| 1963 US Figure Skating Championships | |
| Comptype: | National Championship |
| Startdate: | February 7 |
| Enddate: | 10 |
| Skatingseason: | 1962–63 |
| Location: | Long Beach, California |
| Venue: | Long Beach Arena |
| Previouscomp: | 1962 U.S. Championships |
| Nextcomp: | 1964 U.S. 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]
The event determined the U.S. team for the 1963 World Championships.
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."
| Rank | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Litz | |
| 2 | Scott Allen | |
| 3 | Monty Hoyt | |
| 4 | Gary Visconti | |
| 5 | Buddy Zack | |
| 6 | David Edwards | |
| 7 | Jim Short |
Lorraine Hanlon won the compulsory figures, followed by Karen Howland.
| Rank | Name | CF | FS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | |||
| 2 | 3 | |||
| 3 | 2 | |||
| Lynn Thomas | 4 | |||
| Victoria Fisher | 5 | |||
| Carol Noir | 6 | |||
| Myrna Bodek | 7 | |||
| Frances Gold | 8 |
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.
| Rank | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judianne Fotheringill / Jerry Fotheringill | |
| 2 | Vivian Joseph / Ronald Joseph | |
| 3 | Patti Gustafson / Pieter Kollen |
Sally Schantz / Stanley Urban were the new champions.
| Rank | Name | CF | FS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | ||||
| Mary Ann Kavanaugh & King Cole | 5 |
(incomplete standings)
| Rank | Name | CF | FS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | |||
| Richard S. Callaghan | 2 | |||
| Robert N. Lubolina | 4 | |||
| Paul M. McGrath | 5 | |||
| Ronnie Frank | 6 | |||
| Duane Maki | 7 | |||
| Peter J. Moyer | 8 | |||
| Roy Wagelein | 9 |
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.
| Rank | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taffy Pergament | |
| 2 | Lynn Yonekura | |
| 3 | A. Ferguson | |
| 4 | Ardith Paul | |
| 5 | Jenny Walch | |
| 6 | Gail Newberry | |
| 7 | Janice Serafine | |
| 8 | Susan Behrens | |
| 9 | Dorothy Thompson | |
| 10 | Janet Lynn | |
| 11 | Jean Kondo |