Yes, definitely stricter, and maybe other rinks didn't interpret it that drastically. As you have all be discussing, marks are easier to get by doing spiral sequences and since the first requirement to get anything higher than a level 1 on step sequence was to have that variety, if you didn't have good strong rockers, or choctaws, the choreographer gave spiral sequences.

Got bunny ears at the top of your bracket?.[/QUOTE]

Most coaches and skaters don't even know what bunny ears are. It's nice to know some still do.

Reagrding whether figures are harder then MITF.

First, to each their own experience.

As someone who has never done figures though, I'll make a couple of 'outside observations'.
It seems that figures and MITF are very different. It's sort of like apples to oranges. They draw on very different physiological dynamics.

MITF, especially from the mid level on up, are very much an endurance test. They take a lot of 'wind' until you start to master each successive level. I'm sure figures take a lot of strength, but it's certainly a different type. I'm just starting to learn JRM 4 and after a full pass down the ice, my legs are burning! I can't think of anything I've seen in figures that would replicate that.

On the other hand, figures seem to be all about isometric control and fine motor control to an extent found no where in MITF.

The two disciplines accomplish two very different functions with a little bit of overlap. That's one reason why I'm an advocate of making the sport of 'figures' more available to those that want it although I have no immediate plans myself to take it up.

PS. Are there any figures patterns that elevate the heart rate? [aside from judge anxiety]

Thanks for the clarification, Daisies. Yes, I understand that it has to be a 360 degree turn, but as you mentioned there is nothing written about the number of "revolutions" for twizzles. Why do you think they clarify the number of revolutions in spins, but don't do it for twizzles?

About Figures vs. Moves, and about which one is harder? Let me first say, that I studied figures beginning at age 5, and would take them back over moves in a heart beat were it possible. Having said that let's take into consideration how difficult it is to layout a perfectly round eight (any figure) during a test without it looking like an egg. Very hard to do, but the judges not only required that the three's, or counter, for example, are in the exact right place (remember they threw down little markers on the ice while judging your tracings,) but they also looked for flow and posture, push offs, and the shape/geometry of your circles.

Have you ever seen roller skating tests where the geometry is marked right on the floor? Can you imagine the correct geometry for the moves actually laid down on the ice, and you have to skate over it correctly? All I'm saying is that with MIF the judges are far away from you and are not on top of your tracing scrutinizing your geometry. So, there is more wiggle room with Moves. However, if MIF are truly "mastered" it would require that the geometry be as spot on as it was required for figures. In this case, MIF would be just a difficult as figures.

I'm not sure I understand your question, because, in my estimation, spins and twizzles have nothing to do with each other. A twizzle is a type of turn, the way a three-turn, rocker or counter is a type of turn. We know that three-turns, rockers and counters are 180-degree turns, and we don't need that clarified, right? Similarly, there shouldn't be a need to clarify a twizzle -- it's a 360-degree turn, period. If they were requiring double twizzles, then that would be two full revolutions -- period. (Luckily, they don't specify double twizzles! )

I don't know very much about it, and I know that this is not your point, but I used to take roller skating lessons for a very brief time (maybe 12 lessons?) I remember there being the tracings in the middle of the rink. I'm pretty sure that's how they did it- you had to skate right over the tracings. I'm not sure though, because there was no way to adjust for the size of the skater. I do remember learning to do figure 8's the same way they are in ice skating, and I remember having to stay on the line. It would be interesting to see how roller skating has evolved compared to ice skating. Do they have MIF now, too? I wonder...

As someone who (briefly) took roller figures lessons, it is not necessarily easy to stay on that pattern. Yes, it is there as a template and probably facilitates the process of laying down the first "tracing". However, turn placement is not on the pattern. You have to do that yourself. As I understand, roller skaters skate through chalk to leave marks on the floor that are scrutinized by the judges. Figs are a very active part of roller competition and separate medals are given out for figs.

Kay

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Because a twizzle is not a spin.

You cannot exit the twizzle early on two feet and have it count, so it IS specified to be at least 360 degrees

Back to the ice skating... LOL!

As a mom of a synchro skater, I'm a bit miffed at the single's chair for not considering the synchro chair in his clarification statement. These changes will also affect synchro - actually, most of the changes seem to be directly related to synchro, as these moves are what all the higher level teams are doing.

I think I might email USFSA about the oversight...

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I've heard several people, including coaches, define a Twizzle as a traveling Spin. I suppose that's why I equate it with "revolutions." Thus the question about why the number of "revolutions" in a spin is specified, but not the number of "revolutions" for Twizzles within a footwork sequence.

So, the question is how do you separate, or give credit to, the person who does a "single" twizzle in the footwork as compared to the person who does a "triple" twizzle passage?

It's also what the singles kids are doing.

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It is a way to describe it - a traveling spin, but it technically is not.

It counts towards your "1/3 of the step sequence being rotational" (> 360 degrees) if you are working on that feature and if well executed, the judge will give you bonus GOE if the rest of the sequence is good.

I was a serious roller dancer in the 60's, and tested and competed figures also. IIRC, there are two different sizes of circles painted on the floor. A smaller size for little kids, and a larger, standard size for everyone else. You had to have that line between your outside and inside wheels the whole way, and they sprinkled some kind of powder (don't remember it being chalk, because it wasn't white) on the floor to see your turn tracings.
Loops were also painted.

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