Tooting my own horn & adult test questions

[WhisperSung]

I know I haven't posted here much, but I had to mention it somewhere, because I'm quite excited with myself.

I skated in my first competition (Rochester, MN's Hiawathaland) in 3 years yesterday. It was actually just an exhibition at the adult Masters level, but it was scary enough for me as it was.

I skated fairly decently! I landed my axel, did a good flying camel-back sit, landed my double flip (this is reason to celebrate in and of itself!), sort of fell out of my double loop (no fall, though), put one hand down on my ina bauer double toe loop, did a decent camel-layback, landed my double salchow, and finished off with a sit-back sit.

Skating a 3 minute program for me is like running the gauntlet, so I was really happy not to have passed out half-way through my program :)

Now I have a little over a month before adult nationals to increase my stamina and get over my nerves of skating my program. 8-)

&now, for a question:

Does anyone know if skaters who have completed tests on the standard track can go back and take all of the adult tests, as well? I know it wouldn't be really financially feasible (to have a coach put together several different freestyle programs just for me to test them), but I've been sort of in a rut on my Novice Moves, so I'm wondering if maybe I could take the adult moves through gold just to strengthen some of my more basic skills and also to make myself feel better about passing some more tests.

Anyone know if it is even possible to do that? I'm through my Intermediate Moves and Free on the standard track.

[Debbie S]

Does anyone know if skaters who have completed tests on the standard track can go back and take all of the adult tests, as well? ... I'm through my Intermediate Moves and Free on the standard track.If you have passed your Intermediate FS, you do not take adult tests. I don't believe you can go back and test the lower levels. Int MIF is considered the equivalent to Gold MIF, so you are considered to have passed all of the adult levels as well. I know some people test standard track while they are making their way through the adult track, so you can do both simultaneously (and there is no crossing over from the adult track to the standard prior to Intermediate, so passing an adult test does not equate to passing Pre-Prelim through Juv tests) but once you get to Intermediate and beyond, you can only move forward on the standard track.

Congrats on your great skate!

[WhisperSung]

Thanks for the reply!

I really do want to look into this. I have coaches telling me different things, and it's frustrating. Some coaches think I could definitely test through the adult levels just for the sake of doing it. Others say there's no point, considering it would be mostly a repeat of what I'd already done. And others say it can't be done at all, because it's not allowed to "start over". Not much consistency with replies.

I suppose if I had a copy of the rulebook, I wouldn't be even asking this question. I'm a smidge stingy this year. :P

[Thin-Ice]

Does anyone know if skaters who have completed tests on the standard track can go back and take all of the adult tests, as well? I know it wouldn't be really financially feasible (to have a coach put together several different freestyle programs just for me to test them), but I've been sort of in a rut on my Novice Moves, so I'm wondering if maybe I could take the adult moves through gold just to strengthen some of my more basic skills and also to make myself feel better about passing some more tests.

Anyone know if it is even possible to do that? I'm through my Intermediate Moves and Free on the standard track.

Yes, it is possible. While some of the coaches you've asked have said "there's no point to it", YOU want to take them, so there's no reason not to.

Obviously you are over-21, so the only other "obstacle" is if you have not taken any of the Adult tests you will have to start at Pre-Bronze... but since you want to take the tests to feel better about passing tests and getting out in a testing situation again, that should not be a problem. Have fun! (I would love to see the judges' faces when you go out and do your PB and Bronze moves tests.. and they better give you good comments, as well as ABOVE the 2.5 passing average on your Bronze moves.)

[jenlyon60]

Another option, which can be great to work on basic skating skills, is to work a bit on ice dance. You can either test the dances solo (there _is_ a solo dance track), or your coach can partner you through the dances (no matter what gender)

[WhisperSung]

See? Even two different opinions in one thread. MEH! I suppose I should just go ask my coach, but she's not the happiest when it comes to me wanting to take moves tests (she's actually given up on my novice moves. She says I should just enjoy competing at the level I've gotten to, which I think is sort of annoying :x)

I really would like just to take the Adult Moves and Free tests for my own personal gain. I've already gotten up enough in the standard track that I can do adult masters, but I've just gotten myself stuck on these Novice moves. I know a lot of my problems are because I never properly learned the basics. I think "starting over" on the adult track would be great progression towards improving upon my Novice moves in the future.

