2016 ISU Congress

[TheGrandSophy]

They mention some things were approved to shorten competitions including one fewer jump pass for singles. I need more details on what was passed.

 

[StitchMonkey]

They mention some things were approved to shorten competitions including one fewer jump pass for singles. I need more details on what was passed.

I saw something about that as well.... I think men's are one less because Rocker Skating made some comment about the 200 club staying as is for awhile.

Seems to have been glazed over if true... this is kinda major in my eyes. Especially if true for this season as it could mean some major overhauls to programs.

EDIT: some discussion about it if interested.

https://twitter.com/rockerskating/status/741313014192820224

 

[Meoima]

I hope they won't cut the choreography sequence. It's one of the best in a free skate.

 

[karne]

No spirals. No layback spins.

*sigh* Whatever became of ladies' figure skating?

Someone in the ISU grew a brain and realised that it's totally sexist to assume that all women are flexible rubber bands?

I rejoice at the removal of the layback as a required spin.

 

[frida80]

They mention some things were approved to shorten competitions including one fewer jump pass for singles. I need more details on what was passed.

What the heck? Fewer for whom? Men or women? Imagine only six jumping passes in ladies FS. That's novice level. What next, shorten the long program? Ridiculous. This is a sport. Stamina is the name of the game. This will only make it easier for less technical but artistic skaters, who are better at spins, foot work, and choreographical sequences. I don't like it at all.

 

[Mathman]

Someone in the ISU grew a brain and realised that it's totally sexist to assume that all women are flexible rubber bands

You don't have to be extraordinarily flexible to do a satisfactory layback spin. What hurts your back is all the strange contorted positions required if you want to get "levels." If I were in charge I would say, do a straight layback spin, do a sit spin, do a camel spin.

As for the sexism charge, I do feel uncomfortable. I am sad that ladies' figure skating has essentially become men's figure skating except that ladies are not as good at men's figure skating as men are. To tell the truth, I have pretty much lost interest in ladies' skating altogether.

 

[Krislite]

Overall the right direction. Eliminating anonymous judging and voiding only individual jumps instead of the whole combo are the big ones.

The fall penalty won't make any difference. Very few fall more than twice in a single program.

The layback spin won't change anything either if it is in fact more valuable in base value than the new requirement. Every female skater skating now can do layback (for better or worse), so why give up the layback for lower points?

As for the rumored six jumping passes--this could be a positive in that it will REQUIRE a triple-triple for a skater to squeeze in seven triples (i.e. to maximize base value). The same with the men--to be able to repeat two different jumps, they'll need harder combos now. But is this new number confirmed?

 

[StitchMonkey]

The new number is confirmed... the change is.

Here is a summary http://static.isu.org/media/337734/isu_56_congress_decisions.pdf

the part relevant to us is

Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance The ISU Congress voted to abolish the anonymity of Judges in the Figure Skating Branch (including Single and Pair Skating, Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating)

The age limit of ISU Referees, Judges, Technical Controllers, Technical Specialists and Data &Replay Operators was unified to the maximum age of 70.

A number of proposals to shorten the Figure Skating competitions have been voted in, including the reduction of the number of jumps in Single and Pair Skating.

As of season 2018/19 there will be 11 Grades of Execution which will enable more possibilities in the evaluation of the quality of programs.

In order to ensure that the best placed Skaters following the Short Program / Dance are always in the final two or three in a draw group, the Congress agreed to a new draw procedure.​

So we know some reduction has happened, but we don't know the details. No idea when we will fine out for certain what the final word was. I would think less jumps would also mean shorter programs... but how knows.

 

[andromache]

So freaking MAD that programs have likely been shortened and that there will be a new draw procedure to ensure that the top 2-3 always get to skate last. Kill me. Way to further prevent people coming from behind to win a medal and make it easier for judges to "save" their best marks for last.

If the abolishment of anonymous judging comes at this price :noshake:.

If programs have NOT been shortened and the one less jump element will be substituted by a 2nd choreography sequence or something of that nature, I can live with that, I guess.

But seriously, changing the draw to ensure the top 3 after the SP skate last is unnecessary and seriously hurts the event in cases where the top 4/5/6 are very very very close to the top 3, like at the ladies LP at Worlds this year. Sure, let's hold back showstoppers like Ashley Wagner from bringing down the house at the end of the night because she skated early in the SP and didn't place top 3! NO!

Give everyone in the top 6 a fair shake at getting to skate later. Then again, this wouldn't matter so much if judges didn't hold back marks. Sigh.

ETA: If they want to shorten competitions by making people skate in the morning, I'm okay with that :agree:. It'll help skaters practice for the Olympics. (But maybe not great for attendance. Lose-lose, I guess.)

