ISU's Vision 2030: Will it succeed?

[moonvine]

https://www.wrbl.com/news/technology-news/ap-technology/ap-figure-skating-embraces-the-future-with-new-technology-modern-concepts-to-engage-athletes-and-fans/

 

[4everchan]

that's it ? LED and interviews ? sponsors visibility ? Did I miss something ? I read this fast because I was looking for other improvements like technology assisted judging and well.. i didn't see anything that is at the core of the sport, just some superficial make-up. Correct me please, if I am wrong

 

[moonvine]

that's it ? LED and interviews ? sponsors visibility ? Did I miss something ? I read this fast because I was looking for other improvements like technology assisted judging and well.. i didn't see anything that is at the core of the sport, just some superficial make-up. Correct me please, if I am wrong

They did say something about simplified rules,

But I think they are missing one of the things I, at least, love about skating. No one is “staring anyone down” in that chair. They are models of sportsmanship and that should be celebrated.

 

[moonvine]

I was actually thinking about this last night and it seems a lot of throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks.

I’d think the most important thing would be availability to watch after the event. They’re just turning it into more of a show.

Of course we are already fans. So I guess they figure, rightly, they’ve already got us. They want to get new watchers.

 

[TallyT]

No.

 

[yuumagical]

Hopefully the expanded use of technology means more cameras for the judges and technical panel to work from when analyzing jumps! One camera is simply not enough!

I find this quote to be particularly telling: "Nobody paid any attention to the ISU president because everybody wanted to see Penny, the dog."

 

[Flying Feijoa]

Regarding being interviewed 'the minute after their programs have concluded'... There were a couple of instances in this competition where I felt it would have been kinder not to (or at least to give the skaters more time to process their thoughts first).
I hope they are allowed to politely decline interviews if they wish without causing unnecessary fuss, because audience engagement shouldn't take precedence over skaters' mental wellbeing.

 

[reneerose]

As long as we don't have robots determining under rotations, I'm fine I would think skaters already have the power to decline an interview if they don't feel up to it. I just watched a clip where Yuma cried a bit when he was interviewed briefly by Japanese press after his Worlds free skate.

 

[TallyT]

As long as we don't have robots determining under rotations, I'm fine I would think skaters already have the power to decline an interview if they don't feel up to it. I just watched a clip where Yuma cried a bit when he was interviewed briefly by Japanese press after his Worlds free skate.

There were also some painfully intrusive reporters hounding Nathan Chen after his SP at Pyeongchang. I actually think that they should think of having a gatekeeper, so it's not on the skater (especially the young ones or those under such intense pressure as Nathan then and Yuma now) to say no when put on the spot.

 

[Andrina]

I think ISU could do way better to engage fans. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Give everyone the same music and see what kind of choreographies they will come with.

2. Let them use objects in their programs. For example, a broom. It would be especially entertaining for pairs and ice dancers.

3. Replace one of the partners in pairs and ice dance by a celebrity. Imagine how it would be if Lewis Gibson danced with Beyoncé to her own songs ?!

Seriously, there is no other way to engage fans but through getting rid of unfair judging. The only thing every fan wants is to not be treated like an idiot.

 

[reneerose]

I think ISU could do way better to engage fans. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Give everyone the same music and see what kind of choreographies they will come with.

I like 1. I would like to see that implemented at the next World Team Trophy. Sounds like it would be lots of fun!

 

[RobinA]

I've been engaged for years and am gradually becoming unengaged. And I HATE post performance interviews, I just cringe for those skaters. They can do whatever, but until they come up with a way of showing the excitement that used to happen when a 5.9 or 6.0 popped up after a well-executed killer program, a portion of the audience is one yawn away from flipping off the TV or taking a bathroom break. They started messing this up years ago when, post Tonya/Nancy, they decided to cash in (talking about the USFSA or whatever they call it now) instead of investing in the future. They jacked prices on everything and convinced many of us that we just don't have to see Champions on Ice anymore. They overdid the pro competitions, now there are none. Then there is the pricey security state that major competitions turned into. If skating doesn't want my money, plenty of others do.

 

[Mathman]

2. Let them use objects in their programs. For example, a broom. It would be especially entertaining for pairs and ice dancers.

And also seriously, I don't think I have EVER seen a program, not even in pros or exhibitions, where a prop contributed anything but a distraction. Not to mention dropping a cane, having a billowy swath of material fly up in your face, Akexei Urmanov tripping over his cape, Maxim Shabalin swinging Oksana Domnina around by a bungee cord at the Olympics, etc., etc., etc.

Wait, no, I take that back. Rudy Galindo's Send in the Clowns with a hoop -- that was great!

 

[Diana Delafield]

I think ISU could do way better to engage fans. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Give everyone the same music and see what kind of choreographies they will come with.

