However, the guidelines for positive GOE (from memory though so i might be wrong) does not include any commentary about highlighting musical punctuations,
The only elements for which music is mentioned in relation to positive GOEs for singles and pairs are step sequences.
http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=981
That doesn't mean that judges never take the musical timing of other elements into account in awarding positive GOEs, but they're not explicitly instructed to do so.
Elements fitting the timing and/or character of the music are mentioned a lot more often in the ice dance guidelines:
http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=1016
(bottom of pp. 26-30)
Thanks MM. I hope when I read them, that they will explain how one level is really more difficult than the next
An element with a higher level is more difficult than a lower level element because it contains more features. You need two features to earn level 2, three to earn level 3, four to earn level 4.
Now, some of the features are more difficult than others. They all add difficulty to the basic element, but some are not that difficult to achieve, and so almost everyone does them. Some are very difficult and so nobody or almost nobody does them. They all count as just one feature, so naturally the skaters tend to gravitate toward the easier features.
I suppose the Tech Specialists must follow the system without question.
Yup, that's their job.
btw, since the GoEs are also scored individually on performance , wouldn't their sum total be also a measure of Skating Ability in the PC scores?
The Skating Skills component mostly measures skills that are more demonstrated between the elements than within the elements. And all the Skating Skills criteria relate to what the blades are doing on the ice.
Many aspects of jumps and spins, or pair lifts etc., relate to what the skaters are doing above the ice, with the rest of their bodies and/or in mid air.
So there is some overlap between skating ability and quality of the elements, but there are also areas where they don't overlap at all.
That's why the scores are separate.
I think that's where MM is right in his post above. The GOEs grade the quality of the technical elements and therefore must logically be directly applicable to show the skating skills of the skater, however, i do not think that they do form any part of the PCS unless the judges look back over their scorecard after the performance and see the GOE they have given and use it to form the basis of the Skating Skills mark in the PCS they give.
I've heard some judges comment that if the program has negative GOEs on almost all the elements, they might lower the Performance/Execution component because the execution was weak. On the other hand, if most of the elements had +1s and +2s (or better), that might be a reason to reward superior execution in the PE component.
I would agree and disagree. Doing a forward spin on an outside edge is extremely difficult. It's also (IMO) not pretty except on a camel spin. Doing a backspin on an inside edge is one of themany possible beginner mistakes on a backspin so i'm not sure why it is considered to be difficult.
If the skater does a backspin on the forward inside edge because s/he is unable to spin on the back outside edge, s/he won't get credit for the feature. The feature is not for spinning on the forward edge, but for spinning on
both edges (at least 2 revolutions on each in the same basic position). Therefore the skater has to demonstrate ability to spin on the "correct" edge and ability to control the change of edge, which is indeed more difficult than spinning on only one edge or the other, whichever might be easier for that skater.
In my personal experience trying it on the ice, the back upright spin is indeed the easiest position to change edge on, and back sit the second easiest. However, changing edge in these positions is still more difficult than just staying on the back outside edge.
As I said above, some features are easier to achieve than others. But even the easier ones are more difficult than not doing any feature. And if you do it inadequately, the tech panel won't give you credit for the feature and the judges may give negative GOE. Although the fans might still notice the attempt and bemoan the preponderance of bad edge changes, etc.
They should wear striped knickers with that brimmed cap, like proper referees do. I did know that the TSs hadve no business in grading elements but they do acknowlege them and tell the judges whether the element was adequate or not, and give Levels as to difficulty. Very powerful people and yet so little time to reach a consensus, but they do. Do the fans agree? hmmm.
