Congrats to all the silver men. I didn't get to watch all of the competitors (I skated fifth out of 7), but from what I saw, there were lots of nice moments and lots of different styles and music choices.

As for me ... unfortunately, I omitted 3 jumps from my program, messed up my flying camel (which I saved by doing a back catch camel), and botched my footwork. In addition, a judge told me that one of my elements was illegal: I did lutz/loop/loop/toe loop (only 3 jumps are allowed in a combination). I was glad to finally feel comfortable with the new music cut, aned I'll have some fun reinvigorating the program.

I'd like to think that since the Other Woman wasn't there, my heart wasn't in it.

Oh, well, there's always next time, and I always have that pairs skating gig.

__________________
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'm touched.

skatingatty, I picked up your tapes this morning. I didn't know you were coming back, and I knew you weren't competing again today, so I nabbed them for you. InsideAxel, I got your CD, as requested.

We had such a blast. It was so much fun!! It was great to see everyone from skatingforums. David & I were pleased overall with our skate, although it was a little bit sloppier than usual. The worst part of the event was when he sort of blanked out and set up for an axel lift instead of the throw loop we were supposed to set up. Luckily he was facing away from the judges when he said "sh**" but unfortunately that was when our music cut out because of the sound system problems. I don't think they heard us. We'd added a BO death spiral and a modified pair sit since Peach, so we were pleased to get through it without bloodshed! Cooper & Jones really had a hard time on their program. It was going so well at first, too. I understand she's been injured and they've been dealing with some illness too, so we were impressed that they were able to even get through it. They have a great back press lift!

Nova and LoopLoop did great, as usual. We were tickled to finally get to meet Tim & Debbie too.

I was particularly pleased with my Silver compulsory moves event. It felt really good! And thanks for the compliment on my interp. I won't be doing it at Peach -- it's being retired -- so there's no need to keep the gag a secret. I did the straightjacket number to Patsy Cline's "Crazy." I love that program!

I wish we could have stuck around today, but we had to get back. TerriC, will we see your interp again at Peach? Hope so!!

Smooches to all the skatingforums skaters! You guys rock. We didn't get it together to do a skatingforums dinner. Maybe at Peach, huh?

Congrats to NoVa, Tim David, and the rest of the Silver Men!

I'm sorry I didn't stay, but I was so tired out from getting up so early and not sleeping well either Fri night or last night. NoVa, Terri told me you were doing CRC, so I figured I could catch you there, along with some of the other skaters from New Year's who will be there. I will just be a spectator - it's in the middle of the semester and I learned my lesson about that at HC.

I was a bit disappointed in my FS event. I feel that I skated well, better than HC anyway, although I still didn't land the loop, but I was bummed to end up last. I realize that who you compete with is out of your control, and your focus should be on your own skating, yada, yada, yada, and I agree with all that. But I was also chatting with a woman in my event who told me she's only been skating for a little over a year, and this was her first competition. I only saw a bit of her program (I skated last in the group) but I did see that she landed a good loop jump. I've been working on that jump for 2 years, and it still doesn't look like that. My coach says that if I want to place higher in competitions that I have to work on my jumps and get more height, which I agree with, but I'm starting to wonder if maybe I just don't have enough talent to do freestyle, at least FS competitions. I felt like I skated my program better than I have, and my coach (and others) said my presentation and posture have improved, but I wonder if I should maybe just do Interpretive (which would be just for fun, since I'm no comedian and would end up doing lyrical programs that apparently bore the judges), where the jumps are less important.

On a positive note, I made it through Bronze MIF unscathed - no falls, splats, touchdowns, or scary toe pick sounds. And I did not finish last - I got 6th out of 7 (I tied for 5th but lost the tiebreaker). For some reason, I felt very calm about that event - I guess b/c my expectations were so low. After doing the early practice session, I didn't even need the whole warm-up - how many times can you warm-up power 3's and spirals? It was almost eerie how relaxed I felt - I doubt that I'll feel the same way when I actually test Bronze MIF, but hey, I did the comp for the experience and it turned out to be a good experience.

Terri did a great job in her FS event. Although she did not repeat as Pre-Bronze champion, I'm sure that she'll soon be winning Bronze competitions. I didn't see all of sk8pics's FS program (my coach had me doing stretching and stuff in the lobby and then I had to run and get my skates on), but the part I saw looked good. Unfortunately, I missed the "first-rate" spirals.

