So, since I spent 4 hours at a test session today, I was just curious, if you wear makeup to test? I noticed a lot of skaters today not wearing makeup for moves but then applying it for their freestyle tests. I tested Pre-Juv MIF (and passed!!) and wore natural brown eyeshadow, a little brown eyeliner, pink blush, a touch of black mascara (I have long lashes...only they are blond!) and a little pink lipgloss. I am a 17 year old girl..I also did a friend's makeup (Pre-Juv MIF, 13 yo girl) and did the brown eyeshadow, blush and lipgloss. She's lucky enough to have dark lashes!

I think it looks nice to have a little makeup, just to show that you put some effort into looking nice (for the record, I also had my hair in a nice neat bun. ditto friend) and presenting yourself. Obviously I would wear more makeup at a competition. This was little enough I felt very natural looking, but that my eyes stood out a little and I had color on my cheeks (I'm VERY fairskinned...).

Opinions?

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Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

Congratulations on passing your test!

I did not wear make up for either of my tests, though I did make sure I had a very neat bun, gelled and sprayed all my wisps into place (even put off a haircut so that I would be able to have a nice bun). I, however, do not wear makeup at all during my daily life.

My freeskate, however, was not to music.

If I was doing a program to music, in costume, I would consider makeup part of the costume. Which might be why skaters wore makeup for freeskate and not MITF. Though I've heard things about "test" dresses and "competition" dresses, all the girls at the test session I was at this weekend wore their program dresses for the tests- and makeup. Most girls doing moves, as you noticed, didn't have makeup on.

I didn't really notice the pre-pre girls wearing makeup for their freeskate- but I wasn't really looking.

So my answer- for a program, in costume= makeup. In just a plain dress, I'd wear what you do normally to look presentable. For me, that means no makeup. Many teens and women don't ever leave the house without a little.

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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)

I wear make up anytime I want to look nice. My daughter makes up the same for a test as for a competition. But she always fights with her coach and me about lipstick. She hates lipstick and thinks it makes her look like a clown. It doesn't. It looks nice to have a little color. But I do think it's funny for a mom and teenage girl to argue about make up and the mom wants her to wear more

j

Yeah I do makeup, I also dye my hair. Bit of a thing I picked up when dancing, I guess.

I always wear make-up when I skate, even for practice. Haha, call me crazy, but I'm a total girlie girl and love playing with the different colors and looks while keeping it looking natural. No clown make-up here!

When I test, I usually wear make-up that makes my face pop so that I have some kind of expression. For me the basics include:
- False eyelashes topped with two coats of mascara to make them blend in with my natural lashes
- A neutral, slightly shimmery lip gloss/lipstick. I usually go with a shade of peach or a pale rose that gives a hint of glimmer without looking like I've got anything on
- Eyeshadow that matches my dress; however, I try to keep it conservative, so usually it's a light purple to make my green eyes catch your attention; a pale, shimmery brown; or a twinkly white
- Blush, again peach or rose-colored, depending on my overall look/mood
- Absolutely no nailpolish! If I wear it, it's an extremely nude color (almost undetectable) or a clear top coat that adds that polished look

I've always had to wear make-up when I tested or competed, so I'm used to it. As a kid (around 11-12), my coach required me to wear blush and lipstick for a little color so that I wasn't going on the ice looking like a ghost. Nowadays, my coach requires that I wear a brighter lipstick to show off my smile and give me some expression. And, she insists that I look polished...okay, "perfect" because we've got some judges in my area who will not pass you if your hairs not glued to your head neatly in a bun, your make-up's not on, or you've got over-the-boots tights on. As petty as it sounds, looking your best and put together shows that you care about how you're perceived, which is - let's face it - much of testing.

I wear makeup probably 95% of the time. There's always those days where I'm just too lazy! or don't care... Of course, I was away for four weeks this summer at a pre college program, no a/c, 90+oF and 6+ hrs of classes a day (plus getting up at 4:30 to skate..), and I almost never wore makeup then.

Yup, I'm big into looking "perfect". No ponytails for testing (at least, not if your hair is long enough for a bun), all the little flyaways hairsprayed and clipped, matching scrunchies, neat looking makeup, either polished skates and clean laces or over the boot tights (I was lazy this morning, didn't want to polish my skates when I need to get new boots anyway). Almost everyone in our area tests moves with a warmup jacket on. Some wear gloves, some don't. For moves, I always wear a dark dress (navy or black), my navy rink jacket, and if I wear gloves, either beige, black or navy.

