I just have to say that I LOVE the new 8-step mohawk sequence done in a figure 8 pattern on the Adult Silver MIF test. I am very fortunate that the local rink where I practice (NOT where I take lessons/get coached) has a Monday through Friday public from 11 am to 3 pm that always has at least a few hours of very light, if any, traffic. I usually practice 45 minutes of figures every time I skate there, and I do them from layouts, not with any marks. At both rinks where I skate, you can still make out the patch numbers, so I do get a lot of opportunity to do actual patch without anyone skating over my figures.
And because I do figures, the counterclockwise to clockwise transition on the new 8 step is easy for me. My only problems on that test had been (1) the first left outside mohawk itself, and since I got ripped on so badly on my 5-step during my Bronze MIF testing experience, I wanted these to be superb....my dance coach stepped in and made them super pretty for me =), and (2) the back RI/RO 3 on the second 3's in the field pattern. For the latter, I used a technique that JoJo Starbuck taught me at Dorothy Hamill camp, and that is simply to "spot" yourself in the glass as you turn to maintain alignment...worked like a charm and there's been no struggle ever since.
I will be the first adult to test Silver moves at our rink under the new requirements. I'll let you know how it goes. As far as other skaters' experiences with the new moves, and especially the new figures, the ones who took figure class over the summer do fine, and those that don't, don't. I loved that I taught a Junior level skater how to do a loop figure...and I haven't even passed my Bronze FS yet because apparently my "edge control" isn't good enough...one judge yesterday even suggested that I do edges off the line at the beginning of each practice session...um, okay ;-)
L