Test: MITF Pre-Preliminary part 1

This was the 3rd test I took, the first two were in Ice Dancing (read here about the Preliminary and Pre-Bronze Pattern Dances). It was in fact in the same day as the Pre-Bronze Dances but 2 hours later and it really felt like a different session. The biggest difference was that I wasn't nervous, like I was on the dance test. My coach says the better prepared you are, the less nervous you feel. And I felt reasonably prepared for this test.

This was the first test I intended to take, to see if I can handle the pressure and if it gives me any benefit to train for testing not just to learn elements. I happened to test the Preliminary Pattern Dances first because the group class I was registered in, had this small testing session organized and the instructor said I was ready.

For the moves I haven't had a specialized coach. I was still talking group lessons and I had few different instructors. Then, I was taking private lessons with a talented teenager that was going to move away. Then, I started privates with the Ice Dancing group lessons instructor and then, with the male Ice Dancing coach that was also partnering me for tests. So I was asking everybody for help with my MITF test. I had lots of opinions. Some of the instruction was not matching, some instructors gave me tricks to get the job done, others advised me to wait to test until the elements are correct. I wasn't worried about getting confused because it was the "easy, encouragement" test. I indulged in allowing myself to listen to everybody. But I was also looking to choose a main coach, because obviously, listening to 5 different opinions wouldn't work in the long run.

Pre-Preliminary is the first test from the total of eight in MITF. It is roughly the same as an Adult Pre-Bronze test, but I decided to test the standard track to build strong basics, as the adult test are more lenient. It's an "encouragement" test to start you in the process of testing, and has no scores but a pass/retry. The street wisdom is that if you don't  make a major mistake like falling or forgetting steps you'll pass. As I looked at the requirements I said to myself, "piece of cake, I can do everything". Well, not so quick! The test asks you to follow a certain diagram, and to "present" the skills. That was something that I've never done before and it proved to be a challenge.

To "present" in figure skating means that you have an introductory pose and an ending pose. The MITF tests have a rule that each element should start from standing (then up to 7 intro steps are allowed to gain some speed) and come to a full stop at the end. While the intro and ending poses are not judged, they do show the judges the level of confidence the skaters have. As I never "posed" before, it felt very awkward to me. As for confidence, my mindset was not "look at me, I've worked so hard and I can do this", but more like "please excuse my not too good skating, I'm just a beginner". The other thing about "presenting", it was that made me aware that I was gonna eventually show those skills to other people to judge, so that made me uncomfortable, if not  nervous.

The other  thing to be nervous about was that I was gonna be alone on ice for the first time, or so I thought. On the dance tests, my coach literally hold my hand... On this test, I actually had to share the ice with 2 other skaters, it seems it is common for low level tests and the possibility was mentioned to me while preparing. Other new things to deal with on this test was meeting the judges and the specific warming up. When steeping on ice you go first to the judge so she/ he checks your name so she won't judge another person. Also the skater will know which judge's instruction to follow during the test. As they write during the test, after finishing a task the skaters watches for the judge to finish writing and watching before starting the new one. Meeting the judge makes it very real, even if the judge was extremely nice...Then, the warm up is 5 minutes total and is tricky because there is not enough time to run the whole test. I took 1 minutes to just get the feel of ice, then rush and do a little bit of each skill...

The test has 4 elements:
1. Forward Perimeter Stroking (CCW and CW) with focus on power and extension.
2. Basic Consecutive Edges on alternating lobes (FO, FI, BO, BI) with focus on edge quality
3.  Forward Right and Left Foot Spirals with focus on extension
4. Waltz Eight with focus on edge quality

Here is a link to the judging form.
https://www.usfsa.org/content/Pre-preliminary-mitf.pdf

In my next post I'll share the video of my test and go over each element. But I'll say now that it went well and I passed.