U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships
Presented yearly since 1981 and sponsored by the Professional Skaters Foundation, the U.S. Open Championship strives to promote professional figure skating as an athletic and artistic event. It provides quality, wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
While other professional competitions include skaters by invitation only, the U.S. Open gives all professional skaters a chance to perform and compete. It has provided a platform for many skaters to showcase their talent and advance their careers.
History of the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships was sponsored by the Professional Skaters Guild of America, the precursor of the PSA. The first event was held in Philadelphia, PA, February 21-22, 1981 and featured some of the top skaters of the time—reigning World Professional Champion Scott Cramer, Stacey Smith & John Summers, and Sheryl Franks & Michael Botticelli. The top three finishers represented the U.S. at the World Professional Championships in Jaca, Spain.
The U.S. Open Professional Figure Skating Championships was first shown on ESPN in 1988 and continued on until 1995 on CBS, USA, and TBS. In 1995, when the ISU introduced the ISU Champions Series—which would later change its name to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating—it was a severe blow to the long established pro competitions like the U.S. Open, the World Professional Ice Skating Championships, and a popular skating event from Candid Productions, The World Professional Championships.
In 2015, the Professional Skaters Association revived the U.S Open Professional Championships with spectacular performances at the Bloomington Ice Garden in Bloomington, Minnesota. Rallying around creativity, the new U.S. Open format attracts this generation’s stars and unknown stars…grassroots to Olympian collection of expressive performers who seek to invigorate fans, skaters, and PSA members through a platform that celebrates innovation and entertainment. Proceeds from the U.S. Open help support the PS Foundation, which was established to expand the educational opportunities of PSA membership and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable foundation.
Past U.S. Open Winners