Procedures & Protocols

2026

World Championship Class consists of three sections:

1. Figure Artwork (weighted @ 50%): consists of 5 selected segments:

·      Diamond Menagerie

·      Circling Compass

·      Maltese Cross

·      Lofty Loops

·      Winged Swedish Cross-cut

2. Creative Figure Artworks (weighted @ 25%) are created by the skaters. Drawing is permitted either before or after skating the artwork is complete.

3. Fancy Skating (weighted @ 25%) is a choreographed program skated to music chosen by the skater. Music Length is 2:00 – 3:30 minutes (+10 seconds).

Any skaters may compete in one, or more segments. However, the World Championship title is rewarded to the skater completing all segments.

World Junior Championship Class (21 and under as of October 1, 2026) consists of two sections:

1. Figure Artwork (weighted @ 50%):

Figure Artwork consists of 4 selected figure segments:

·      Forward Outside Figure Eight

·      Twin Threes

·      Circling Compass

·      Pivoting Maltese Cross

2. Fancy Skating (weighted @ 50%) is a choreographed program skated to music chosen by the skater. Music Length is 1:30 – 2:30 minutes (+10 seconds).

Any skaters may compete in one, or more segments. However, the World Junior Championship title is rewarded to the skater completing all segments.

International Open (Open to All) (18 and older as of October1, 2026) consists of two sections:

1. Figure Artwork (weighted @ 50%):

Figure Artwork consists of 3 selected figure segments:

·      Forward Outside Figure Eight

·      Quad Cupcake

·      Pivoting Maltese Cross

2. Fancy Skating (weighted @ 50%) is a choreographed program skated to music chosen by the skater. Music Length is 1:30-2:30 minutes (+10 seconds).

Any skaters may compete in one, or more segments. However, the International Open title is rewarded to the skater completing all segments.

Festival Open Class (Open to All)

The World Championship Class consists of 4 Figure Artworks segments:

1.     Forward Inside Loops

2.     Forward Loop de Loops

3.     Circle 8 RBO – LBO

4.     Twin Threes

5.     Forward Paragraph 8 – Right Foot Start

Any skaters may compete in one, or more segments.

World Team Skating consists of two categories:

Team Figure Artwork category (all ages, 2-16 skaters) consists of one section when skaters perform specific Figure Artworks in harmony.

Team Fancy Skating category (all ages, 2-16 skaters) is a choreographed composition to music performed in concert. 
Music Length is 2:00-3:00 minutes (+10 seconds).

Inclusive Skating

Inclusive Skating (all ages with disability) consists of two sections:

Figure Artwork: One Figure chosen from any WFS Figure Artwork.

Fancy Skating Performance: Program with music (assistance if needed) 1:00-2:00 minutes (+10 seconds).

Figure Artworks

Figure Artwork must have six tracings. Figure Artwork section of all divisions of the competition the skaters will obtain an identifying letter from the Chief Accountant at rink side. They will be directed to a section of the ice to perform their Figure Artworks. After all the Figure Artworks are completed, the Skating Artist will place their letter by the section of their Figure Artworks. 

Figure Artwork Penalties

·      Pre-Sets- Pre drawing of Figure Artwork (Championship Class and Jr. Divisions) –9 points

·      Blade/Hand Touchdown – 3 points

·      Fall– 6 points

·      Marking of long axis with blade – 9 points

·      Interfering with another Skating Artist – 9 points

·      Unsportsmanlike conduct– 9 points

·      The maximum penalty — 9 points.

Judges Criteria

Figure Artworks

·      World Championship Class:

Edges, Tracings, Turns, Crosscuts, Centers, Alignment, and Overall Quality.

·      All Other Divisions: Overall Quality.

Fancy Free

·      All Divisions:

Edge & Stroking Mastery, Choreography, Musicality, Beauty of Positions, Visual Mastery, Audience Appeal, Overall Skating.

Music Options

• Live Music: Live performing artist, vocal or instrumental. 
• Recorded Music: Any recorded music, vocal or instrumental from any genre or period.
• Original Music: WFS can create an original score or recording with the skater.

World Figure Sport has the capacity to assist all Skating Artists and coaches with music consultation, editing services, and original arrangements by contacting WFS at 518.304.3029.

World Figure Sport’s Procedures and Protocols’ documents may be updated by the WFS Board of Directors at its discretion.

Fancy Skating (FS): The Art of Skating, a World of Possibilities –

With World Figure Sport, Skating Artists create an original Fancy Skating performance without constraint. The number of rotations in any type of Flying Figures will not have precedence over the quality of execution, flights of fancy, originality, and musical necessity when performed.

Whether a Soloist or a Team, Fancy Skating is a performance of athletic art in which the Skating Artist(s) present(s) an original choreographed composition set to live music or other suitable recorded sound track.

Fancy Skating has a vast and unlimited repertoire that encompasses a World of Possibilities and includes all types of Fundamental, Special, Creative, Free, Flying and Spinning Figure Artworks.

• Every edge, extension, nuance, and expression should flow together on the ice originating solely from the musical necessity with world class skating technique and riveting choreography.
• The purpose of Fancy Skating is to unite the Skating Artists’ profound technical and artistic mastery of the Art of Skating with fine, performing, decorative and recording arts, thereby transcending oneself and the audience.
• Contorted positions, bent lines, and contrived bombastic use of body, arms, and legs (including excessive grabbing foot or blade) are not usually considered valuable in Fancy Skating. Therefore, unnecessary use is detrimental to grace.
• Skating Artists should strive to maintain exquisite world class positions and extensions that are superbly executed and sustained throughout the entire on-ice composition.
• Skating Artists should focus on executing beautiful positions originating from the edge of one’s blade and carried through a pointed foot into the body to the top of the head.
• Skating Artists should choose to present their best style and repertoire as a performer that includes an engaged and passionate performance while striving for world class technique and interpretation produced from an unlimited skating repertoire including flights of fancy and pirouettes.
• Fancy Skating combines the epitome of technical and artistic merit by striving for world class skating technique, edge quality, speed, flow and ice coverage with exquisite form, world class sustained body positions and musicality that creates the Art of Skating as moving sculpture.