Shocking news - proposal to eliminate short programs | Page 10 | Golden Skate

Shocking news - proposal to eliminate short programs

fairly4

Medalist
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
they should pay the judges through the sponsors. have sponsors pay the judge plane fare, & hotel rooms and maybe a meal or two.

that way the sponsors could go directly to the judges and the judges anomyously could tell them why/why not. and the sponsors through their product could tell the public more about the sport.

cheating/unfair, political . he is right about top down, but it effects all the competitions level b's, junior, seniors,
quid pro quo goes from one to the other.

it is harder to spot, but people notice it
 

OS

Sedated by Modonium
Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Well consider figure skating suppose to bring THE MOST money to ISU, they should consider double it. So it bring them even more money.
4 programs:

1 short program
1 long program
1 compulsary program (everyone skate to the same theme/music/style)
1 true free skate, where they can be as artistic or technical as they like.

Then half the no. of races for speed skating. Makes more sense no? :p
 

Icey

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 28, 2012
I would agree with eliminating the short program. Firstly, it would save the skater significant money (costume costs, choreography costs, ice time) . In addition, it would reduce the wear and tear on a skater"s body.
 

OS

Sedated by Modonium
Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
I would agree with eliminating the short program. Firstly, it would save the skater significant money (costume costs, choreography costs, ice time) . In addition, it would reduce the wear and tear on a skater"s body.

How about still have 4 events (double), all with individual gold medals. It is up to the skaters to decide which they want to enter. Some may want to enter all of them, some may only enter one. You will get more specialists skaters who can mold their skating in more diversified ways. They can also limit on the amount of entries per each event, and consider tweak the time so the 4 event can still take place on the same 2 days with maybe a day in between, or overlap with some other events. So you get more value for money.
 

aftertherain

Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 15, 2010
Haven't read the comments before this page, but how do we know that this isn't some ridiculous ploy by the ISU to get people yo forget the "REAL" problems it faces?
 

BusyMom

Medalist
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
I would agree with eliminating the short program. Firstly, it would save the skater significant money (costume costs, choreography costs, ice time) . In addition, it would reduce the wear and tear on a skater"s body.

For the one who could afford them, the costume and choreography costs are nothing. the one who couldn't, they normally use the second handed or borrowed ones anyway. the ice time and the coach fees will stay the same or even more because then you have no room for mistake so they have to work harder.

Also all the coaches will have to go harder on the younger kids because it will be the fight of technical supremacy. Since Mao first landed her 3A in Junior, it will be a norm to that faster than we want, even a quad in the boys competitions.

All the artistic in FS will be gone for good.
 

Meoima

Match Penalty
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Haven't read the comments before this page, but how do we know that this isn't some ridiculous ploy by the ISU to get people yo forget the "REAL" problems it faces?
They call it misdirection. But seriously, if the plans were true, lots of people here would go crazy.:slink:
 

CarneAsada

Medalist
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Well consider figure skating suppose to bring THE MOST money to ISU, they should consider double it. So it bring them even more money.
4 programs:

1 short program
1 long program
1 compulsary program (everyone skate to the same theme/music/style)
1 true free skate, where they can be as artistic or technical as they like.
It is an idea worth considering even if you are joking. After all in gymnastics we have qualifications, team finals, all-around, and event finals, so we have the potential to see the same routine from a gymnast 4 times. Compare that to 4 programs, all different. They can make the compulsory program the first segment, acting like qualifications or the old team compulsories in gymnastics. But I fail to see the point of having a short program and a long program. Wouldn't the combination of compulsory + long make the short program redundant? The other problem is that a "true free skate" would invite ridiculously crooked judging unless there were massive reforms of the ISU's judging panels (reforms they would never undertake). We would see Adelina Sotnikova winning every competition in Russia, your favorite possibility I'm sure. :)
 

OS

Sedated by Modonium
Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
It is an idea worth considering even if you are joking. After all in gymnastics we have qualifications, team finals, all-around, and event finals, so we have the potential to see the same routine from a gymnast 4 times. Compare that to 4 programs, all different. They can make the compulsory program the first segment, acting like qualifications or the old team compulsories in gymnastics. But I fail to see the point of having a short program and a long program. Wouldn't the combination of compulsory + long make the short program redundant? The other problem is that a "true free skate" would invite ridiculously crooked judging unless there were massive reforms of the ISU's judging panels (reforms they would never undertake). We would see Adelina Sotnikova winning every competition in Russia, your favorite possibility I'm sure. :)

Well I am only half joking. I honestly think spread the wealth may dilute all the corruption, manipulation. The sport need variety, diversity, need stars, breed specialists to really push the sport in different directions at its peak in interesting ways. Under the current system, you need to be a jack of all trades which is kind of who Yuna Kim has to become, that is why she ruled under the current system.

Part of the problem has always been too much demand and not enough supply can breed cheating/corruption/greed/jealousy etc.

I actually think true free skate can use the 6.0 system in the old format of non anonymous judging, who can do a Q&A press conference along with the medalist to remark on the performances/overall competition. The format can be re-tuned to different audience friendly style. So you have different things all happening at once. It makes the sport more interesting and a talking point. We need star judges also, judges people can trust. Maybe invite people like Katerina Witt, Kurt browning guest the panel as well etc. Broadcasters can then decide which competition they want to broadcast, buy rights to etc.. More product ranges / tariff for ISU to play with. It is easier to convince people buy the parts they want than buy the whole thing. That is IF money is the reason behind the letter.
 

Anna K.

