2014 Finlandia Trophy

[Violet Bliss]

A skater is usually on the ice warming up while the previous skater awaits his/her marks. The clock only starts when the name is called. The skater then acknowledges the cheering crowd and takes the starting position. The new limit takes some adjusting and getting used to but it's not like there are only 30 seconds on the ice before the starting of the program. I hope we don't see many violations and deductions when the GP season starts.

 

[LRK]

Hopefully they will have got used to it by then - I do believe there have been a few more than usual so far this season? At least than I can recall having seen previously? I suppose the skaters must simply accustom themselves to starting counting to 20 - for safety's sake - from when they hear their name announced, and try to assume the starting position by then, so that they will have a few seconds to spare... or something.

(I'm not honestly sure how I feel about the new rule, or if I think it was necessary, but.... it is what it is.)

 

[karne]

Anyways, I think that it's the skater's responsibility to first of all practice getting into the starting position in under 30 seconds even without any clocks visible.

This.

Frankly, I think anyone who uses the "I couldn't see the clock/the clock wasn't working" as an excuse is pretty ordinary. It's no excuse. There aren't clocks at club comps. Maybe Misha should go back to a few club comps and see how he goes there. No fancy kiss n cry, no fancy clocks there.

Just get out on the ice and get on with it. I dislike all of the posturing that used to take place before a program anyway. No wonder they cut it down.

 

[jace93]

This.

Frankly, I think anyone who uses the "I couldn't see the clock/the clock wasn't working" as an excuse is pretty ordinary. It's no excuse. There aren't clocks at club comps. Maybe Misha should go back to a few club comps and see how he goes there. No fancy kiss n cry, no fancy clocks there.

Just get out on the ice and get on with it. I dislike all of the posturing that used to take place before a program anyway. No wonder they cut it down.

You do know that many used all that "posturing" to calm themselves, right?

 

[Violet Bliss]

The 30 second rule is just something new to get used to. Even veterans got docked for violations. I just don't like it to affect actual placing but don't think it will be an issue by the time "real" season begins.

 

[YesWay]

(I'm not honestly sure how I feel about the new rule, or if I think it was necessary, but.... it is what it is.)

Probably one of Speedy's "Brilliant Ideas" - because everything should be quick, right? Like a race? -_-
And because they want to hit the bar 5 minutes earlier?

I note that TV commentators seem to have the biggest struggles with the new 30 seconds start:

The TV footage generally remains on the replays and kiss & cry until a skater's score is announced and we get their reaction. Cameras cut to the next skater just as their name is called or slightly before. Commentators barely have time to spit out the skater's name, country, and age before the skater takes their position and the music starts (which is now significantly less than 30 seconds in most cases).

eg. Whats-his-face doing the skater introductions for the JGP keeps getting in a right fluster because of this.

