USFS has a trial judging program, in which you shadow judge a required number of tests and/or local competitions, in order to gain credentials. There are different levels of judges: bronze, silver, gold, and beyond. Anyone, skaters and non-smokers, can enroll in the judges program. It is not uncommon for parents of skaters to do the judges program. Skaters who have achieved a certain competitive level, e.g competed Senior at Nationals, have a fast track up the ranks. Judges are also required to take certain courses and exams in order to move up the ranks. At some rank, judges start getting assignments to local and regional competitions. As they progress, they get higher and higher competition assignments within the US, then when they reach the bar, they get international assignments. The judges you see sitting at ISU competitions must have been judging for decades, probably. Most judges remain just a test judge for life.
I knew about the judge program because I started it way back when I was a new skater. I can attest that it was MUCH HARDER to tell good skating from bad when you've never done it yourself. Probably now with more years of skating and good coaching, I'll probably be better than previously. Unfortunately I didn't continue the program.
: They aren't dissimilar from us and probably are amongst us at GS. I can't share specific insight but I find it easy to discuss things with them and for the most part everyone seems to do what they think is in the best interest of the sport. Quite honestly...it's the local stuff that we never discuss that makes the real difference.
