My daughter does synchronized figure skating, which then also includes an individual component where you occasionally have to perform certain moves or a dance routine, get judged on it and if you pass, you move on to the next (more difficult) one. Passing certain levels is required to qualify for higher level teams.

Last week, she was supposed to test for one dance. It's a pair dance, so she works with a man occasionally in practice, and then at the test. The man for our rink was, in fact, a silver medalist in pairs dancing (for the USSR) back in the 80s, so he's good. But you have to pay for his time for practice and for him to attend the testing session.

Male partners for figure skating are VERY RARE. Most COUNTIES in our area just have 1 guy who does it.

So on to the issue. For the most recent testing session, one of the judges who does higher level skaters had to cancel and wouldn't be there for the test. Not a big deal as it wouldn't impact my daughter. HOWEVER.the male partner had something like 4 or 5 partners testing who got cancelled because that judge cancelled. So it was no longer worth his while dollar wise to show up for the 2 or 3 lower level dancers who were testing. So he cancelled.

But the registration fee for the testing? About $75? Non refundable. They didn't cancel, they didnt' lose a judge for that level. Our male partner cancelled. It's his fault, so no refund from the rink / testing organization.

What would you do? Knowing that if you bitch and moan to the former Russian medalist, asking him to pay for it since he cancelled, he's the only skater in the area and you need him. But I also sympathize with him because he only cancelled because that higher level judge cancelled.
[Post edited by Late 80s Hokie at 01/21/2022 11:48AM]