Medalist
Joined
Feb 22, 2014
Country
Latvia
They call it misdirection. But seriously, if the plans were true, lots of people here would go crazy.:slink:

Misdirection or not but his plans are very likely to be true. He’s done it several times; plus, federations always were okay with that. Why should this time be different?
Except about that speed skating part: I think a petition for IOC from Dutch federation is already in making here :)
 

RABID

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Haven't read the comments before this page, but how do we know that this isn't some ridiculous ploy by the ISU to get people yo forget the "REAL" problems it faces?

I wonder about that also. It wouldn't be the first time such a strategy has been used.
 

Nadya

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
I would agree with eliminating the short program. Firstly, it would save the skater significant money (costume costs, choreography costs, ice time) . In addition, it would reduce the wear and tear on a skater"s body.
Don't be ridiculous. If the short program is eliminated, the skaters will still spend all their time training for the long program performance. And since without a short program the long program will decide whether they stand or fall, the pressure to do well during the program will increase, and they might even train more, knowing there is no way to regain ground lost in the short program.
 

capcomeback

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
While figure skating has definitely lost some shine, it is far more popular internationally than Speed Skating. As I'm sure that this has been discussed here ad nauseum, figure skating needs an international body that supports it's goals and aims. The ISU is antiquated and does not support the interest of FS. SS is a drag on the body, so we need a change.

While OC may have a business background, he is pretty tone deaf when it comes to what making figure skating popular. I say take Yuna Kim and make her the President of the International Figure Skating Association. Considering her age, she's a much more successful businessperson than Cinquenta and would have her sport's interest closer to her heart than "Speedy" would.
 

ILuvYuna

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
I would agree with eliminating the short program. Firstly, it would save the skater significant money (costume costs, choreography costs, ice time) . In addition, it would reduce the wear and tear on a skater"s body.

If you wanted to reduce wear and tear on the skater's body, it would make more sense to drop the free skate. Besides, a drop in cost to the skater corresponds to a drop in revenue for choreographers, dress makers, and ice rinks. A change in demand will always be followed by a change in price, that's just how it works. Not to mention that since they're training harder (free skate only means more triples and quads) they will get injured more often, which means the medical bills will be higher.

I'm doubtful that a decision like this would translate into any kind of health or financial benefit to the skaters.
 

WeakAnkles

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 1, 2011
Eh I think it is the equivalent of a smoke bomb to hide the real issue: problems with judging, starting with anonymous judging. And given the response here it seems to be working.
 

Poodlepal

On the Ice
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
I always liked this format (that I made up)
1. Jumping bee. Every skater has a chance to do each jump, with the option of a bonus jump (like a triple axel or a quad salchow, something that is not done by everyone). No music, just jumping.

2. Old-time program. No triples, just doubles, hanging axels, charlottes and all the things you never see any more that are really cool. It will only be graded in terms of performance and gracefulness, etc.

3. Regular free skate.

I might also bring back the old school figures, in a separate category. You hear all the time about how they were so unfair and did in Brian Orser, etc. But some people must have been good at them. They should do the figure 8's or whatever, and do a beautiful design that they could freeze and put on display for all the fans to see. Don't know where they'd get an extra rink, though, LOL!
 

capcomeback

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
I always liked this format (that I made up)
1. Jumping bee. Every skater has a chance to do each jump, with the option of a bonus jump (like a triple axel or a quad salchow, something that is not done by everyone). No music, just jumping.

2. Old-time program. No triples, just doubles, hanging axels, charlottes and all the things you never see any more that are really cool. It will only be graded in terms of performance and gracefulness, etc.

3. Regular free skate.

I might also bring back the old school figures, in a separate category. You hear all the time about how they were so unfair and did in Brian Orser, etc. But some people must have been good at them. They should do the figure 8's or whatever, and do a beautiful design that they could freeze and put on display for all the fans to see. Don't know where they'd get an extra rink, though, LOL!

If you want to work figures back in they could go in your section 2 (which will also incorporate, spins, spirals, footwork, turns, etc.)
 

cooper

Medalist
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
so.. in short speedy is trying to bribe the korean team in order for them to shut up..

Oh also towards the end of the letter: "Now, we are looking at the 2018 OWG of PyeongChang, Korea. If the ISU intends to include Mass Start for Speed Skating, the opinion of the Korean organizers is of course very important. In fact, we have to bear in mind that KSU (the ISU Member in Korea) would like to be entitled to enter one Pair (FS) and one Couple (ID) as organizing country, therefore the ISU is in front of a political decision. ISU might need the Korean support for Speed Skating (Mass Start) but at the same time Korea would need a help from the ISU for Pair and Couple. But there is another problem, I checked and I found that the ISU with the Rule 284.3 B) and 3 c) is granting for Short Track that the NOC of the Country organizing the OWG has the right to enter skaters and also Speed Skating Rule 209, 2 c, ii) grants the same right to skaters for the Pursuit Events."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...inquanta-letter-20140325,0,7309130,full.story
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I always liked this format (that I made up)
1. Jumping bee. Every skater has a chance to do each jump, with the option of a bonus jump (like a triple axel or a quad salchow, something that is not done by everyone). No music, just jumping.

2. Old-time program. No triples, just doubles, hanging axels, charlottes and all the things you never see any more that are really cool. It will only be graded in terms of performance and gracefulness, etc.

3. Regular free skate.

I might also bring back the old school figures, in a separate category. You hear all the time about how they were so unfair and did in Brian Orser, etc. But some people must have been good at them. They should do the figure 8's or whatever, and do a beautiful design that they could freeze and put on display for all the fans to see. Don't know where they'd get an extra rink, though, LOL!

There's a certain appeal to your format! I'm not sure I'd bring back school figures, though--or if I did, I wouldn't give it as much weight in the final score as it used to have.
 

tripletwizzle

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
I'd like to see the team event at the Olympics made into a fun jump-off, kinda like the NBA dunk contest...moved after the individual events of course.
 
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