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Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

Oh, I forgot about the gloves! I never ever wear gloves, nor do I allow my students to wear them. Warm-up sweaters must be dressy zip-up sweaters in usually a solid black (or darker color) or the zip-up fleece jackets for our rink/club, depending on whether they're competing or testing. I only let the rink fleeces be used for competitions. (Gotta represent! )

The only time I was ever allowed to wear gloves and a sweater while testing is when I was about 13 and was taking a test at an outdoor rink in the middle of February at night! It was seriously about 20 degrees outside and at that temperature, my coach didn't care what I was wearing to stay warm. The goal was to not freeze and stiffen up!

Congratulations on your test!

I never wear makeup when I test or compete. I do my hair nicely, and plainly for a MIF test (basic ponytail), and add a cute tie for competitions and FS tests. I'm just anti-makeup, I guess. I didn't even wear any for my wedding!

I wear makeup on a dialy basis, so if I test, its per the norm. For a competition, I put on more noticable stuff. For a freekskate test, I wear my competition dress if it's ready. For skills or dance its usually a skirt with a fleece/zip up to stay warm.

I always wear gloves..competition and test. I make sure they are new and have no holes and that they are either nude colour or match my outfit. I can not not wear gloves as my hands scrunch in a ball and twist at weird angles, no matter how long I practice without them. I went for over a month practicing without them until my coach told me it would be better to have matching gloves as my weirded out hands were too much of a distraction...hehe. I agree!!

DD gets madeup for competitions and tests, as it helps her.

First, her coach is adamant that all hair be back off the face (i.e. no bangs) and that it be neat and under control; thus, I have an amazing assortment of gel, lacquer, etc. Also, the "norm" here is for glittery hairspray - !

If you don't make the effort, at least in our area, then, you end up looking like - well, it's sort of like going to a job interview, and finding out everyone else is there in a suit and heels, and you're in jeans and running shoes. It's not a good first impression.

When she assumes her "test/competition" face (eyeliner, blush, sparkley stuff on eyes and that) - it helps her to move into a focus that this is, indeed, a test or competition. I know that it also helps her with shyness, in the same way that putting on character makeup can help for getting on a stage and performing.

Nothing beats hiding under my fake eyelashes when those intimidating judges are starin' me down, hahaha!

I've never worn makeup for a test. Especially moves. My un-proven theory (but it works for me!) is that the judges are looking at my feet and not my face. Good thing, as they would be looking into the face of fear! I usually just wear a ponytail (... which REALLY irks my secondary... aka "adult" coach.. he HATES ponytails) and a nice dress. I've only taken a total of 6 tests (2 freeskate and 4 moves), but I haven't failed any of them due to looking like a "ragamuffin" as my mother used to say, lol, so I guess the ghastly ponytail and no makeup is ok.

i usually don't wear makeup when i test. I'm terrible when it comes to footwork and such, so i'm usually trying really hard to focus, warm up and just not screw up so makeup is usually the last thing on my mind, but thats just me.

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My daughter was recovering from a severe reaction to an antibiotic and still had signs of a nasty rash on her shoulder. The coach explained the situation to the judges and asked permission for her to wear her sweater for her test.

I'm all for looking nice, but sometimes I think it's a bit much when you have to ask permission to wear a sweater...

j

The first time I tested some dances after being off the ice for 20 years I put on a little makeup. My coach took one look at me and said, "More makeup!!!" and made me go back and really lay it on because the lights can really wash you out. I don't know if it helped, but I passed!!

Another time I went to test a dance I got dressed up, put on some makeup and did my hair and people didn't recognize me!! I thought it was hilarious when I went up to one of the coaches on the warmup to ask him a question and he looked and me and said, "Oh my god, I didn't recognize you - I was wondering who you were!"

I usually try to put my hair up as well - another time I tested I was going on the ice and my coach (a different one this time) - said, "Your hair is coming apart" - I was like, "Oh well I can't deal with that right now (and he didn't care) and so I went out with my hair kind of all over the place. I still passed.

I really really think it is important to have clean boots and new or clean laces - it really bugs me when people don't pay attention to those little details. Gloves or no gloves, sweaters or no I don't pay as much attention to (as a judge) - it's COLD out there and sometimes I wonder about these girls with their sleeveless/backless dresses on test day - I'm cold FOR them!!!

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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Also at the rinks where I skate, moves tests are usually taken in nice practice dresses and skaters often wear gloves and sweaters (our rinks are pretty cold compared to the outside temperatures) with daytime/street make-up and hair. In a couple cases, we've had judges tell skaters to please go put on a sweater/gloves if they have them for a moves test, if the skater is wearing a backless/sleeveless dress and the rink air is foggy. Freestyle tests are nearly always taken in costume with slightly lighter-than-competition make-up, and hair is done as if for a competition. If a skater is taking moves and freestyle tests fairly close together, skaters usually wear the competition dress with a jacket or nice sweater over it for the moves test(s).

