2023-24 British and Irish Figure Skating

[Ruthypegs]

That is exactly the same as I feel about it.

I know it was their baby, but I am surprised that Jayne and Chris stuck with it when they saw what it had become. They are serious Ice Dancers. They have the medals to prove it. If I had been them, I would have been walking out as soon as it became apparent that it was not going to be about promoting Ice Dancing, but more about promoting the celebrities taking part.

No harm to the skaters, but one thing I find hard to accept is the number of Pairs skaters that take part in the series. This is supposed to be a series that promotes Ice Dancing. So, why do they have skaters on it for whom Ice Dancing is not their speciality? It just increases confusion amongst the general public about Pairs Skating and Ice Dancing being two totally different thingss.

But, at least it gets ice skating onto mainstream TV. Even if it does not really relate to the sport that we love.

It would be interesting to know how many of the kids coming through now were inspired to take up the sport by watching "Dancing On Ice"; how many were inspired by watching the sport on TV; and how many took it up after going to the local ice rink with their friends and finding they liked it. I wonder if the Fed have ever done that sort of survey. If they haven't, they should. It would be fascinating to find out. And then we could properly assess whether the series has had a positive impact on the sport in these islands.

CaroLiza_fan

I'm sure I read somewhere that Lewis Gibson was inspired to take up figure skating by "Dancing on Ice", so it's great that it's inspired people to take up figure skating.

(I've tried to enjoy watching it, but it's cheesier than a fondue.....)

 

[FlossieH]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Lewis Gibson was inspired to take up figure skating by "Dancing on Ice", so it's great that it's inspired people to take up figure skating.

(I've tried to enjoy watching it, but it's cheesier than a fondue.....)

Yes, I'd heard that it was what made him switch from football to trying ice skating. I seem to recall that it was from watching Torvill and Dean dancing on the show. if correct, that would maybe suggest a need for more proper skating on the show, not less.

 

[skatingguy]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Lewis Gibson was inspired to take up figure skating by "Dancing on Ice", so it's great that it's inspired people to take up figure skating.

(I've tried to enjoy watching it, but it's cheesier than a fondue.....)

All the hardcore ice dance fans will be forever caught between loving Torvill & Dean, and hating that they are ultimately responsible for the 'Rocky' free dance winning Europeans.

 

[thatdarncat]

I don't know, I think that the nation has a lot of fondness and respect for Michael (Eddie). It's usually the Coronation Street stars who get the furthest based on the popular vote rather than skating ability. I'm not overly convinced that Love Island is much of a plus point!

And I really wish there was more focus on the skating journeys and, well, actual skating rather than just bints being carried around or flung into adagio pair tricks. (I absolutely loathe that bounce spin that they call "the headbanger".)

I have seen Eddie the Eagle at Bristol, thought he was looking pretty good, being a sports person he is clearly still competitive and wants to put the training in.

 

[FlossieH]

I have seen Eddie the Eagle at Bristol, thought he was looking pretty good, being a sports person he is clearly still competitive and wants to put the training in.

I don't doubt that he's been putting the work in and is probably looking decent - he knows what is involved in being an elite athlete, albeit in a different sport. My point was that popularity and image are more important on the show than is skating ability or skills.

 

[DSQ]

Looks like we are blocked again in the UK from the YouTube streams.

 

[FlossieH]

Looks like we are blocked again in the UK from the YouTube streams.

VPN set to Sweden is showing the upcoming streams. The ISUs page about coverage is out of date. They aren't remembering the Eurosport no longer cover us. They had us listed for Eurosport coverage for the GP series as well and then corrected it after the first week. They don't seem to have anyone to contact about it.

 

[CelticRose22]

A lot of people have been messaging the ISU on Insta and Twitter. Let's see if that helps. At work and can't use a VPN on my work devices - had wanted to watch some of the action (just in my Lunch break of course )

 

[ladyjane]

Well, NOS would stream for us Dutchies, but they are saying the livestream is still to begin (which can't be true), the ISU have put a stream on Facebook but not on their You tube site (you can watch the Men's FS from last year World's on there) and obviously Eurosport is out. Such fun!

 

[DSQ]

A lot of people have been messaging the ISU on Insta and Twitter. Let's see if that helps. At work and can't use a VPN on my work devices - had wanted to watch some of the action (just in my Lunch break of course )

Looks like this may have worked as it has been unblocked.

 

[CelticRose22]

Good news the Geo Block has been lifted. Will have to catch up; sounds like good performances from the British Pairs.

 

[FlossieH]

Excellent. Thanks to everyone who contacted them. I tried via facebook messenger but haven't had a response - it was some sort of development group I messaged, but they were the FB contact on the link on the main ISU website.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

The ISAI have put up a link to a very interesting and comprehensive story that was in today's Irish Examiner about the quest to build an ice rink Down South:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-41305576.html

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CelticRose22]

So I believe that results in Kaunas mean that GB have retained 2 Pairs spots for next year and number of Ice Dance spots has reduced from 3 to 2.

