It's OK, stormy...you did have nice spirals

I think it's going to take a couple of years before all of the kinks get ironed out of moves, anyway. Remember, they changed the standard track moves a few years after they were instituted. And I think they're still trying to figure out the Young Adult class, too.

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"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -- The Tick

I agree that they can't use the moves alone as a qualifier, but since I passed my silver moves last year and am working on the gold moves, it would have been nice to have been able to enter gold. So, I am not entering moves this year.

The bronze compulsaries are a little screwed up too. I thought compulsary moves were usually taken from moves that were required at that level? I really like the requirement from bronze MIF, that is a nice touch. The inside spirals are interesting and aren't really on any test. However, the remaining elements (loop, camel, and salchow/toe loop combo) aren't required until the silver test. That just seems odd to me. They are common enough in bronze competition, but are they "compulsary"?

Can't wait to see everyone there!!

Hugs!
Danielle

Debbie, I know your frustration, since the alt threes are the worst part of the Pre Bronze MIF. However, I think I figured out why the alt threes and back crossover to back outside edge are in the Bronze MIF event: Together they are the building blocks for the power three turns that are on the Bronze MIF and are the PIA on that test!

In the meantime how's everyone's practices for this event going??

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LWalsh
[B]I've done the CM before. They are strung together. You get a time limit (which I think varies for each division) and you complete the elemnents together in whatever order you like. The spin event is the other way where you do each element seperately and wait for everyone to complete the first before moving on to the second and third.

Really? It's interesting that they would run the spin event this way. I've never seen one done like that. It's always been a short program like CM with the moves/spins done in the order of your preference.

The first year it was done that way (in a program). Last year though, they changed it. It is more confusing at first, but once you get used to, it it's much better. This way you can warm up your spins on the open third of the ice for as long or as little as you want. I consider this a big help. Also you don't have to do three spins right in a row, so you are not so dizzy by the last one.

Anyone who's skated at this rink before, how cold is it?

(Should I plan to wear a long-sleeved dress, or would I be OK in short sleeves?)

Moderate. There's colder rinks in the DC area. I find that the ice is usually quite hard though.

I find it to be a fairly cold rink, but it depends on which surface you're on. Personally, I'd go with long sleeves, but I'm also a little cold-natured.

Thanks.

Good thing I've got a nice new long-sleeved velvet dress I haven't worn yet. Can't do up the zipper by myself, but that shouldn't be a problem at competition. :-)

Would any of you "veterans" of this event have any idea when the schedule will be posted online? Any insight as to what events would be held on which days would be greatly appreciated.
Making travel plans (with skates) has taken on a new meaning since 911.

Thanks!

You can e-mail the coordinator, Peter Tsai, and ask him what he tentatively has, though nothing is probably close to being finalized yet. I seem to remember last year that he sent out an e-mail on jan 20 alerting us to the schedule (I know this because I saved the message in Outlook and recently deleted it). Perhaps a similar timeline will be in effect?

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"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
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This brings up my biggest pet peeve with competitions.

If I even knew which day my events fell on it would be tremendously helpful (for any competition that is, I'm not picking on this one which happens to be run very well).

It would be easier on the wallet if I knew I didn't need a hotel room for all the days and I could just drive home (4 hours). Also some of the comps that have adults events run on weekdays and through the weekend. So when you enter, you have no idea if you'll need to take day off from work to compete. I guess the people who fly just plan on being there the whole time. That can make competing a lot more expensive. Fortunately VA seems to have the cheapest hotel rooms I've ever encountered.

Of course from the organizers point of view, they can't tell when they'll have to schedule events until they get all the entries.

Would anyone here have an email address for Peter Tsai?

Appreciate your help!

You can reach him at:

petertsai@erols.com

__________________
Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

I guess no one's heard anything yet as far as a schedule??

Yikes! The competition is in a few weeks and I still can't get through my program without gasping for air! I haven't had a program since I was 13 -- wow, it's a lot harder at 24!

I can't wait to get the experience, though. I'll be in the Young Adult Pre-Bronze (I think). This is partly a chance for me to practice my preliminary freestyle test.

Can't wait to see everyone there!

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- Jack Handey

Nope. Just checked the web site and nothing posted yet.

But I think it was pretty close to barely a week before, last year.

Jen, which rink is the East rink? Is it the one that's to your right as you come into the building? Based on the Ice House's schedule on the web, it looks like most of the comp will be in the East rink. ??

I think so. I rarely skate there....