Intro to Freestyle?

[momomizu]

It seems that my rink is the only rink to have an Intro to Freestyle class as part of LtS. This class is after Delta and before Freestyle 1. In this class you learn:
Intro to Freestyle
Advanced forward stroking
Mohawks – forward inside/back outside/back inside
1-foot spin from forward outside 3-turn, introduce crossed-leg position
Moving forward inside/outside 3-turns
Backward crossovers to a landing position
Waltz jump
Mazurka Backward outside edges (consecutive on line)

While in Freestyle 1 you learn:

Freestyle 1
10-step combination Mohawk step sequence
Forward/backward crossover in figure 8
Backward inside edges (consecutive on line)
Intro to backward outside 3 turns
Adv. 1 foot forward scratch spin – 3 revolutions with free leg crossed
Half flip
Waltz Jump (from crossovers)

Is this really unusual? Are there any other rinks out there with something similar?

[AgnesNitt]

I've read of it at one rink. My rink doesn't have it. I'm trying to get the rink to do a 'Basic 9' class which is all the footwork from Freestyle and none of the jumps. People go 'wow, that's a good idea', but really we need some senior coach to push it, not an elderly adult skater.

[sarahspins]

You skate at an ISI rink, right?  It seems like there is more of a gap in the skills between delta and FS1 than there is in basic 8 to FS1 in USFSA's basic skills.  I can see where an intro to freestyle has a place in an ISI program because the skills do take a fairly large leap at that point.

[nicklaszlo]

At my (ISI) rink we have "prefreestyle"

Entrance for spin
Entrance for jumps
Check out positions
Backward 1 foot glide on circle
Waltz 3 turns
Power 3 turns
Backward "dogbone" crossovers (pattern)

The curriculum is otherwise ISI curriculum.

[momomizu]

You skate at an ISI rink, right?

yep, I do.

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My rink says that the ItoF is to introduce the skater to Freestyle session etiquette. Also, ItoF skaters are allowed on Freestyles.

[icefrog]

That sounds a lot like Basic 8 in USFS

[AgnesNitt]

That sounds a lot like Basic 8 in USFS

My rink didn't do anything like that, which is interesting because our practice ice is a death mill, there's no etiquette. The coaches just stand there and watch. I've often wondered why USFSA didn't put etiquette into the classes, but I guess it's not a USFSA issue, it may be my rink.

[jjane45]

At my (ISI) rink we have "prefreestyle"

Entrance for spin
Entrance for jumps
Check out positions
Backward 1 foot glide on circle
Waltz 3 turns
Power 3 turns
Backward "dogbone" crossovers (pattern)

The curriculum is otherwise ISI curriculum.

I do not have first hand experiences, but one of the primary goals seems to be learning the freestyle group warmup / power routine, something that I never learned from group lessons in my previous rink.