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Victoria has a
very active adult skating community. As a adult skater myself, I am
very proud to say that Victoria was the first state in Australia to
have a competition for skaters solely aged over 20.
Before that, if you wanted to compete you had to compete against kids, which is the reason why there were not many adults who chose to compete. But since the development of our adult competition stream, many people are inspired to pick music and perform programmes. As a result of the Masters Cup (see below) there are now adult sections in all the regular competitions that are held in Victoria. Gradually other Australian states are now setting up adult divisions. The importance of adult skating to figure skating generally in Australia is now being recognised. Adult skaters do bring quite a bit of money into the sport, thus they need to be catered for by the associations. So if you are an adult skater in Australia, don�t be shy. Pick your music, develop your programmes, enter competitions and prove the need for adult divisions, just as we in Victoria successfully done. The Masters Cup The
first Masters Cup skating competition was held at the Sidney Myer
Music Bowl on 6th July, 1997. It had only 16 competitors, all very
enthusiastic adult skaters. This competition was developed by the
Kings Domain Ice Skating Club because they had many adult skaters
and saw the need for this kind of competition.
This competition has grown over the years to now have people from interstate attending to compete. The 2004 Masters Cup had over 40 competitors, including a Synchronised team from South Australia. Divisions are not divided by male or female. If there are a large number of competitors for a certain section, then that section will be divided into Under 40 and 40 & Over sections. One of the features of the Masters Cup is an audience vote for the Artistic sections of the competition. The hope for 2006 is to attract international competitors to this competition. So if you are planning on an overseas trip to Australia next year, you might like to think about taking part in the Masters Cup. See
below to download the information for the 2006 Masters Cup.
Other Adult Competitions The OFDC also hold an Adult Fun Skate around end October/beginning November. Interstate competitors are most welcome. Click here to send an email for competition information. Date to be confirmed for next year but stayed tuned for further information. Also I have been
in touch with some Kiwi adults skaters. They have a very
healthy Adult Skating scene. Go to my links page when you can
check out their websites.
Victorian Adult Competition Requirements Requirements
for the Masters Cup are in these downloadable files (PDF which
can be read with Adobe Acrobat).
This information also applies
to the Adult Fun Skate to be held in November next year but check
with the OFDC first as entry fees might be different.
Further information for adult skaters Alyssa Montgomery in NSW has a regular adult skating newsletter that she produces and a mailing list that you can get added to if you wish to get any newsletters and updates about adult skating happenings in Australia. Please click here to email Alyssa to be added to her list. You can also check for her past newsletters on the aussieSKATES website - Click here. |