For generations, figure skaters have come to Lake Placid to pursue excellence, artistry, and Olympic dreams. 

In the small mountain village of Lake Placid, NY – a widely regarded as the birthplace of the figure skating in the U.S. – one of the nation’s longest-running skating traditions is launching a summer-long celebration of skating. The Lake Placid Figure Skating Championships, June 25 through 27, brings singles and pairs skaters of all levels to the Olympic Center’s historic ice where speed, grace, and free flowing artistry combine to define the essence of both the sport and the art of figure skating.  

Hosted by the Olympic Authority in collaboration with the Skating Club of Lake Placid, this non-qualifying competition is now in its 69th year. More than 250 athletes from the Northeast and Canada will take to the ice in the Olympic Center’s legendary ice arenas.  

The three-day event features competitions at every level, from beginner to elite. Given Lake Placid’s long history as a destination for athletes training and competing at the highest levels of the sport, spectators may very well be watching future stars in the making. 

Skating on Hallowed Ice 

From Sonja Henie’s gold medal winning performances in the 1932 Winter Games – the first indoor ice ever used in the Olympics – to Illia Malinin’s 2022 U.S. International Classic, where he became the first in history to land a quadruple axel in competition, Lake Placid stands as a cornerstone of world skating history.  

At the heart of that legacy is the Skating Club of Lake Placid. With more than 200 members, it remains an integral part of the local skating culture and operates under the auspices of U.S. Figure Skating. Its roots trace back to the Sno-Birds, a group that organized Lake Placid’s first skating competitions in the 1920s and played a key role in the formation of the U.S. Figure Skating Association. 

With its outsized influence on winter sports history, Lake Placid is where modern competitive figure skating captured the imagination of a nation. The Olympic Center was also the first to host competitions indoors and the first in North America to offer a summer skating program. 

Home of Champions 

Almost every major U.S. Olympic figure skater from the 1960s and 1970s either trained at Lake Placid or performed in its famous summer ice shows. Emerging from inside our Olympic Center rinks was talent like Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, and Dorothy Hamill. The most recent Olympic Champion was Alysa Liu who stood atop the Skate America podium in Lake Placid just a few months before winning gold in Milano Cortina.  

The Village became a beacon in the sport due partly to pioneering coach Gustave “Gus” Lussi. He trained athletes who rose to the highest levels, and his innovative spin techniques were even studied by the American space program. 

Lake Placid is home to legendary moments in other skating sports, too. Across the street from the indoor arenas is the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval where Eric Heiden won five gold medals in the 1980 Winter Olympics. That same year, a group of amateur hockey players created the most iconic moment in sports in the 20th century – the “Miracle on Ice.”  

Today, Lake Placid continues to host premier figure skating events while providing year-round opportunities for skaters of all ages and abilities to train and perform on the same historic ice.  

      • The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, the World Figure and Fancy Skating Championships, and the ISU Grand Prix’s Skate America are some of the major international competitions our Olympic Authority hosts annually or periodically. 
      • The Lake Placid Figure Skating Championships, Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships and International (the first and longest-running ice dance event in the world), Empire State Winter Games, and the ISI Championships are other prominent domestic and international events hosted annually. 
      • Learn to Skate USA, the Aspire Program, Adult Group Programming, Open Freestyle Sessions, Technical Training and some of the core programs offered by the Skating Club of Lake Placid, while the Olympic Authority also provides Summer Skate Training Sessions, and Adult Skating Week, a Learn to Skate Program, World Sk8ting & Arts School programs, and both indoor and outdoor public skating opportunities year-round. 
      • Friday Night Ice Shows are also a staple of the competitive skating scene in Lake Placid through July and August.   
      • The annual Adult Skate Week is a chance for skaters of all levels to hone their skills, learn new techniques, make new friends, and simply enjoy being on ice in August. 

A Summer Tradition Stronger Than Ever 

In this mountain mecca, figure skating is a year-round experience for both athletes and spectators alike. Summer, however, is a historically special time in Lake Placid for everyone to join in and celebrate every aspect of the art and the sport.   

Anchored by the Lake Placid Figure Skating Championships in June, the season continues with the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships and International in July. Ice shows spotlight the next generation of skating stars, while the inaugural Lake Placid Sinfonietta skating-themed concert adds a unique cultural element to the summer lineup. Combined with numerous training programs, public skating opportunities, and community events, the season transforms an ordinary summer into a celebration of all things skating. 

For generations, this small village has welcomed visitors to watch, train, compete, and skate. It remains a place where athletes of all ages come to pursue their goals, test their skills, and create lasting memories on the ice. This summer, that tradition continues.