Adult Juvenile Solo Free Dance Test

It's test day!!!!!

I think this is the most relaxed I've felt going into a test. Normally, I start getting really anxious in the days leading up to the test and start overthinking things. Then, when I get to the rink for the test, my legs turn to mush and I start making stupid mistakes. That did not happen today! Before I go further, you should know I PASSED! wOOt!

Practice - Our club is so accommodating to testing skaters (one of the many reasons why I love Alpine!). They had a 45 minute FREE practice this morning at 7:00am for testing skaters and, even though I wasn't testing until 10:30, you better believe I took advantage of that. Practice went really well! Everything was happening as it should, I even threw some camel spins in there and they were some of the best I've had in a while. It was busy and there were some close calls with running into people but I didn't get anxious about it! I just did my thing with no worries! This has never happened, EVER! I'm usually at my most anxious during practice ice because of the chaos. I'm not sure what was different about me today but I wasn't bothered in the slightest. Neat!

Six Minute Warmup - Christopher got to the rink right after I finished my off-ice warmup. He asked me how practice went this morning and I told him it was lovely. I then got my skates on and our group got called out to the ice for our six minute warmup. This is the time when he usually has to work hard to keep me calm. None of that today. I did my laps, did my spins, ran through my footwork and twizzles and skated up to him for next steps. He wanted to see the twizzles again but overall, he seemed pleased. Easy! I really only got a five minute warm up because I was the first skater out of the group to test so I spent that last minute just breathing and relaxing. OH! Also, they played my Free Dance music during the entire warmup so we had some background music to warm up to and I know I should have taken advantage of that and worked on sections of my Free Dance while my music was playing but that seemed like cheating. I know it's not but it felt wrong somehow.

The Test! - I skated up to the judges and they were super friendly and excited to see me do well. We joked a bit because they asked if I was here for the Adult Juvenile Solo Free Dance and I corrected them saying that I was there for the Adult Bronze Solo Free Dance and how silly it is that it's the same damn thing and why they need two different names for the same damn test. Their score sheets said Adult Juvenile so that's what we went with. Someone make this make sense. I thanked them and told them I appreciate them and then took one final breath before I got into my starting pose. There was a false start on my music so I had to start again. Basically, my music started playing before I really got into position but I just went with it. I guess the judges told them to stop playing the music so I could start again properly. Fair enough but I've been trained to roll with the punches so I was prepared to do it either way. Everything went well. My short edge element was my backward catch foot spiral and that was nice. My solo dance spin was lovely and I got 4 revs in position. Step sequence was nice too. Finally my twizzle got done with 2.5 revs. The only snag was my end pose. My competition gloves are very slippery on the ice and I have to put a hand down to get into my end pose since I end on one knee. I have had my hand slip out from under me before in competition and did not want a repeat so I got down gingerly and a bit slower than normal to ensure I didn't fall. So yeah, it was a great skate! I bowed to the judges and they said "Thank you" to me and I was done! I got positive marks from all three judges! Here's what they said: 

 

Judge Karen: 

• Short Edge Element - Nicely skated
• Solo Dance Spin - Well done
• Step Sequence - Good. 
• Twizzle - A bit slow
• Overall comments - Good form and expression throughout. 
• Elements = +1
• Skating = +1
• Program = +1
• TOTAL = +3 (Pass!)
   

Judge Janet: 

• Overall comments: All skating looks easy and flows. Good mix of elements throughout. 
• Elements = +1
• Skating = +1
• Program = +1
• TOTAL = +3 (Pass!)

 

Judge Kelly: 

• Short Edge Element - Ina and Catch Foot Spiral elements performed with confidence. 
• Solo Dance Spin - Upright spin 4 revolutions
• Twizzle - 2
• Overall Comments - Understanding of music and consistent rhythm shown. 
• Elements = +1
• Skating = +1
• Program = +1
• TOTAL = +3 (Pass!)