any uk skaters? help needed

[sk8inincircles]

Hi, my name's laura
I'm new here and just starting private lessons on friday. Was wondering if anyone could tell me what the requirements are for the skate uk passport levels? Not quite there yet but can't any info on the web.
thanx xx :D

[Mrs Redboots]

Nisa's web-site is dreadful. But your coach will know what the requirements are, or the person teaching your class, if you aren't having private lessons yet.

[Melzorina]

WHOA!
ME ME ME!
I KNOW!
PICK ME!!!

Figure skating levels are as follows:

Bronze
1. Forward spiral on either foot with flow.
2. Bunny hop into a forward drag.
3. Two foot spin (min 3 revolutions)
4. Three jump (Waltz Jump).

Silver
1. Backward spiral on either foot.
2. One foot spin (min 2 revoltuions)
3. Teapot on either foot (forwards or backwards)
4. Single salchow jump.

Gold
1. Backward outside One-foot spin (min 1 revoltion)
2. One foot spin (with correct rntry and exit, min 4 revolutions)
3. Single two-loop jump
4. Combination of skating movements, turns, jumps and spins in a short routine with or without music, max 1 min 30 seconds.

That's copied exactly from my SkateUK passport, so it's definetly not wrong.

[sk8inincircles]

Nisa's web-site is dreadful

I agree! No info whatsoever

Thanx melzorina

where do u guys skate? how old are you?
laura xx

[sceptique]

Mel was first to answer - can only confirm that she's 100% spot on.

I skate in Coventry (International School of Skating) and getting ready to take my Skate UK Passport Silver level (as soon as I stop freezing midway through my salchow preparation edge and get those spins spinning). I'm (or dear!) 32 and has been skating for 4 months and 22 days (or, roughly, 150 ice hours). So I'm really a very-very beginner. We have a few adults taking lessons at our rink, so I don't feel like a total freak. Just a little bit.... freakish.

[singerskates]

WHOA!
ME ME ME!
I KNOW!
PICK ME!!!

Figure skating levels are as follows:

Bronze
1. Forward spiral on either foot with flow.
2. Bunny hop into a forward drag.
3. Two foot spin (min 3 revolutions)
4. Three jump (Waltz Jump).

Silver
1. Backward spiral on either foot.
2. One foot spin (min 2 revoltuions)
3. Teapot on either foot (forwards or backwards)
4. Single salchow jump.




What is a teapot? Canadian skater minds want to know.

[sceptique]

What is a teapot? Canadian skater minds want to know.

"Shoot-the-duck" or "Pistoletik" ("Little Gun" - Russian)

[singerskates]

Does this shoot the duck spin? If so, it's a sit spin. I am asking this because I noticed that you said that it could be either on a forward or backward edge.

[flippet]

Does this shoot the duck spin? If so, it's a sit spin. I am asking this because I noticed that you said that it could be either on a forward or backward edge.

No. A teapot is just another name for a shoot-the-duck. Just like a 3-jump is just another name for a waltz jump, and cherry flip is another name for a toe-loop.

You can do a shoot the duck going forward, or going backward.

[Melzorina]

Wow, I'm so proud I provided information for someone! I've passed my passport, I'm just starting a program now. So so so excited!!!

[Raye]

Congratulations on passing... have fun with the program :bow:

[stardust skies]

"Shoot-the-duck" or "Pistoletik" ("Little Gun" - Russian)

Or "Mike-Pike" for those inclined to give Michael Weiss credit for something he didn't invent. ;)

[sceptique]

Wow, I'm so proud I provided information for someone! I've passed my passport, I'm just starting a program now. So so so excited!!!

Did you not have a program for your passport Gold test? I thought No 4 should be a short program - what did you do for it?

[Mrs Redboots]

I'm glad they didn't have the passport in my day, or I'd still be trying for it, I think! I believe the dance one is even harder than the free-skate one - my coach says anybody who did it would be bored rigid by the first few levels of compulsory dances!

To answer your question, I'm an adult skater, and compete in the "Veteran" class at the British Adult Championships (Elementary Couples Dance). I train at Streatham, in south London.

And you?

[batikat]

Mel was first to answer - can only confirm that she's 100% spot on.

I skate in Coventry (International School of Skating) and getting ready to take my Skate UK Passport Silver level (as soon as I stop freezing midway through my salchow preparation edge and get those spins spinning). I'm (or dear!) 32 and has been skating for 4 months and 22 days (or, roughly, 150 ice hours). So I'm really a very-very beginner. We have a few adults taking lessons at our rink, so I don't feel like a total freak. Just a little bit.... freakish.