That's often done at smaller local competitions. For more advanced competitors, unless it was made an improv competition, they would have to be given the music with plenty of time to fit in choreography sessions and practice time, which means getting permission, getting a standard version cut, etc, even longer in advance. For dance tests where the same music is used for everyone, the music choice was made a long time ahead, years sometimes.

2. Let them use objects in their programs. For example, a broom. It would be especially entertaining for pairs and ice dancers.

Nononononono! Too hazardous for the skaters involved, and takes unnecessary clean-up time before the next skater, not just retrieving the object but making sure it didn't leave some bit of itself on the ice. The only time I've seen it work was Torvill and Dean's "hat program" where they kept switching the hat back and forth between themselves.

3. Replace one of the partners in pairs and ice dance by a celebrity. Imagine how it would be if Lewis Gibson danced with Beyoncé to her own songs ?!

That's already being done and has for many years with the TV skater-celebrity elimination series of competitions. Some combinations work (usually figure skater/hockey player matchups), some.....don't.

 

[Mathman]

I HATE post performance interviews, I just cringe for those skaters.

I was gutted when Amber Glenn had to give an interview right after the short program in Boston, and the interviewer asked, :So, what went wrong with the triple Axel?" Amber was able (barely, it seemed to me) to mumble out something about not getting enough vertical spring to get in the rotations.

She recovered her composure by the free skate, though and not only skated better but also seemed ab to put past disappointments behind her and to exhibit good sportsmanship to the other skaters as well.

By the way, no lady has ever won the Olympics with a program that featured a triple Axel. Not Midori Ito, not Mao Asada, not Mairai Nagasu, not Kamila Valieva (team event), not Wakaba Higuchi, not anybody.

 

[macy]

“'Skaters are the reason why this sport exists,' explained ISU president Jae Youl Kim"



Anyway...i hope whatever "simplifying the rules" means has no negative impact on the skaters or scoring and doesn't step us back 25 years. that one makes me a bit nervous. i have said for a long time figure skating needs to take a good look at gymnastics if they want to grow the sport. i don't think collegiate skating would ever be a big thing, but i think USFSA needs to either bring back some sort of pro competition or even a different kind of ice show besides stars on ice and really push the advertising and appeal to younger generations on social media. watching it has become so inaccessible and almost impossible...how do they expect to grow the sport when youtube streams are geoblocked, replays are only available on peacock for 2 days, it's not shown live on NBC or ESPN in the US anymore, and videos are almost immediately taken down from youtube? there's no visibility anymore. i can go on the USAG youtube channel and watch full NBC broadcasts of nationals from 15 years ago whenever i want.

 

[Alex D]

.how do they expect to grow the sport when youtube streams are geoblocked

A lot of sports companies do sell their rights to big sports broadcasting services like Sky, NBC, Bein, ESPN...

It brings a lot more money, than their free service on YT.

What the ISU could do is running their own network, like the WTA and ATP do. That being said, the rights would still be sold and it would just be blocked like YT now in certain countries.

 

[TallyT]

I think ISU could do way better to engage fans. Just a couple of ideas:

1. Give everyone the same music and see what kind of choreographies they will come with.

See the crowd's mad dash for the exit as Roxanne gears up for the 16th time..... oh dear, and the final flight would be skating to an empty rink (or just a few people dozing at the back).

“'Skaters are the reason why this sport exists,' explained ISU president Jae Youl Kim"

He had his fingers crossed behind his back, you just know it.

USFSA needs to either bring back some sort of pro competition

But who would they get to perform? What sort of prize money can they offer? Look at the international prizes for competitive skaters let alone domestic prizes vis-à-vis training costs...

 

[saine]

With regards to streams, the ISU has set up a paid stream for the World Synchro Championships this weekend instead of having it be on Youtube. They uploaded the individual videos for the short programs onto Youtube, with the streams only being on ISU TV (https://isutv.isu-skating.com/isu). ISU TV is on the SolidSport platform.

OneTeamMVMT brought attention to it and got a statement from the ISU. Apparently charging 229 SEK ($32.50 CAD) for a stream that is valid until May 1 is needed for increased production quality. OneTeamMVMT also posted that all ISU events next season will be hosted on ISU TV, so this will not be only for this event. It is also geoblocked in countries that have purchased broadcast rights, but those countries aren't necessarily showing the event.

 

[Alex D]

($32.50 CAD)

They did also show Lombardia and other events before. Sadly their archives seems to be only temporary, as Lomardia is already no longer available.

Not sure if 20 Euro per event is going to increase the viewership that is a bit expensive, especially if it´s limited to a few weeks of catch up, isn´t it? Sportdeutschland TV is also charging 20 Euro for Nebelhorn and Bavarian Open each.

Did many of you purchase these passes?