1963 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The 1963 U.S. Figure Skating Championships was held at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California from January 7–10, 1963. Medals were awarded in three colors: gold (first), silver (second), and bronze (third) in four disciplines – men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing – across three levels: senior, junior, and novice (singles only).[1]

1963 US Figure Skating Championships
Type:National Championship
Date:February 7 – 10
Season:1962–63
Location:Long Beach, California
Venue:Long Beach Arena
Navigation
Previous:
1962 U.S. Championships
Next:
1964 U.S. Championships

The event determined the U.S. team for the 1963 World Championships.

Senior results

Men

Thomas Litz put on a "truly magnificent" performance, receiving the only standing ovation of the three days of competition. He performed one of the most difficult jumping routines ever seen in an American championship meet. His stunning performance, which had the crowd of about 2400 calling for more, unseated the defending champion Monty Hoyt, who finished third. Litz, the 1962 junior champion, finished third in the compulsory figures before winning the free with two triple jumps. Litz told reporters "When I heard that applause I wanted to run up into the stands and shake hands with everyone in the place. I'm sure glad I picked tonight to do my best ever."

RankName
1Thomas Litz
2Scott Allen
3Monty Hoyt
4Gary Visconti
5Buddy Zack
6David Edwards
7Jim Short

Ladies

Lorraine Hanlon won the compulsory figures, followed by Karen Howland.

RankNameCFFS
1Lorraine Hanlon1
2Christine Haigler3
3Karen Howland2
Lynn Thomas4
Victoria Fisher5
Carol Noir6
Myrna Bodek7
Frances Gold8

Pairs

Siblings Judianne Fotheringill / Jerry Fotheringill won their first title. Defending champion with a previous partner, Pieter Kollen finished third with new partner Patti Gustafson. Previous partner Dorothyann Nelson retired from competition last year to skate with the Ice Follies.

RankName
1Judianne Fotheringill / Jerry Fotheringill
2Vivian Joseph / Ronald Joseph
3Patti Gustafson / Pieter Kollen

Ice dancing (Gold dance)

Sally Schantz / Stanley Urban were the new champions.

RankNameCFFS
1Sally Schantz / Stanley Urban11
2Yvonne Littlefield / Peter Betts22
3Lorna Dyer / John Carrell33
Joanne Leyden & Robert Munz4
Mary Ann Kavanaugh & King Cole5

Junior results

Men

(incomplete standings)

RankNameCFFS
1Billy Chapel11
2?
3Tim Wood3
Richard S. Callaghan2
Robert N. Lubolina4
Paul M. McGrath5
Ronnie Frank6
Duane Maki7
Peter J. Moyer8
Roy Wagelein9

Ladies

Though she finished last in the field of 10, 18-year old Maidie Sullivan from Colorado Springs made skating history when she became the first to successfully complete a triple jump in US ladies competition.

RankName
1Albertina Noyes

Pairs

RankName
1

Ice dancing (Silver dance)

RankName
1

Novice results

Men

RankName
1Johnny Moore

Ladies

RankName
1Taffy Pergament
2Lynn Yonekura
3A. Ferguson
4Ardith Paul
5Jenny Walch
6Gail Newberry
7Janice Serafine
8Susan Behrens
9Dorothy Thompson
10Janet Lynn
11Jean Kondo

References