just wanted to post I passed my NISA level 2 in Free and elements today. I've not been posting in the lessons thread as if things were going well I didnt' want to jinx it.

Nearly missed the warm up for elements test as coach hadn't realised level 1 and 2 were warming up together so I'd gone to the loo! Had to rush to put on my skates and missed first minute of warm up time which didn't help my panic levels.

The nice thing was the judge commented after on my lovely basic skating (his words!). (First element is basic stroking around rink in both directions with 6 pushes per side). He was impressed with my having the weight nicely centred over the skate and no toepushes. Which was probably just as well since my normally reliable sit spin then went completely to pot because my legs started to shake. Had to reskate that and eked out the 3 revs but not as low as usual.

Amazingly did not have to reskate the backspin which I had been worried about as I eked out the two revs on that and overall got .2 over the pass mark.

On the Free I felt a bit shakey again and did not perform nearly as well as I can but managed a pass. His comment was for more power and attack - and to work on the sitspin position to get lower as that was poor in the free as well. Not sure what happened to it - maybe jealous of all the attention I' ve been giving to the backspin.

So now I am a fully fledged level 2

Congratulations! that's something to be proud of for sure!

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YAAAAAY!!! Congrats BatikatII!!! WHOO HOO!!!

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Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Congratulations!!!

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Congrats!!!

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Jessica

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CONGRATULATIONS!!! Especially on the backspin!!

I remember doing perimeter stroking for level 1 elements - it comes up again for level 2??

Fiona

Yay, well done you! It's the spins that are stopping Husband taking his Level 2 Elements and Free (he already has Moves).

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Mrs Redboots
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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Congratulations!!

WELL DONE, CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations!

Really pleased that you passed! It always seems to be the spins that are the dodgy thing when it comes to testing, but even if your sit spin wasn't as good as usual, it must have been pretty good for you to pass! Well done!

Nicki

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Congratulations!

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WOO-HOO!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

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

CONGRATULATIONS!

Do you not have a track that is just moves and no freestyle elements? If I had to do spins, I would not be able to test at all.

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Congratulations! Job well done!!!

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Yes. For free skaters there are three tests per level - field moves, elements and free. To compete you need to have pased field moves at the level you intend to compete at along with elements and/or free at that level.

Nicki

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Congratulations! I can't imagine a test that goes from something as basic as perimeter stroking to a sit spin! That's quite a range of ability levels.

Yes we do and I have level 4 in that!!!! Hence I did not need to take any moves tests along with the free and elements.

The stroking comes up again and again and obviously they expect the standard to improve as you go up through the levels. One of the high level tests includes Russian stroking which my (Russian) coach makes me do every time we have lesson - the only level 10 (or whatever) move I reckon I could perform quite competently already!

The judge commented because he said he does not often see someone at level two who skates with their weight over the skate so well. I was flattered and surprised but maybe the ice dance lessons have been paying off! At level one they are just looking to see that you can glide on one foot basically and at level two that you can put some power in it. It's a good thing to have in every test, as some of the kids like to whizz through the levels on the basis of their jumps and spins but their basic skating can be awful.

The actual elements were:

• basic stroking (max 6 pushes a side and crossovers around ends in both directions).
• a 3 jump (waltz) with flow
• a salchow with flow
• upright spin - correct entry and exit and min 3 revs
• sit spin - as above
• backspin - min 2 revs
• step sequence (I think it has to include at least one back 3)

Freeskate (1.5 mins) has to include some elements from that level: in this case 2 spins (I did upright and sit) and 3 jumps including a combo (I did toeloop, salchow-toeloop combo and a loop ) plus a step sequence.

I've done more difficult elements in competition but the test was far more nerve racking than any competition and I particularly hate the elements test as you are out there alone with no music and only the sound of your skates.

Backspin wasn't very good (and I did abort the first attempt) but am working on it..

'fraid the perimeter stroking keeps recurring - isn't there some stroking in level 3 Nicki?

great news !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Yay, congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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W00t W00t!!! Congrats!

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deannathegeek
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For level 3 it's a figure of 8 crossovers - forwards CCW - backwards CW - backwards CCW - forwards - CW. Sounds easy but the transitions from one direction to the other are pretty tricky and scary at that speed as they are not the way that would come naturally!

Nicki

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Ah yes I remember Marcin making me practice those - hated those awkward transitions.
Another reason it'll be many years before I attempt level 3!