This section includes information on the following topics:

Event & Practice Schedule
Registration
Tickets
Credentials
Housing
ShuttleBus
Drug Testing
Venues and PracticeTimes
Unofficial Practice Ice Time
Bulletins
Skater Services
Awards
World Team
Draws
Skating Spectacular
Competitor Closing Party

Please note competition and practice times are subject to change. It is the responsibility of coach and competitor to check for updates on the official bulleting boards located within the Xcel Energy Center and Pleasant Arena.

Event & Practice Schedules

Complete Competition and Practice Schedule (updated 1-15-08)

Competition and Practice Schedule - Organized by Date & Time

Competition and Practice Schedule - Organized by Competitor Level

Competition Draw Schedule - Organized by Event

Competition Composition

Registration

The official registration center will be located at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel in the Kellogg Suites directly off the lobby.  Questions regarding registration should be directed to Registration Chair, Laura Elm.  The registration center will be open during the following hours:

Tickets

A block of open seating has been reserved in Section 221 of the Xcel Energy Center for all credentialed competitors, coaches and chaperones.  A credential is required for admission to this reserved section, and must be worn and visible at all times.  Seating in Section 221 is on an as-available basis. Reserved seating in Section 222 is limited and not guaranteed.  Tickets will be sold by the priority of the date the order is received.   Fans, family members and friends still interested in purchasing event tickets should visit the ticket section of the website.

Family Ticket Plans

A special ticket offer for athlete family members is now available.  This form must be submitted no later than December 15, 2007 in order to receive special pricing.  Seats will be assigned based on the date and time they are received.  No orders will be filled if order form is received after the deadline.  A maximum of FOUR tickets per session may be purchased.  There are a limited number of seats reserved in the section behind the judges (Section 118).  As a special offer, you are able to purchase these seat locations (price level 3 location) for the cost of a price level 4 ticket.

Tickets will be mailed to you at the delivery address provided in late December.  All Sales Are Final.  No refunds or exchanges.  This special offer cannot be applied to prior ticket orders and must be submitted on the order form via fax or mail to be valid.  Please print the order form and fax to 651.726.8246 or mail with a check or money order (made payable to 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships) to: 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, c/o Xcel Energy Center, 199 Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN  55102

* Please note:  The Senior Ladies final is split between session 13 (first two groups) and session 14 (second two groups).  If you are unsure of which session to purchase, we recommend purchasing session 14.  If you choose to do so, you may exchange your ticket(s) purchased for session 14 for session 13 tickets prior to the conclusion of session 13 and receive a price adjustment.  Session 14 tickets may be exchanged only for session 13.  No refunds or exchanges will be given after the conclusion of session 13.

Credentials 

Each competitor, one designated chaperone (per U.S. Figure Skating’s chaperone policy) and one official coach of record per entry will be provided with a photo credential for the Championships. Credentials will provide access to the official buses, public areas of the arenas and, depending on each credential’s assigned level of access, additional access to restricted areas of the arenas and the official hotels.  Accredited individuals are required to wear their credential at all times while riding the buses or in the arena or restricted areas of the hotel. Competitors are exempt from this policy only when they are on the ice.

Please note that chaperones will not be permitted to accompany their competitor to the event level of the Xcel Energy Center.  U.S. Figure Skating has adopted this policy to ensure the protection of the rights of all competitors during their event.

Each competitor may also purchase an additional credential for a second chaperone (per U.S. Figure Skating’s chaperone policy) for $125, or for a second or third coach (per U.S. Figure Skating’s coaching policy) for $160 each.  All coaches must be current members of U.S. Figure Skating and the PSA. Application forms, and all accreditation policies, including the U.S. Figure Skating coaches and chaperone policies, are available to download and print below.

2008 U.S. Championships Chaperone Policy

2008 U.S. Championships Application for Primary Chaperone Credential

2008 U.S. Championships Application for Secondary Chaperone Credential

2008 U.S. Championships Coaching Policy

2008 U.S. Championships Application for Additional Coaching Credential

Housing

Hotel reservation forms were included in all announcement packets.  Competitors qualifying at their sectional championships should have completed this form in full at sectionals.  Any competitor receiving a bye should have submitted their forms directly to the Saint Paul RiverCentre Conventions and Visitors Authority no later than Nov. 19, 2007.  All questions concerning housing arrangements should be directed to Amanda Pasek.  For additional information on hotel accommodations for fans, family members and friends please click here.

Transportation / Shuttle Bus

The Saint Paul local organizing committee has retained the services of metroConnections, Inc. to operate and manage a private shuttle system connecting the official U.S. Championship hotels with the Xcel Energy Center and Pleasant Arena.  This shuttle does not provide service to the Minneapolis / St. Paul or non-official hotels.

For more information please visit the Shuttle Bus section of the website. 

Medical information

Major local medical sponsor Health Partners has established a comprehensive medical program for the needs of the competitors and the members of the U.S. Figure Skating official delegation. Coverage includes physicians, athletic trainers, nurses and physical therapists, and will be available for the duration of the Championships. More detailed information is posted at www.saintpaul2008.com/athletes. Inquiries should be directed to Medical Chair, Dr. Jennifer Marker-Johnson at jmarkerjohnson@metro-dentalcare.com.

