This is some rant.....my comment is, it doesn't matter if you think adult test standards are mediocre, those are the standards that were set up by the USFSA. If their intent was for adults to be judged by a lower standard, then judges should be aware of those standards, and they should be clearly stated in the rulebook.

I personally agree that certain moves should not have the allowances stated, (putting a foot down between 3-turns) but I didn't make the rules.

Exactly my point. But there was a whole argument that the judge should be stopped because while an adult could handle the comment, a child couldn't. Maybe the judge treats adults and children differently because they are *not the same*. You all admit that so you should probably not expect to be treated in the same way as child skaters, and yes, you should ideally be, as adults, capable of making and sticking to a diet plan that works for you and allows you to lead a healthy lifestyle, and also be able to take constructive criticism if it (or anything else worth commenting on) isn't working. Either there's truth to the comments and you try to make efforts, or there's not and you dismiss it without needing to make a scene to the test chair of a pre-juv test for a judge who just told you what they saw and felt you needed to change to suceed any further. An adult (ie: grown up and mature) skater shouldn't react like that to such a yes, benign comment. I didn't hear anyone claim the judge to say something like "you're a fat cow, quit now before we all laugh" or something ridiculously insulting like that. If the tester feels the need to report what was said, then it did, in some basic way, bother her, which suggests that maybe, and I do place emphasis on the maybe because I don't know her at all, the judge's comments were not so uneeded after all. Up to her whether she follows through with the advice or not, but if it's a valid comment, there's really nothing worth reporting, especially in a test setting where all that was done was judge. I truly believe that if the judge had not seen potential in the tester, she would not have even bothered to make such comments, so in a very backwards way, it's actually a compliment, seriously.

And I've said that if she was failed because of weight, then yes, it should very much be dealt with. But I don't think that's what happened here, which is I why I take the weight issue separately from the test. No one should be failed because of extra weight. But it will eventually hold people down in presentation marks for comps, and that's generally what people are testing for, so the judge felt the need to warn the tester. I completely agree that the wording was wrong, but I don't think the judge meant it as an insult, especially in the way she showed the tester her OWN weight problem, sort of a way of leveling herself down before dispensing the "advice", saying...I'm with you, I'm not trying to be condescending. The end from my end...I think the beauty of forums is dispensing opinions, maybe considering some new point of view, but most likely, in the end, being able to agree to disagree.

-FadedStardust

There's a really big difference between being fit and proper weight for your height and having the body of a child. I'm a small person, but by no means have the body of a child. Am I within what is considered healthy weight for my height? Yes. And that's all I'm suggesting for anyone else. NOT that anyone try to have a childlike body.

FYI - I am a mature adult, and also a coach.

I dont have anything better to say, you said it for all for me

I am, quite frankly, amazed at the posts by fadedstardust and peaches. I'd like to make a few comments - I hope they are common sense comments - about skating.

First, your body size has nothing to do with your ability to do moves in the field. Technique does, and your technique may or may not be effrected by your weight, but weight in and of itself does not.

Second, extreme lack of body fat is also very unhealthy. Shoulder bones and hip bones jutting out is a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle, the same as an excess of body fat. However, in skating, this seems to be accepted. Is it better to stick your finger down your throat to make yourself stay thin? I don't think so. I'm not saying that fadedstardust and peaches are advocating that practice, but attitudes like theirs, IMO, contribute to that happening - and in skating it happens all of the time.

Third, not all skaters are in the sport to make the Olympics. A majority are in the sport to challenge themselves, to improve themselves, and to enjoy healthy friendships with people who are interested in the same sport. (Including USFSA membership.) There should be no correlation between testing and competing, because they are two different goals. The whole point of skating should be to be happy with yourself, not to yearn to be a perfect ice princess. Should adults get extra special treatment when taking kids tests? Absolutely not. Should overweight adults (and kids) get negative treatment on tests just because of their weight? Absolutely not.


Finally, before you make judgments on other people, you should walk a mile in their shoes. Maybe there are other reasons for someone to carry extra weight besides a lack of self control. It might be medical. It might be those few extra childbirth pounds. It might be genetics. It might be anything. What is the overweight person supposed to do? Hide in a closet until the weight somehow miraculously comes off?

Instead of slamming skaters.....I have a better idea. Why don't we instead support our fellow skaters (kids and adults) who are doing what they love, making themselves more fit every time they step foot on the ice, and challenging themselves? Most of the skaters I know fit into that category - that's what makes skating fun.