The only downside is I'd have to get a program together for the freestyle tests, and aren't the lengths different for Bronze, Silver, and Gold? (I seem to remember somewhere that Pre-Bronze doesn't require music) That would be a pain to have to put together programs for all of those. . .ah well, though. I still want to do it.

&I think I'd be alright through Adult Silver moves. Move are not my strong point, so I'm willing to bet that Gold will give me some difficulties (isn't is mostly just Juvenile and Intermediate moves standard track?).

Anyway, I'm babbling. Thank you both for the helpful comments. I'm really stoked to start trying the adult tests. Ultimately I hope I'll get my Novice Moves sometime in the summer (and who knows, maybe test my Bronze dances. . .I got through Pre-Bronze before I graduated college and then realized I was broke, heh).

Viva adult skating! It seems so much more friendly and supportive than the standard track ever was. I'm in it for the fun :)

[Joan]

See? Even two different opinions in one thread.



It IS confusing :)

In a way, both are correct. The rules in place with USFSA mean you can't compete at Gold or lower, because you have already gone through Intermediate in the standard track. However, if you want to go through the adult tests for the extra work on basics, you can probably do that. Since your intermediate tests grandfather you with respect to the adult tests, you could probably start with any level you want (ie. you don't need to waste your money on pre-bronze or bronze if Silver is where you want to start). You'd have to check with your test chair about this to be sure you could do it.

The suggestion above about doing dance is a really good one - dance will ensure that you perfect your basics.

[Kelli]

Novice moves are a b!tch. It took me two years to pass pre-pre through intermediate moves, and then another two for novice (including summers spent mostly off ice and traveling every other week for work for the first year of novice). It's a HARD test, so don't give up on them easily - if you've passed intermediate free, I bet you can get through novice moves, though it will take work.

[coskater64]

I have a friend who is masters jr and she has gone back and taken all the adult tests. But,-----she had to take them all because you have passed IFS you will have to take pre bronze through gold you can't start at silver. If you have solid skills you might just want to start at where you are grandfathered in, the lower moves will help but you are talking about a lot of tests and a lot of $$$.

[icedancer2]

I don't know if it says anywhere that you can't just start wherever you want -- after all, it's your $$$ -- why should they care? (I actually don't think they would...).

As far as your freestyle programs -- why not just add 30 seconds or a minute or whatever to an existing programs -- I have seen people do this a LOT -- using the same program, sometimes in the same test session -- just add a couple of extra elements or requirements... -- not a big deal. No one can flunk you because you used the same music and program!!

[manleywoman]

Why not do figures?;)

[phoenix]

I'll 2nd, 3rd, & 4th the suggestions of trying dance or figures; I think they'd probably go further to help you than just repeating what you've already done. They'll teach you better balance, truer edges, and deeper knees--all of which can then translate very nicely into those ^%$# novice moves!

[techskater]

Not to ask a totally off the wall question, but what about working with a moves specialist on the Novice moves? My coach is really good at teaching MIF and many of the other coaches send their little darlings to her for Intermediate, Novice, Junior and Senior MIF.

[WhisperSung]

Novice moves are a b!tch. It took me two years to pass pre-pre through intermediate moves, and then another two for novice (including summers spent mostly off ice and traveling every other week for work for the first year of novice). It's a HARD test, so don't give up on them easily - if you've passed intermediate free, I bet you can get through novice moves, though it will take work.


Hey, thanks. I'm so discouraged with this moves test. I spent 4 years attempting them (throughout college. . .not the best time to attempt them). I've taken them 8 or 9 times, I think. Yuck. :P I want to try again without the extra baggage I was carrying around during college, though.

Thanks for the encouragement :) What was so obnoxious is that I had a Novice Free program ready to test and just could never get through the moves. It's my goal (in life!) to get these moves.

[WhisperSung]

Not to ask a totally off the wall question, but what about working with a moves specialist on the Novice moves? My coach is really good at teaching MIF and many of the other coaches send their little darlings to her for Intermediate, Novice, Junior and Senior MIF.


No, that makes sense. Actually the full last year of college I hired a former International Dance team member to help with moves and get me started on dance (I went through pre-bronze, so not too far).

I was supposed to take my Novice Moves last May, and I felt the most prepared I've ever felt, but then I ended up with mono, had to cut off my plans for law school, and spent the next two months recouping and desperately searching for a job so I didn't go broke. I couldn't afford that coach anymore.