It was great to see everyone and to see so many great programs. If I continue to compete FS, my next comp will probably be the Chesapeake Open, assuming they get enough skaters to do Bronze FS. I've been considering the May Day Open, but I'm not sure.

Quote from NoVa Sk8r: "a judge told me that one of my elements was illegal: I did lutz/loop/loop/toe loop (only 3 jumps are allowed in a combination)."

Is that something in the rules for that particular competition? Because the USFS rulebook guidelines for a well-skated program say one combination/sequence is required and three are the maximum number of combinations/sequences... but the number of jumps in combinations/sequences are optional.

Or was that judge misinformed? Or did you do more than 3 jump combination/sequences?

Hi all. Congrats all around!
Debbie, if you like free skating, don't give it up yet - it's far too early. Interpretive can be as hard or easy as you make it. My interp programs tend to be more difficult than my fs programs, but just because I put lots of edges and such in them.
I was dissapointed to hear that the judges for interp just wated to be entertained. One day this event will get sorted out and be treated like a real event (from the judges and the skaters) with real skating being a requirement and rewarded.

I went down and was fitted for a pair of Jacksons with some custom modifications. My Harlick will be put in the mail in the am and sent back to the company. So, it will be a rae to see which boots get back firstand how long before nationals. Fo now, I had my new blades put on my old boots so I can get in some practice while waiting.

That judge was TOTALLY misinformed, and quite frankly it's scary that he/she is even judging. Like you said, where the "three" comes in is that you can't do more than three combinations or sequences in a program. However, the number of jumps included within each combination or sequence is FREE. It even says that specifically in the well-balanced program requirements.

Someone needs to tell the chief referee of the competition that this happened. I'm serious. That judge needs to be set straight so that he/she doesn't continue to deduct for something that is not illegal.

Sunday Thanks

Hi all
I wanted to say thanks to all of you who were in the stands during my events. You cheered me on to a very successfull skate in the Freestyle and the Interp which turned out to be an exhibition and a heck of a lot of fun You are the reason I skate in the first place
I especialy want to thank the judges for their great sense of humor in giving me straight 6.0's
Kelton skated great and I may have come in second but I felt like a winner in both events - thanks to you all.

Well, I'm not one to get anyone in trouble ( ), but my coach and I will be checking this out. I don't know if I was deducted for it either. Apparently, a memo came out from USFS 2 days ago explaining the change (?). This is quite annoying. Incidentally, a few days ago a clarification memo came out stating that a flying spin was to be required in bronze thru gold levels. That memo has since been rescinded. I'm still trying to figure the logistics of this--I mean, does USFS/adult committee know what it's doing? Does USFS expect to change the rules a few months before adult nationals? If they are changing things, shouldn't it be effective come September? I shall try to get to the bottom of this.

Anyway, I sort of agree that more than 3 "jumps" (not including half-loops or splits, etc.) in a sequence or combination is excessive. To be sure, that jump combo I did (lutz/loop/loop/toe loop) was not supposed to be a part of my program. I was kind of exasperated and tired and disoriented--partly from a muscle relaxant taken for a back injury--and I had too much momentum, so my body automatically did this combo. The ice felt really "bouncy," and I think I had too much energy coming out of the lutz/loop. That is saying something, because this combo freaks me out, and I hate the lutz. But with no axel, I feel like I need the lutz/loop--at the minimum. I sometimes practice the lutz/loop/loop/loop just for fun. Unfortunately, I think my mind got locked on that and I just kept jumping. If I hadn't been so close to the boards by that point, I probably would have thrown in another loop.
Most of the program is a blur by now. It was obviously not my best performance, but I think I was trying to see how the new music cut would work for me in a competitive environment. I've got my work cut out for me.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

__________________
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.

While Peach isn't until September I'll have to start praying to the Workplace Gods now- I can never get the entire Labor Day weekend off. Hopefully, if I pray hard enough, I may be able to go and fly back Sunday night for work on Monday (it's my year to work on Labor Day!)

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Peach in September?

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Tim David's Website

You're soooo welcome!!!!

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Everything in the *correct* clarification is in the rulebook. There was nothing in that clarification that was changed from what's in the 2004-05 rulebook. However, the first clarification simply was typed up wrong. From what I understand, it was one person's error, not the Adult Skating Committee's.

OK, thanks for *that* clarification.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming anyone or anything. I'm just wondering how the "let's change a rule or insert a clarification" deal works. Two judges on two separate days told me of rule changes. I was thinking, "I don't care. Like I'm gonna change my program now." I'm really just curious on how the legislative side of things is made to go into effect.

