In my quest to figure out why I'm doing this sport, I realized that I love listening to music and thinking of being decent enough to skate to a piece that I like might be enough motivation to keep going. I may ask my coach to put together a program for me, to kind of 'structure' my practicing. (And then I could be all pretty in the ice show in February.)

But, like...

I don't know how to do anything. But maybe that's not a problem.

So what was your first little program like? What could you do?

Mine was a trainwreck. I had bad coaching at the time and I was totally underprepared. I almost fell on a stupid half flip, left out half of my program - I was so nervous out on the ice, behind in my music, just skating to get through the moves rather than to enjoy the experience.

This is what keeps me from competing again truthfully. My advice is that if you get a program together to practice it to death and get really, really comfortable with it.

Everyone is different when it comes to how comfortable they are performing. Some thrive on it; some freak out! You never know until you try--and an ice show would be the perfect opportunity. For myself, I would far rather skate in front of stands full of people at a competition than for 3 judges at a test session! An audience jazzes me up.

My first little freestyle program had a waltz jump, loop jump, salchow, toe loop, and a very shaky one foot spin. And of course some footwork, a spiral, etc. (mind you, I've only competed freestyle twice & never above bronze level)

Ask your coach about it, or ask one of your skater friends to help you put something together. The process of choreographing is very fun just in its own right! I'd start w/ a piece of music that's SHORT--a minute to 1.5 minutes. It will give you a taste without being overwhelming for a start. *hint there are a few lovely short pieces on the "Shall We Dance" soundtrack.

I used to dance, so I like performing. But I only have a waltz jump and half a toe loop (the first half, har har), and a one foot spin, and some pretty kickass crossovers. (My coach likes edges and moves.)

Go for it!! You can have a great program just with edges and moves! And later when you have more jumps, you can still have many edges and moves in your program--it will look more interesting, and it's harder than just stroking or doing crossovers between each jump.

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This is my first program and my coach wants me to practice it 3-4 times each time I'm on the ice! It has a mohawk, crossovers, waltz jump, salchow, 3-turns, scratch spin, spiral, toe-loop (my sucky version of one), a pivot, arabesque spiral, 1/2 flip, 2-foot spin. In that order.

I'll be lucky if I don't bail on my jumps (could happen on the toe-loop), forget something (like the 1/2 flip-I'll improvise if I do). The hardest thing is being able to hear my music (I'm hard of hearing ).

Another girl at my rink has crossovers, 3-turns, waltz jump, bunny hop, 2-foot spin. That's it and it looks really nice!

It's how you present it and your music and if you love it, too!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

My first program had a backspin (which was really a FI double 3-turn), 2 half-flips (in combo), waltz-toe, sal, sit spin (which did not really "sit"), toe loop out of a mazurka (my only footwork in the program), half-lutz, sal-toe, RFI and LBO spirals, and a forward scratch.

Put in the elements you can do well, and skate confidently. The audience will definitely enjoy watching you. Good luck and keep us posted!


Edited to add that this program was for a comp (Pre-Bronze FS). For a show, you won't need as many jumps. I did a show solo with a toe loop and salchow as my only jumps, and lots of spirals, edge moves, and other steps, and 3 spins. It was 1:55, but your program doesn't need to be that long.

One of the good things about ISI is that the different levels have prescribed elements for a freestyle program - and the coach just has to figure out which element goes best where, in the music. It makes that first program go together pretty easily.

I loved it. I finally got to skate without a crowd!

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Hmmm..I was competing, but I was also, like, 7, so I really don't remember. I'm guessing I had my singles and some spins.

Why do you need a program to "keep you going"? I know my programs are actually my least favorite part of practice! Hah. You should find the love for the every day repetition of elements on their own. Sure a program's nice, but you shouldn't need one to keep yourself going.

As far as ice shows for rinks, I know mine requires at least an axel in order to be eligible to audition. You should ask your coach what is required at your rink. If nothing is required, then you're golden. I will say that when I was little, I wanted to be in shows and my coach always said that I should wait until I get better, and now that I'm older and know more about the sport I agree. I mean, put yourself in the shoes of the people coming to see the show- they don't really want to see someone doing a half flip and 2 minutes of crossovers, in my opinion. So if you do a number, make sure it is entertaining for the crowd (this doesn't mean you have to have big jumps, but do something unique). For competiton, it doesn't really matter since you're doing it for yourself. But you have to consider how enjoyable for others you think your skating to be before deciding to be in an ice show, in my opinion.