Drug Testing

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will perform drug tests at all senior and random junior events. The tests will follow guidelines established by USADA and the International Skating Union (ISU), and will include tests for all banned substances specified by them. Tests will be conducted at the Xcel Energy Center following the final part of each competitive event. Tests will be performed on the top four (4) placewinners in each discipline on the senior level, as well as one random draw from all senior level disciplines. All athletes selected for the World Team will be tested. After the last competitor of a designated event has skated (before leaving the arena) each competitor in that event must check at the USADA testing room for the list of skaters selected for testing. Any competitor who competes internationally may also be selected for drug testing as part of the No Advance Notice Drug Testing Program. This could occur at any time, such as immediately following a practice session. Detection of any banned substances will lead to penalties or sanctions as determined by the ISU. Questions regarding banned substances, testing or the safety of any particular drug or medication should be directed to the USADA Drug Reference Line at 1- 800-233-0393.

Venues & Practice Times

Competition and Practice Schedule - Organized by Date & Time
Competition and Practice Schedule - Organized by Competitor Level

The first official practice for the 2008 U.S. Championships will be on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 at the Xcel Energy Center and Pleasant Arena. 

Please check your exact practice schedule in the official handbook or at an official information desk upon arrival in Saint Paul. All changes to the practice schedule will be posted on the official event information boards on the event levels of the arenas, at the official information desks at the Xcel Energy Center, Pleasant Arena and the official hotels. It is the responsibility of all competitors to be informed of updates or changes to their practice schedule. The venues are the Xcel Energy Center, with one (1) ice surface (200’ x 85’) and the practice ice venue at Pleasant Arena, with one (1) ice surface (200’ x 85’).

Unofficial Practice Ice

Unofficial practice ice will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 18 in the Registration / Credentialing room* at the Crowne Plaza - Riverfront Saint Paul.  It will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. 

The sessions are 40 minutes long and are segmented by disciplines (Men's, Ladies, Pairs, Dance), but not by levels (Novice, Junior, Senior).  The cost is $20 per skater or $40 per team, per session.  Payment is due at the time the ice is reserved.  The singles and dance practice sessions will have a maximum of 10 skaters while pairs practice sessions will have a maximum of 8 skaters.

For more information please visit the Unofficial Practice Ice section of the website.

.Bulletins

Saint Paul 2008 Championships will maintain official information boards at the Xcel Energy Center, Pleasant  Arena, the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel, the Holiday Inn RiverCentre, the Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul, The Saint Paul Hotel and the Embassy Suites.

Bulletin boards will be regularly posted with updated schedules, event results and all official notifications. It is the sole responsibility of the competitors to check these information boards for all official notices and updates. Volunteers will also staff desks during posted hours by the official information boards at the venues and the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel to answer questions regarding the 2008 U.S. Championships and the city of Saint Paul.

Skater Service

Costume repair, skate sharpening, and hair and make-up services will be provided at no cost to competitors at the Xcel Energy Center. Hair and make-up services will be available by appointment for all competitive events at Xcel Energy Center. The phone numbers for reserving hair and make-up appointments are listed in the official handbook. Walk-ins will be gladly accepted if time permits

Awards

U.S. Figure Skating trophies for permanent retention will be awarded to the winners of each event. U.S. Figure Skating medals will be awarded to competitors placing first through fourth in each event. Please refer to the schedule in the competitor’s handbook for the exact time and location for each event’s awards ceremony.

World Team Meeting

The 2008 World Team meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. A notice designating the time and location will be included in the competitor’s registration packet and available upon your arrival at the Championships.

Draws

Competition Draw Schedule

The initial draw for each event will take place 15 minutes after the first practice session for that event. Subsequent draws will be conducted within 15 minutes following the conclusion of the competitive event just skated. Draws will be conducted in the same venue as the practice session or competition and in an area on the events floors designated as “Opening Draw.” Notices detailing the exact locations of all draws will be posted in advance on the official information boards. Each of the draws for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be conducted in accordance with the 2007-2008 U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook and by the specific event’s referee and accountant.

Skating Spectacular

The U.S. Championships Skating Spectacular will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center.  All competitors at the U.S. Championships should come prepared with exhibition music and costumes. Exhibition practice sessions will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27 at Pleasant Arena.  The four medalists in each discipline on the senior level as well as the gold medalists in the junior and novice events will be required to participate in the Skating Spectacular.  Additionally, U.S. Figure Skating reserves the right to select additional skaters from the U.S. Championships to be included in the Skating Spectacular.  Any additional skaters included by U.S. Figure Skating, however, are not eligible to receive financial remuneration for their participation.  All participants and their coaches will receive a credential for Sunday admission to the Xcel Energy Center, a practice schedule and all other additional information at the awards ceremony for their event.

Competitor's Closing Party

Saint Paul 2008 Championships will host a competitor’s party at “317 on Rice Park” on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.  One complimentary ticket will be given to each competitor.  Information on purchasing additional tickets is coming soon. 

General Information

Please refer to the Common Questions section on the website.