Single Entry in Competition

Landing~Lutzes · June 14, 2012, 08:52:37 AM

I just got an email saying I will be the only one skating in my event at the next competition. I'm not sure wether to be glad, sad, etc.
Have you ever been the only skater in your group? What was yor decision for it? What was the experience like?
Thanks!

Skittl1321 · June 14, 2012, 09:18:36 AM

I've been the only skater in my group before. I just consider it an exhibition and a chance to skate my program without other people being in the way.

It has never been a negative experience.

I don't think USFS judges "against the book" anymore- so you'll get first. In ISI, you can place second or third in an event when you are the only person, as you are judged against the level standard and need to get 80% of the possible points to get first (unless that has changed in recent years).

karne · June 14, 2012, 09:49:55 AM

I hated it, but I am a naturally competitive person and wanted to test my new program against someone.

Alas, I am facing the same problem at the next competition too.

Still, I use it as an opportunity to show my program and work out what works and what doesn't.

Adultsk8r509 · June 14, 2012, 11:59:00 AM

Quote from: Landing~Lutzes on June 14, 2012, 08:52:37 AM
I just got an email saying I will be the only one skating in my event at the next competition. I'm not sure wether to be glad, sad, etc.
Have you ever been the only skater in your group? What was yor decision for it? What was the experience like?
Thanks!

I got the same email. What's your event, Adult Silver? What are you going to do? This is my first competition. If you skate down... you will get 1st place... cause you know I am not going do very well~~~~~ ha ha

Live2Sk8 · June 14, 2012, 02:58:38 PM

Sometimes when you're the only skater in the event, you can ask for a critique from the judges. I was given that option a couple times - unfortunately the judges were not notified to do so for the first time, and the second time, I had an informal discussion with a judge and my coach. I found it very helpful and got some good feedback.

I've also been given the opportunity to get a refund rather than do the exhibition - I've taken that option as well if I felt like I'd have a chance later on to skate the program with other skaters and just wanted to save my money. It's hard being an adult skater - we need more who compete!

I wasn't sure if you get a medal when you do an exhibition so I've never gone to get one afterwards. I think I've seen other skaters pick up a medal after an exhibition, though. USFS does not do 'against the book' anymore. My very first competition was right before they changed that rule and I think that made me more nervous than anything. I was so worried I would come in 2nd, 3rd or lower and would have to tell people I was the only skater in the event.

Hope you have fun - and definitely enjoy your time on the ice without the pressure of judges or being compared to others. I love doing my club exhibitions - they're free and there's really no pressure at all. It's a nice opportunity to practice in front of an audience.

VAsk8r · June 14, 2012, 06:44:55 PM

I'm very often the only skater in my events at competitions, and I've never gotten an email about it. I find out when the schedule is posted.

I'm not sure it takes that much pressure off, especially in an ISI event where you know you could still get second if you left out an element. (I know a skater who this happened to.) I get nervous the day of just the same, but I think I do get more nervous in the days leading up to comps where I know someone else is in my event.

I'd definitely still do it. It's nice knowing you'll definitely get a medal. I have quite a nice collection of them.

Adultsk8r509 · June 14, 2012, 06:50:49 PM

Quote from: VAsk8r on June 14, 2012, 06:44:55 PM
I'm very often the only skater in my events at competitions, and I've never gotten an email about it. I find out when the schedule is posted.

I'm not sure it takes that much pressure off, especially in an ISI event where you know you could still get second if you left out an element. (I know a skater who this happened to.) I get nervous the day of just the same, but I think I do get more nervous in the days leading up to comps where I know someone else is in my event.

I'd definitely still do it. It's nice knowing you'll definitely get a medal. I have quite a nice collection of them.

True... I mean, in theory .. I was really only entering so I could test my nerves in skating a program. I would really like to attend nationals next year and experience a bunch of adult skaters in one place... but I don't want to be unprepared, so I thought I should start now... I don't plan on testing beyond Bronze FS before then....

techskater · June 14, 2012, 09:04:30 PM

I do it quite often, but it's easier at the Gold level because you are skating to get a score (IJS)

turnip · June 15, 2012, 08:32:01 AM

I've never had it, because i compete at pre-bronze, so usually the biggest level. I came 2nd in my last comp, which had merged the age groups. If they hadn't, I still would've cme 2nd (the other girl in my age group won it), but it would've been out of 2 instead of out of 7, so I was glad they'd merged them!

I've seen boys often being the only one in their group, and never seen one not come 1st.

At my rinks open competition, in the exhibtion competiton for level 8+, there was only one skater. He was a fab skater and everyone loved the routine (a Queen medley). He got a bigger cheer even than the home rink skaters and everyone was grinning! And for the entertainment mark, he got 6.0 across the board. I don't think they'd had done that with more than 1 skater in the group, but it was nice that the judges embraced it (it was the last event of the whole open).

VAsk8r · June 15, 2012, 07:14:14 PM

Quote from: turnip on June 15, 2012, 08:32:01 AM
I've never had it, because i compete at pre-bronze, so usually the biggest level.

I compete at pre-bronze too, FS3 at ISI, and there's often nobody else at either. Silver is usually the largest level among women in my area, because there are a lot of people who can't land an axel and pass up to gold, plus some bronzers who compete up. It's hard to make a general statement for the men because there are so few of them.

