Every year, US Figure Skating releases statistics on the tests passed in the previous year as part of the Report of the Technical and Officials Group. Here are the statistics on figures tests for the last 6 years. The first table gives the total of each test attempted (pass and retry); the second table gives… Continue reading USFS figure tests statistics
Tag: ice
Some resources for ice figures
These resources will help you learn how to skate figures. One day, I hope to create a more exhaustive database. This is a start. Online groups and websites The Compulsory Figures Project on FacebookMemories of Patch on FacebookBring Back Compulsary [sic] Figure Skating to EuropeSkatingforums.com occasionally has a thread on figuresThe World Figure Sport Society,… Continue reading Some resources for ice figures
What is a scribe, and where do I get one?
A scribe is a giant compass that draws circles on the ice. You can use one to draw your circles before skating your figures or to check your work after you've done them. They're no longer common in stores, but they are still available. Scott Irvine makes and sells custom scribes. Figure 8 Boutique has… Continue reading What is a scribe, and where do I get one?
Testing & competing with Inclusive Skating
Inclusive Skating makes figures and other types of skating (on both ice and roller skates) accessible to skaters with challenges through events at the World Figure Championship and around the world.
Testing & competing with the World Figure Sport Society
This organization runs the annual World Figure & Fancy Skating Championship & Festival as well as numerous workshops. WFS exams differ from ISI and USFSA tests in that the figures do not have to be taken in any particular order. You can test any figure you like whenever you’re ready. Many special figures are available… Continue reading Testing & competing with the World Figure Sport Society
Testing & competing with US Figure Skating (USFSA)
USFSA figure tests were the standard for many years, and are still the most commonly discussed. They are still on the books and can be offered by request. You have to take all the figures in a test at once (except that the higher-level tests can be split in half; these splits are listed in… Continue reading Testing & competing with US Figure Skating (USFSA)
Overview of testing & competing on ice
Yes, you can still take tests and compete in figures! When testing or competing figures, you can expect to skate your figure(s) on a sheet of clean ice while one or more people watch you. When you’ve finished, the judges walk on the ice examining your tracings carefully. The details of this process depend on… Continue reading Overview of testing & competing on ice
What if I don’t have a scribe?
You can pace out a circle using bladelengths or steps. Mark the center of your eight and measure eight to ten bladelengths or about four paces. Make a mark. This is the center of your circle. Measure eight to ten bladelengths or about for paces further along the long axis and make a mark. Measure… Continue reading What if I don’t have a scribe?
How big should my circles be?
Ice In general, the diameter of the circle should be approximately three times the height of the skater. To set your scribe to the right length, calculate your height in inches and multiply by 1.5. A skater who is five feet tall should use a setting of 60 inches times 1.5 = 90 inches, or… Continue reading How big should my circles be?
There are no patch sessions near me! How can I do figures?
Look for poorly attended freestyle and public skating sessions. These may be early in the morning or in the middle of the day, depending on the time of year and your local rink culture. Then, go and do figures. The conditions are less than ideal—people will probably skate right through your patch—but you’ll be able… Continue reading There are no patch sessions near me! How can I do figures?