Fall 2004 Board of Directors Report of Action

Scroll down to item 6. under Adult Skating Committee. Item 7. would allow standard track MIF tests to transfer to adult levels.

Thanks for the heads up. There are several important items that we'll be seeing at Governing Council next year!

I did not know (item 10) that Dallas FSC had bid for Adult Nationals in '06. I live in the area and would hate missing a chance to compete in my own backyard. Wonder if I can pass pre-bronze & bronze by then?

Guess I have a goal now.

Am I reading item 6 correctly, that the proposed changes to the test elements have already been approved? (sorry if this is a dumb question; I'm new to reading U.S. Figure Skating-speak)

I believe the proposed changes must be voted on in the May meeting. If passed they would begin September 05.

I liked the gold moves element being removed, but I'm sure I'm in a minority.

Interesting. I'm saying this for myself personally, but I'm just annoyed this came after I took all the adult moves tests (except Gold, which I am testing very soon), basically retesting everything I'd already passed (I've passed Intermediate). I'm glad it's finally being brought up though, and I like the new moves proposal; I think they're more balanced that way.

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I really hope this goes through. I prefer the Standard Track tests because they have a more natural progression of moves--the moves build on each other rather than just being a sort of random mishmash selection of moves like the adult tests. Like the NM on the Gold tests--without having first done the back perimeter power crossovers with back 3 turns (on IM test, is not on any adult tests) this move is harder in my opinion. But the back perimeter power crossovers with back 3 turns build on the power back 3's from Juv., which also don't appear on any adult tests.

I have also always thought it was silly that you couldn't substitute standard track moves tests for adult track. The adult Gold is practically the same as the standard Intermediate. I am glad they are finally not going to force skaters to take both tests. This will also help new adult skaters who might have passed some of the moves tests as kids. For example, a skater who passed Juv moves and free as a kid who is now required to skate Silver, won't have to waste as much time and $$ taking the adult moves tests.

Not sure if I will benefit from it though--my coach is wanting me to take those gold moves soon while the intermediate ones are still "fresh"!

I'm just relieved to NOT see the alternating foward 3-turns moved to the Bronze moves test. Yes, they're important, and yes, I work on them all the time, but no, I don't see myself being able to do the alternating forward inside 3's any time soon.

I also like the changing of the primary focus in the Bronze moves from "power" to "continuous flow and strength." It makes it seem more possible to me, although I'm still a ways from being able to test.

Pat

Me, too! Looks like they're gone from the adult track forever. I think that all the adult skaters who had to pass those in Pre-Bronze should get some sort of compensation for all the extra ice time needed to master them.

Seriously, I wish they had passed the earlier proposal that was posted on this forum around the time of AN last April. I would have rather them just use the standard track tests, with perhaps a few modifications, b/c as Spreadeagle pointed out, the standard track tests are a more logical progression of skills. I really wish they hadn't added the power pulls, but I may never test Silver MIF anyway. I don't think I'll ever be able to land an axel (I know, I know, never say never) so I'll probably never get to Silver FS.

I know the alternating 3-turns are a pain in the butt, and I didn't take them as an adult nor am I in the adult track so I know my opinion is "biased", but I think those alternating 3-turns are one of the single most important moves to master of them all, I'm very surprised they were taken off. They are the best thing to teach you to check- when I was learning my first jumps, those 3-turn patterns are what finally taught me to not curve and to check everything in my jumps. Any ideas as to why they took them out? Were a lot of people failing them/being held back just because of that move? I think it's a bummer that it's out, maybe they could have just put it on a higher level test?

I have yet to test PreBronze, will probably test it in the spring. I wonder if I can talk my coach into waiting until September?

I'm with you on this one, but you don't need an axel for the silver FS test. And many folks (me included) have won silver competitions without landing an axel. So don't despair!

I really hope the approved changes pass. As it sits now, I dread learning the novice move for the gold MIF.

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PreBronze without the alternating 3 turns... life would never be the same and skaters would not understand the pain and suffering we went through to master that skill. I would love to know the reason it was suggested to remove that.

OK, I see good news and bad news for me at Silver.

Good news - slide chasse out.

Bad news - power pulls IN. Yack!!!

Hee hee - because they're physically impossible? I never had to do them, but I've tried them and they are hard.

Life will be much easier for the Golds now w/out that Novice move (I think I failed that move in the CW direction on my Gold test).

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I'm surprised they didn't take the Pre-Preliminary spirals off the SILVER test. I've always thought that was a little insulting.

Too bad we can't ditch the #$^&%$#@ back 3-turns!

philly

Like, excuse us from the power threes on Bronze MIF!!!! That would rock!

Whaddaya mean you're in the minority?! I think right now there must be 500 Silver skaters cheering that we aren't going to have to do those LFI-RFI3's on our next MIF test! Instead, we get to do a move we already did for the Silver test!

I KNOW the alternating 3-turns are important. I KNOW we need to learn how to do them. And I DID say that I practice them every time I skate with my coach. But I am GLAD they are not on the pre-bronze test or the bronze test, for purely selfish reasons. I just don't think I will ever be able to do the forward inside 3's well enough to pass the test. Or at least not without many thousands of hours practicing them.

I actually think that is too difficult a skill for the first adult moves test, and I'm surprised the current proposal didn't just move them to a higher level. Of course, never say never! You don't know what more revisions will be proposed, or even if any of these will pass, for that matter.

Pat

It's frustrating--but not insulting--if you're a 30-40-year old man who can't move up to Silver because he isn't limber enough to do a spiral with his free foot at hip level or higher! I know at least two men who have had this problem, and one woman, too. I think it is actually very considerate of the USFSA to let the Adult Bronze skaters pass their test without it.

If you only want to compete at Pre-Bronze level in your Sectionals comp. next year, there's no reason to take the test any earlier than September. Local competitions usually allow you to skate at Pre-Bronze with no test at all!

Exactly. Spirals are very difficult for adults. If you can do them well, more power to you!

I definitely agree with the spiral thing -- I actually decided to NOT test standard track because I didn't want to have to do the spirals AT ALL and figured by the time I got to Silver level I could handle those "Pre-Pre Moves" spirals okay.

I thought the consecutive 3-turns (whatever they're called) were REALLY hard for the pre-Bronze level and most of the adult skaters I've seen have a hard time with them. Not that it probably really matters anymore, but there is something in the rules concerning adults taking this test that you can put your foot down and skate two-footed when you go to the other foot, but I also know that some judges don't know this and will ask for a Retry on that Move if the skater puts the foot down. (I will try to find the reference later) --

BUT I'm surprised they took that out altogether because as fadedstardust said, it is a really good move for learning about checking and edges and is also a really good lead-in for the power 3-turns.

I'm glad they are proposing some changes, though, because most of the adult skaters who started as adults at my rink didn't feel that they could EVER achieve the GOLD level the way they were set up initially.

Power pulls are definitely a good addition. I will need that!!

Good luck to all the skaters!

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Oh, GAWD!!! Power pulls!!! There goes my knees!!!

Terri C - ITA on the @#$^% forward power 3's!!! And isn't it still subjective whether a move has "strength/flow" vs. "power"? Where do you draw the line on that?

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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!!!

Aww, man! My coach will definitely want me to test the gold MIF before September 05 (assuming that the proposals pass), but I would have loved to not have to endure more nightmares about crashing into the boards on the CW BI-FI three turns.

No novice move from hell!!!!! How great would that be??? Of course, my coach has the nutty idea that I should test the gold moves this summer. Not if this passes, I won't.

Now, when are they going to change Silver to read no higher than pre-juv instead of juv? As it stands, a juv skater can chose either Silver or Gold.