I passed!

On September 27, 2008, I passed my bronze moves in the field test.  Since then, I have struggled with my loop, struggled with my backspin, and struggled with injury.  I have been put off the ice (twice) by knee problems, once by hip problems (that almost had me quitting skating it was so bad!), once with a shoulder injury, and most recently with a badly sprained wrist. 

But finally, 1,350 days later- I passed Bronze Freeskate!  I unfortunately did not pass it with a program that makes me proud (another coach told me: your standard is higher than the test standard...  That was nicer than saying "the judges are easy"- as they hadn't been easy for most of the session) but a pass is a pass.

Here are my comments:

Judge 1: Retry
Technical: 2.3  toe loop is not a toe loop, it was a toe hop  (I'm embarassed to admit this is true.  The single toe was the worst one I've done in six months, even though I got the pivot.  I toe waltzed in my combo.) next to the element it says "cheated".  Sit Spin not low enough.  This judge made no note of my third single jump, not even a check mark in that space...
Presentation: 2.5  presentation nice 

Judge 2: Pass
Technical 2.5:  All requirments met.  Nice centered scratch spin.  Sit needs to be lower.  There is a note next to loop that it was underrotated.
Presentation: Good ice coverage, nice smile

Judge 3: Pass
Tchnical: 2.5 Completed all elements, jumps could use more height. (understatement of the year...)
Presentation: 2.5  Covered ice surface, a bit cautious  This judge counted 4 sit spin revs, 5 back spin, and 6 scratch spin.


My coach was surprised by the ice coverage comments, because it was an Olympic rink, and I din't come close to covering it, but I'm guessing that means I had good coverage "for a bronze lady"  I still can't believe how bad my toe loop was, and my sit wasn't fantastic- though I did a great one in warm up.  My loop was decent for my loops. .  I had no reskate, so I left the ice pretty certain I had not passed, since that was 3 poor elements.

Because the test was during work, Kevin wasn't able to come.  I have no video of it :(