Figure skating is an artistic endeavor, and each routine guarantees you'll see an intricate outfit that adds to the spectacle. Coaches and skaters don't have free rein, though, and they must follow certain rules set forth by the competition or club's governing body when choosing a costume. Figure skating dress regulations cover more than just looks; they also address keeping the skater upright and protecting the audience from shock over raunchy costumes.
Safety
Figure skating clothing seems flimsy and soft, so safety doesn't necessarily come to mind first when thinking about the dress code. However, the fast turns and leaps -- and even the slow glides -- require clear ice and air. Skaters have to ensure that nothing on their clothing will fly off and hit them, hit another skater or end up on the ice where the skater could possibly run over it and fall. Carole Schulman, author of "The Complete Book of Figure Skating," writes that competition dresses and other pieces of clothing can have adornments like rhinestones, but individual clubs may set rules prohibiting anything they deem a risk. For example, the Trenton Figure Skating Club's No. 1 skating rule forbids skaters from wearing things like long scarves or necklaces. Skaters at the club must also keep their hair out of their face and tied or clipped back.
Flamboyance
"Sedate" is not a word that describes competitive figure skating dresses, especially in the Olympics. While the dress should be appropriate for the type of music and the theme of the routine, it is possible to push it too far. Katarina Witt's skirtless costume at the 1988 European figure skating championships, which had what the "Los Angeles Times" euphemistically called "strategically placed feathers," prompted officials to require women to wear clothes that covered the hips and rear end. FrogsOnIce.com notes the ruling was reversed in 2004, though U.S. Figure Skating still prohibits "the effect of excessive nudity inappropriate for an athletic sport."
Limitations
Figure skating dress codes can be rather vague. While this allows for creativity, the rules do set some limits. The 2005 Dune of Flanders competition in Dunkerque, France, required skaters to use costumes that were "sober" and "of a simple nature." U.S. Figure Skating requires costumes to avoid garishness, and judges deduct points for costumes in violation of any of the rules. Men are typically required to wear trousers instead of tights for U.S. Figure Skating, though individual clubs may set their own rules. Advertising is typically not allowed on in-competition clothing.
Variation
Figure skating dress regulations will vary from event to event, even within the same competition. The U.S. Figure Skating rules for women's clothing for singles and pairs, for example, allow a female skater to wear unitards, trousers, skirts or tights. A dance competition restricts women to skirts, though, and in synchronized team skating, women can wear only full-length trousers, a body suit or a skirt that remains above the top of the calf.
References
- "The Complete Book of Figure Skating"; Carole Schulman; 2001
- Los Angeles Times: Figure Skating Outfits That Landed It -- Or Not
- U.S. Figure Skating: Dune of Flanders Cup
- U.S. Figure Skating: The 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Official Rulebook
- FrogsOnIce.com: Competitive Figure Skating FAQ
- Trenton Figure Skating Club: Club Policies
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