It is strange that she would praise school figures, since they often held her back.
Well, I don't know the term for bracket turn in Russian... I wouldn't expect Russian speakers (don't know that Baiul knows Ukrainian) to know it in English
...
Viktor Kudriavtsev, ... said girls should EXPECT to lose their jumps during their body changes ... The better their jump technique was prior to puberty, the more easily they'll regain the jumps.
That is an excellent point. I handn't thought of it exactly like that before, but it makes sense.Second, the problem here is that skaters (esp young ladies) are under huge pressure to 'learn' multi-rotational jumps before they have the control of edges and turns they need to do them right. So they learn wonky technique that sort of works when they're built like stringbeans and weigh next to nothing (and have lax coaches and/or testers). Then they never can do the jumps reliably (or right) after puberty.
The word is "скобка" which translates as, surprisingly enough, "bracket"! (Not all elements translate so easily, for example the "rocker" is "крюк", which literally translates as a "hook".)Well, I don't know the term for bracket turn in Russian... I wouldn't expect Russian speakers (don't know that Baiul knows Ukrainian) to know it in English unless they were coaching English speakers, taking from English-speaking teacher, etc.
The word is "скобка" which translates as, surprisingly enough, "bracket"! (Not all elements translate so easily, for example the "rocker" is "крюк", which literally translates as a "hook".)
This must be true as triples are worth approximately 3 times as much as doubles and I haven't seen any doubles get high GOEs.Second, the problem here is that skaters (esp young ladies) are under huge pressure to 'learn' multi-rotational jumps before they have the control of edges and turns they need to do them right.
Okay, but is figures the answer? From what admittedly little I've seen, retaining the wonky technique can be explained by lesser athleticism rather than by lesser training. And I think the "puberty monster" thing has been overstated by others. Look at the current biggest jumpers among the ladies: Yuna, Kostner, and Asada. Being taller is a good thing for skaters. The bad thing is being wider. To minimize the negatives of puberty I suspect that seeking a nutritionist rather than a figures coach would work better. Was Baiul's weaker jumping due to lesser athleticism or the lack of figures?So they learn wonky technique that sort of works when they're built like stringbeans and weigh next to nothing (and have lax coaches and/or testers). Then they never can do the jumps reliably (or right) after puberty.
I've been working on a comprehensive list to help me (and perhaps others) with accurate translations. The link is here - http://ptichkafs.livejournal.com/31616.html. Please keep in mind, though, that it is totally a "work in progress".Cool! What about 3, counter, loop, paragraph and serpentine (or change as in change loop)? (seriously I love learning stuff like this)
I haven't seen any doubles get high GOEs.
Okay, but is figures the answer? From what admittedly little I've seen, retaining the wonky technique can be explained by lesser athleticism rather than by lesser training. ... Was Baiul's weaker jumping due to lesser athleticism or the lack of figures?
First, I was making an oblique reference to a story told by Boitano - he was practicing bracket turns and post OGM Baiul (watching) didn't know what they were and couldn't do them when she tried (not surprising that she couldn't do them first time she tried, jaw droppingly shocking that she could win OGM without ever having to learn them).
Second, the problem here is that skaters (esp young ladies) are under huge pressure to 'learn' multi-rotational jumps before they have the control of edges and turns they need to do them right. So they learn wonky technique that sort of works when they're built like stringbeans and weigh next to nothing (and have lax coaches and/or testers). Then they never can do the jumps reliably (or right) after puberty.
That first point is so interesting. Theoretically it should be possible to do a beautiful double jump that would get positive GOE scores in reality judges (and the jump queens among the fans) seem to regard doubles as wasted jumping elements. A change I'd love to see would be to require at least one jumping pass in the LP have no more than two revolutions.
Given the economic and time realities, figures are certainly not a cure-all but for most skaters they teach control of edges and turns better than anything else.
One of Lynn's points (I have no idea if she's right or nuts) is that besides the skills they teach, figures are also good as a healthy warm-up (lots of skaters seem to agree with this) and in long-term muscle conditioning so that a figures trained skater is less likely to succumb to (non-accident related) injuries. In that light (if Lynn's right) Baiul's lesser athleticism is a direct result of not being trained in figures at all.
Except for the 2A which I occasionally forget is a double. Otherwise, the ladies usually tack on anemic 2T's and 2Lo's and the rare triple opened up to a double.Theoretically it should be possible to do a beautiful double jump that would get positive GOE scores in reality judges (and the jump queens among the fans) seem to regard doubles as wasted jumping elements. A change I'd love to see would be to require at least one jumping pass in the LP have no more than two revolutions.