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Text File | 1995-03-22 | 20KB | 490 lines

How is figure skating scored? The singles and pair events each have two parts, the technical program and the free skate. In the technical program, the skaters must execute eight required elements (jumps, spins, and footwork sequences), and there are mandatory deductions for failures. In the free skate, there are no required elements, and falling or omitting elements counts against the skater only as far as it reduces the overall difficulty of the program, or if it disrupts the flow of the program. Skaters are given two marks, one for technical merit and one for artistic impression. The technical mark is supposed to reflect the difficulty of the program and the clean execution of the elements. The artistic mark is supposed to reflect the choreography, music interpretation, flow, and balance of the program, and other factors such as making good use of the ice surface and skating with speed and sureness. The two marks from each judge are added together and used to assign skaters rankings. (In the case of ties, the technical merit mark has more weight in the technical program, and the artistic mark in the free skate.) Then the rankings from each judge are used to determine the overall placements; the skater with the most first-place votes places first, etc. There is a complicated procedure for breaking ties and determining placements when no skater has a majority of votes, but the marks from all the judges are *not* added together, nor are the high and low marks discarded. The placements from each part of the competition are multiplied by a weighting factor, and then added together to get the final placements in the competition. The factor for the technical program is 0.5, and the factor for the free skate is 1.0. Scoring for ice dancing is similar, except that the skaters do two compulsory dances selected from a set that rotates yearly and an original dance to a rhythm that also changes each year as well as a free dance. The factors are .2 for each compulsory dance, .6 for original dance, and 1.0 for the free dance. For the 1993-1994 season, the compulsory dances are the Starlight Waltz, Paso Doble, Tango Romantica, and the Blues; and the original dance is the Rhumba. Sometimes a judge gives marks that seem way too low. Why is this permitted to happen? First of all, remember that the marks given by a judge to a particular skater are meaningless compared to the marks given by other judges -- all that matters is how *that same judge* ranks the skater compared to the other competitors. Sometimes a judge consistently marks all skaters a few tenths lower than the other judges without giving them significantly different rankings. Because the competition results are determined by a majority vote of the judges, an individual judge can rarely influence the outcome of a competition by ranking a skater much higher or lower than is really appropriate. Furthermore, the referee of the competition is required to report instances of questionable judging, which can lead to disqualification of the judge in question for future competitions. (And in extreme cases of national bias, the ISU has been known to ban *all* judges from a particular country.) So judges actually have little motivation to try to deliberately manipulate the results of the competition. Why is skating judged on a scale from 0 to 6 instead of 0 to 10? The reason why skating is judged on a scale where the perfect mark is 6.0 is because of its historical origins in tracing compulsory figures. Each figure was skated three times on each foot, and the judges were supposed to count one "point" for each tracing. What's the difference between ice dancing and pair skating? Ice dancing is supposed to be ballroom or folk dancing, adapted to ice. In practice, the difference is that ice dancers are prohibited from doing the athletic free-skating moves that pair skaters do (jumps, spins, lifts, etc) and concentrate on fancy choreography instead. Also, ice dancers must skate to music that is recognizably dance music and maintain recognizable dance holds and positions. The scoring in ice dancing often seem totally random to me. What are judges really looking for in ice dancing? It's often harder for a casual spectator to evaluate ice dancing performances than free skating because ice dancers rarely make major mistakes such as falling. Some of the criteria that the judges use are how close the man and woman skate together, whether they change positions frequently, whether they skate different steps instead of doing a lot of side-by-side shadow skating, and how much speed they have as they move across the ice. What about rules for professional competitions? In general, there *aren't* any rules -- each competition seems to have its own format and judging system. The new pro-am events seem to have adopted