For this reason alone, I wish they'd stick to 1 minute. Then the commentators (mostly) have time to give us some information and a bit of a build-up, and are not left still talking when the music starts :-/

~~~~~~~~~

PS. Had a brilliant time at Finlandia, excellent and entertaining competition. The medal winners were all worthy, and lots of the others seriously tried their hardest (especially Ge and Strid), and it was really great to see.

Very pleased for Rika Hongo, I hope she does well at her GP debut at Skate Canada. She (and many others) got hit by costly Lutz "e" violations, I hope she can fix that in the future. Efimenko was a revelation, another bright hope for Finland. Pleased for Voronov too, and Adam Rippon - he was so close to winning it...

The audience was generous to all skaters, of all nationalities. Many Japanese made the trip despite Hanyu withdrawing (true FS fans I guess), and there were not as many empty seats as I feared. Seems I appeared many times in the TV footage too

I wonder who was the poor lady in the Angry Bird Stella mascot costume? (I presume it was a lady, from the white skates)

I'll post photos soon - got a lot to sort through though, so posts will be spread over the coming days/weeks...

 

[TMC]

The 30 second rule is just something new to get used to. Even veterans got docked for violations. I just don't like it to affect actual placing but don't think it will be an issue by the time "real" season begins.

Yep - the first JGPs had more time violations in the protocols than not. Now we've seen some in the Senior Bs. By GP they will have it sorted and we won't see many at all. I'm hoping at least

 

[Sackie]

But we will still see them using the edge calls on skaters they want to keep down and none on those who they want at the top.

 

[Mrs. P]

But we will still see them using the edge calls on skaters they want to keep down and none on those who they want at the top.

Can you please name an example where this actually happened?

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

I just looked up every FS for the ladies JGP this year and every gold medalist recieved an (e) or (!) except Maria Sotskova who recieved no edge calls. The thing about Maria is she actually takes off on a correct edge.

 

[AnnaTheMusician]

We could see the clock, but Misha's starting position was facing the judges. Was there a countdown clock there that he could see?

Actually his starting position was facing the clock! He turned immediately when the music started. You can see the position and the clock showing 0:32 in this video.

 

[TMC]

Actually his starting position was facing the clock! He turned immediately when the music started. You can see the position and the clock showing 0:32 in this video.

Oh okay, got it wrong - again My memory is useless, thanks for the correction!

 

[AnnaTheMusician]

Oh okay, got it wrong - again My memory is useless, thanks for the correction!

Anytime We notice different things and it's always interesting to read everybody's aspects. Thanks for the great reportage, it was a pleasure to read! I always like to read different point of views with proper arguments. I would like to do that also but writing in English is too laborious to me. And there's no Finnish figure skating forums as far as I know...

 

[LittleBlueBird]

Can you please name an example where this actually happened?

Karen Chen's 3F. in video, I don't think she has wrong edge, but she got an 'e'.

at 4:42:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijD5zLgevWc

 

[Mrs. P]

Karen Chen's 3F. in video, I don't think she has wrong edge, but she got an 'e'.

at 4:42:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijD5zLgevWc

Chen has a lip. She's been called on it in every program and in every competition this season (and last season as well). I think she can get it to where it needs to be, but she does have a slight one for nwo.

 

[LittleBlueBird]

Chen has a lip. She's been called on it in every program and in every competition this season (and last season as well). I think she can get it to where it needs to be, but she does have a slight one for nwo.

If you compare Karen's 3F to Emiri NAGATA from Japan, I think Karen should get '!' and Emiri should get 'e'. Emiri's lip is so obvious in both her 3F and F but only got '!'. Technical Specialist can't make wrong edge calls just based upon skater's history. What if a skater has put lots of effort to correct wrong edge issue and still got wrong edge call because of her/his history. It's not fair. I'm just saying.
Emiri's 3F and F:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijD5zLgevWc
3F is at 3:39:25 and F is at 3:40:30

 

[karne]

Karen Chen's 3F. in video, I don't think she has wrong edge, but she got an 'e'.

at 4:42:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijD5zLgevWc

Really? You're accusing the tech panel of an evil conspiracy based on that camera angle?

Looking at it from that side, I'd have said "e" instantly. But I'd wager the front-on angle would give a better story.


As to Emeri, the jump at 3:39:25 is a 3Lz.

 

[LittleBlueBird]

As to Emeri, the jump at 3:39:25 is a 3Lz.

You are right. it's 3Lz. Sorry! My bad. So you think her F should be '!' not 'e'? since you are so sure that Karen's 3F is an 'e'.

 

[LittleBlueBird]

Really? You're accusing the tech panel of an evil conspiracy based on that camera angle?

One more question for you? When tech panel reviews skaters' jumps, spins and so on, the clips they watch are different from what we see in live stream? They have different cameras that shoot from different angles for review purpose? If not, I guess they need to base on what they have and try to make right call then.

 

[karne]

You are right. it's 3Lz. Sorry! My bad. So you think her F should be '!' not 'e'? since you are so sure that Karen's 3F is an 'e'.

I did not say that I was sure Karen's 3F was an e. I said that's what I would have called it on that camera angle. The front angle may have told a different story. As to Emeri, that F is a ! at best, a really strict caller might give it an e. It was a little hard to tell because so much was wrong with the jump.

I am not a tech spec (though I have sat with my share of them and listened to the fascinating conversations they have), and I am still having some difficulty wrapping my head around the ! and e.

One more question for you? When tech panel reviews skaters' jumps, spins and so on, the clips they watch are different from what we see in live stream? They have different cameras that shoot from different angles for review purpose? If not, I guess they need to base on what they have and try to make right call then.

Yes, the video will be different. The video the tech panel uses is recorded expressly for that purpose. They cannot access different angles, however. So yes, it sometimes happens that they will get a side on shot of a skater when a head-on would serve better. So they go with what they have. But to accuse them of conspiring against Chen because of a side on angle - without knowing what angle the tech panel had to look at - is absurd.