A couple of the rinks my club uses for tests tend to be very cold, especially in the winter. We've also asked skaters to put on a jacket so they won't get cold.

I'd rather see a warm skater who can move better (because they're comfortable) than a skater going without the jacket (because they were advised to do so) then being cold and stiff. End result of a cold stiff skater is often a sub-par test (because their body is chilled).

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

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Thank you!! Also thanks to everyone else for your congratulations! I was so happy to pass, I wasn't sure about my power pulls..

Anyway, Thin-Ice, this sounds like the three rinks I've tested at! I actually wore a competition dress (My Dress), but since I wore my fitted rink jacket (we have the GK Team Essentials jackets, not the fleeces like most clubs.) you only saw the black velvet panty and black georgette skirt. All three rinks are very cold and yesterday, even though I had been planning on not wearing gloves, I ended up wearing them. The moves tests ran much longer than planned and I was ready when I should have been but didn't end up testing till 45 minutes after the planned time and I was FREEZING. I skated first after the warm up and was still freezing (6 min warm up). Once I was done I went outside to thaw (Indian Summer here...90oF yesterday).

__________________
Working on:
NOVICE! MIF
Juvenile FS
Bronze Dances

My daughter has always worn gloves (new, white ones, or black ones) and a tight fitting warmup jacket for her moves tests. Brand new tights, clean white skates (or over the boot tights that have no holes in them) and her regular black practice skirt and she's good to go. Hair is pulled back in a ponytail, no makeup unless she's got a lot of breakouts, and definitely no false eyelashes. That would be very over-the-top around here, and people would look at you funny...

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blades, gary, Lucy, Emily, take care of Aiden and Sami. Sami is my sweetest heart, and always will be, forever. RIP Cubby Boy, my hero dog.

If I might be allowed to go ever so slightly off thread, I am due to compete in my first dance comp tomorrow and wanted to ask for opinions on over-boot tights for dance. I heard someone at our rink saying that judges dont like OTB tights for dance???? has anyone come across this before???

Thanks in advance

Jayne

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Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

My coach's rule of thumb is - short legs and small feet wear OTB tights. Big feet- don't. OTB tights are very common in our area- and I've seen dancers in them. Though there are very few dancers around here- so it's not a good sample.

I don't really care for them but I was made to wear them for my tests. I prefer footless tights that go over the hooks- but was told I looked "stumpy".

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

Personally, I hate OTB tights, but that's just my opinion. One judge I know will absolutely not even consider passing a dance test if a skater has OTB tights on (or even ankle tights). Tights must be in the boot, skates polished, no laces flapping around. This is also the same judge who loves that "perfect, polished" look on skaters.

As with anything, there's pros and cons:

Pros:
Creates the illusion of longer legs
Produces a nice line

Cons:
Make big feet look bigger
Can slow you down on lunges
Screams 'Hey! Look at me! I've got tights on!'
Makes me wonder why you're hiding your boots (dirty? unpolished? an odd color?)

It's all up to you though. I'd definitely take the advice of my coach into consideration though! Good luck!

While I understand that there is some mention of proper dress in the rulebook for competition- how can a judge refuse to pass a test based on this, when the rulebook makes no mention at all of not allowing over the boot tights, or requiring in the boot tights. The rulebook specifies edges, patterns, speed, flow, etc. In the boot tights aren't a requirement of the test. I can kind of understand it when a skater is not dressed for skating- ie. track pants and a t-shirt, but this just seems excessive.

It just seems a bit ridiculous.

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

I'd make sure I never tested in front of that judge. That's ridiculis. And probably not ethical. And one of the reasons our sport has a bad reputation.

j

Haha! Maybe that's why I failed two dances last spring! (No - it was really because I couldn't count!)
I love OTB tights because they hide all the scuffs and gouges in my boots. Polish makes my boots look patchy. (Plus I kinda like keeping the battle scars on my boots. Makes me feel like I've worked really hard!)

ETA: I've never known anyone around here to fail a dance b/c they wore OTB tights. Almost all the girls at my rink wear them for practice and for testing.

Anyway, I don't wear makeup on a daily basis (too lazy!), but I do for special occasions, including testing. I just put on some natural-looking makeup so I don't look washed-out on the ice. Powder, brown eye shadows, mascara, brown eyeliner, blush, and some non-flashy lipstick. Most of the teenagers and adults testing at my rink wear makeup for tests. The little girls might, depending upon how their parents feel about it.

And I wear a ponytail because I haven't yet figured out how to get my massively thick longish hair to stay in a bun without bobby pins. (Anyone have any tips on that? I'd love to wear a bun for testing...)