the basic amateur scoring system outlined above, but with some relaxations of the rules regarding the length and content of the programs. What are the different jumps? How did they get such funny names? The thing that distinguishes the different jumps is the takeoff. Most right-handed skaters jump in a counterclockwise direction and land all the jumps on a right back outside edge. I'll describe all the jumps in this sense to minimize confusion. These are the jumps you see in competition most often, in approximate order from least to most difficult: toe loop -- the approach is on a right back outside edge. The skater then reaches back with the left foot and jabs the toe pick into the ice to provide assistance for the jump at takeoff. Often done as the second jump of a combination, or as a solo jump after an inside three turn. (This is the same jump that roller skaters call the "mapes", and that is called a "cherry flip" in some parts of the world.) salchow -- the takeoff is from a left back inside edge; the typical approach is from a three turn. The right leg swings to the front just prior to takeoff to assist the rotation. The jump is named after Ulrich Salchow, who dominated skating in the early 1900's. loop -- this is also an edge jump, with takeoff from a right back outside edge. Usually skaters approach this jump by skating backwards on two feet, with the left foot crossed in front of the right. (In Europe, this is also known as a Rittberger jump.) flip -- this is a toe-assisted jump from the left back inside edge and right toe pick. Like the salchow, the usual approach is a three turn. lutz -- this is a toe-assisted jump from the left back *outside* edge and right toe pick; this means that the approach curve has the opposite "direction" than the landing curve. The most typical approach for this jump is a long, shallow edge diagonally across the rink. axel -- this is the only common jump with a forward takeoff, from a left front outside edge. Because of this, a single jump is actually 1.5 rotations. Named after Axel Paulsen, who invented it. What about spins and other moves? back spin -- performed in the same rotation sense as a forward spin, but on the opposite foot. Most right-handed skaters spin counterclockwise, doing a forward spin on the left foot and a back spin on the right foot. scratch spin -- a fast upright spin. So called because it is done on the forward part of the blade, so that the toe pick scratches the ice slightly. camel -- a spin in the "airplane" position, e.g. the torso and free leg in a horizontal position. A flying camel is a back spin in the camel position entered by means of a jump with a forward takeoff, similar to an axel. grafstrom spin -- a low camel spin, skated with a bent knee. death drop -- a flying spin similar to a flying camel, but where the skater immediately drops into a back sitspin. arabian or butterfly -- a jumping move similar to the entrance of a flying camel or death drop, but without the spin afterwards. Usually done in a series of two or three in a row. spiral -- an edge skated with the free leg extended and held higher than hip level. A relatively easy move, but effective when done with good stretch and speed. spread eagle -- a figure skated on two feet with the toes pointing in opposite directions. It can be done either on outside or inside edges. Again, this is a fairly easy move and its effectiveness depends on being done with speed and a good body position (namely, without the skater's bottom jutting out awkwardly). ina bauer -- a spread eagle variant where one knee is deeply bent and the other leg stretched behind the body. Typically done with an arched back. Are professional skaters allowed to compete in the Olympics? Are amateurs allowed to be paid for skating? The policy of the international governing body for skating, the ISU, has been that any skater who takes part in a competition that is not sanctioned by the ISU (or one of its national governing bodies, such as the USFSA) loses eligibility to compete in future "amateur" events. It used to be that the loss of eligibility was considered permanent, but after the 1992 championships, the policy was changed to allow professionals to be reinstated if they stop participating in the banned activities. At the same time, it was decided to allow a wider range of competitions to be sanctioned -- for example, competitions where both eligible and ineligible skaters compete for prize money. Aside from the matter of sanctioned competitions, the dividing line between amateur and professional status has otherwise become very blurred -- so-called amateur skaters can still be paid for doing ice shows, competitions, endorsements, TV appearances, and the like. If a former pro like Brian Boitano is named to the Olympic team, isn't that unfair to younger skaters? The key point here is that skaters aren't simply named to the Olympic