Hopefully this doesn't offend anyone, it's just what I think. I've sat through way too many ice shows full of people who do nothing but arm movements for 3 minutes to feel otherwise.

I am a "show skater" for my rink, and am getting ready for my third ice show. I have given the skating director "carte blanche" with what I do (yes, I will even wear "whatever"). As my skills have moved up (slowly) so have my skating roles.

At first, it was as part of the synchro ensemble. Doing synchro routines. All synchro. No solos or spotlight groups.

This time, I get to be part of a spotlight group of five, performing together----not synchro but timed together! I think the hardest elements we have are the power-3's down the long part of the rink, intersecting back crossovers in a figure-8 pattern (fast) and waltz jumps. We also do a scratch spin (if we can) or a spin of our choice and a group spiral. Being in this group has motivated me, for sure! I have worked everytime I'm on the ice to get my power 3's faster! (I had just learned them the week before getting this routine).

Our ice show cast consists of the Learn-to-Skate skaters as the little groups like mice in Nutcracker (directors choice). Auditions for other parts consist of "open auditions" where music of the show is played, and for 30 minutes, skaters skate to the music and "do stuff" to the music. If we had to wait for people to have an axel, we'd have a cast of 4 Most of the people who come to see our show are the parents, friends, and family of the skaters (we only have seating for about 300 each night and that sells out).

Now, for our exhibitions, they are usually open to anyone who is a club member and wants to skate! We just give our name to the coordinator and we are good to go!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Different strokes for different folks. Some people hate programs, others love them. Skating is an individual sport, and if having a program makes someone more motivated and committed to the sport, I say go for it. I can understand what crayonskater means - sometimes, practicing elements in isolation can get dull - a program can give your practices a sense of purpose, as well as provide an opportunity for you to put together the elements you've mastered so far. You can see how far you've come!

Well, I can see your point here, but I would argue that show solos are also about yourself - you have the opportunity to challenge yourself, have a new experience, and most important, have fun with your skating. And a program doesn't need to have triples and flying spins to be enjoyable to the audience. This isn't Stars on Ice, it's a club exhibition for skaters' families and friends. There are plenty of ways to have an impact on an audience and express a piece of music without doing a jump every 10 seconds, and I doubt crayonskater and his/her coach are thinking of doing 2 minutes of only crossovers. That's why we have coaches and choreographers put our programs together.

My first program had;
sit-spin
camel
1 foot
waltz jump
salchow
toeloop
loop
and flip.

for prelimnary FS.

That's pretty much it. I used to dance, and I found that I learned, say, a step sequence faster and better if it was set to music so I had to force myself to keep pace with it. I'm thinking that if I have a short program to work on, I'll (say) make sure my crossovers are in a rhythm or not, or force myself to jump.

The rink I skate at is a college rink, and the show in question is pretty much open to anyone in the club. Last year, I joined friends in doing a 1-minute long comedy number. So there's no axel requirement. (I am guessing this is different from most rinks; this is just a fun exhibition.) At the same time, I don't want to bore anybody to death, hence the thread; wondered how many things you needed to be able to do not to bore anyone to death.

My first skating program was during christmas. The music was to "I saw three ships", I was not thrilled with the orchestration and choreography. But since it was my first program I did not have any control over anything. So the guy who arranged my program had me do a lutz right off the bat. I never knew how to pace myself then and with the phrasing of the music. I do not remember what in details what have happened.
But I knew I landed a flip, lutz and a loop. I fell on a flying camel

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My first program from way back in 2001 is still my current FS program. It just has gone thru different versions of the music. The intended purpose was simply to have a test program for Bronze FS test.

The order of the first version of the program goes something like this:

Backspin
Loop
Spiral
Salchow
Sit Spin
Toe Loop
Waltz-Toe Loop
One foot spin/Scratch spin

This year's version: Same music. Same dress. Same jumps and spins, but different order and more footwork and speed. Plus, for competition, I sub the flip for the toe loop!

