Introduction to Figure Skating
Figure Skating is a sport with many dimensions including: Singles Freestyle, Pairs Skating, Ice Dance, Synchronized Skating, Figures, and Moves-in-the-Field. More about them later. But first, what about the sport in general?
Skaters normally begin to skate in a group lesson environment, such as the USFSA's Learn-to-Skate USA program, often called "Basic Skills". Basic Skills classes are taught at most rinks on a regular basis throughout the year, and are a very cost-effective way to learn the basics of skating, whether your interest is in competitive figure skating, recreational skating, or hockey. When skaters have learned the basic elements of skating in this group environment, many will join a skating club and begin to further develop their skills by working with a private instructor, or "Pro".
Figure skaters typically practice anywhere from 1 to as many as 12-15 hours per week, depending on their level of interest, competitiveness, and budget.
Many skaters compete, and when they do so, they compete within groups of skaters with similar ability levels. These abilities are proven by the passage of official USFS tests, taken in front of USFS appointed judges at designated "test sessions". The tests establish several "Levels" of skating in each discipline. When you watch skating on TV you are watching skaters who have passed all the way to the top of the test structure, called the "Senior" level. But there are many levels below Senior, and most figure skaters are somewhere on that ladder, moving upwards. Competitive skating levels are not determined by age, although often in competitions, age will be used as a secondary factor to group smaller "flights" of skaters within a single test level.
Ice Dance
Ice Dancing is a discipline within figure skating that most emphasizes the "beauty" of the sport, rather than the athleticism. Ice Dance emphasizes the techniques of edgework, flow, and the motion of two skaters together in rhythmic interpretation of music. Ice Dancing has two main focus areas, the "Pattern Dances", and the "Free Dance".
Testing
There are two tracks for dance tests, namely pattern dance and free dance. These tracks are similar to moves in the field and freestyle tests. The pattern dance tests follow specific patterns on the ice similar to the moves tests. The free dance tests consist of choreographed programs with required elements similar to the freestyle tests. Skaters may take any pattern dance test without taking the same level moves in the field test, but for competition the associated moves test is required.
Pattern Dance Tests - Pattern dance tests are marked for Technique, Timing and Expression. In pattern dances, skaters are given a very specific pattern to follow. This pattern is shown in the form of a drawing which specifies the skater's movements right down to which foot is doing what particular step during every single "beat" of the music. Dancers are marked on their ability to skate the required pattern while demonstrating musical feeling.
Technique can be broken down into four components. Accuracy, Placement, Style, and Unison.
Accuracy measures how well the skater(s) conform to the dance diagrams and descriptions.
Placement again measures how well the skater conforms to the diagrams with an emphasis on deep edges and flow.
Style is all about posture and carriage. Speed should not be obtained at the expense of good style.
Unison measures how well the skaters move in unison. The dance couple should skate as close together as possible.
Timing measures how closely the skater(s) keep in rhythm to the music without any break in continuity.
Expression measures how well the skater(s) interpret the character of the music giving the performance a distinct flavor.
Free Dance Tests - In free dances, skaters get to perform their own "programs", choreographed within specified guidelines. These programs must demonstrate basic dance elements and steps in a musical, but not necessarily "theatrical" way. No jumps of more than one rotation or solo spins are allowed, and dancers are required to stay close together throughout the course of the dance program.
Categories
Standard
Adult
Solo
Masters
Levels
The test structure for ice dance includes tests in pattern dances, as well as free dances, and includes the following levels: Preliminary, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Pre-Gold, Gold, Junior International and Senior International.
Traditionally, ice dance has been a discipline in which two skaters compete as partners. In recent years the category of "Solo Dance" has become very popular. In this category skaters perform the same pattern dances as they would in couples partnered dance, however Free Dance programs are redesigned to suit the needs of solo skaters.
Ice Dance is one of the skating disciplines where age is no barrier, but also helps to determine competitive levels. Many adults and senior adults nationwide enjoy this discipline for both its athletic value and its social aspects.
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Free Skating
Free Skating is the discipline in Figure Skating that most spectators are familiar with. In Freeskating, or "Singles Freestyle" skating, a competitive skater performs a "program" that lasts anywhere from 1 to 4-1/2 minutes, is composed of elements such as jumps and spins, and is usually skated to music.
In Free skating competition, both "free" and "short" programs are skated. The "short program" (SP) at each level has a very specific list of elements which must be performed, and the skater is marked on his/her performance of those elements. Specific deductions are taken for missing or failed elements, and for added or repeated elements. The "free program" (Freeskate, or FS) has no list of required elements, only a general set of guidelines for what should or should not be included. Skaters are marked on both the quality of elements performed and the difficulty & content of the program. Contrary to popular belief, there are no required deductions for falls in a long program (in the 6.0 system of judging), however the skater is given no credit for having executed or tried the maneuver which caused the fall.
In Singles Freeskating, there are 8 Test Levels defined. With the exception of the very first one, each test is a program skated to music, with very specific required elements (sort of like a "short program" for competition). In the very first, or "Pre-Preliminary" freestyle test, the skater is asked to perform jumps and spins as separate elements. The singles freestyle test levels are: Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior.
Pairs
Pairs skating is similar in many respects to singles Freeskating, except that two skaters perform together. This adds all sorts of opportunities for new moves, such as lifts, throws, and pair spins and jumps. Pairs skating has both "free" and "short" programs, just like singles Freeskating, and a test structure which includes: Preliminary, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior.
Showcase / Artistic
Showcase or Artistic skating is a discipline in which competitors use the medium of skating to present a program designed primarily to entertain or to "move" the watcher. Skaters in this discipline place more focus on the presentation or performance aspects of the program than on the technical difficulty contained. At many competitions Showcase events are offered in categories of "Light Entertainment" or "Dramatic", or "Duet".
Interpretive or Improvisation
Similar to Showcase events, these events are designed to allow the skaters to focus on the expression or performance aspects of their program. However in this discipline the skaters must independently DESIGN (or choreograph) their own program to music preselected by the competition committee, and unknown to the skaters until the the moment their flight warmup begins. These events give the skaters the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to CREATE something new. Typically the skaters hear the musical selection twice on warmup then all skaters are sequestered in a "far away" locker room while other skaters from their flight perform their programs.
Moves-in-the-Field
Moves-in-the-Field, or "Moves" is a technical discipline, designed to help skaters improve their execution of the basic moves of skating. Edgework, turns, stroking, body control and extension are emphasized, mostly done with "power" as a primary focus. The Moves-in-the-Field discipline is primarily a test discipline, although some competitions are running Moves events. Moves-in-the-Field has test levels matching each singles freestyle level, and it is required that all skaters testing freestyle must pass the equivalent Moves test prior to taking the corresponding test in the freestyle or pairs disciplines.
Synchronized Skating
Synchronized Skating (once known as "precision skating") is a "team" event, with teams of 8 to as many as 24 skaters skating complicated routines similar to those performed by marching bands or drum corps. Large teams may execute patterns of incredible complexity and beauty. The teamwork and timing required makes this a challenging sport. Precision skating is another discipline where age is not a significant barrier, and adults nationwide enjoy and compete in this discipline.
Figures
Figures (or "Patch", as it was commonly called) is the discipline that gave our sport its name but the discipline is no longer part of the test requirements. Figures primarily emphasizes body control and edges/turns. Figures are the famous "figure 8s" for which the sport is named, and there are dozens of different ways to modify the basic figure 8 for testing purposes. Each variant emphasizes a certain skill, and all require great concentration and stamina to perform.