And by the way, this is not the first time this has happened. When I competed in a silver compulsory moves event 2 years ago, one of the judges harangued me as soon as I came off the ice, claiming that I had done too many spiral positions in the spiral sequence (again, here I go getting nabbed on doing too much ). Several of us had to show the judge the announcement, which read "... at least 2 positions."

Anyway, I realize the judges do a lot of work and it is often a thankless job. But would it hurt to read the announcement before you judge?

__________________
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 think because there were a lot of changes for this year, which went into effect on Sept. 1, 2004, they sent out a clarification since this is the beginning of the adult skating season, and they wanted to make sure the judges/referees were aware of what was new for this year.

No kidding!

The judges normally rely on the judging sheets they're given by Accounting, who prepares all the associated competition-time paperwork (skating orders, chunking the numbers afterwards, etc.) I haven't seen precisely how the accounting software works, but the sheets will often provide some specifics that are computer-generated (not hand-written and photo-copied). For the test level events, the judges will often be provided a competition worksheet that provides space for the judge to record what elements each skater performs, number of revs, etc. Those worksheets are available for viewing from USFS Forms.

ROTFL! I bet they would have just laughed if they had heard....
I hope we'll have one at AN - husband said last night that he thinks we ought to go.... well, I'll believe it when we've the tickets booked, but it does look likely!
In the UK it already is - it's called artistic, and what happens is that you have probably five judges, whose first mark is roughly as follows:

1. Technical merit
2. Artistic impression
3. Choreography
4. Use of Music
5. Costume

The 2nd mark from each judge is for Entertainment Value, so those skaters who see the event as an opportunity for free skating with vocals do lose out - funny still wins, but good skating is also rewarded.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Back at work, in the real world again.... So, do we have to have a flying spin in our programs if we're bronze-gold level? I gotta look for those guidelines on-line. On Sat. afternoon, a person from my club told me about the memo the judges were given shortly before the competition. BTW, does it count as a spin combination if I did a normal combo spin, then pushed into a layback, then pushed into a sit spin? I'm trying to figure out why that one judge put me down so low-- granted, I wasn't that fast and did wind up traveling into the other competitor's space when I finished the open combination spin.

Skaternum, will u be at spin class Thursday? Thanks for getting my tapes! My DC friends were very impressed by your pairs skating and thought David looked so young. They also liked your costumes. I am going to sign up for the Feb. 26th skating "academy" event since I need to work more on my power/speed/skating skills.

Nova, hope you feel better and that your back mends soon!
It was a fun weekend, and I hope some of you will compete at the Central Carolina Classic in early April! The website is www.centralcarolinasc.com

and Thanks for your kind words, Debbie. I was happy with how I skated each program, especially considering how badly I was skating just a few days before the competition! But I really couldn't have asked for anything more.
The spiral was definitely better in the free program, though! On the interpretive warmup I actually got a cramp in my hamstring doing a spiral, and so it wasn't so good in the program, which was disappointing.

Hang in there Debbie! I know just what you mean, I was disappointed that not one judge placed me higher than last in the free program. But I think you have improved a lot since the last time I saw you skate, last summer I think! I think it takes a while to learn how to compete, how to construct your programs, and so on. I know I need to add more elements and that's what I'll discuss with my coach this week. And btw congrats on your moves event! I was so impressed with your power 3's! And your spirals were great!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun at this competition and enjoyed meeting some new people. Loved, loved, loved the pairs programs! And also thought starskate6.0 did a wonderful job! I wish I could skate like that! Terri did a great job, too! And Saturday night dinner with 14 people was a lot of fun, too! I think the camaraderie in these competitions is the best part!

Pat

A layback is generally considered to be a variation of the upright position, so normal to layback to sit would be counted as 1 change of position, not 2 changes of position.

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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...

I'm awfully late getting my thoughts in here!
I'll just go through my events in order. I was using a brand-new freestyle program in silver II this time. After practice Friday afternoon and Saturday morning I decided to take the axel out of my program altogether because I had zero confidence in it, which I think was a good decision because I didn't have anything to freak out about in the program! I was pretty happy with how I skated; the only errors were leaving out the second jump of my loop-loop combination and a wonky landing on my flip right in front of the judges. But I did the rest of my jumps fine, my spins were good (camel-sit-backsit, back camel, and flying sit) and I felt like I skated faster than last year. Second place across the board except for one nice judge who put me first. Oddly enough, it was more satisfying than this event last year, when I also placed second but with ordinals scattered all over the place.

