Looking beyond the scores to the next great skate

Sometimes figure skaters can come away from a performance feeling great about it, regardless of the scores the judges ultimately give.

Recently, that could not have been more true for Justin and his ice dance partner, Sara Wilson. The Wilson and Brown Ice Dance Team skated three programs during Clearwater Ice Arena's test session on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. However, only two of their performances passed.

All three judges passed the two bronze pattern dances -- the Willow Waltz and the Hickory Hoe Down. 

But the final score for their juvenile free dance program didn't reflect how well Justin and Sara - and others - thought they did. Of course, they realized they needed improvements - they both wanted to smile more and increase their speed and flow. But it's the judges who ultimately determine the quality of the performance.

Two of the three judges didn't pass their free dance. A program must be passed by at least two of the three judges. 

Below is a video of their personal best juvenile free dance program with their proud parents watching. 

The two judges who didn't pass the program thought the lift Justin and Sara performed at the beginning of the program wasn't allowed. So after the teenagers performed their free dance, the judges asked them to do another lift to replace the one they felt didn't qualify. Justin and Sara did the new lift but it didn't meet the requirements, according to one of the judges.

However, it turned out having them perform a new lift wasn't necessary because the original one was allowed.

Shortly after the test session -- with rule book in hand -- Coach Marianne Tisch pointed out the original lift in the program was correct. As a result, one of the judges apologized for the mistake. But according to United States Figure Skating rules, once the scores have been turned in no changes can be made. The third judge who passed their performance didn't question the lift.

Naturally, Justin and Sara were disheartened.

"I felt like it was a clean program," Sara says. "It was disappointing, but we'll show the judges..."

"...how good we can be," Justin says, finishing her sentence, which they both acknowledge is something they often do.

Justin and Sara wait to skate on test day.
Their friend, Julie, at bottom left, joins them
for moral support.

"Like Meryl and Charlie," Sara responds, smiling, referring to the Olympic Champion Ice Dance Team of Davis and White.

Their plan intact, their spirits seem lifted as they simultaneously break out into a hand-clapping routine from one of their favorite Kit Kat commercials. The two often laugh and joke with each other and spontaneously erupt into routines they've made up. 

Even though they were dealt a setback, they're moving on, taking the judges' suggestions for improving their game. The dance couple will retake their free dance test in about a month. 

"Our focus is to pass the free dance and add more emotion and expression to our program," Sara says. 

Photos from their juvenile free dance on test day.  

The pair have been working hard since May of last year when they decided to become ice dance partners. Justin, who passed his juvenile free dance in 2011 with a previous partner, is helping Sara pass hers so they can together test up to the novice level to qualify for sectionals next year. An advance freestyle skater, Sara just started ice dancing less than a year ago.

Ice dancers must test up in both pattern dances and free dances to compete. The levels for pattern dances are Preliminary, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Pre-Gold and Gold. The levels for free dances are juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior and senior.  Because Justin is 18 years old, he and Sara must compete at the novice level in free dance and at the Silver level in pattern dances. 

Justin & Sara at the November test session.
Justin also tested & passed the European
Waltz, a Pre-Silver dance, at the
session that day.

Justin has tested up to the Silver level in pattern dances, with only one more dance to go to meet the novice requirements. 

Sara, 17, is catching up fast. Skating with Justin, she passed the first six pattern dances in November. They are the Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, Rhythm Blues, Swing, Cha-Cha, and the Fiesta Tango. She has passed a total of eight pattern dances in 10 months.

"It feels awesome that I've passed so many tests in such a short time," Sara says. "Hopefully, we'll keep the pace up so we can go to sectionals."