 

[throw_triple_flip]

That is exactly the same as I feel about it.

I know it was their baby, but I am surprised that Jayne and Chris stuck with it when they saw what it had become. They are serious Ice Dancers. They have the medals to prove it. If I had been them, I would have been walking out as soon as it became apparent that it was not going to be about promoting Ice Dancing, but more about promoting the celebrities taking part.

No harm to the skaters, but one thing I find hard to accept is the number of Pairs skaters that take part in the series. This is supposed to be a series that promotes Ice Dancing. So, why do they have skaters on it for whom Ice Dancing is not their speciality? It just increases confusion amongst the general public about Pairs Skating and Ice Dancing being two totally different thingss.

But, at least it gets ice skating onto mainstream TV. Even if it does not really relate to the sport that we love.

It would be interesting to know how many of the kids coming through now were inspired to take up the sport by watching "Dancing On Ice"; how many were inspired by watching the sport on TV; and how many took it up after going to the local ice rink with their friends and finding they liked it. I wonder if the Fed have ever done that sort of survey. If they haven't, they should. It would be fascinating to find out. And then we could properly assess whether the series has had a positive impact on the sport in these islands.

CaroLiza_fan

Why would anyone expect an on ice cheapo ripoff of Strictly to be focused promoting ice dance over z list celebs?

It might have the nice effect of getting a few more people to try skating. They've also given a gig to some professionals. Competing skaters, including juniors have been on there. But even if that wasn't the case, they aren't martyrs to the cause of ice dance. Perhaps they enjoy their jobs. Or the money?


(I can't stand the show myself).

 

[skatingguy]

So I believe that results in Kaunas mean that GB have retained 2 Pairs spots for next year and number of Ice Dance spots has reduced from 3 to 2.

Yes.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Seems like forever since I last did one of these!

Everything from the Youth Olympics is being shown LIVE on Discovery+ / the Eurosport website.

The TV Guide on Discovery+ only goes a week in advance. However, I was able to get a further week’s worth of broadcasts by going through the “Upcoming” section at the bottom of the pages for the livestreams.

If there are any more broadcasts after 1st February that may involve figure skaters (Gala, Closing Ceremony), I’ll edit them in when they become available.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan


British Eurosport (All times GMT)

Friday 19th January 2024
DISC+ 10:55 – 12:23 Opening Ceremony LIVE

Saturday 27th January 2024
DISC+ 04:25 – 05:28 Pairs Short LIVE
DISC+ 06:55 – 09:38 Men’s Short LIVE

Sunday 28th January 2024
DISC+ 04:25 – 06:13 Short Dance LIVE
DISC+ 07:05 – 09:48 Ladies Short LIVE

Monday 29th January 2024
DISC+ 02:25 – 03:48 Pairs Free LIVE
DISC+ 04:55 – 08:08 Men’s Free LIVE

Tuesday 30th January 2024
DISC+ 02:25 – 04:53 Free Dance LIVE
DISC+ 05:25 – 08:38 Ladies Free LIVE

Thurday 1st February 2024
DISC+ 02:25 – 08:33 Team Event LIVE
DISC+ 10:57 – 11:48 Closing Ceremony LIVE

 

[FlossieH]

Interesting. I guess they must be counting it as 'Olympics' rather than 'Figure skating'! I wonder where on their website it will be...

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Interesting. I guess they must be counting it as 'Olympics' rather than 'Figure skating'! I wonder where on their website it will be...

That is what caught me out, because I went to the Figure Skating page first, and it only had the remaining archived streams from last season. But then I went into the Sports Schedule page, and looked at tomorrow and spotted the Opening Ceremony. And, as I said, I found the rest of the streams in the "Upcoming" section at the bottom of that steam's page.

HOWEVER, all the streams have now disappeared. Well, from Discovery+ anyway. Because they are still listed on the Schedule page on the Eurosport website.

I made a bad mistake. I was looking them up in private browsing, because I thought it would make it easier to keep track of what I had watched if I didn't have things in my history that I hadn't watched yet. But it means that I don't now have the address for tomorrow's Opening Ceremony. And after finding out that the Volvo Open Cup was on SolidSports, I had been planning to watch the Opening Ceremong after coming home from the dentist's.

Hopefully it is only a temporary mistake, and the streams will return by the time things kick off tomorrow.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[FlossieH]

Eurosport/Discovery do have the Olympics broadcasting rights for the UK, so we do have a chance that they might show the skating.

On the Eurosport player page (UK view) the opening ceremony is listed for 10:55-12:23 (weird end time!) tomorrow. They have some WYOG speed skating listed for the day after, which is making me hopeful for our figure skating.