For competitors, the road to the U.S. Championships begins with the U.S. Figure Skating qualifying structure of nine regional events and three sectional events. Skaters who place in the top four at a regional qualify for a sectional; skaters who place in the top four at a sectional qualify for the U.S. Championships.

Twenty-four skaters from Minnesota are competing in the Midwestern Sectionals, taking place Nov. 17-21 in Strongsville, Ohio. Coverage will be provided by icenetwork.com.

The U.S. Championships, serve as the final qualifying events to make the U.S. World Figure Skating Team and the U.S. Olympic Team. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships attract more than 1,600 athletes, coaches, officials and over 110,000 fans annually to the host community and have generated up to $30 million in economic impact for recent host cities. The annual event, held since 1914, is the nation's most prestigious figure skating event, with past winners include Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi and Scott Hamilton. The city of Saint Paul also hosted the 2008 U.S. Championships. Champions included 2010 Olympians Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lysacek, and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.