I realize it's slightly more complicated, but they could do a coin toss where Heads is odd numbered moves CCW and even numbered moves CW, and Tails is odd numbered moves CCW and even numbered moves CW. Each skater and judge already has so much to remember for these moves that I don't think it would be that big a deal once everyone got used to it.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

To skate in Bronze solo dance you have passed one pre-bronze dance but not more than one pre-silver dance. To skate in Silver solo dance you have passed one pre-silver dance but not more than one pre-gold dance.
To skate in Gold solo dance you have passed one pre-gold dance. As I am citing this from memory, I am not 100% sure but this is what I recall. There will only be 2 dances for each level one on the lower level then one on the higher level. It is a 2 year experiment if numbers aren't good it will go away at the end of 2 years, if numbers are good then hopefully it will be added to the roster of set events.

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Personally, I think the wide range of dances might actually discourage people. I'm on my last Silver dance and plan on competing solo dance at the Silver level. I barely know the Blues (learned the Kilian first), but haven't done the Fourteenstep in years and years!

Same boat with me. I'm almost ready to test my JR MIF and decided to put dance away for a little bit until I finish my senior MIF since I don't have time to work on dance, moves and freestyle. So maybe come applications for AN I'll still be low enough for silver (but I'm also not willing to hold back on tests if I'm ready).

Edit: Someone on IDOL said the dances would be different than what is on the chart for the couples, and they would be up on the adult section of the USFS site. (Not there yet.) So maybe gold will end up with one pre-gold and one gold (rather than a gold and an international), and silver won't end up with that odd pre-silver and pre-gold combination of the 14 and Blues.

Hmmm....I am now officially back to age class I, YAY, and double YAY automatically a Gold skater from passing my Juvenile free last August (although I failed my Gold free back in December, go figure! ) I'm still taking my Gold free again. I want that test, darnit!!

I admit, I am annoyed the double loop is no longer allowed in Gold. That's a good jump for me and I was looking forward to competing with it. Now I have to get a double toe? That's an impossible jump for me and I've never seriously worked on it. Argh. Maybe I'll just have to make do with 2 axels and 2 double sals?

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

WHAT?! That's my closest "double" after the sal - and is sometimes better! Why did they take it out????

I can't help but concur with Stormy and Vesperholly.
I was always under the impression that USFS wanted to maintain a high standard when it comes to the adult program and to Adult Nationals in particular.
So it totally befuddles me that there was a decision made to further limit what jumps could be done at the Gold level. Is this to encourage better in between skating and transitions or what?
What's next- banning the Axel in Silver or the lutz in Bronze?

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

The rationale was b/c they split the Champ Masters into two groups - Int/Nov and Jr/Sr. The Int/Nov group has a jump limit too (2sal, 2toe, 2loop) - so the Gold dropped the 2loop and has a lower jump limit of 2sal, 2toe. The Int/Nov program max will I think be 3:10, and the Jr/Sr will stay at 3:40.

The goal is to encourage Gold skaters to move up once they've mastered the 2sal & 2toe, and to have a more gradual increase of skills (the prior Gold to Masters jump was pretty extreme).

No, banning of axels in Silver or lutzes in Bronz is not under consideration.

Got the idea, thanks,
Since I'm only Pre Bronze ( may be Bronze in a week!) skater, I really don't keep up with these things.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

"Make do"? That's more than a lot of the Gold skaters are currently doing. In fact, you can pass your Intermediate FS test with those elements and move up to Masters Intermediate.

And that there's the rationale why double loop was taken out of Gold, why Championship Masters was split, and why Open Masters Intermediate was created. Skaters need incentive to move up and clear out the logjam that currently exists in the lower levels.

I agree with the splitting of Masters, although it does make it a lot more confusing. That's ONLY for Championship, correct? Open Masters Novice, Jr, Sr is still the same? Now at Sectionals, there will be two Champ Masters events instead of one?


And Daises, not really....I don't think I'm being overly ambitious here. I had two axels in my Silver II program, one in combo. Two axels and two double sals at Gold isn't over the top. Sure, I could try to pass my Intermediate FS and do Masters Int/Novice, but I'd like to try Gold first. I'll be curious to see this coming season how this new champ level works out and just how many gold skaters move up.

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

I didn't even realize that splitting up Championship Masters was on the table this year - I thought it was just under discussion. So, the levels are:

Championship Gold (2sal/2toe)
Championship Int/Nov Masters (up to 2loop)
Championship Jr/Sr Masters (no jump restrictions)

???

