Okay, I get it. My coach has been "prepping" me for my tests next fall. She said that I am allowed to "consult" with her between each element (for example, between perimeter crossovers and waltz-8's). That way, she can "read the judges" and give advice, calm me down, pep me, etc. I think just knowing that she will be there is extremely calming to me even now!

I'm sorry you didn't pass-but you were extremely close!! And you know what to focus on for the next try! I like to look at these as "auditions" instead of tests because the pressure seems to be different! (maybe it's just me, I'm used to shows!)

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

The primary focus is quickness, secondary focus "Continuous flow and strength"

The standards are:

Adult:
-- Circular shape should be reasonably maintained throughout
--Diameter of circle should be larger than hockey circle in middle of rink
--Skater should complete more than one revolution of the circle
--Fairly neat placement of footwork
--Open mohawks (not jumped though)
--sequence of steps 6,7,8 must be distinct steps

The pattern should definitely be circular and not too big. If your pattern was clearly oval or egg-shaped, it was incorrectly skated (not in general accordance with pattern in rulebook).

At my club, generally the judges will turn to each other at the end of a test and ask if anyone wants to see an element (or MIF) reskated. Sometimes 2 judges will each want to see different MIFs reskated, and there will be a bit of discussion as to which one to see (since only one MIF can be reskated). Then the skater will be called over, advised as to what to reskate, with a brief explanation of what correction is desired, and offered the opportunity to talk briefly to their coach before reskating the MIF.

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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...

This is how I understand it, too.......the goal (I can't do this move yet, just learning...) is to keep the circle round, and be out near those red dots.....is that two feet or more? Which reflects power (or continuous strength and flow now I guess....)

Tim, I read your journal and want to offer some honest, but constructive feedback.
The moves that we all love to hate were put in place of the school figures, that most of our coaches practiced for hours and hours on end.
In those days it was not uncommon for one to have to re-take the same figures test over and over again until it passed.
That being said, there is no way on the planet Earth that one could pass these moves tests without guidance from a coach or with as little as two- three days/ weeks of practice.
For me, every time I think I have the 5 step mohawk or the power threes, or basically any pattern on the Bronze moves test, my coaches always manage to come up with something that is missing.
So, get back to work, buckle down and get the test to where it will pass, with no questions asked.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

RE: What Debbie S said- I agree the 8 step starts on one of the 4 red dots and basically connects those dots. It should be circular not oval, also there should be a distinct march with 8 even steps, nothing wide stepped, nothing skidded or scratchy. Nice even cadence/tempo with good power that gets slightly greater through the course of the move. The CCW and the CW should be done in a similar manner and of similar quality.

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

Yup, I was told to keep the 8-step pattern just inside the red dots. If it's ever-widening, then you're not on good, even edges.

On the 8-step mohawk, you want to be in-between the center circle and the lines on either side of the center circle, about 2 feet outside the circle.

You and your coach can consult briefly between elements but not between different directions of the same elements. (So not between the forward and backward crossovers on the Pre-Bronze MIF test.) There are more details on this in the rule book, but I haven't assembled mine yet. (It FINALLY came last week, 6 months after I had ordered and paid for it!!!!!!)

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Oops..no no, I meant "reskate". I didn't think you could reskate any element in a MITF in the same test, even if it was the difference between fail or pass. That's what my coach said. Probably because he knows what kind of person I am, and that if I didn't think it was do or die the first time, I'd be more likely to screw up. Scheming mastermind, really.

I wondered the same thing.

Well that's two reasons you didn't pass.

1. You have to skate the 8 step pattern with "cadence", I think it even says that in the rulebook. That means 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8...each step at the same speed, and each fairly slow...like a second per step or so. It has to show even-ness and rhythm, it's not about skating fast. Power and fast are not the same thing, even though power does give you speed. But power is speed you can control. Quickness is about agility, the ability to precisely change steps in a fast manner. It doesn't mean skate at a speed that throws you out of the rhythm of the move.

2. You can't gradually make the circle bigger, it has to be the same size throughout. Otherwise it's not a "pattern", it's a bunch of steps you place wherever is convenient. It would really actually have saved $$ to have a coach teach you these things, because failing a test when a simple correction could've made you pass is money wasted. Good luck on your next try!! Please do think about having a coach look at your test before you go back out, it'll make a world of difference.

Wow, unless I'm reading it wrong, it sounds like you are doing all 3 patterns on one large circle? That's not how the move is supposed to go. Each sequence of 8 steps (LFO, XO RFO, LFO/mo/RBO, LBI, RBO, XO LBI/mo/RFI - repeat) is supposed to take up approximately 3/4 of a large circle. My coach always pushed me to do the circle at least two feet away from the hockey circle. If you wanted to, you could continue doing this move ad infinitum on a circle in the middle of the rink.

Right. She has explained that part to me. When it gets closer to testing, we will be doing that. What we will do is "practice" testing with a "panel" of judges, probably some of our practiced skaters sitting in the box acting as judges. I will skate the elements, they will judge, etc.

Sounds good on paper

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

FYI, that's not an actual "rule," it's a guideline in the judge's manual. But it's not illegal per the rulebook.

Thank you all for your kind advice, I will be having a coach with me during my test session next time. I also have decided since I am short of time to take my test for Silver test, I will be skating in the Bronze Level next year again But its ok, at least I will be competing at AN

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Tim David's Website

Ouch! I thought my silver moves tests were close, but 0.1 off is really frustrating! It seems that most everyone has to do silver moves more than once - one of my friends passed on the 5th try. I myself passed on the third after being close twice. On my first attempt, one judges passed me and the 2nd had me off by 0.4. On the 2nd try, one judges passed me and the next judge had me off my 0.2. On the 3rd, I felt very confident and I was passed by all, and one gave me extra points! Just improve everything and do it again, and I think you'll pass. The judges love a good strong opening 8-step mohawk, so make sure that one is secure. You want them rooting for you right from the beginning.