New for the 2008-2009 season, U.S. Figure Skating has changed the adult competition age categories. Previously they were:
- Group I: 21-28 years old
- Group II: 29-35 years old
- Group III: 36-45 years old
- Group IV: 46-55 years old
- Group V: 56 and older
The new numbers are:
- Group I: 21-30 years
- Group II: 31-40 years
- Group III: 41-50 years
- Group IV: 51-60 years
- Group V: 61 and older
When I was up at Lake Placid for the 2008 Adult Nationals, a number of people commented that the age categories should be restructured to reflect the growing skating community in their 60s, and also to make the judging a little more fair. Under the "old system," folks in their 50s were competing with skaters in their 60s and beyond and at times, the disparity in skating ability made it difficult to really judge them properly. I think the new and improved age groups do better represent the immense popularity of adult skating. What do they say now, that 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30? Who knows? Maybe in a few years, we'll have a Group VI: 71 and older.
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