From the Yahoo competitive adult skaters group, which I only now have had time to look through:

"Currently, Championship Masters is 7 jumps, 4 spins, one step/spiral
sequence, max time 3:40. That remains the same for the new
Championship Masters Jr/Sr. But Championship Masters Int/Nov will be
7 jumps, 3 spins (instead of 4), one step/spiral sequence, and the
time will be 3:10 instead of 3:40. In addition, the Championship
Masters Int/Nov skaters will be limited to three doubles: salchow,
toe loop and loop.

This does not replace the open events, which continue to be split by
age. There are changes though, including the creation of an Open
Masters Intermediate event. Both Open Masters Intermediate and Open
Masters Novice's WBP and max time are the same as their corresponding
Championship event.

To be clear, this was not proposed on the floor. It was just
submitted too late to make it into the book that delegates received
ahead of time. It was created by a subcommittee on the adult skating
committee, voted on by the adult skating committee and passed by the
board of directors prior to the start of GC."

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

Yes, Championship was split -- Int/Nov and Jr/Sr. The open events remain, with the addition of Masters Intermediate. WBP and max time remain the same for Championship Jr/Sr and open Jr. and Sr. WBP for Championship Masters Int/Nov is one less spin than Jr/Sr, and max time is 30 seconds shorter, at 3:10.

I didn't say it was over the top. I was commenting on your frustration (the emoticon you posted) and your use of the phrase "make do," as if it wasn't enough.

I don't expect a lot of moving up in the first year. If there is, great. But anyone in Gold who wants to move up has to pass the Intermediate moves, if they haven't done so already, before they take the FS test, and that test is no walk in the park. I think it will be awesome if we see a lot move up, and I hope too that it brings back some skaters we lost over the years.

Ah, my bad! I misunderstood. Thanks for the clarifications on the splitting of the levels!

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"Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

No prob, Stormy. Good luck!

As a former silver skater who did 3 axels in her program, solo and then axel toe tap axel I think this progression works nicely. Skated gold for 3 years and managed to do nicely with very inconsistent doubles but a good axel. Passing my Int FS at 41 was actually something of a miracle, I failed it when I was 18 so it was a very big deal, and even though I always came in last in champ masters I did it because I wanted to work on my skating skills and become a better skater.

Even if I can only do singles I will do the new champ event because I have moved through the levels and I think this is a group where I can skate a program that is a good challenge for me. I will most likely never make it out of the section like I did at gold but hopefully more people will feel that it is a doable event that rewards good clean skating with a focus on being a well balanced skaters. Isn't that what everyone strives for?

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Who me? Couldn't be....
http://www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Isn't that illegal?

It *is* illegal, but *wasn't* illegal when Leslie competed at the gold level. That is, the "each jump may be repeated once, but only as part of combo or
sequence (maximum of 2 of any jump)" provision was not yet in effect. (Or am I remembering the old rules incorrectly?)

ETA: Yup, here are the rules from 2006:
http://sk8stuff.com/f_rules/singles_long_adu_std.htm

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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.

Yes, it is unfortunate for skaters who can do double loop, but not the other two. I doubt this is very many skaters, but you never know.

When I was learning doubles my first consistent double was the loop, which I could do at least a year before the salchow was consistent. Oh well, if it becomes an issue they could allow only 2 different doubles at these levels. Yet that would likely create even more problems and would just be confusing. Just a thought - it doesn't affect me as I passed all of my tests over ten years ago and would be surprised if AN ever gets enough former elite skaters to justify splitting masters in that way!

If it's only just "close" for you, then you wouldn't want to try it in Gold or above anyway. You'll get nailed for the under-rotation in IJS. Best wait until it's ready.

Some Silver skaters have an axel.
Some Gold skaters have through 2toe.
Most Masters skaters have 2flip and 2lutz (in combo!).

Seems to me that there was room for a level inbetween.

I've been hearing for YEARS about how people wanted an Intermediate level as a better segue between Gold and Masters. Now there is one!

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Rogue Element, Inc

So this new group is really the Platinum level?!

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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.

Is there a link to the updated rules (pdf) ~ from GC ?

Thanks in advance

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Tim David's Website

True. I'm not even moving up to Gold yet - I want to land my axel in competition first.

I do think it's great. I'm just bemoaning my double loop going totally out the window. Then again, once I can reliably do a 2sal, I'll be taking my Intermediate free ASAP anyhoo!

So I can answer the question for a friend of mine,

I can't remember, were these changes declared urgent or do they go in effect in September as with the other non-urgent items?

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...