Transitioning from gymnastics to figure skating as a toddler, East Lansing resident Samuel Parks is competing in intermediate pairs and men’s individuals and said he practiced before and after school to prepare for the event.

“For singles, there’s more jumps; the jumps are the hardest part.” Parks said. “For pairs, there are a lot of different elements: there are lifts, spins and you have to be coordinated with your partner the entire time.”

Put on by the Greater Lansing Sports Authority, Lansing Skating Club and Suburban Ice East Lansing, the Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships are the premier competition for skaters advancing from three of the nine regional championships at the juvenile through senior levels.

Greater Lansing Sports Authority sports events manager Meghan Ziehmer said the three organizations have been working for more than a year to prepare for the event. Ziehmer said the venue has undergone renovations and the groups have contacted hotels in the community to ensure the skaters would have lodging, reached out to local businesses and community partners and gathered about ten vendors to sell merchandise.

Vendors for the event are local and from as far as California.

Phil Kuhn, president of Harlick & Co. came from San Carlos, Calif., to sell custom-made boots during the championships. Harlick & Co. is a family business that Kuhn said is one of the oldest skating boot companies in the U.S.

“Our specialty is designing boots for skaters and their special needs and specific fit,” Kuhn said.

Ziehmer said hosting an event like this, that attracts people to East Lansing, is beneficial to the community.

“The Greater Lansing Sports Authority works to get events like this to promote greater Lansing as a sports destination,” Ziehmer said. “Events like this in the community help increase the economic impact here.”