I'm going to ask him to coach me in the summer and take those darn things in August. For the LAST time, I swear!

[WhisperSung]

I'll 2nd, 3rd, & 4th the suggestions of trying dance or figures; I think they'd probably go further to help you than just repeating what you've already done. They'll teach you better balance, truer edges, and deeper knees--all of which can then translate very nicely into those ^%$# novice moves!

Yep, I was taking dance, as well. I don't have the money for it anymore, but maybe I can take some of my bronze dances while working on Novice moves. Who knows?

If anyone wants to fund my expenditure. . . :halo:

[Thin-Ice]

The idea of testing dance and/or figures are GREAT! But if you're set on testing Adult Moves...

You'd have to check with your test chair about this to be sure you could do it.




Joan has the best idea... check with your test chair. If s/he uses the computer to input tests to be taken, the computer will reject you from any test you are not allowed to take... so you'd have immediate feedback.. well immedately after your test chair tries to put in the data that you are testing on whatever adult move test(s).

[blue111moon]

I am the test chair for my club and I know you can go back and take the adult tests if you want to.

[Kelli]

Hey, thanks. I'm so discouraged with this moves test. I spent 4 years attempting them (throughout college. . .not the best time to attempt them). I've taken them 8 or 9 times, I think. Yuck. :P I want to try again without the extra baggage I was carrying around during college, though.

Thanks for the encouragement :) What was so obnoxious is that I had a Novice Free program ready to test and just could never get through the moves. It's my goal (in life!) to get these moves.

Well you beat me there - I *only* had to take that test 4 times before I passed. And I second the suggestion of getting a second coach to look at them. My coach suggested working with a second coach on just moves, and I really give my second coach a lot of credit for helping me get through this test. Funny how hearing a different coach say the same things can make such a big difference!

I totally understand your discouragement. I was at the point where I really thought it was hopeless and I would just never be able to do it. And I've seen people who I think have hit their peaks, but from your descriptions of your skating, it doesn't sound like you have. I know freestyle and moves aren't directly related, but if you're landing solid doubles and double-doubles, I have a hard time believing your moves ability peaked at intermediate!

[WhisperSung]

I am the test chair for my club and I know you can go back and take the adult tests if you want to.

Yay! "Solid" evidence! Or as solid as I can get on a message board. Thank you! :)

Thanks to everyone, actually, for all the comments. I was so afraid everyone would think I was a nut for wanting to take the adult tests, but I really want to immerse myself in the adult aspect of skating now that I'm old enough to. I want to appreciate what it takes to get your gold test medals at the adult level (and strengthen my crappy moves more).

[WhisperSung]

Well you beat me there - I *only* had to take that test 4 times before I passed. And I second the suggestion of getting a second coach to look at them. My coach suggested working with a second coach on just moves, and I really give my second coach a lot of credit for helping me get through this test. Funny how hearing a different coach say the same things can make such a big difference!

I totally understand your discouragement. I was at the point where I really thought it was hopeless and I would just never be able to do it. And I've seen people who I think have hit their peaks, but from your descriptions of your skating, it doesn't sound like you have. I know freestyle and moves aren't directly related, but if you're landing solid doubles and double-doubles, I have a hard time believing your moves ability peaked at intermediate!

Yep, I've taken the test with two separate coaches. Last year I finally just went on to take with a dance coach who's well-known for getting people passed through moves. Unfortunately, 2 weeks before I was supposed to take my test (after a year of working with him!), I got mono. And then I graduated college and had to find a job. Meh.

Yeah, my jumps have always been ahead of my moves. It was partly because up until last year, I didn't wear orthotics in my skates and had problems holding proper edges. I finally forked over the money for custom boots and orthotics, and all of a sudden my edges are much nicer! Too bad I haven't had a chance to test since I got these boots. . .

Yeah, my jumps aren't bad. I have through the double flip consistently (although I do have a crappy wrap on my loop and flip). My lutz is decent about 70% of the time. Haven't worked on double axel in years. I can do most double-double combinations (excluding that durned lutz). I guess I always just spent my free time jumping instead of practicing my moves, so it's mostly my fault. ;)

[daisies]

Sorry, deleted post. Your question was already answered. Good luck!