team. They have to earn their spots by skating better than the other skaters in qualifying competitions. In the US, the teams for the Olympic games and world championships normally consist of the top finishers from the US national championships. In theory, the selection committee is permitted to deviate from the consecutive order of finish, but in practice about the only time they do so is when a top skater from the previous year was unable to compete or skated poorly at nationals due to injury. The number of skaters that a country can send to the Olympics or worlds is determined by the ISU, based on how well that country's skaters did at the previous year's world championships. In turn, skaters qualify to compete in the US national championships either by winning medals the previous year, or by skating in regional and sectional qualifying competitions. What this means is that those younger skaters may actually have an advantage over the old pros, because they don't have to requalify from the ground up. Why can't skaters do back flips in competition? Basically, because the consensus in the skating community is that back flips aren't really a skating move, and that if they were allowed in competition, the character of the sport might change in ways that are seen as undesirable. The same reasoning applies to other forbidden moves, such as pair-skating moves where the man swings the lady around by her feet, or lifts above the shoulder in ice dancing. Who's this Dick Button guy, anyway? Dick Button was the 5-time world champion and 2-time Olympic champion, from 1948 to 1952. He's widely credited with introducing the modern athletic style of skating. He was the first person to do a double axel, and the first to do a triple jump (a triple loop). He also invented the flying camel spin. Here are some other people you hear about from time to time: Gus Lussi -- Dick Button's coach. Also coached Dorothy Hamill. His skaters are known for their superb spinning technique. He died recently. Carlo Fassi -- Italian national champion during the 1950's, but better known as a coach. His skaters have included Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, John Curry, Caryn Kadavy, and Jill Trenary. He is now semi-retired. Toller Cranston -- Canadian men's champion during the 1970's, now a choreographer and coach. Known as a dramatic stylist. Tamara Moskvina -- Russian pair coach (e.g., of Mishkutenok and Dmitriev). Sandra Bezic -- Canadian pairs champion (with her brother Val) during the 1970's, now a choreographer (e.g., for Boitano and Yamaguchi) and TV commentator. Jutta Muller -- coached Katarina Witt, Jan Hoffman, and most of the other well-known East German singles skaters. Ludmila & Oleg Protopopov -- Russian pair skaters who won Olympic medals in 1964 and 1968. They're known for their ballet-like style. They also invented pair moves such as the inside death spiral. Tracy Wilson -- Canadian ice dancer; with her partner, the late Rob McCall, she won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics. Now a TV commentator. F. Ritter Shumway -- president of the USFSA at the time of the 1961 plane crash that killed the entire US world team and coaching staff. He was instrumental in rebuilding the figure skating program in the US and setting up the memorial fund which now provides financial support for nearly all competitive skaters. John Nicks -- former British pairs champion, now a pairs coach (e.g., of Babilonia and Gardner). When are upcoming competitions? Here are the ones I know about: 1993 Skate America Oct 20-25, 1993 Dallas, TX 1993 Skate Canada Nov 4-7, 1993 Ottawa, Ontario 1994 US Nationals Jan 4-10, 1994 Detroit, MI 1994 Olympic Games Feb ??, 1994 Lillehammer, Norway 1994 Worlds Mar 22-27, 1994 Chiba, Japan 1995 US Nationals Feb ??, 1995 Providence, RI 1995 Worlds Mar 4-13, 1995 Birmingham, England Why didn't [well-known skater] compete at [Skate America | Skate Canada | Trophee Lalique | etc]? There are several of these "minor" international competitions that take place each fall. They are sponsored by the various national skating organizations in order to provide some additional competition opportunities for their younger skaters, many of whom wouldn't qualify for a "major" international event like the world championships. Established skaters go to these competitions too, to try out new routines or gain more media exposure. But skaters typically only participate in one or two of these competitions each season, and it's unusual for all of the top skaters to show up at any one of them. [Various rude and irrelevant questions about skaters' sexual preferences.] Yes, some skaters are gay -- but many others are not. The proportion is probably not very different from that of the general population. Is it really any of your business, anyway? What's the piece of music so-and-so is skating to? Well, I'm not a walking music encyclopedia, but here are the ones (mostly classical pieces) that I've been able to identify. Music from 1992/93 season: Eltsova & Bushkov "Bacchanale" from "Samson and Delilah", by Saint-Saens -- 14:54 --rec.skate-- 2 MORE+next --help:?