Skates need to be sharpened after about 24 hours of ice time.  The time may be less if the skate guards are not put on by the skater every time they leave the ice.  It is very important to have them sharpened by a professional.  Elizabeth had a pair of skates ruined because the skate shop didn't know how to sharpen figure skates and took the toe pick off one of her skates.  Elizabeth knows if the skates don't feel right.  Elizabeth insists on having her skates sharpened by either George Knakal in Norwalk CT or Mark at Skaters Landing in Greenwich CT.

United States Figure Skating Association ("USFSA") is the national sport governing body for figure skating in the United States and is an organization of skating clubs rather than skaters.

US Figure Skating is divided into three sections - Eastern, Midwestern, and Pacific Coast.  Each section is further broken down into three Regions.  For example, Connecticut is in the New England Region which encompasses Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.  New York is in the Mid Atlantic Region which encompasses New Jersey, New York and Erie Pennsylvania.  Qualifying events leading to annual US Figure Skating Championships start at the Regional level and move on to the Sectional level.

The first direct contact by parents and skaters with US Figure Skating is usually through Basic Skills (Learn to Skate) program run at ice skating rinks all over the United States.  Members of the Basic Skills Program also become members of US Figure Skating but do not get membership cards and numbers.  The USFA Basic Skills program may include a Basic Skills Competition which are designed to be fun and to reward children for their achievements.

Most skaters become members of US Figure Skating as part of the benefit of  joining an affiliated skating club.  Skaters can also become individual members and sign up directly on the US Figure Skating Website.