On to pairs, which was about 2.5 hours after my freestyle. I thought we skated OK, not our best. We got our new elements out there and they were fine, but our unison was not as good as it usually is, and it felt like a little bit of a struggle. NoVa wasn't feeling that well but we got through it. What WAS strange though, was that the rest of the pairs thought the warmup was on the short side, but we were fine with it.

And then interpretive came later. By that time I was running on pure adrenaline and felt so good after already having skated well twice that day. And my interp program has nothing harder than a sitspin, so I wasn't worried about the elements at all. In the warmup I did each of the jumps twice, and one or two spins, then just spent the rest of the time stroking around, doing cross strokes, slide chasses, etc., and even got off the warmup a minute early because I just felt ready to skate. Terri C skated first and then it was my turn, and when I got out on the ice it was almost an out-of-body experience. I've never been less nervous to skate and I've only ever done one runthrough better in practice than I did in the competition. I felt like I was flying and was so thrilled when I finished, because for the first time I felt like a SKATER, not an ADULT skater. Felt so good about the performance that I didn't care at all what the judges thought, and I appreciate all of the nice comments and support from everybody.

Now the trick is to take that feeling and memory into my freestyle program.

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Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!

I am quite sad that I missed it!!! Congrats to every one that skated!! I can't wait to see all of my friends again at the Peach!! (I will miss AN this year, unfortunately)

Loops - congrats. When you feel like that, and you're not recognized by the judges - it's dissapointing, but you feel like you've already won. When you have one of those performances and get recognized for what you did, it's wonderful.

Yes, I'll be at spin class on Thursday, so I'll bring your tapes then. David looks young??? He'll be so pleased to hear it. I think we do okay, considering he's 42 and I'm 40. I'm also planning on doing the Feb. 26th HPSA.

Unfortunately, I came down with a nasty cold this weekend. I'm home from work today because of it. I think my body just gave out finally from the stress! Haha. My apologies in advance if I unwittingly infected anyone at the rink this weekend.

BTW, I think sk8pics should get the "Hardest Worker on Practice Ice" award. I never saw that girl stop during her practice ice sessions.

Aw, gee thanks! I'll have to tell my coach that! I had a LOT to work on, though, LOL! I was really impressed with your skating, especially when we were on the same ice so I could observe close up.

Pat

So, the rest of the weekend...
It was great to see everybody again, and sk8pics, I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you! If I leave anybody out in my comments below, I apologize in advance.

First off, I think the performance of the weekend belonged to InsideAxel. He rocked out there, and some of us gave him a standing ovation! Gets better every time I see him. Also way up there was Beth Delano in masters ladies, competing with a new program and her usual amazing speed, spins, jumps, etc. Her layback puts most of the kids out there to shame.

In pairs, skaternum and partner were terrific, I think better than at Peach. Tim and Debbie also had a good skate, cleaner than at Halloween Classic. Cooper and Jones had a rough time, but I was amazed they got through it considering they'd been off the ice with injuries and illness, and there are many better performances in their future. The back press lift is cool though, I want one!

Debbie S, don't get down on yourself. Your presentation was better than when I saw you at Halloween, you're still getting used to competing, and you have a lovely attitude position. Also in pre-bronze, Terri C had good speed even though it wasn't her best skate. We've all been there! Two years ago at this event I placed sixth out of seven after making I think four mistakes in my program. I ditched the program the next day though.

As for interp, the programs that placed well weren't just costumes and comedy; they were good programs which carried their themes throughout and were well-performed. First place in my group (interp II) was Oksana-at-age 60 or so, and it was very well done. Second place was skaternum with Crazy, and again it was well-skated and well thought out. Third place was Diana with her wind-up toy program. I don't know remember what the rest of the programs were (except Terri C's, which was a similar style to mine), but I didn't do interp to compete, I did it for myself.

The silver men's event was a really tough group this time. Tim Covington placed first (in his first adult competition ever!) with a beautiful program; Tim Fisher was second with a clean skate, and Tim David was third with a strong performance as well. Yep, it was a Tim Sweep. NoVa was fourth with not his best skate, but he wasn't feeling well most of the weekend, he had a new version of his music, and he and skaternum might have just a little bit too much fun.

I guess that's enough rambling for now.

__________________
Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!