Northern Kentucky Skating Club
Dear Members of the Northern Kentucky Skating Family,
It’s been a long time between newsletters, but we are back in business. We are very grateful that Nancy Clements has agreed to take over the job. A lot has happened in the last few months and you can read all about it in this latest newsletter.
Our most exciting news is that our club has been awarded next year's SEGL competition. For those of you unfamiliar with this competition, it is one that moves from club to club in the South Eastern Great Lakes Region. It’s usually held at the end of February. We have a lot of work to do before then, so please be thinking of ways you can help. As we get organized we will be communicating the jobs that need to be done. Let a Board Member know if you want to get involved sooner. It is an honor to get this bid as well as an opportunity to make some money and to refresh our knowledge of how to host a competition.
We’re also excited that the registration packets have gone out and plans are under way for our annual Spring Show, "Color Your World." The Spring Show is not only great fun to participate in and a thrill to watch, but is also an important fundraiser for our club. It allows us to improve service to club members, continue improvements to the rink and host different events. I hope all of our members will seriously consider being a part of this fantastic show.
As always the Board welcomes your input or questions either at a meeting or to one of us directly. Our next meeting is March 14th in the Donato’s Pizza Group Room located on Dixie Highway in Crestview Hills.
Hope to see you at Club Ice,
Clare Richart
President
mainelycwr@aol.com
How exciting it is to be starting a new season of testing and competing!!! It is also time to review some testing facts and guidelines for both the new and seasoned skater.
The USFS has defined a system of "tests" which allow a skater to progress through a sequence of logical steps in his/her competitive development. The tests also establish a benchmark structure for competitive purposes. All USFS sanctioned competitions group skaters according to levels of tests passed. This allows skaters of similar abilities to compete against each other.
There are two types of testing as defined by the USFS: "Learn-to-Skate" tests and "Judged" tests. Learn-to-Skate testing is very informal, and is usually conducted in front of the skater’s instructor. This form of testing is used to advance skaters from level to level. Judged tests are a more formal structure and are designed for skaters who have advanced past the basics. These tests are judged by USFS-approved judges at formal test sessions. The results are forwarded to USFS, which keeps official records of each skater’s test accomplishments.
It is necessary for all skaters to take and pass the Moves-in-the Field test associated with a particular level before taking the Freestyle or Pairs test at that level. 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, with "power" as a primary focus. Moves-in-the Field has test levels matching each singles freestyle level and, as was previously noted, 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 discipline. Other disciplines that are offered for testing are Dance, Figures and Synchronized Skating.
How are tests conducted?:
Test sessions are held on a regular basis by most USFS affiliated clubs. A test session is an official event at which many skaters will test. All tests are judged by a panel of USFS appointed judges who may not be related to the skater or the skater’s coach. Usually there are three judges for all tests; however for some tests (lower level) it is acceptable for a single high-level judge to judge the test. Skaters are scheduled in a grouping with several other skaters taking the same or similar tests. Your group will be schedule for a "warm-up" time (where skaters practice the elements they will be skating for the test) followed immediately by the skating of the tests within that group. Usually you will be the only one on the ice during your actual test, but for some tests you may share the ice with others.
You will be announced when it is your time to test. When you have finished your test, you should stay on the ice until the judges "dismiss you" (they will usually say "thank you"). On occasion, the judges might ask you to reskate an element or two from the test. They will tell you what element it is that they would like to have you reskate and will usually tell you what it was about the element that they would like to see improved. If you are asked to reskate an element, you will be given the opportunity to warm it up before you do it for real, if you choose to do so. Please remember that if you do want to warmup before a reskate that you tell the judges before you do it, that you are doing a warmup. After you are dismissed by the judges, you will need to wait for your results. Usually, the judges will complete the entire warmup group of skaters before handing in their paperwork to the Test Chairperson. You will be given a copy of your test papers. The originals must remain with the Test Chair for documentation purposes and are kept in files for reference. If you should fail to pass a test, you are required to wait a minimum of 28 days before retrying the test. All test results from a test session are sent by the host club’s Test Chair to USFS headquarters, where they are registered on file and published on the website and in Skating magazine.
