One out of the four examples you cited was valid, but I don't think that's enough to accuse the USFSA of "favoring" CCW skaters. You could propose that they change that one to allow an opposite-direction option, but this begs the question of whether or not the skater is truly ready for the test level if every turn in the opposite direction is a major show-stopper.
EXACTLY! If someone is struggling at that level to do a simple turn then I don't think they're ready to take the test... end of story. It's not about favoring a side or direction, it's just about basic skating skills... if you don't have it, work at it. If you've been working on it, just keep working on it... it's not that complicated.
Of the examples, I don't even really see where the first actually favors a CCW skater. Yes, it's a set pattern and that's unfortunate if you happen to prefer CW crossovers, but at that test level, you've already tested crossovers BOTH directions forwards and back so it shouldn't be a huge hurdle. Your argument for power pulls and cross strokes "favoring" CCW skaters is completely lost on me. I could do a CW mohawk (an outside one) to go into those just as easily as a CCW inside mohawk. I could do it going around the other direction of the rink (and in fact, in my bronze test program, I go into a couple of back cross strokes after going around the end of the rink CW doing CW waltz-3's, and those follow a spin, so I'm super dizzy to start with, and turning the opposite direction was killer at first, but the more I did it, the easier it got) I don't have to rely on speed going into either the cross strokes or the power pulls to be able to do them. I can do power pulls from a dead stop forwards or backwards. At the level where a skater is ready to take those tests, just turning to get into the move shouldn't be the overwhelming obstacle on the test.
I think any skater who skips over simple things like being able to do a mohawk at speed (in either direction) to get to the "harder stuff" is doing themselves a great disservice.... what's the point of going on to work on the "harder stuff" if you can't do the basic stuff? It just makes things that much harder later on.
I don't appreciate the notion that "the rest of us" don't have to work
very hard to be balanced skaters. I work extemely hard at overcoming my weaknesses. I have several VERY profound physical problems that interfere immensely with my skating (more than you will probably EVER understand), but I don't use them as an excuse and I certainly don't let those things convince me that I "can't" do things or whine about how I can't do "X" because of "Y". If it can be done, I can try to do it too.
The problem is, from the back outside edge, it is difficult to enter into the pattern of backwards power pulls.
Ummmm.. I start the back power pulls from a RBO edge! It's just how I prefer to do it. Usually I do a CCW RI mohawk and then step onto the backwards edge, but I could do it turning the other way, or I could start on the left foot too.. it doesn't really matter. It SHOULDN'T matter for someone who is ready to take that test. You can start on either foot or either edge - and since I prefer starting from an outside edge, I start the forward ones on my left foot, and backwards on my right.
Honestly the point is not moot - you have passed years ago, but if you were to take the tests today, could you pass now? I don't think regressing in skills when you've BEEN skating all this time is really reasonable.