--80%-- Eltsova & Bushkov "Bacchanale" from "Samson and Delilah", by Saint-Saens Urbanski & Marval "Pictures at an Exhibition", by Mussorgsky; "O Mio Babbino Caro" from "Gianni Schicchi", by Puccini; "Spartacus", by Khatchaturian Mark Mitchell "Don Quixote", by Minkus Scott Davis "West Side Story" film score Nancy Kerrigan "The Beauty and the Beast" film score Lisa Ervin "Thais Meditation", by Massenet Tonya Harding-Gillooly "Robin Hood" film score Josee Chouinard "Gayeneh", by Khatchaturian Yuka Sato "Don Quixote", by Minkus Surya Bonaly "The Four Seasons", by Vivaldi Where can I get more information? Here is a list of periodicals which deal with skating. (Disclaimer: this isn't intended as a commercial endorsement of any of these publications. Also, you might want to double-check the subscription rates, etc.) SKATING 20 FIRST STREET COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80906-3697 719-635-5200 10 ISSUES/YEAR $15/US Official magazine of the United States Figure Skating Association. Gossipy profiles of skaters, competition and tour reports, etc. THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER P.O. BOX 5904 ROCHESTER, MINN 55903 6 ISSUES/YEAR $19.95/US, $29(USD)/CANADA, $45(USD)/FOREIGN Newsletter of the Professional Skaters Guild of America. Basically has articles of interest to coaches, etc. Black/White photographs. PATINAGE MAGAZINE 39 BLD DE LA MARNE F-76000 ROUEN FRANCE 5 ISSUES/YEAR $30/US, $32(CANADIAN)/CANADA Published in French w/ English translation. Fabulous photography! TRACINGS 21 WEYBOSSET ST. WEYMOUTH, MA 02191 8 ISSUES/YEAR $16/US, $19/CANADA & OVERSEAS PUBLISHED BY THE NEW ENGLAND INTER-CLUB COUNCIL Features Black/White photographs, New England amateur skaters; but also has articles on professional skaters, reviews of pro competitions and ice shows. BLADES ON ICE 7040 N. MONA LISA ROAD TUCSON, ARIZONA 85741 PHONE: 602-575-1747 FAX: 602-575-1484 6 ISSUES/YEAR $25/US, $34(USD)/CANADA, $45(USD)/EUROPE, $50(USD) OTHER COUNTRIES AMERICAN SKATING WORLD 1816 BROWNSVILLE ROAD PITTSBURGH, PA 15210-3908 12 ISSUES/YEAR $19.95/US, $29.95(USD)/FOREIGN AIR MAIL: $38.95(USD)/CANADA, $63.95(USD)/OTHER COUNTRIES This is sort of a monthly skating newspaper--it is printed on newstock. TODAY'S SKATER CANADIAN FIGURE SKATING ASSOCIATION 1600 JAMES NAISMITH DR. GLOUCESTER, ONTARIO K1B 9Z9 CANADA Apparently only one issue/year. The CFSA also has a very nice catalog with instructional videos, books, and other skating paraphernalia. SKATER'S EDGE BOX 500 KENSINGTON, MARYLAND 20895 5 ISSUES/YEAR $15/US, $20(USD)/CANADA, $25(USD)/EUROPE This is a newsletter (or small magazine if you prefer) of about 12 pages. It is devoted to technique -- NO GOSSIP about skaters. The articles and skating tips come from established coaches and famous skaters. A recommended book about the technical aspects of figure skating is John Misha Petkevich's "Figure Skating: Championship Techniques" (ISBN 0-452-26209-7), published by Sports Illustrated and available in many bookstores. You can order a rulebook from the USFSA at the same address given above for SKATING magazine. The cost is about $10. It includes the complete competition and eligibility rules, diagrams of compulsory figures and dances, and a directory of participating clubs. Who wrote this FAQ list? My name is Sandra Loosemore. I've followed the sport for many years, although I've never been more than a recreational skater myself. Some of the information in the post is taken from the USFSA rulebook. I also incorporated suggestions from Helena Robinson, Fred Chapman, Ann Schmidt, and Mary Kolencik. The information about magazines was provided by Deborah Reed-Margetan. A Reply and Correction to all of the above: Christine Lukacs: >competitive figure skating FAQ list 31 Aug 93 14:25 Thanks for the great FAQ list! You were very thorough, but here are a few additions/extenstions. One other thing that differentiates dance from pairs. It is true that they are not allowed the throws, spins, jumps, some lifts. A little more specifically, the lifts cannot be above shoulder height- so you will never see a real overhead, but you will see some lifting. Also, in dance the couple cannot be NOT touching, i.e. apart (sorry about the grammar) for more than 5 (I think?) seconds. Secondly, you were talking about why all skaters don't go to the smaller international competitions. Generally, it is not a matter of choice. Usually, USFSA names up to three skaters plus an alternate in each category from among the top 10 or so skaters in each group. This gives them experience in international competition as well as letting others than just the top 3 be in the spotlight.