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I agree with pretty much everything you've said in your post, which shows how much you're not getting what I'm saying.

1. There's a difference between being 20 lbs overweight and being skin and bones. Also, the poster said she was not a dieter, so she isn't trying to lose the excess weight, which is FINE. It's absolutely fine, but then, don't complain that people are suggesting for you to lose it, this *is* a performance sport, and the fact that her body would be better off without those pounds was admitted by the poster when she called herself overweight. She didn't say "I'm 5'9 and 135 pounds but my coach thinks I should drop 10". THAT would be absolutely ridiculous. There's limits to everything and everyone is stretching them way too far to try to make a point, when the specifics of this particular debate is what is relevant. Every situation is different, I'm talking about this one and ones similar to it.

2. I said that in moves, weight shouldn't be the reason anyone is failed and that if her moves had been clean, she would have passed, or it would have been outrageously unfair and something should have been done, but she admitted it wasn't the case and that her 3's were flawed. If she'd done the test up to standards, that judge wouldn't have even made the comments about her weight affecting the scraping on the 3's (which is a load of crock, but nonetheless).

3. I personally do not get the point of testing if you're not going to compete, but I don't have to get it, everyone is different. I'm just saying the USFSA is a serious competing track, even for adults NOT Olympics bound, and that there is also testing and competing in ISI which doesn't give a crap about weight and doesn't have such strict tess passing standard because they are geared specifically for the person (kid or adult) who is only doing skating recreationally and I'm not sure why people are taking it as an insult or as completely bizzare that I suggest a recreational institution for a recreational skater. And if you are a serious adult competitor, then you should strive to be fit, not AS THIN as a 15 year old, but fit for yourself, which, when you call yourself a non-dieter with 20 extra pounds, is not exactly the right track. That's all. You want to be serious, then be serious about it all, body line and weight included. If you don't, I don't get the point of being in the USFSA when that's not what it was meant for. ISI has plenty of adults, too. That's all. I'm not sure why my posts are so offensive to so many, I really don't get it. I'm just being logical. I don't know any of you so I'm not picking anyone by name, and I'm not an Olympic champion myself, so this is clearly strictly my more or less unimportant opinion, but I don't happen to think it's so warped. Just like you wouldn't go get your motorcycle license if you wanted to be a race car driver...I'm just saying recreational skating is another organization, there's no reason to blame USFSA for upholding what it is and stands for. I'm done with this debate unless there's one little thing here or there, cause I'm just repeating myself. I just hate being misunderstood or misquoted, and I had to rehash one more time. Sorry for that.

-FadedStardust

I think everyone missed a couple of points:

One and I think this is the MAIN point, is whether it's a judge's place to provide unsolicited advice on improving one's skating by losing weight! We all agree that it's a unanimously "NO!!!" (I think that the only person whose place in telling a person she's overweight is a fitness trainer or a doctor.)

Second, there are ALL SORTS of levels of fitness. It's NOT a black and white thing!!! Weight is just one of MANY factors of one's level of fitness!!! (And fitness is only one of MANY factors of one's potential to become a GREAT skater!!!)

Third... when I turned 32, my metabolism changed so that I could EASILY gain weight. It's not a gripe. It's just a fact of life. The only thing you could do is to "do the best with what God gave you."

Fourth... I'm relative fit (definitely off the "overweight" category as far as weight is concerned according to the BMI chart now.) And I used to be at 125 and 5' 3", which is quite skinny! But that doesn't make me a great skater with wonderful 3's. A coach teaching me the right TECHNIQUE did more than 10-fold what being at a perfect weight could do for me. And THAT'S why I asked morgan what her coach says about her "skid-3's" and what she suggested to fix.

Fifth... in order for a person to commit to losing weight and staying healthy, one must WANT to be fit bad enough!!! Anyone here *could* easily have told morgan that it wouldn't hurt to lose some weight, if not anything, for health reasons. But I think in the end, morgan needs to want to lose the weight bad enough that she will make a lifestyle change to lose the weight (b/c if you want a permanent loss, that's how you should do it.) She said that she's not a dieter, so she clearly says that she doesn't want it bad enough, so one should respect her wishes on that.

Edited to add: I got the impression that she felt her "retry" was justified b/c of the skid 3's. What she's complaining about is only the judge's comment about her weight, NOT her skating test!!!

