U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, recently launched its Centennial Celebration. Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating is one of the first U.S. Olympic sport governing bodies to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Throughout the year and culminating with the 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, the Centennial Celebration will spotlight figure skating’s everyday heroes, its iconic and inspirational athletes, the vital networks that support skaters and members clubs across the nation.
“Even though these current times are difficult, we are excited to celebrate U.S. Figure Skating’s historic milestone throughout 2021 with pride and honor,” U.S. Figure Skating President Anne Cammett said. “The Centennial Celebration will recognize those individuals and moments in time that have helped to shape and define this extraordinary organization. From day one when the organization’s founders inked the association’s constitution in 1921, the mission has always been about expanding opportunities and sharing our passion for ice skating, and for 100 years, U.S. Figure Skating has provided the pathway for people to enjoy this sport.”
U.S. Figure Skating worked with Denver-based agency Communication Strategy Group (CSG) to develop a special logo that will be used throughout 2021. The logo acknowledges the figures, or on-ice tracings, that are rooted in figure skating and offers a nod to the infinite passion and lifelong commitment that so many have given to the sport and the organization.
CSG also worked with a collection of U.S. Figure Skating staff and volunteer members to develop a Centennial Celebration plan that focuses on three core areas of engagement: content, experiences and philanthropy, with a strong focus on digital and virtual interactions during the first half of 2021. The stories of past and present members and clubs will be featured across U.S. Figure Skating’s digital platforms and in SKATING magazine. In SKATING, a figure skating club-sourced list honoring 100 contributors that have impacted the sport across the country will anchor content in each of 10 issues throughout the year. Usfigureskating100.org will serve as the celebration’s hub, including an interactive organizational timeline that will bring an increased focus on many of the sport’s biggest moments while serving as a conduit to access the SKATING magazine archives. Additionally, the organization’s original shield logo will be reintroduced with the anniversary logo and will be featured in a line of limited edition memorabilia in the U.S. Figure Skating online store and at events.
Unofficially kicked-off by the U.S. Figure Skating: 100th Anniversary Special that aired on NBC on Dec. 27, the Centennial Celebration will extend to NBC and NBCSN telecasts of figure skating during 2021 with a special feature, Memorable Moments presented by Prevagen, airing in each telecast.
Later in the year, U.S. Figure Skating will hold in-person skating events in celebration of the milestone anniversary with a focus on promoting the sport of figure skating. Additionally, the organization will organize a series of local, regional and national community-based events that will celebrate the strong connection between U.S. Figure Skating clubs and their rinks and home cities and towns.
The 2021 Annual Appeal will highlight the organization’s history, while raising funds in support of current and future skaters that will help lead the organization into its next 100 years. Fans can visit usfigureskating100.org for new content, digital experiences and updates throughout the year.
Officially founded on April 4, 1921, there were seven charter members clubs of the organization: Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club (Locust Grove, New York), The Skating Club of Boston, Chicago Figure Skating Club, New York Skating Club (now The Skating Club of New York), Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society, Sno Birds of Lake Placid (now defunct; Lake Placid, New York) and the Twin Cities Figure Skating Club (Figure Skating Club of Minneapolis).
U.S. Figure Skating, which currently boasts more than 600 clubs and 1,000 Learn to Skate USA programs in cities and towns across all 50 States, has helped more than 3 million people take to the ice via its Learn to Skate curriculum.
This year, U.S. Figure Skating is celebrating its centennial anniversary as it recognizes those members, clubs and fans who have given so much to U.S. Figure Skating over the past 100 years. Follow along for more stories and content like this on the Centennial Celebration section of our website.
