what does it take to be failed on your waltz 8? How picky are they about the shape?
Also, if you scratch your toes on an edge is that an automatic fail?
I don’t think they are super picky, but they want it to be done fairly nicely. I would ask your coach what he/she thinks of your waltz 8 and ask them if they would think it in passing shape. Pretty much I’ve learned that if you do your best that you are able to pass as long as you are able to do the elements fairly well. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by scratching your toes, but you can go to http://www.usfigureskating.org/About.asp?id=17 to see if you are able to get any help about how good things have to be to pass. Good luck!
The Waltz Eight is challenging. I will say, having taken both tests, the MITF judges are not as "picky" as the FIGURES judges were for this pattern!
If the pattern’s obviously egg-shaped, you’re probably stepping out of the mohawk onto a flat instead of the FO edge that you need to get back to center. Try turning your ankle to the outside before the blade touches the ice, and LOOK for the center/start point.
Timing is critical: It’s a waltz, so count off the beats in sets of three.
Point your toes and keep your torso upright.
Since you have to do the pattern on both feet twice, practice making them the exact same size.
Toe scratches aren’t an automatic failure, but bend your ankles and knees to get rid of them anyway. (Same thing on the edges-on-the-line.)
Good luck – this one takes practice; it’s all arms and feet and changes! LOL
Added: Part of your test preparation SHOULD BE to go to a test session (at your own rink or another rink) and watch other skaters take the test. You can tell who passed easily, who had to reskate part of the test (only 1 or 2 parts are allowed), and who really wasn’t ready. It’s really eye-opening to see it take place in different rinks. For example, we always do the Waltz8 on the center circle, using the hockey lines as the axis line. At one rink, I saw three kids testing the Waltz8 on the double hockey circles with no lines, and on the hockey lines with no circles. I went back and practiced my own Waltz8 in all those places, so I was ready for the test.
Dress warm and take notes while you watch. Always ask if it’s okay first.
References :
This page has a great, albeit older, tutorial on the Waltz8:
http://www.worldfigureskating.net/figureskating25.php
I don’t think they are super picky, but they want it to be done fairly nicely. I would ask your coach what he/she thinks of your waltz 8 and ask them if they would think it in passing shape. Pretty much I’ve learned that if you do your best that you are able to pass as long as you are able to do the elements fairly well. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by scratching your toes, but you can go to http://www.usfigureskating.org/About.asp?id=17 to see if you are able to get any help about how good things have to be to pass. Good luck!
References :
Figure Skater