I am an USFS Basic Skills Member

Today at Home Rink, I received my official USFS membership packet and my membership card should be there next week.   

The packet included a record book, with all the USFS levels and elements listed in order, a sheet of gold star stickers, that can be placed in the book as each element is learned, a basic skills program patch and year patch. 

I am trying to decide where to put my patches; on my skating sweater, or on my skate bag, or somewhere else entirely? Any suggestions?

It was also our first day of Basic Skills lessons. It is just myself and one other skater in the Adult 4 class. Coach M is coaching Adult 4. I was sort of disappointed, the lesson plan didn't seem much different than it had been. I was expecting to work specifically on the list of Adult 4 elements, but we didn't. We spent more than three quarters of the lesson doing crossovers, then rushed through some forward outside 3-turns. Which actually brings up another frustration I have, Coach M teaches the arm position for 3-turns opposite of all my other coaches, I don't want to blatantly say he teaches "wrong", but it seems that way!

Private coach and I worked on spirals today. It was fun.... kinda. I am much more flexible on my right side, but more stable on my left, it is weird.  

ISI to USFS Basic Skills

Home Rink is under new ownership and they are making some BIG changes!
They are adding a Pro shop and training the staff to sharpen figure skates (yay, no more drives to Anaheim for sharpening!)
They are renovating the Ice Cafe. 
There are rumors about replacing the ice surface.





But, the biggest change is the skating school. We are transitioning from ISI Learn to Skate to USFS Basic Skills.




Even as a kid I only skated ISI, so this is going to be an entirely new experience for me, but I am excited.  
USFS has a specialized adult curriculum, which feeds into the Adult Moves in the Field (MIF) testing structure. 


Last weekend the group lesson coaches began evaluating skaters, for placement into the USFS Basic Skills program. Coach M did my evaluation and placed me in Adult 4, which is the highest adult level. 

The Adult 4 curriculum covers;
A Forward three turns, outside and inside, R & L (I can do these!)

B Perimeter stroking with crossover end patterns

C Forward Outside to Inside Change of Edge Sequence

D Alternate backward crossovers with two foot transition

E Footwork sequence: 3–5 forward crossovers to an inside

Mohawk, 3–5 backward crossovers, step forward inside

the circle and repeat

F Power three turns, one direction only

G Backward Chasses on a circle, clockwise and counter

clockwise

But after discussing it with Private Coach we decided it would be best for me to use the standard basic skills curriculum, instead of the adult. So Private Coach evaluated me and placed me in Basic 6. Which covers;

A Forward inside three-turn—right and left—from a standstill

position. ( I can do these)

B Moving backward to forward two foot turn on a circle,

both directions ( I can do this)

C T-stop — right or left ( I can do these)

D Bunny hop ( I am working on this)

E Forward arabesque/spiral on a straight line, right or left 

F Forward lunge, right or left ( I can do these)

And USFS has the cutest mascot, Snowplow Sam.