Hi
I ordered a manual and it still hasn't been processed. So I will have to pick your brains. DD will be competing in FS1 and is to be learning her new program. I want to know if there are any oddities that I should be aware of (for example there was a thing that cross cut in back crossovers do not count as back crossovers in beta). Coach missed that one of these and I just want to know what to ask for FS1. I don't want to ask coach for a copy of the manual, she feels bad enough as it is.
Thanks in advance

I haven't coached ISI in years, but I remember these things from FS1:

The test requires at least four semi-circles on each backward edge (inside and outside), but the test and competition program didn't require that many. I remember someone redoing choreography at the last minute because of a competition rule. Here's the blurb from the Competitors' Handbook:

On the half-flip, the skater has to change feet in the air, between the picking foot and the landing foot.
If she does a spiral where she holds the boot or the blades, it's considered a "chinese spiral" which is an uncaptured maneuver that does not fulfill the Arabesque requirement in the program. Unless she does a spiral without holding the boot/blade, she'll be marked down for a missing element.

Timing begins with any action after the music starts and timing stops when the skater stops moving. That means if she sneezes or scratches her nose while waiting for her cue, the stopwatch will be started. If she doesn't come to a full stop at the end of her program, the watch keeps going.

The program may NOT include anything from a higher freestyle test. (This is different from the Alpha-Delta levels, where they can choose on element from FS1)

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ok then.
It seems the only question I have for now is the 1/2 flip. She glides on the left foot and does a 3 turn (don't know which, dd knows and she's asleep), picks with right foot turns half around in mid air, then lands on left foot and steps on to right foot right away. I had to slow mo her show program to get that, but even without slow mo I can see the pick w/right, land on left then step on right. Is that good or is that step on the right foot considered part of the landing?

oops another question. The arabesque. Can it be a spiral? Is it a spiral just another term? On a website it gave this def
Spiral: Spirals may be performed forward and backward on any of the edges. A spiral differs from the arabesque because the torso is tilted forward rather than held upright. The free leg should be straight and lifted at least to hip level. The ideal position of torso and free leg resembles the curvature of a champagne glass balanced on the free leg, which represents the stem of the glass. More limber skaters can extend the free leg to achieve a perfect split position.http://www.skatejournal.com/turnglide.html
And anothe site says thishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_skating_spirals
An arabesque spiral is the basic spiral position. The free leg is extended behind the body above hip height (at least a 90 degree angle). Some skaters are able to achieve vertical (180 degrees) with this position, but it is not required.

I really hope I get that book soon.

That's what the ISI is looking for - she takes off from the right toepick/foot, then lands on the left toepick before pushing forward onto the right edge. Those are correct.

No one distinguishes between spirals and arabesques anymore, as far as I know. The ISI has been around for a while, so some terms are a little old-fashioned.

Your DD just has to glide with the free foot at or above hip height. No one's going to judge the hip position, lol.

As I said before, she should do her spiral without holding her boot or blade, so that it counts as the required element.

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Thanks

She has a pretty high spiral unsupported by anything. I would say it is about 135 degrees and her body is horizontal with her head up. Her gliding foot is bent sometimes though. Her coach is working with her on that. But if she had to keep her body upright, she can't get her leg up to horizontal without grabbing the skate, and at that point it just get hauled up to her head.

I just saw the SSSS and dd is definitely a candidate. 3 revs on a 2 foot spin ok?

When I skated a FS1 program, I had to do the arabesque (not a spiral), although my free leg wasn't very high my torso was upright. My free leg was actually between hip & knee height and behind me. It counted even tho it wasn't very high. I think they are looking for the general position, not height. Just don't bend forward or else it becomes a spiral (variation).

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

The competitions around here arabesque = spiral, and your daughter's would take the cake (if it's the one I'm thinking of- you've posted videos before, right?)

You need to know how your area judges it. If they are looking for the traditional arabesque positions, a spiral wouldn't cut it, because a spiral the body leans forward. But in many areas that's what they are looking for... is there another coach you could ask?


It's nearly impossible to do a true arabesque above hip level. There is a reason the body tilts slightly in a spiral. If it says at least hip height, they mean a spiral, because your body will lean as you get higher than hip, and at least means it can go higher.


What does the ISI rulebook say? I'm pretty sure it has descriptions of moves.
What about the competition announcement? I've found a few online that say arabesque (spiral) which means at those competitions they are judged the same.


I think this is the rulebook language:
Forward Arabesque (spiral) A forward glide must be made in the arabesque position on one foot, either straight on the flat or on either ridge, for a distance equal to four times the skater's height (this refers to the compulsory part of the test only). The free leg must be extended behind the heel of the skating foot and held at least as high as the skating hip. The head should be held up and facing forward with the back arched. The arm position is optional, (knee or leg may be held). Holding the blade or the boot is considered an uncultured maneuver. (From: http://www.metroedgefsc.org/isi/fs13.htm)

Which means I would lean towards having her do her normal spiral.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Oh no I did not post any video. I am pretty computer inept! I know what I know and that is it.

And as for rulebook, I'm still waiting for it. It seems its done manually since I could not order online so I guess its waiting for someone to open the envelope.

The ISI has very few employees, so yes, they do "handle it manually." Add a day or two to the estimated shipping date for handling. If it's not delivered within a reasonable time frame, just call and ask for the status of your order.

I once sent in a big order - I printed/mailed the order form on the same day, which is unusual for me since I'm a procrastinator. I called when the delivery was a week overdue and they told me the prices were higher. You could see the print date and the postmark, so they should have honored the prices, but instead they held my order. I guess "someone" should have called me or sent back the order form with a note, but that didn't happen.

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