Man, this weight talk is weighing me down!!! BLEECH!!!

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Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Wow! Is this thread a minefield or what?

Anyway .... might as well wade in!

I DO think that the judge was inappropriate BUT, from reading what you have put I also believe that she was well intentioned. Personally, I would not report her but would have said to her, politely, that I didn't find her comments to be helpful.

I am a UK 16 (?what is that in US) and 5' 4" and, yes, I am overweight and, yes, to skate (or to do any sport) I SHOULD be lighter. I know that. To deny it would be decieving myself. I do think that 'ideally' I should be lighter than I am for the sake of my joints if nothing else BUT it's easier said than done. Being overweight hasn't stopped me from achieving test and competition success but I would have been more comfortable and looked better if I would have been two dress sizes smaller, I don't want to be a 'waif', I look awful if I lose too much weight .... though that particular state was a loooong time ago.

At the end of the day, though, we are adults and make our own decisions. I was once told by a coach (who was trying to poach me) that "I was too fat to skate anyway and she wouldn't want to teach me anyway unless I lost at least two stone" (this is after I refused to go to her as I believe that she was unprofessional in approaching me). Now that is insulting and inappropriate, she didn't have my best interests at heart, she didn't think that she was helping me, she was just being plain mean. I did report her and, after several other incidents, she was fired from the rink.

I am concerned, however, that kids are also being told that they're too big to skate. I have heard so many horror stories of kids being put on soup diets, told not to eat after 2 pm etc, this, in my opinion can only lead to problems!

Advice from a nutritionist, yes! Going to the Olympics and my jumps are being impeded by my weight? Then gently counsel me about it ..... but don't give me inappropriate, incorrect advice about weight and weight loss if you don't know what the hell you're talking about yourself!

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The best whisper is a click

My, my, what a firestorm. As the original poster here, allow me to make a few comments and observations.

To the majority of adults who found the Judge's comments inappropriate, thank you for your observations. It is helpful for me to hear your reaction.

My back 3 turns tend to skid because of a timing issue; I don't always have the right down, up, down tempo and I am not always enough on my heel. To me, it is a solely question of technique and they are getting better. I have passed one judge on previous tests, so I am getting close.

I did report the incident in a factual manner to the Test Chair just so that she would know that I found the comments inappropriate. My suggestion was that she pass on to the Judge that I found her comments outside of the scope of commenting on a skating test. Somewhat to my surprise, the Test Chair circled the wagons around the Judge, saying that she was just trying to be helpful,appearance is part of skating and she was sorry if I was hurt by the comments, but the Judge was "old school" and believed that skating should be a way of life and that you should try to have your body in line with that.

All of which leads me to the issue I am currently grappling with: Whether or not it is fair game and appropriate for a skating judge to make unsolicited comments on an adult skater's (or any skater's weight). I think the answer is no. However, the Test Chair (and a minority of posters on this board) do not seem to completely agree with me.

If the answer is yes, commenting on weight is appropriate and boy, you better realize that weight appearance matters, even as an adult, then I believe that adult skaters are woefully unprepared for and uninformed about this. Part of the reason for my original post was that I was very surprised that the Judge would do this.

The responses of the young people on this board interest me, because they are furiously saying, hey, weight is an issue for us and it better be for you if you want to be part of the USFSA or be taken seriously, which I confess is an angle I had not previously considered. I view this sport from an adult angle and from the perspective of someone who began Basic Skills at age 40.

If weight comments ARE appropriate, either because of some rule that says so (can't seem to find such a rule, by the way) OR because, it's an appearance sport, stupid, everyone knows overweight people have poor body line/bad image, etc., then I think that some effort should be made to prepare many Adults who chose to test that they MAY hear a remark about their weight. If we know ahead of time, hey, the Judge may throw a few arrows your way because of your weight, well, we can chose to either lose weight or be prepared for these remarks.

I like to think that in a perfect world, the USFSA and/or fellow skaters would welcome Adults, attempt to accomodate their needs, understand that they are not child skaters and not put such an emphasis on weight, but, rather, on developing skating skills. Maybe we're not there yet; from some of the posts on this board, clearly, we are not.

Several people here have already explained that it is not appropriate for a judge to approach skaters in order to provide unsolicited negative personal feedback. Whether or not the content of the feedback is about weight or another subject should make no difference. If the judge has technical feedback or feedback as it relates to your dress, music, etc in conjunction with the rules, the judge should be willing to write it on your test form if they want you to know it.

