Major League Figure Skating (www.MLFSkating.com) announces their 2004 United States National Invitational Championship. Unique Team Concept to feature both Professional and Olympic Eligible Skaters competing for over $25,000 in prize money.

Major League Figure Skating (www.MLFSkating.com) announced today that their first annual United States National Invitational Championships" would be held June 3-6, 2004, at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Florida. Both the Major League (Professional) Level and the Elite Gold (Olympic Eligible) Level, featuring skaters from around the country will compete in this new, head-to-head team skating battle. Following the conclusion of the Championship Matches, Major League Figure Skating will present the exciting, high energy MLFS Skating Extravaganza" featuring skaters from both the Major League and Elite Gold Level teams.

LAKELAND, FL (PRWEB) December 16, 2003 -- Major League Figure Skating, www.MLFSkating.com, announced today that their first annual United States National Invitational Championships" would be held June 3-6, 2004, at the Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Florida. Both the Major League (Professional) Level and the Elite Gold (Olympic Eligible) Level, featuring skaters from around the country will compete in this new, head-to-head team skating battle. The Championship will crown winning teams in both the Major League and Gold Level Tournaments. Following the conclusion of the Championship Matches, Major League Figure Skating will present the exciting, high energy MLFS Skating Extravaganza" featuring skaters from both the Major League and Elite Gold Level teams.

A total of twelve teams, eight Elite Gold Level and four Major League Level teams from around the country will compete in two separate tournaments. The teams will be competing for a total purse of over $25,000 in prize, training expense and show money.

Major League Figure Skating, LLC, (MLFS) a Florida Corporation, has reformatted the sport of figure skating, which up until now was largely an individual sport, and created a fast paced, head-to-head team sport. MLFS was created to provide competitive opportunities for those top and elite skaters that leave the Olympic Bound" competitive track, as well as for other top and elite skaters that wish to compete in this new figure skating format.

Each MLFS team is comprised of five members, both female and male, that compete against each other in a 2-hour on-ice battle to determine the winner. Six individual events, based upon the most exciting aspects of figure skating, comprise a Major League Figure Skating Match: The Jump Face-Off, The Spin Showdown, The Technical Challenge, The Artistic Interpretative Skate, The Add-On Challenge and The Team Freeskate event.

Unlike traditional figure skating, in which a single skater performs their program and then waits for the judges to complete their scoring and have the marks announced, an MLFS match moves along at a very fast pace. For example, the format of the Jump Face-Off begins with the first skater from the visiting team attempting an Axel. This could be a single, double, triple or even quad Axel. The jump must be attempted within 30 seconds of the skaters introduction. Upon completion of the jump, the judges immediately score the jump based upon its quality and level of difficulty. Next, under the same time restrictions, the first skater from the home team attempts to better the previous skater. This continues until each of the six skaters (three from each team) completes the jump. Following this format, the six skaters perform three different jumps. The marks are almost immediately computed and scores for each team is put up on the scoreboard.

This pressured filled, head to head face-off is just one of the six such events that make up a Major League Figure Skating Match. Team points are determined by how well each skater performs each element. Due to the varying required elements and themes from match to another, no two MLFS matches are identical; therefore the fans will always be treated to something new and exciting.

Jump Face-Off
Three members of each team compete head-to-head in the Jump Face-Off. The event consists of three different jumps that are attempted one jump at a time. The number of rotations is optional. The greater the number of rotations, the higher the base mark will be. The first jump is the Axel, second jump is a required combination, and the third jump is a skaters choice combination jump.

Spin Face-Off
Three members of each team compete head-to-head in the Spin Face-Off. The event consists of two different spins that are attempted one spin at a time. The first spin is a Flying Spin and the second spin is a combination spin.

Artistic Interpretative
Two members of each team compete head-to-head in the Artistic Interpretative event. Skaters are required to interpret a piece of music in their own original program.

Technical Program
Two members of each team compete in the Short Program event. Each skater is must perform required jumps, spins and footwork elements in their original program.

Add-On Challenge
Three members of each team compete head-to-head in the Add-On Challenge. This event is made up of six different elements, attempted in a specific order. The elements are: jump, combination spin, circular footwork, flying spin, running jump sequence, spin. The first skater from the home team determines the first two elements -- specifically, which jump and which combination spin is to be done by performing them with a minimal number or skating strokes. Next, as in follow the leader, the first skater from the visiting team must duplicate or better the first exact two elements that were attempted by the first skater. Next, the second skater from the visiting team must decide the specifics of and then perform the next two elements, after first performing the opening set of two elements as done by the preceding set of skaters. The second skater from the visiting team must then perform all four elements. Finally, the third skater from the home team performs the first four elements, then defines and executes the last two elements. The final visiting team skater must them perform all six elements. Each skater earns points based upon the quality and difficulty of each element.

Team Freeskate
All five members of each team compete in the Team Freeskate event. The five skaters take the ice at each of the five major locations on the ice. Each skater performs two required elements, one skater at a time, while interpreting their piece of music. An artistic hand-off takes place as one-skater transitions to the other.

Team points are earned based upon the difficulty and quality of each element the skater performs. The team who scores the most points at the end of the competition wins. Team members are both current and former (professional) high-level and elite skaters. While the skaters determine the difficulty, judges do not directly place nor give team points, allowing the judging to be more objective. Due to the varying required elements and themes from one match to another, no two MLFS matches are identical; therefore the fans will always be treated to something new and exciting.

We are very pleased and proud that the MLFS has chosen Lakeland for their inaugural event. We are excited for the skating fans of central Florida, the city of Lakeland and the economic impact to the city and the sport of figure skating", commented Allen Johnson, Lakeland Center Director.

Major League Figure Skating was conceived eight years ago by Rubin when he became aware that hundreds of talented young skaters stopped skating in their mid-teens. He was determined to discover a way to keep those skaters on skates. Mr. Rubin is a former United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) Judge and a former member of the USFSA Competition Committee, as well as a Gold Level Judge with the Ice Skating Institute (ISI). With Figure Skatings consistent television ratings, Major League Figure Skating is in discussion with several television networks and production companies that are interested in broadcasting the Championship Finals.

For More information about Major League Figure Skating they can be reached at (561)-627-7480 or on-line at contact@MLFSkating.com and www.MLFSkating.com

The Lakeland Center, Central Floridas premier multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility is located at 701 W. Lime Street Lakeland, FL 33815. The Lakeland Center Box office hours are 9:30am-5:30pm Monday-Friday and two hours prior to most performances. The Box Office accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Cards, personal checks, and cash. For additional information contact the Box office at (863)834-8111 or www.thelakelandcenter.com.

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