Figure Ice Skating

Beginning in the 2010–11 season, skaters were required to meet minimum scores in order to compete at the World, European, or Four Continents Championships. In the 2011–12 season, different minimum scores were introduced to the Grand Prix series.
Competitors' expenses, income, and funding
Figure skating is an expensive sport. This is particularly due to the costs of ice time and coaching. In October 2004, a U.S. Figure Skating article estimated the annual expense at $9,000-$10,000 for pre-juvenile, $18,000 for juvenile, $35,000-$40,000 for novice, and said junior and senior levels were somewhat more expensive. Michael Weiss said his family faced combined costs of around $70,000 every year for him and his sister (a junior skater). In 2011, it was reported that American Alissa Czisny's expenses were in the mid-five-figure range, while World champion Patrick Chan's expenses were $150,000 (Canadian dollars).