Some reminders when testing:
I hope that this helps and if you should have any questions regarding testing, please contact me at any time. Have a great season!!!
Denise Simoni
Test Chair, NKIC
dacfs@aol.com
The next NKSC test session is planned for Thursday, March 15, at the Northern Kentucky Ice Center. Test applications are available in the holders underneath the bulletin board at the NKIC as well as in the NKIC office. We will have a Gold Panel of officials. The in-hand deadline for all test applications is Monday, March 12, 2007.
Scrips order forms will be at the rink the week before Club Ice (March 16). Forms are due at Club Ice and certificates will be returned the following week in time for Easter. There will be one more Scrips order in May. In an informal poll, only one member had a background request for Yankee Candles and two members requested pizza kits. More info at Club Ice. Email Sharon Sanford if you’re interested in other fundraisers.
Do you have a collection of competition videos that you would like to compile into a single DVD? Or would you like pull only the best videos and create a video montage on DVD with music? If you’re interested in this service, contact Jim Bob Knott at 384-6760 or Nancy Clements at 384-7448. Jim Bob does a professional job and will not disappoint you!
The Northern Kentucky Ice Center now has a new Pro Shop located in the training center! Please drop by and check it out! They offer: figure skates, hockey skates, equipment, clothing, & accessories – with more inventory coming in weekly!! Operating Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5-7:30 pm and Saturday 11 am - 3pm. Call 849-344-4923 for more information!
We are pleased to report that once again, the "Skaters For Kids 2006" charity exhibition was a success!!! Attendance and contributions (both monetary and in gifts) were up from last year’s show, and as a result of the generosity of our patrons and participants, we were able to present the children of the Lincoln Elementary School in Dayton, KY, with an estimated $2400.00 worth of toys along with a check for $900.00. Ms. Gina Sorrell, coordinator of the Lincoln Elementary School, was overwhelmed by your generosity and has reported back that they were able to include more families in need than were originally anticipated, making it a truly happy holiday season for so very many people. What a wonderful gift you all gave! Our deepest thanks and appreciation to show director, Gretchen Reisner, who, sharing her time and talents, worked tirelessly during a very busy time of year. We also wish to thank Denise Simoni, Show Chair, who dedicated herself to making our show a success. Additional thanks go to our sponsors: Thomas W. Amann, Blades Pro Shop, Desserts of Distinction, Friends of Skating, NKIC and The Bank of Kentucky for their generosity. And last, but certainly not least, our sincere thanks to all of the many volunteers who helped make all of this happen. We were thrilled with the outpouring of support from our members. Whether you donated your time, talent or materials needed, please know that your participation was so greatly appreciated! It is a group effort such as this which makes it a success for everyone. We could not have done it without your support. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!!!! The Oxford Ice Crystals added another dimension to the show and were an absolute delight. We were pleased that they were once again able to be a part of this event. To the skaters and coaching staff, thank you for a wonderful show!! You were all great and continue to amaze us with your creativity and talent. The children of Lincoln Elementary were very impressed with your talents and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you at the post-show "Meet and Greet." The signed show shirt was presented to Ms. Sorrell, who said that it would proudly be displayed at the school.
Kindly submit suggestions for future recipients of this event (remember the organization needs to benefit children) to Denise Simoni.
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and wish all of you the very best in 2007.
See you next year!
The Skaters For Kids 2006 Show Committee
The NKSC Spring Show will be held on two dates: May 12 from 5-7 pm and May 13 from 4-6 pm. The show is a fundraising event, and the theme this year is "Color Your World." Information packets have been mailed out – if you didn’t receive the information, please check in the front office for an information packet. Deadline for show registration forms is March 24, 2007. To volunteer, please contact Pamela Drake.
