Standard vs Adult Test track

I am considering testing USFS MITF next year. Although I am having some trouble deciding between testing adult track or standard track. 

I don't think I plan on competing, but if I did want to compete USFS, I would need to test adult track. 

But the standard track seems to make more sense in skill chronology. 

If I test Adult Pre-Bronze, the test will include;

• Forward Perimeter Stroking
• Basic Consecutive Edges
• Forward and Backward Crossovers
• Waltz Eight
• Forward 3 Turn Pattern

I know I am capable of passing the Adult Pre-Bronze test, so I'll probably just stick with that. 

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.

Frabjous Day!

Lessons last weekend consisted mostly of evaluating students for placement into the USFS Basic Skills program. In the adult group lesson, I was first to be evaluated.

Things went really well at first. Until Coach M, asked me to do an forward inside three turn. I had been working on these, but had not been able to get them yet. I didn't want to give up and just not try, so I decided to just go for it.

And..... it was perfect! I have no idea how I did it, but I did!

So while I was warming up for my private lesson, I tried to do it again and couldn't. It was very frustrating.
I told Private Coach, about my miracle and the subsequent defeat, she suggested I try it again. I went for it and ..... It was perfect!

Right now about 3 out of every 5 of my inside 3 turns is good, they will only get better.

Since I was high on confidence, Private coach suggested trying bunny hops again. I've been struggling with a mental block on bunny hops for a while now. Magically, I did it! It didn't have much height, nor was it graceful, but both feet did leave the ice!

I am so happy! To celebrate this I blinged out my blades.

Hello, Welcome

My first blog post, I am so excited. I do have another blog, for all the "other" things in my life, but skating seemed to be taking over, hence it now has it's own space here at Blade Bunnies. 

Hi, I'm Judie and I am a skateaholic, or something like that. I take both group and private lessons. 

My skating schedule looks like this:

Sunday:  30 minute warm up, 30 minute private lesson and minimum 30 minute practice at Home Rink. 1 hour pilates at Drayson Center. 

Monday: no skating

Tuesday: School, no skating

Wednesday: 30 minute group lesson, 30 minute Power Skating class and minimum 30 minute practice at The Other Rink

Thursday: School, no skating

Friday: Practice session at The Other Rink

Saturday: 30 minute group lesson, 30 minute private lesson, and minimum 30 minute practice session at Home Rink. 

In addition, I work full time. 

Basically this blog will document my journey in the wonderful world of figure skating. Some posts to look forward to; my equipment, to compete or not to compete, ISI vs USFSA, figure skating clubs, AOSS (adult onset skating syndrome) and lots more.....