Coach and choreographer Kate Charbonneau begins a series of videos on the USFS Junior Skating Skills (Moves in the Field) Test. In this video she introduces the Junior test and demonstrates and explains the first pattern, the Forward and Backward Outside Rockers. Kates uses a rocker pivot exercise to develop the necessary skill for the first pattern. This exercise has the skater perform a forward outside rocker followed immediately by a back outside pivot with the free foot turned open. She enters the exercise with forward cross strokes and simply steps forward from the full circle pivot to start the exercise again on the other foot (with more cross strokes). Kate says, “The hardest part to me of these forward outside rockers is being stable enough and having the free leg in a nice coupé position so that the skater is ready for that back cross stroke immediately following (in the actual test pattern).”
Next, Kate demonstrates the full outside rocker pattern. She starts just behind the hockey goal crease, does a few forward strides into cross strokes and then the pattern. After skating the pattern, she notes that she would have skaters skate the pattern with more speed if they are capable of it. Then she discusses free leg position and movement for the rocker. A common error is bending or “breaking” the alignment after the rocker turn. Instead the skater should focus on generating more twist through the core while maintaining alignment, and the pivot exercise discussed above should be used to master this. Kate has her skaters perform the various connecting steps and edges as part of their daily warm-up, so these skills are typically very strong once a skater reaches this test level. Some of these skills were typically learned in earlier tests, but she notes, “Just because you’ve passed something doesn’t mean you stop improving it or learning about it.”
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