Whats the difference between USFSA from ISI?

Question

(whats the difference and also the difference in the levels. I mean in ISI, its like prealpha-gamma then FS1-10 so how bout USFSA?)

Answer 1

I would just say, that USFSA is meant for competitive skaters, while ISI is more for recreational skaters. You can't go to Regionals/Sectionals/Nationals with ISI. The levels in USFSA are : Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior.

Answer 2

Easy, if usfsa actually counts, isi is a waste of time

Answer 3

USFSA traditionally was the route people would take to the Olympics, ISI was to learn for fun.USFSA is older but ISI had a learn to skate program(the lower levels) way before USFSA. The levels are very similar but some elements are taught sooner, such as back 3 turns. After about about FS 7 ISI has some elements that people in US would find useless like reverse jumps. So most competitive skaters change over by 5 or 6.

Answer 4

USFSA is under the ISU (the international skating union) system which means that you can go do ISU grand prix and ISU worlds and the Olympics when you are under ISU, ISI is another group, I'm not too sure about what they do but I know that they focus alot more on artistic skating it's really weird i think they do like 3 or 4 programs instead of just a short and free program. I know this because a girl from Dubai came over and trained at my rink for a while and she skated under the ISI system.

hope this made sense and helped.

Answer 5

yeah, do ISI for practice, but maybe quit at freestye 5.  Then go on to usfsa.

Answer 6

The USFSA emphasizes programming for the competitive skater, and provides the sanctioned path to World and Olympic competition.  The ISI emphasizes programming for recreational and fitness skaters. The ISI is  an organization for rink owners and managers, which defines programming and structure for their figure skating programs.  The USFSA provides a structure for clubs which are each individually managed by club-member elected Boards of Directors.

Answer 7

The basic skills programs for both ISI and USFSA are similar.  

ISI Pre-Alpha through Delta is equivalent to USFSA's Basic Eight levels.

ISI Freestyle 1-5 is equivalent to USFSA's Freestyle 1-6.

Above that, it's just different, but here is a chart that shows approximate level equivalences between ISI and USFSA

http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_rules/level_eq...

ISI Levels (skill descriptions for all levels)

http://www.paradefsc.org/basic/levels.ht...

USFSA Basic Eights http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_basic_ref/lts/...

USFSA Basic Freestyle http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_basic_ref/lts/...

USFSA test levels (for specific elements in each level, you need check the rulebook - I believe it's not listed on the USFSA website anymore)

http://www.sk8stuff.com/f_basic_ref/abou...

Here are a few links that will explain the differences between ISI and USFSA.

Figure Skating Associations

http://www.sk8stuff2.com/f_basic_ref/fig...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Figure-Skatin...

Hope that helps!

ETA:  Yah, Skatin' - can you imagine having to work on reverse jumps - one direction is tough enough - wink!!!

Answer 8

It's a small thing, but worth mentioning - it's a lot cheaper to join ISI. It's a good way to figure out if you want to go the competitive route.  USFSA will have more competitions in more rinks, usually.

Their learn to skate programs are similar but they have a few elements that are switched around in order.

Edit: Thanks for all those links, TBH. I didn't know about the reverse jumps either in ISI...interesting. I always learn something on this board!