Hi Sceptique - great to have another adult UK skater (I'm 43 and didn't start skating til I was 37 - wish I could have started at least 3 decades earlier !) Do you know the coach Lynne Burton (actually it's probably not Burton now as she got married but not sure of her new name)? She was a coach at Bracknell and moved to Coventry. We used to have an adult group dance moves class with her which was really great - I miss it a lot! If you know her do say Hi! to her, from Gail and the other Bracknell adults.

Hope your skating goes well.

Oh and to Laura - welcome to the wonderful world of skating - i agree with Mrs Redboots that the passport level requirements are set at a pretty high level compared to the level 1 and 2 requirements of the NISA test structure - you dont' need a backspin for instance, til level 2 Free. I'm still struggling to do one and I've been skating for over 5 years (though a lot of that time I did only dance). However for passport levels you only have to demonstrate these things to your coach rather than a Nisa judge which is a lot less scary!

have fun

[sceptique]

Do you know the coach Lynne Burton (actually it's probably not Burton now as she got married but not sure of her new name)? She was a coach at Bracknell and moved to Coventry.

I think she coaches at Solihull now.

[sk8inincircles]

i skate at sheffield but will be goin to uni in about a month and will skate at nottingham. I am 18, i did some skate uk stuff last feb/mar but couldn't continue as my friend stopped and parents wouldn't take me. Now i have my own car! yipee! great to hear from you all.
Forward spiral on either foot with flow
what's 'with flow' mean?
thanx laura xx

[Melzorina]

Did you not have a program for your passport Gold test? I thought No 4 should be a short program - what did you do for it?

That's what I'm doing now. The elements I've passed, I'm just doing my program now. I'm skating to Harem by Craig Halliday.

P.s "With flow" means moving, I think. So it'll be quite steady and you'll just glide gracefully! or something similar.

[Mrs Redboots]

Oh and to Laura - welcome to the wonderful world of skating - i agree with Mrs Redboots that the passport level requirements are set at a pretty high level compared to the level 1 and 2 requirements of the NISA test structure - you dont' need a backspin for instance, til level 2 Free. I'm still struggling to do one and I've been skating for over 5 years (though a lot of that time I did only dance). However for passport levels you only have to demonstrate these things to your coach rather than a Nisa judge which is a lot less scary!

have funPlus in the Passport it's only one revolution - even I can do that on a good day! It's the 4+ revolution forward spin that would get me.... I can do everything else! Oh no I can't - I can't do a drag (lunge to US skaters) to save my life, never have been able to could.

All the same, once you've passed that lot I should think you'd be entered for Level 1 Elements and Free the following week, depending on how well you did it (for my coach, you'd be passing Level 2 the week after!).

[sk8inincircles]

Well my first lesson is tomorrow morning! can't wait! any info on what to expect on your first lesson would be appreciated. :)
laura xx

[Mrs Redboots]

Well my first lesson is tomorrow morning! can't wait! any info on what to expect on your first lesson would be appreciated. :)
laura xxMostly your coach will probably go through with you what you already know, and help you get that right. That's so he or she will know what standard you are, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. You probably won't do anything new tomorrow.

Do let us know how it goes.

[sk8inincircles]

I just got back from the rink. Had my lesson and it was great! I thought the lesson was 15mins but it turned out to be a half hour. oh well, i think it's good that way, i get more done. We did go through the things i already knew at first and then we moved onto the skate uk levels (starting at 4 - where i got to last time i did lessons). Anyway i passed 4,5, and 6 (and no i don't really expect to do that every week, but i don't think i was really level 4 anymore) Only just passed 6 as my backward chasses were...well rubbish in a word!! :) And i learnt how to do a 2 foot spin - has 2/3 revolutions at the minit, but only needs 1 to pass. sorry its so long
Laura xx

[Mrs Redboots]

Excellent, Laura, well done! I'm sure you'll get through 7-10 very quickly, although many people seem to get stuck on the Passport. Still, once you have that, you can get Level 1 Bronze pretty soon afterwards, I think.

