Figure 8 on new Bronze test

[drskater]

Does anyone have an educated guess about how judges may evaluate the Figure 8 move in the new Bronze test? My coach has her gold in figures and, back in the day, coached skaters for figure tests. Yet even she is confused about how to judge a figure on a moves test. [The move doesn’t require patch blades; there’s no re-tracing, etc.] I looked at the video on the USFS web site, but it was demonstrated by a munchkin so it was of little help. My main problem at this point is that when I do the last quarter of the lobe (outside edge), returning to my axis, my pattern spirals beneath (as opposed to returning) to my starting point. Coach pointed out the deeper hollow on the freestyle blade is causing the incline and that I need to rock slightly back to a flat in order to complete the circle. She’s thinking that the judges will want to see a good pattern but will not come out onto the ice to check the edge on the tracing.

Hope this post makes sense.

[Skittl1321]

My understanding is that it is going to be judged like the waltz-8 is (which used to be a figure, iirc) they aren't look at the tracing.

The judges will want to see you get all the way around, in a shape that looks like a good circle from where they are standing, appropriate to your body size, coming back to the same center point with good flow (I think they will assume you're going to slow down as you reach the center point again, it is a bronze test) and without wobbling.

They won't be on the ice checking the tracing (and while there is no retrace on the same edge, you should be in roughly the same position for your other edge)

[Isk8NYC]

I attended the PSA seminar where these were introduced last year. They've also been offering workshops for the New Moves where judges/tech specialists were invited to attend for free. Everyone (theoretically) should be on teh same page.

They're looking for a return to the center. Not to the perfect tracing of figures where the two circles don't touch and the push edge is straight across, but definitely back to the same approximate spot.

That's why the skater is allowed to mark their center, just as in figures.

Some emphasis was put on the change from outside to inside edge circles, too, so you'll have to be careful to step down on the correct inside edge before you start the second set.

Absolutely avoid toe pushes and wide stepping at all costs. (This really should be resolved before Pre-Prel or Pre-Bronze, but sometimes people get sloppy.)

In stating that "[your] pattern spirals in" do you mean that you're on a really deep edge that makes the circle curve inward and away from the starting point? If so, the biggest cause of that seems to be swinging the free foot around instead of passing it through close to the skating foot. Try bringing the leg through in three steps: behind, touch the instep of the skating foot, then slip the free leg forward to check in front of the tracing. As you get more practiced, you can make it one smooth movement, but the stages will help keep the hip from opening/coming forward.

Watch the timing of your arm/shoulder checks: if you swang the free foot with your shoulders still checked, it will make you drop the hip and lean. Always let your alignment change from top to bottom on edge moves - look by turning your head to see where you want to end up, check with the arms/shoulders, then bring the free leg through.

[drskater]

Thank you both! This is very helpful advice. I can certainly understand why people used to spend hours on patch (and aren't figure making a comeback?!). I've got a lot of work to do. My main problem on my right side is pre-rotating my left hip, this is what throws me off that final quarter lobe. I believe I was also swinging my free foot too--thanks Is8NYC for alerting me.

Whether I pass of fail, I'll be sure to post the judges' comments on this move so that everyone can get a better sense of what it takes to pass.

[Rob Dean]

Interesting. I've been doing a few honest-to-goodness patch lessons, so I'll have to ask my coaches what this one looks like. (Any figured derived patterns on the Silver test? The New Moves will be in place before I'm ready for that one.)