Apparently you were not aware of this before, although your coach certainly should have been to give you advice about it. Now you are aware, so use the information the next time to address the problem immediately when it occurs to prevent causing you so many worries or hurt feelings.

I also don't necessarily think the test chair was "circling the wagons", as you put it, simply because she attempted to explain what she likely thought were the judge's motivations based on her experiences with dealing with that particular judge. It sounds to me like this is an incident that could be easily worked out & everyone is somewhat overreacting to the situation including you.

Well said, DancinDiva.

I think a couple of posters here have completely missed the fact that the OP was NOT complaining that she didn't pass, and did NOT think that she should have. She admitted that her skills needed work.

What the problem was, was that a judge A) assumed the problems with the skills were due to extra weight (which is patently NOT true), and B) the judge attributed feelings and attitudes about weight to the skater, that the skater did NOT feel.

All adult skaters want is to be judged on the skating. Not the appearance. Basing a score on someone's weight is like basing it on their skin color or hairstyle. It's wrong, and should not continue.



Edited to say that I didn't realize there was another page when I replied, and most of what I said had already been addressed.

FadedStardust~

Great posts! I agree with everything you have said, and I feel you have expressed your opinions very well, much better than I did when trying to say basically the same thing. I completely agree that this sport places a high value on appearance. Whether or not you agree with that, that's how it is. To change that would be changing the sport itself. Is there anyone here who can honestly say that when they watch others figure skating, they are looking only at the skating and they pay no attention to body line, costumes, grace, presence on the ice, overall appearance ? How can you watch skating and not focus on the skater's appearance and only the skating? Part of skating is appearance!

As for the gaining/losing weight issue. There is one simple fact about this: To gain weight, your calorie intake must be greater than the calories you burn, and to lose weight you must burn more calories than you eat. In a very small minority of overweight people, medical issues and genetics may play a role. But if you look back 30-40 years we had a much lower percentage of overweight people. Medical and genetic issues cannot account for the rapid rise in number of overweight people. It is simply impossible for something that is caused by genetics to grow this quickly. I think most people know that metabolism does tend to slow with age. That doesn't mean that you can't do anything about it. You just need to decrease your calorie input and increase output. I KNOW this is easier said than done. When I went to college, I didn't just gain the "Freshman 15", I gained the Freshman 25! 25 extra pounds on a 5'1" frame is a huge difference. I never took all of it off (although I was probably underweight before) but I did get about 15-20 off in less than a year. Yes, I was only 19 at the time so it was easier, but I realized that I had gained weight because I wasn't exercising at all and I was eating a lot more. Once I started eating normally and exercising again, the weight just came off. But this was a great lesson to me--I did NOT like being overweight! I had to buy bigger clothes, I didn't want to go hang out at the pool with my friends, I was generally miserable. It was enough to make me never want to gain weight again. Now when I feel like I have been eating a bit unhealthy, or when my waistband starts to get a little tight, I literally can't eat a lot--it makes me sick to my stomach. That's what I don't understand, is how people get overweight in the first place.

I know that some people are happy with themselves even if they are overweight. But if you are going to claim this, you have to be happy with ALL aspects of being overweight. You can't just say, "Well, I'm happy, I don't think I need to lose weight" and then turn around and say "It's so unfair, people are judging me because I'm overweight!" You can't eat your cake and have it too. It's the same with adult skating. You can't say, "I'm an adult skater, I want to be taken seriously just like young skaters are!" and then also say "It's so much harder to be an adult skater, why can't they give us a break? We're not kids!" Skating is a HARD sport! It's not easy for kids and it's not easy for adults either! IMO, that makes it even more fun! Overcoming a difficult obstacle provides a lot more satisfaction than completing an easy task. Why can't we all just appreciate skating for what it is and not try to change the sport we love?

Twokidsskatemom - Thanks!

Presentation is a factor in skating - but only one part of skating. Fortunately most judges and adult skaters understand this. If anyone is intersted in a beauty contest - perhaps you're in the wrong organization. The USFSA Adult program is not perfect, but it suits the rest of us, and we'll continue to work towards it's and our success.

Yes, I can honestly say that. I remember watching a skating special a few years ago (one that Pasha Grishuk was involved with, IIRC), and one of the numbers was a pair number by a pair of 'special' skaters--I believe they both had Down Syndrome. Many people with Down Syndrome are overweight, and these two were no exception. They had little 'grace' as is normally defined in skating, body line that might be considered 'poor', their costumes were nothing special, and from a distance, probably had no 'presence' either.