[BelleOnIce]

Go you! Well done and it is great to hear you really enjoyed your first lesson back!!
Belle

[sk8inincircles]

Do you need to pass novice field moves before level 1 elements and free? Was just wondering as i was looking on the NISA website at next years test sessions and novice field moves isn't on the list of tests for any rinks nearby. Also what are field moves? :oops: thanx
laura xx

[NickiT]

Do you need to pass novice field moves before level 1 elements and free? Was just wondering as i was looking on the NISA website at next years test sessions and novice field moves isn't on the list of tests for any rinks nearby. Also what are field moves? :oops: thanx
laura xx

No you don't need to pass your novice field moves before your level 1 elements and free, but you will probably find that once you have your level 1 e&f you'll have to pass your novice field moves if you want to compete. My daughter took her novice field moves at the same time as her level 1 tests as often happens at our rink. Is this not an option for you?

[sk8inincircles]

My daughter took her novice field moves at the same time as her level 1 tests as often happens at our rink. Is this not an option for you?

Well i was looking at the local test sessions on NISA's website and it says levels 1 to 10 and PFM so no. But the NFM is not done at my rink or one that is local at all so would i have to travel to take it? These are the NFM test dates but they are all miles away. What if it was on a school day?
thanx

(whoops the dates didn't post - anyway they are in Ayr, Romford and Solihull)

[NickiT]

Well i was looking at the local test sessions on NISA's website and it says levels 1 to 10 and PFM so no. But the NFM is not done at my rink or one that is local at all so would i have to travel to take it? These are the NFM test dates but they are all miles away. What if it was on a school day?
thanx

(whoops the dates didn't post - anyway they are in Ayr, Romford and Solihull)


What I don't understand is why you can't apply to be tested on your field moves at the same time as your other tests. We just put the application in for whichever tests we (or should I say, our coaches) want, and then the judge comes to our rink when there are sufficient tests to be judged.

Nicki

[sceptique]

What I don't understand is why you can't apply to be tested on your field moves at the same time as your other tests. We just put the application in for whichever tests we (or should I say, our coaches) want, and then the judge comes to our rink when there are sufficient tests to be judged.

Nicki

That's interesting, because my coach wants to put forward my application for NFM and I wasn't sure when the test can actually take place as there are no NFM ones scheduled on NISA's web site. But if you say they can schedule ad hoc ones, that actually makes sense.

I'm also thinking about taking my NFM and Level 1 together, but need to talk to my coach first. I don't know how quickly we can put a routine together for the free programme part. So far we've selected the music, but haven't started working on it yet (maybe this weekend).

[NickiT]

I wonder if the field moves aren't on the website because they are changing? Mind you every year they are meant to be changing, but perhaps the changes really come into effect in January. Even so skaters will be able to test on the old system up until the changeover.

[max]

You could do Level 1 Dance Moves instead of the Novice Field Move Test. I believe next year they are going to combine into one.

I think the test sessions you are looking at that they will just not have had anyone put in Novice Field Moves. The test organiser for the rink will just set up tests for the papers they have in at the time. There is absolutely no reason for you to have to travel to do Novice Field Moves.

Also don't get confused between Novice Field Moves and the Novice Competitive test which are completely different standards. NISA didn't make life easy for new skaters by having the same name for beginner skaters and those just starting on the elite levels.

[Mrs Redboots]

Also don't get confused between Novice Field Moves and the Novice Competitive test which are completely different standards. NISA didn't make life easy for new skaters by having the same name for beginner skaters and those just starting on the elite levels.Which is why they are changing it - it was, apparently originally going to be in January this year, then got put of until January 2006, and now, because of the NJS, it's not going to be until January 2007. My coach says they are going to concatenate Dance Moves and Field Moves, and they are to be called just Skating Moves; they will go from Levels 1-(presumably) 9 along with the standard tests, and there will be four Moves at each level.

Which is basically why I want to get my level 3 Dance Moves passed before this happens (and level 4, if I can ever get my outside Mohawks to work properly, which I can't right now), so that for the 3rd time in my skating career I'll be credited with Moves I probably can't do.....

[Mrs Redboots]

That's interesting, because my coach wants to put forward my application for NFM and I wasn't sure when the test can actually take place as there are no NFM ones scheduled on NISA's web site. But if you say they can schedule ad hoc ones, that actually makes sense. What normally happens is that you send in your papers whenever your coach gives them to you, and then your test chair informs you (or else you are informed by NISA head office, whichever) when to turn up. Field Moves are done on the same session as standard Elements and Free tests, so you'll get put into the next session of those.

[sk8inincircles]

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought that only the tests that were scheduled could take place; i didn't realise that it was whichever ones were requested.

[Mrs Redboots]

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought that only the tests that were scheduled could take place; i didn't realise that it was whichever ones were requested.That's the system in the UK, anyway - it may be different if you live somewhere else.