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The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial (every two years) competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.
History
[edit]Although the event was classified as an "international competition" under International Skating Union rules, it was actually a cooperative venture between the United States Figure Skating Association and the Canadian Figure Skating Association,[1] which both had their roots in a former organization called the Ice Skating Union of America. The latter organization had sponsored competitions open to skaters of both countries as early as 1913.[citation needed] The first competition, which occurred alternatively in the two countries, was held in 1923. The earliest competitions included events for four skating, which were dominated by Canadian skaters.[2]
The 1943 competition was canceled due to World War II and the 1945 competition included ladies single skating (only). Ice dance was included for the first time in 1947 as a result of many pairs wanting to compete in this competition.
The competition was discontinued when the Canadian federation abruptly canceled its participation in the 1973 event, which was to have been held in Rochester, New York. The CFSA cited problems with the judging (which tended to favor the skaters of whichever country had a majority of judges on the panel) and the reluctance of top skaters from both countries to participate in an event immediately before the World Figure Skating Championships. In fact, the CFSA was at that time already planning to hold its own international competition, the first Skate Canada International, in the fall of 1973. This event would be open to skaters from all ISU member countries and use international judges. The USFSA established its own international competition, Skate America, in the fall of 1979.
The final North American Figure Skating Championships was held in Peterborough, Ontario, in 1971.[3]
Medalists
[edit]Men
[edit]
Ladies
[edit]Pairs
[edit]Ice dance
[edit]Fours
[edit]Fours competitions were held only in the indicated years.
References
[edit]- ^ Wright, Benjamin T. (1996). Skating in America (1921–1996): The 75th Anniversary History of the United States Figure Skating Association. Colorado Springs: United States Figure Skating Association. OCLC 566382053. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Hines, p. 52
- ^ Hines, p. xxvi
- ^ a b c d e "Results Book, Volume 1: 1896–1973" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ a b c "North American Figure Skating Championships". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ a b c d "North American Figure Skating Championships". skate.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, pp. 326-327