However, I enjoyed their skating as much, if not more, than the skating by the other participants, one of which was Alexei Yagudin. They were so happy to be there, and happy just to be skating. They also performed very well. So yes, I can focus on the skating, and not worry about what the outside appearance is. It doesn't matter one little bit.

I wonder whether it has occurred to the body fascists on this thread that many of us who are not as slim as once we were are actually skating because we have found, in this sport, a form of exercise we enjoy and want to do.

As you know, the only realistic way of losing weight long-term is to eat less and exercise more; but how many people take out gym memberships in January, go twice, then never again? Yet people go on skating, as often as they can, for years.

And yes, because we are in this sport, we do want to test ourselves against the levels agreed for our skill level and age (although here in the UK there is no such thing as an adult test - you take the same tests everybody else does, or not at all). And perhaps we enjoy, too, testing our skills against those of our peers in age and ability - the skating world is small enough that you often find yourself up against the same skaters, and it's fun to see who improves, who doesn't, and who improves but not as fast as everybody else!

Skating is a terrific means of keeping fit. I may be overweight by the standards of a 20-year-old, but for a 50-year-old I am well fit! As is my husband, who, in the unfair way men seem to be able to, has almost maintained his figure!

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I think that the majority of us on here know that being overweight is more likely NOT to be a medical problem HOWEVER it can be very easy to gain weight in the first place for a variety of reasons whether it be psychological, eating on the run, being sedentary or whatever. The 'problem' is getting the weight off again, it's not as easy as doing a bit more exercise, I did an enormous amount of exercise but found it difficult to modify my diet just because I never used to have to worry about what I ate, I could eat enormous amounts of food and never put on weight (bring those days back!). Yes, it's my fault (although I initially put on 3 stone in 2 months when I was on steroids long term) but my lifestyle and my attitude towards food meant that I didn't lose much weight. I understand that but it didn't mean that I couldn't skate succesfully. What don't you understand? You said that you gained 25 pounds at college so you MUST understand how you got overweight!

Why do you feel that 'we' must change to be able to skate (at least that's how I interpreted your last line)? I find that more offensive than a well meaning but inappropriate judge! The beauty of skating is in the beauty of different types of skater, how boring would it be if everyone had the same vital statistics, same stature, same colour hair, same colour eyes? Yes, I would prefer to be slimmer, I would also prefer to have longer legs and be 15 years younger but why should I be criticised because I don't conform to the 'ideal' skating clone?

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The best whisper is a click

Well, I am glad that your life has been so blessed and that at the ripe old age of 19 you lost the extra weight you put on and are now so wise that you don't understand how people get overweight in the first place.

All I have to say is that we all understand the components to gaining and losing weight, but I am in shock at the insensitivity that is taking place in this thread in regard to overweight people. I can see why people that are obese have such a difficult time having good self esteem when they have all of these "thin" people around them to tell them what failures they are.

I have said it before and I will say it again. You are simplifying an issue that is not simple.

And I am not saying all of this because I am extremely overweight. I, too, gained the freshman 20 when I was in college, and I, too, lost the weight relatively quickly when I resumed exercise and healthier eating habits.

But you know what? Things change, and although I kept my weight normal for a long time, I have recently gained some weight from medication I was taking and am now slightly overweight. Do I like it? No, I absolutely hate it. I am 10 years older than I was the last time I went through this and it is a lot harder to take off the extra weight. I can go for weeks and have healthy eating habits and exercise and not a pound moves off of the body.

All I am saying is that for all of you living in weight utopia and telling us weight can be controlled through diet and exercise, we get it and know our weight is our responsibility. But don't go through life being so shallow that you cannot have compassion or understanding for other people just because you are in some type of perfectness or know someone that achieved it.

Until you walk in someone's shoes you have no idea what they are going through and what their circumstances are.

THANK YOU!

That was exactly my point--I DO understand how I got overweight--it was from eating too much and not exercising enough! It's because of this understanding that I have been able to keep myself from becoming overweight again. Also, I never said that being overweight would prevent anyone from skating successfully, skillwise. But I do feel skating is also about presentation and appearance, and that being overweight will hold you back in these areas. You can still be a successful skater, but you have much more to overcome.

