The U.S. International Figure Skating Classic was an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by U.S. Figure Skating. The competition debuted in 2012 in Salt Lake City, and when the ISU launched the ISU Challenger Series in 2014, the U.S. International Classic was one of the inaugural competitions. The U.S. International Classic was a Challenger Series event seven times during its history. Medals were awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance; and when the event was part of the Challenger Series, skaters earned ISU World Standing points based on their results. The competition was last held in 2022. The 2022 event gained media attention when Ilia Malinin of the United States landed the first-ever quadruple Axel in competition.
The inaugural edition of the U.S. International Classic was held in 2012 in Salt Lake City. Skaters from the United States won a majority of the medals, including a sweep of the men's event. Max Aaron and Agnes Zawadzki of the United States won the men's and women's events, respectively. Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch of Canada won the pairs event, and Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, also of Canada, won the ice dance event.[1]
The ISU Challenger Series was introduced in 2014. It is a series of international figure skating competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union and organized by ISU member nations. The objective is to ensure consistent organization and structure within a series of international competitions linked together, providing opportunities for senior-level skaters to compete at the international level and also earn ISU World Standing points.[2] When an event is held as part of the Challenger Series, it must host at least three of the four disciplines (men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance) and representatives from at least ten different ISU member nations. The minimum number of entrants required for each discipline is eight skaters each in men's singles and women's singles, five teams in pair skating, and six teams in ice dance. Each ISU member nation is eligible to enter up to three skaters or teams per discipline in each competition, although U.S. Figure Skating could enter an unlimited number of entrants in their own event.[3]
The U.S. International Classic was a Challenger Series event from 2014 through 2019, and again in 2022.[4] No competition was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[5] although it had already been left off the slate of competitions for the 2020–21 ISU Challenger Series.[6] The U.S. International Classic returned in 2021, hosted by the Skating Club of Boston at their new facility in Norwood, Massachusetts. The 2021 edition was not part of the Challenger Series, and in addition, the pairs event was omitted.[7]
The 2022 U.S. International Classic gained media attention when Ilia Malinin of the United States performed the first-ever quadruple Axel in competition.[8] While skaters in the past had attempted a quadruple Axel, Malinin was the first to successfully land one with four-and-a-half proper rotations in the air.[9] Although the 2022 installment was held as an event in the 2022–23 ISU Challenger Series, it was also the last installment of the U.S. International Classic to be held.[4]
1234Cloutier, Claire (November 2022). "'It Feels Great'"(PDF). Skating. pp.10–12. Archived(PDF) from the original on May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
United States
Daisuke Murakami
Daniel Samohin
Liam Firus
Michal Březina
Kévin Aymoz
Elizabet Tursynbayeva
Lim Eun-soo
Alexandra Trusova
United States
Italy
Australia
China
Great Britain
Denmark