The Windjammers teams are grouped by the requirements of the USFS levels. Currently, we have 5 teams*.
Pre-Juvenile: No USFS test required and majority of skaters aged under 12. In addition, our club requires skaters to have attained the FS1 test or higher in skate school in order to audition.
Juvenile: Preliminary Moves test required and all skaters aged under 13.
Open Juvenile: While the USFS requirement is Pre-Preliminary Moves, our club requires Preliminary Moves test and majority of skaters aged under 19.
Intermediate: Pre-Juvenile Moves test required and all skaters aged under 18.
Junior: Intermediate Moves required and all skaters aged 12-18.
*team levels are subject to change each season if the needs of the skaters are better met in different divisions.
USFS Moves Tests are mandatory to skate our teams and if you are new to this, the levels go progressively as follows:
Pre-Preliminary
Preliminary - minimum level needed to move onto Juv or OJ teams
Pre-Juvenile - minimum level needed to move onto Int team
Juvenile
Intermediate - minimum level needed to move onto Junior team
Novice
Junior
Senior
In addition, the skater must successfully complete an audition and be approved by the coaches to be placed on a team. Skaters are selected within the rules of the USFS. Factors considered include test, age and number of skaters allowed per team plus audition score on skills. IMPORTANT - Passing a test does not automatically move a skater into the next team level. The coaches choose when it is time for a skater to be moved based on many factors for the best balance of teams in the Windjammer program.
One note: The moves tests get progressively harder and it is not unusual for a test to take a year to pass. Start early and plan ahead or you will find yourself in difficulty trying to pass tests to be on the level you desire to skate. Private lessons are the only way to truly succeed at these tests, usually taken in addition to class lessons at our rink. Get a coach, and work diligently. Good luck.