during practice and the music will not be restarted if you are not ready.

Ø  Please be ready for your event on time.  It will always be my intention to start events at their scheduled time; however, if delays occur, we will begin as near as possible to the start time, maintaining the order of events and scheduled ice resurfaces.  We do not intend to start an event earlier than its scheduled time.

Ø  Please do not take the ice for a warm up before your event is announced.  After the warm up is complete, the first skater may remain on the ice while all others must exit.  At the conclusion of their program, skaters may accept their accolades at center ice; if anything is thrown on the ice for you, please pick it up and then exit immediately.  Monitors will allow subsequent skaters to take the ice once the previous skater is headed to the door (or is picking items up off the ice).  Please also remember that you have a maximum of 1 minute to take your starting position once your name is called.

Ø  You should have an extra copy of your music readily available in case you need a replacement.  If you start your program and your music does not sound right to you (wrong speed, wrong music or the like), please stop at once and report to the referee.  Your coach should carry an extra copy of your music in his or her pocket.

Ø  You will receive your individual details protocol sheet as soon as possible after the conclusion of each segment; please review it immediately. 

A final note: A referee is considered a skater’s advocate.  A referee’s job is to make certain that each skater has an equal chance of finishing in first place regardless of who you are or where you come from.  I realize that this year’s event may present challenges that you have not had to deal with at other competitions.  These are challenges that all our competitors share, so I encourage you to and hope that you will be able to put all distractions aside and keep your focus on your skating.  Your dedication and hard work have brought you here and will continue to move you forward in this sport. 

 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 Best wishes to you all,
Lisa Erle
Chief Referee, 2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships

Teton area photography courtesy of Swope's Mountain Photography.

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