National Showcase
I am new to skating competitions. As I mentioned previously, I have only skated freestyle in about 4 or 5 competitions. There is definitely a lot to learn, and last weekend was proof of my newbie status in the wonderful world of competitive skating.
I received an email inviting me to skate at the National Showcase. I’d heard rumblings about it before but didn’t know what I was. Naturally, I read the email, the competition announcement and told my coach about it. Apparently the National Showcase is an annual event held in July where skaters perform interpretive, dramatic, light entertainment, ensemble and duet events.
Here is how the text conversation went (this is copied and pasted word by word so I am not embellishing or exaggerating).
Me: I just got an invitation to skate at the National Showcase event in July. I guess it is because I placed at Sectionals for Dramatic?
Coach: Yes it is! Congrats!
Me: Forgive my ignorance, but is this a big deal?
Coach: Yes it is. Only certain competitions qualify for the National Showcase. And you have to place in the Top 4. Being invited is a big deal.
Wow. I had no idea that this was a big deal. I guess it makes sense since you have to place in the top 4 of your showcase event (interpretive, dramatic, light entertainment, ensemble or duet) in order to be considered. I find this to be pretty cool.
The event is in Michigan at the end of July, and unfortunately, the organizers don’t know what the schedule will look like until people start registering. I would only skate my Dramatic event and wouldn’t stay the entire time since I work full-time. The practice ice begins on Wednesday and the final events are on Sunday. It seems silly for me to travel to Michigan for 5 days for a 1 minute and 40 second program. If I had multiple events, then I would consider it, but I can’t seem to justify a $1000+ trip for a program lasting less than 2 minutes.
Thoughts? I can’t guarantee that I’ll ever get invited again, so maybe I should go? Would you go if you were in my shoes?
