Spring has sprung, and for adult skaters, this can only mean one thing: It's almost time for the 2026 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships Presented by Prevagen, which will be held April 8–11 at the Atlanta Ice Forum in Duluth, Georgia.

Now in its 31st iteration, the Adult Championships is the premiere competitive opportunity for adult skaters.

2026 marks the first time that the competition will be held in the state of Georgia, and it's only the second time that the Adult Championships has made its way to the southeastern United States (the 2017 competition took place in Wake Forest, North Carolina).

The host club, Georgia FSC, has been a longtime leader in adult skating. Peach Classic, the first all-adult nonqualifying competition in the U.S., began in 1997 and has been hosted by the Georgia FSC since 1999. After the creation of Peach Classic, several clubs across the country were inspired to follow suit by creating annual all-adult nonqualifying competitions that are still held today.

"After competing at my first Peach Classic in 2000, I knew I needed to help make sure it went well going forward," said Rob Lichtefeld, longtime president of Georgia FSC who is set to compete in his 18th Adult Championships. Lichtefeld has lived in the metro-Atlanta area since 1983 and began taking group lessons in 1997, hoping to gain skills to keep up with others on public sessions.

"Who knew that I'd get hooked," Lichtefeld said. "It's been almost 30 years. My body doesn't allow me to do a lot of the things that I could do just a few years ago, but I still look forward to stepping on the ice each and every time."

As the site of Peach Classic and other popular events like Atlanta Open, Magnolia Open, the Atlanta Ice Dance Weekend, the National Qualifying Series and two U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1980 and 2004), one would expect the skating scene in Atlanta to be thriving. But lately, it hasn't been so peachy.

In the spring of 2025, The Cooler, a longstanding rink in nearby Alpharetta, permanently closed. With few rinks in the state of Georgia, this was a devastating hit to the local figure skating community.

"At the beginning, it was very chaotic," Lichtefeld said. "Luckily, my rink was able to add quite a few freestyle sessions. There are coaches who used to coach at The Cooler who are coaching at two or more rinks since their skaters have scattered. Many of the sessions at the Ice Forum that were nearly empty are now nearly full."
And they're about to get even fuller, as adult athletes from across the country will head to the Atlanta Ice Forum for the Adult Championships. Thirty-eight Atlanta locals will compete, including Georgia FSC member Jennifer Silas.

Silas has lived in Atlanta since 1988.

"The Georgia FSC is a fantastic club," Silas said. "Our club leadership works tirelessly to provide test sessions, competitions and opportunities. It is the most supportive club for adults, and they have fostered a wonderful adult skating community in Atlanta."

Silas made her Adult Championships debut in 1996, noting that the inaugural 1995 competition overlapped her wedding. But her next Adult Championships wouldn't be until 2021. This 25-year hiatus is believed to be the longest gap for an Adult Championships competitor.

"I had kids in 1997 and 1999; it financially wasn't feasible to travel to compete," Silas said. "For the early years, I competed locally. I stopped competing around 2002 and ended up not skating much after 2003," citing the demands of balancing work, kids and family.

But as the years went on, the ice kept calling.

"I tried to skate again in 2011, but there were never any times that fit with my work schedule," Silas said. "In 2018, the Ice Forum started a weekly Monday night ice dance session, where I made great friends. Then, my friend Amy and I decided to skate before work. My love of skating overrode my love of sleep, and soon I was skating several mornings per week."

Timing was everything.

"My kids were heading to college, and I finally had the time to reclaim my life," she said. "Skating is something I wanted to reclaim."

Silas intended to make her long-awaited return at the 2020 Adult Championships, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After the cancellation, I was determined to go to the 2021 Adult Championships. Ever since the pandemic, I seek out every opportunity to find joy on the ice. I've enjoyed attending adult skating camps," Silas said.

Since returning in 2021, Silas hasn't missed an Adult Championships, and she will compete in her seventh at home this month.

Looking back, Silas doesn't regret the 25-year break but wishes she had approached things differently.

"I don't regret anything that has to do with my kids," Silas said. "I do think that I could have found a way to skate, so I wish I had. The thing I do regret is how I didn't take care of myself in those years. No other form of exercise has really stuck for me. I tried other things, but skating is what I will always show up for."

Silas' first Adult Championships in 1996 were of a completely different era. Competitors skated under the 6.0 judging system, registration was handled via snail mail, the competition offered now-retired figures events and many of today's opportunities — such as solo pattern dance and solo free dance — were not offered.

"So much has changed," Silas said. "IJS took a lot of adjusting. Now, spins need to have features and levels, while I'm trying to eke out basic positions. But my favorite thing is when you're on the ice with a friend and you're playing around … trying to do an element.  You each take a turn, and then offer each other tips, and then laugh at your mistakes. Enjoying the ice with another person — that hasn't changed."

The times have changed, but the friendships remain, as noted by both Silas and Lichtefeld.

"I keep coming back for the people, the camaraderie and the fun," Lichtefeld said. "It's like a family reunion of 500 of my closest friends."