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

In order to ensure that the best placed Skaters following the Short Program / Dance are always in the final two or three in a draw group, the Congress agreed to a new draw procedure.

Why did they not go the whole hog and say "Right. FS starting order is fixed as the reverse order of the SP results"?!

I (and quite a few others) have been calling for that for years! Makes the competition a lot simpler to follow, and has the added bonus of building up the drama right to the end.

You don't get a situation like this year's Ladies competition at Worlds where you know for definite who has won when there are still 2 or 3 skaters still to go.

They do it like that in ski jumping and alpine skiing, and it means you always get an exciting finish.

Talk about a missed opportunity! :disapp:

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Spiral]

I must admit I don't really know anything about Dijkema, but I'm glad it'll be someone from the Netherlands rather than from France, because I think the ISU president shouldn't be from a country with Worlds' medals contenders.

Then again, I personally don't think Worlds or Olympics should be held in countries with medal contenders either. I'm so glad the pre-Olympics Worlds will be in Finland and the Olympics themselves in Korea.

And I'm glad that the number of jumps in singles' LPs will be reduced, because for many years now singles' LPs looked just packed with jumps, with not that much time for choreography. Nor will it remove the advatantage for skaters with high stamine, IMO, because there'll still be plenty of jumps left that they'll have to do. I think that seven jumping passes in men's LPs and six in the ladies' is quite enough. But pair skaters do only one parallel jump and one combo in LP, so I don't see why the number of their jumping passes has to be reduced.

 

[Winnie_20]

I must admit I don't really know anything about Dijkema, but I'm glad it'll be someone from the Netherlands rather than from France, because I think the ISU president shouldn't be from a country with Worlds' medals contenders.

Well, we don't have World medal contenders in figure skating, but all the more in speed skating... ;-)
But since there's no judging system there like with figure skating, that should be less of an issue.

Don't get too used to Jan Dijkema as president, however.

http://nos.nl/artikel/2110242-nieuwe-isu-preses-dijkema-wil-moderniseren-ik-kan-dit-niet-alleen.html

He says he'll be president for the next two years, for sure, but in 2018 there will be new elections and it's possible someone else will assume the title then. And as he's already 72 years old... The way he's quoted, I get the sense he may not even plan to be president longer than these two years.

 

[zebobes]

As for the rumored six jumping passes--this could be a positive in that it will REQUIRE a triple-triple for a skater to squeeze in seven triples (i.e. to maximize base value). The same with the men--to be able to repeat two different jumps, they'll need harder combos now. But is this new number confirmed?

If the men lost a jumping pass, that would put any skater who can do a triple-triple combo ending in toe, loop, and flip/salchow at a great advantage. Maybe this will bring the Loop combo back?

Also, out of curiosity, I've seen a person try in a practice vid do a Triple lutz - Double half loop - Triple salchow in practice before. Is this a valid IJS element? or can you only do Single half-loops?

 

[gkelly]

Also, out of curiosity, I've seen a person try in a practice vid do a Triple lutz - Double half loop - Triple salchow in practice before. Is this a valid IJS element? or can you only do Single half-loops?

Should be valid under the current rules. Half-loop in combinations is called as 1Lo, so double half loop would be called as 2Lo. And, like the single, also subject to < and << calls as applicable.

 

[Mathman]

Should be valid under the current rules.

Really? I am surprised at this. We are getting farther and farther away from the concept of a combination. (Also, aren't you on the wrong foot after two half-loops?)

Can you do three half-loops and get credit for a triple loop?

 

[solani]

A double half loop would raise base value of a half loop combinations by 1.3 points. And I imagine that it would look great. What could the ISU have against that concept, but why is nobody going for it? It sounds like something that Hanyu would go for immediatly if it would be allowed.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Personal pet peeve: I hate the term "half loop" and wish the jump had its own name altogether. Shouldn't a true "half loop" be when the skater goes into the jump as they would a "regular" loop, only does half a rotation in the air, and lands facing forward on the same foo as takeoff?

*grumble grumble groan mutter*

Ironically, I don't have a problem with the fact that there's also a turn called a loop.

 

[Mathman]

Personal pet peeve: I hate the term "half loop" and wish the jump had its own name altogether.

Euler?

 

[gkelly]

Really? I am surprised at this. We are getting farther and farther away from the concept of a combination. (Also, aren't you on the wrong foot after two half-loops?)

Can you do three half-loops and get credit for a triple loop?

I understoos double half loop to mean back outside takeofff two revolutions in the air land on other foot back inside edge ready to take off for salchow.

Two or more half loops in a row would require a change of foot so that would make a sequence not combo.

 

[SarahSynchro]

Euler?

The mathematician?