I'm sorry I didn't explain that more clearly. I wasn't trying to say that skaters should change and all conform to some ideal. What I meant was that I love the sport of skating for what it is, and I don't want to see it change, and it seems like some posters do want it to change to a sport in the rules are easy, anyone who can stand up on skates can pass a test, and those who win the competitions may not look very good out there, but they have the required skills. I have gotten the feeling from some of these posts that people feel that skating is made to be too difficult for adults and adults shouldn't have to have the same rules/standards and adults should be cut some slack for not having skills up to par or maintaining the body of an athelete. I was trying to say that skating is skating no matter what your age, and the sport should be the same for all ages, not easier for us "old folks".

Please take your own advice. Your first comment was mean-spirited and unnecessary. You don't know the circumstances of my situation either, and why I get so fed up with people making excuses for their weight. I certainly don't have a blessed life, but I have worked hard to attain skating goals and I have never made excuses when I didn't achieve my goals. I brought up that story about losing weight to try to show everyone that I HAVE been in those shoes (being overweight) and I was able to overcome it.

I would like to write more, but I am off to skating practice. I hope no one takes this reply in the wrong way, but it was hard to communicate without having more time to think it over.

You are correct I have not walked in your shoes, and you are correct that my comment was what I will call sarcastic.

My only point is that if you are going to use a story of being previously overweight as a way to relate to those that are, you cannot assume everyone could lose the weight the exact same way you did. Or assume that there couldn't be other factors involved when it comes to someones weight.

That's all. Glad you can relate to being overweight, and I am glad you overcame it. Let's just stop the assumption that because one person did it or they know someone that did that it means everyone's situation is the same.

At this point, I don't know how else to say it. I just simply don't like to see people being all preachy about weight loss, as if overweight people do not have a clue as to why they are overweight or how to try to solve the problem. They do have a clue and often are trying to do something about it.

Yes & it would be great for everyone with the "hang 'em high" attitude about the judges & test chairs to consider that idea too.

I haven't seen this on this thread--at least, not until you brought it up. The original complaint was not about rules or making things easier at all.

Again, not seeing that. Adults want to pass according to the rules as well. If they're competing the main track, main track rules apply. If they're competing the adult track, then adult rules apply. It's not like any adult has any illusions that competing the adult track is going to take them to the Olympics, and give them an easy ride getting there.

WHOA. As long as a skater has the required skills, who gives a rat's behind what they look like???

Frankly, I think that Plushenko is terribly unattractive, both physically, and in skating posture. Yet somehow, it doesn't stop him from winning.

Don't look now, but your looks-ism (fatphobia, uglyphobia, age-ism, whatever) is showing.

Ok I have a stupid ?
Does it say somewhere in the usfsa that adults must be a certain weight?
if not, then why is it an issue?
I think anything to get people skating is great !!!If you can do a move, then you can do a move.The op wasnt upset about the move but about the comment.

We arent talking about 13yos, or at least I hope we arent.Adults come in all shapes and sizes.I know some great looking ladies that arent skinny anymore.If they can pass based on doing the move right, I dont care what they look like.
I know since I hit 40, things have changed.no one wants to be overweight, but beauty is still in the eye on the beholder.

go skaters !!!!

I've been reading this thread from the beginning, and had to wait awhile to form my opinions, especially since I am younger (almost 20).

One person (I'm sorry, I forgot who) said that they didn't understand testing USFS and not competeing. Although I do both, I'm also testing to get the recognition I will need when I become a coach down the road.

The other ideal that I think has been bothering me is that presentation marks take appearence into account as a lot of the mark. Presentation isn't just appearence. It's expression, flow, feeling the music, costumes, and yes, then appearence. But it's my belief that if someone has an appropriate costume for their body, whether they be somewhat overweight or not, and the costume goes along with the music they look much better than someone in a costume not made for their body type and that doesn't go with the music.

It's funny... I'm 5'11" and weigh around 160 (US lbs.). I'm fit, healthy, and skate at least six hours a week, plus running and other activities. Because I'm built with a larger frame, yes I do look like I weigh more. I've still never had a judge or my coach (who actually tells me not to lose any more weight) talk to me about it-- and I test standard track.

Morgan: Good luck with your tests and I hope that all works out well. Even if you get the same judge, do your best and forget about who's judging you. I know I have a phobia of one of the judges in our rink because of things she says in practices the week before I test, but once I get started I concentrate so much I forget she's there. Maybe the same will happen with you. Best wishes!

~Tre

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