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Ice Skating Home
Introduction
I. Equipment
II. First Strokes
1. First Time
2. Double Sculling
3. Pushing Off
4. Forward Stroking
5. Stopping
6. Forward Cross
7. Skating Backward
8. Backward Cross
III. Four Basic Edge Positions
9. Inside Spiral
10. Outside Spiral
11. Spread Eagle
12. Outside Spiral
13. Inside Spiral
14. Inside Mohawk
15. Outside Forward
16. Exercises
IV. The Four Rolls
17. Outside Roll
18. Inside Roll
19. Outside Backward
20. Inside Backward
21. Waltz Eight
22. Mans 10-Step
V. School Figures
23. Outside Eight
24. Inside Eight
25. Preliminary Test
26. Backward Eight
27. Forward Change
28. Threes-to-Center
29. U.S.F.S.A. First Test
VI. Completing
30. Inside Backward Eight31. Outside Threes
32. Backward Change
33. Inside Threes
34. Basic Theory
VII. Free Skating
35. Basic Spirals
36. Dance Steps
37. Basic Spins
38. Basic Jumps
39. Construction
VIII. Four Ice Dances
40. Dutch Waltz
41. Fiesta Tango
42. Fourteen Step
43. American Waltz
IX. Skater
Resourecs
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| 25. U.S.F.S.A. Preliminary Test |
At this point you can, if you are so inclined, take the official United States Figure Skating Association preliminary test. You have all the technique necessary. Even if you don't live where accredited judges are available, it is well, as I said earlier, to get friends with sufficient knowledge to give you a judging onceover. In a sport as exacting as this, to meet a definite standard at the start is a real help.
The test consists of the four rolls, the waltz eight, and the outside and inside forward figure eights. It is not difficult to pass. Judges do not demand perfectly controlled edges at this stage of skating, but they will expect you to look as if you know what it's all about—that is, starts on the correct edge, no toe pushes, an approximation of accurate pattern, and in the three eights a definite ability to come back to the same starting point each time. On the waltz eight the three turns must not be scraped or jumped, a certain amount of symmetry is expected, and each stroke must come reasonably close to lasting the same amount of time and covering the same amount of ice. Skate ten rolls on each edge and three eight circles on each foot and each edge. The waltz pattern is repeated three times to each side. The repetition diagrams should trace the original one with moderate accuracy.
In judging the preliminary tests no marks are assigned to the rolls. The judges merely write "pass" or "fail" according to the accuracy of these steps. If a roll is judged a failure the test automatically stops right there; if all the rolls pass the eights come next.
Each eight is assigned a mark from 1 to 6. The mark 1 designates a very badly skated eight, 2 equals faulty, 3 means passing, 4 equals good, 5 is excellent, and 6 perfect (hence, 6 is seldom if ever given). One-tenth marks in decimal points can and should be used to designate further intermediary values, for instance: 2.8, 3.5, 4.2, etc.
Each school figure has also acquired a factor of difficulty over the years. The factor ranges from 1 for the most elementary figures to 5 for the most difficult figures in the Gold Medal category. The mark assigned a figure in a test must be multiplied by the factor for that particular figure. As the factor for the preliminary test figures is obviously 1, merely add the total of marks given the three eights. If they total 10.2, you pass, provided no figure gets below 3.0.Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...