I'm thinking about entering a creative skating competition. This is basically one which is step sequences and moves (spirals / ina bauers / spreadeagles) only. No spins and no jumps. My coach thinks it will be good for my footwork and I tend to agree, but because we don't normally have it in competitions in the UK (it's for Dunkerque) she's not seen one of these programs before and she's worried that she'll put something together and I'll make an arse of myself because it won't be what's required (despite reading the rules to it!).
Has anyone done one of these types of things before, and what sorts of things go in the program? Anyone have any suggestions for youtube videos I could show her to give her ideas?
I've tried having a look on youtube, but I have a feeling that these things aren't normally called creative skating (although that's the title given for this one) and it's making it difficult to find anything.
Thanks!

I don't know what she wants, which is the main reason I'm not doing it! One of my coach's other adults is planning on entering, though - you could head up the M3 to have a lesson with our coach, not that I think he really understands what's wanted, any more than anybody else does!

I mean, for a straight line step sequence taken from Field Moves, you could just do 2 forward changes of edge followed by a crossover and held inside edge, both taken from level 3, but is that really what they want? Plus, whose Field Moves - NISA, USFSA, the French federation's? (Do they even have Field Moves in France?)

It might be worth e-mailing Sally, the organiser, and asking for clarification.

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I'll have to email Sally and find out. I was just wondering whether anyone else has had this sort of thing in competition before.

I've had fun learning all the loops though. We've just put together the loop sequence this morning. (why the loop sequence is bronze and the twizzle sequence if for silver and gold I haven't quite worked out yet, but I'm getting some interesting stares as I practice them).

There's a Canadian event called Starskate Triathlon which has a creative skating skills component. There's three levels of competition, bronze silver gold, and there are required moves to be done at each level, bronze has to have sets of loops, silver and gold have twizzles, and at gold there's expected to be counters rockers, but really at all levels everyone is doing that.

It's sort of interesting that twizzles are nowhere in our Skills structure yet for creative skills there's supposed to be twizzles in these.

There is a specific beat to the music required. Fast, which makes doing the loops a choreographic challenge.

I can't find anything on youtube, but just googled and came up with this link as to what has to be included.

Maybe someone who lurks on this board who knows where there is a creative skills video online would send you a PM.

Thanks for that! It looks like the entry requirements have been lifted directly from that competition!
It's good to know that the counters and rockers are expected at every level, another challenge for me to add to the steps.
And you're right about the challenge of doing loops at such a fast tempo. 112bpm is actually really fast, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone doing loops fast. But I figure I'll ignore the music at that point and do it at half speed or slower and pick the pace up again after that (it I'm able to!).

But if anyone has any links to anyone doing that competition in Canada it would be really really helpful to see what they included.

ISI has what's called a "footwork program," which sounds exactly like what you describe. All levels are given 1 minute, no jumps more than half-rev, no spins more than 2 revs (I think), do whatever you want. You might look for some of these online.

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Thanks for that. I'll have a look.

My DD competes in the ISI footwork. Here's a link to one of her footwork programs on youtube http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu5BloAfROc

You might also want to look at some of her interpretive programs. She does maybe 1 spin and 1-2 jumps....mostly footwork and some spirals.

Thanks for that. I'll have a look when I get home from work (they've banned youtube in the office. Very annoying I can't watch skating videos anymore!)