I'm doing bronze compulsories and free skate at a competition in a few weeks, and I already know there will be at least one other person in each event.

PinkLaces · June 15, 2012, 10:43:13 PM

I never have for USFS. The smallest one was me and another lady at Bronze and the largest was 6 of us. Bronze is actually a big group in my area. I have for ISI a couple times. If I do have someone at ISI comps, it's usually only 1 other person (one time it was 4 and I got 2nd). If it's just me, I just do my program to gain experience with handling nerves.

Adultsk8r509 · June 16, 2012, 12:09:46 PM

I was talking to someone at the rink who skated Adult Silver at Nationals this year (and got 7th). She said it's a very common situation. I think I knew that going into it. I told the committee I would stay in and skate at the level I entered in. The only other adult skaters are Gold and Dance. It could be a real disaster, but I am going to practice flubbing it all up with a smile on my face so I don't regret trying! Skating and smiling (or showing any specific emotion) is really hard (for me). I almost wish I had not chosen such a quiet piece of music.

Landing~Lutzes · June 16, 2012, 04:04:50 PM

Quote from: Adultsk8r509 on June 16, 2012, 12:09:46 PM
I was talking to someone at the rink who skated Adult Silver at Nationals this year (and got 7th). She said it's a very common situation. I think I knew that going into it. I told the committee I would stay in and skate at the level I entered in. The only other adult skaters are Gold and Dance. It could be a real disaster, but I am going to practice flubbing it all up with a smile on my face so I don't regret trying! Skating and smiling (or showing any specific emotion) is really hard (for me). I almost wish I had not chosen such a quiet piece of music.

Will you let me know what day and time you skate I can be sure to come and watch? I'm so excited to see your program!
I've been working on pattern dances on the side of my freestyle skating and will be competing in pre-bronze solo pattern dance (Chacha and fiesta tango.) Was going to compete in preliminary but opted to skate a level higher so I could have a competition (will have one.) Now to learn two new dances in less than a month....ahhh!

icicles · June 17, 2012, 04:54:32 AM

I've been the only one in my group twice now and while I'd have been happy to skate in with the lower age group I wasn't given that option. However it was an IJS competition which means the scores are absolute rather than relative to others in the group and as the lower age group skated straight after it was nice to be able to see that I'd have won had I skated in that group - although that was largely down to being just about the only one who got the combined pose (a required element) called and getting it given a level 2 which was a huge contribution to the marks. That's probably the highpoint of my skating career getting that level 2 especially as it was for two different spirals and I have alwasy hated spirals and been bad at them - til now apparently!

Its different if it's not under IJS but still it's good competition practice and a chance to run through the programme with an audience and judges. I actually felt more nervous about being the only one as I felt pressure to be up to standard and not look like I shouldn't be there (I'd converted it from a pre-bronze to bronze free dance programme in just a few weeks and was my first competitive skate at that level).

it is nicer to have other people to skate against and I think it helps to up your game but you can just think of it as a personal challenge to get a good score under whatever system.

Adultsk8r509 · June 17, 2012, 12:10:00 PM

Quote from: Landing~Lutzes on June 16, 2012, 04:04:50 PM
Will you let me know what day and time you skate I can be sure to come and watch? I'm so excited to see your program!

if I don't chicken out... sure

I've been working on pattern dances on the side of my freestyle skating and will be competing in pre-bronze solo pattern dance (Chacha and fiesta tango.) Was going to compete in preliminary but opted to skate a level higher so I could have a competition (will have one.) Now to learn two new dances in less than a month....ahhh!

I can't wait to see the dance.... I should probably give up on freestyle and try it too.

Landing~Lutzes · June 17, 2012, 02:43:13 PM

Aw don't chicken out :-) I have full faith in you! I watch you skate all the time and I know you will do phenomenal!!!
I've found that dance is a lot of fun..and I know most people think that performing and watching it is boring, but I am in love with doing the pattern dances lol! And it's helping with my freestyle skating. I think you should try both! :-) You may enjoy dancing more, and if so, you have that ability to switch to it. Nice thing I've noticed about skating is there ate SO many outlets and opportunities for everyone at all levels.

Skittl1321 · June 17, 2012, 02:51:33 PM

Quote from: Adultsk8r509 on June 17, 2012, 12:10:00 PM
I can't wait to see the dance.... I should probably give up on freestyle and try it too.

You don't need to give up on freestyle (which you are really good at...) to do dance. Do both!

Adultsk8r509 · June 17, 2012, 02:57:32 PM

Quote from: Landing~Lutzes on June 17, 2012, 02:43:13 PM
Aw don't chicken out :-) I have full faith in you! I watch you skate all the time and I know you will do phenomenal!!!
I've found that dance is a lot of fun..and I know most people think that performing and watching it is boring, but I am in love with doing the pattern dances lol! And it's helping with my freestyle skating. I think you should try both! :-) You may enjoy dancing more, and if so, you have that ability to switch to it. Nice thing I've noticed about skating is there ate SO many outlets and opportunities for everyone at all levels.

I may go to the public today at 2:15 to see what a Sunday afternoon is like. Next week is the new schedule too.

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Single Entry in Competition