After I pass my Bronze FS test, I will finally retire Yanni's "Until The Last Moment."

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

My first program was to take my ISIA (it was called that back then, not ISI) Freestyle 1. I forgot what the music was, but it had all the FS1 elements, including the dreaded BI edges. I could not do those to save my life, and I failed.

Which I always find really ironic because I went on to pass my USFSA 8th figure test!

Just goes to show, don't give up on an element you think you can't do!

Totally agreed, and that's what I was trying to say. You'd be surprised how many skaters DO have nothing but 2 minutes of crossovers, though. I think if you can do a good interp. to music then it's entertaining and worth putting in a show, regardless of jumps- some of the best programs have no or very few jumps at all. But if all you can do is skate forward then it might be jumping the gun a little to think people would enjoy seeing nothing but that. And yet, a lot more people than you could ever imagine DO do that for local skating shows.

I think that if you want to though, you should go for it crayonskater. Just find a good piece of music that you like and do your best!

My husband and I are going to do a piece for the exhibition also. He barely has his crossovers, just got a mohawk, etc. I'm ahead of him, skill-wise. However, we will be dancing and I will be doing the more difficult elements and skating around him at times. Perhaps this is something you could consider.

Maybe even get a few of you together and get an "interactive" piece and play to the audience. Maybe act out a scene of a movie and skate it. People like that kind of stuff. It's different enough to be memorable, and being an exhibition, you have freer reign on what you can do (except maybe time limits if you have a large club).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

These days with the NJS you need a lot more than just crossovers and jumps! Not that we adults get many competitions where we are judged under the NJS, but Oberstdorf & Mountain Cup both do judge under a modified version of that system. I'm leaving my husband's coach to do his choreography, as she has been trained in the NJS and knows what's wanted.

He has a cherry flip (toe-loop) and salchow, and we hope he will have a loop jump - he used to, but hasn't done one for years, and we don't think it's worth stressing his knee for 0.1 difference (loop jump is 0.5, salchow is 0.4). He also has an upright spin, and we hope will have a parallel & a sit before May.

I have only ever done Artistic/interpretive, as what I'm good at is capering about on the ice, not actual skating.....

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Mrs Redboots
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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I can barely remember my first program. It was a little test program for freestyle 1 under ISI. There was a waltz jump, a half flip and a two foot spin somewhere in it. What I remember most was the ending and it was awkward because before that I have never held a pose and didnt really know how to hold it and only wanted to get it over and done with.

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Tidesong

My first program was also for the ISI Freestyle 1 test. Not that it was a formal test session, but a program was required. I then used that same program for competitions, since I had already taken the first step!

It was a simple program that my coach choreographed to music from Sheherazad. (SP?) I'm a strength and speed skater and the coach was a Julliard-trained ballerina. Not a good match of styles, so I looked kind of clunky.

Later on, I changed coaches and my new coach had a style that was similar to mine. She did a great job with my programs and loved all kinds of music -- whatever I suggested, she made work.

I miss not having a program now; freestyle/club sessions are more interesting when you've got to put elements together to music. It also makes practicing the elements more interesting since you're combining them in different ways instead of just doing it over and over.

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think of music that goes with a bright pink dress
then think of a little kid who tried to skate fast but nearly tripped over her toepicks, that was me I had all my singles, but was struggling with my lutz at the time

My first program was a Beta (or was is Gamma) spotlight program together with my daughter after I had only been skating/taking lessons for about 4 months and we had a hoot!!! What a great way to start competing!!!

This is my very first program. For freestyle one.

Pivot Spin
Right lunge(big)
Left lunge(small)
RO3
L over R Xovers to and inside spread eagle
side toe tap
RO3
LO3
2 L over R XOvers
Back Outside/Back Inside edges
side toe tap
RI3
RI mohawk
3 XOvers into 2 waltz jumps
Really big and dramatic spiral
Ina Bauer
One foot spin from crossovers
Lunge into a back lunge
2 half flips
side lunge into a pivot spin

It's very pretty when you see it with my pretty arm movements. It's to Anytime, Anywhere by Sarah Brightman which Sasha Cohen coincidently skated to in an exhibition when she was fifteen. Same as me. Haha.