Jumping into IJS

Having just competed in my first IJS I asked Kevin (My coach) if I could go on the IJS Information day for adults and skaters held at Lee Valley on the 17th April, He told me it was a really good idea, so I persuaded my mum to come with me as I was worried that I would not know anyone else there.

When we arrived we were introduced to the tutors for the day they were Anne Findlay, Doreen Hoppe, Hilary Selby and Liz Littler. And then we introduced ourselves to the group which luckily was quite small.

The day was started by talking about the way an IJS programme was split up into components, which are Skating Skills, Transitions/Linking movements, Performance and execution, Chorography/ composition and Interpretation/timing.

The tutors explained that there were specific IJS documents on the website that we needed to have a basic knowledge of and Liz asked us where we would find them. I answered that I got my coach to e-mail them to me, but apparently I am the lucky one as most pupils have to find them themselves!
The correct answer for this question is WWW.ISU.org under the communications section.

We then discussed who was responsible under the IJS for the various different parts of our programmes and I learnt that the levels of difficulty are the responsibility of the Technical Specialist, Technical Assistant and the Technical controller, but the Grade of Execution and components are the responsibility of the Judges.

All the skaters then had a great time trying to do a move in which there would be a one point deduction for what would be classed as a fall. I have to say that some of the moves that would be classed as a fall were news to me! I learnt that basically a fall is called when the majority of your body weight is not on your blades. At this point in my report I have to admit to my coach Kevin that he was right not to let me finish my programme using a move borrowed from Johnny Weirs Olympic programme, as he told me that it would be classed as a fall and surprise, surprise he was absolutely right! Oh and in that programme Mr Weir was indeed deducted a point.

As the day continued we learnt about the levels of difficulty for Singles, Pairs and Dance, which are levels 1 to 4 and Syncro skating which is 1-5. The tutors then explained about Grade of Execution, which has four phases these are the Presentation which includes Steps, the Take off, Rotation and Exits. The Grade of Execution is when the quality of the elements are assessed, marks can be added for good quality executions from +1 -+3 and deductions are made for errors, -1 minor to –3 for major errors. Serious errors must either be in the minus grades or no better than the base (0).

The group then learnt the shorthand used in the IJS for the different jumps and spins, an example of this is a double toe side hop single flip which is a 2T+1F+SEQ. The next part was brilliant as Doreen Hoppe and Hilary Selby gave some brilliant off ice demonstrations of lifts and Anne Findley did an encore of off ice jumps, we all had a great laugh!!!!

The next item to be looked at was the Skating Skills, Transitions, Performance, Choreography and Interpretation, this was the part of the day where I felt I learnt the most and now have a new understanding of what needs to be in my new routine which Kevin and I are working on….hopefully when I do the next IJS my mark will go up as a result of this. I think Kevin may be getting a little bored of all my questions on how to improve these areas of my programme, although he is very good at not showing it!!

I must say I learnt a lot from the Information Day but it was nothing like being in school and I can’t wait for another course like this to be put on. I would like to thank all of the people who gave up their time to teach me at the course in what I think is an essential subject for any skater competing in IJS competitions, for making us all feel at ease in asking questions and not making us embarrassed when we got the answers wrong.

The other thing I learnt, which was a shock, was that without realising it I did actually know quiet a bit about the IJS and I have to thank my coach Kevin for this as he always tries to explain in detail whatever he is teaching me in terms of the IJS. So a big thank you Kevin as I think you are the best coach ever!!!

By Caitlin Gilmore
17th April 2010