A look back at Compulsory Figures

[janetfan]

I came across this at Blazing Blades and thought it offered an interesting look back at figures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbwiLcbwGoo


Back when skating was still about figure skating we didn't see much of this on TV.

It's interesting now looking back at Dorothy and Carlo but not sure if I ever could have watched the whole field doing their figures at an event.

With today's tecnology figures could be more interesting to watch or atleast to see a hi-def view of the actual tracings.
Figure scoring was full of politics and unlike freeskating fans had very little to go on.

 

[blue dog]

I came across this at Blazing Blades and thought it offered an interesting look back at figures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbwiLcbwGoo


Back when skating was still about figure skating we didn't see much of this on TV.

It's interesting now looking back at Dorothy and Carlo but not sure if I ever could have watched the whole field doing their figures at an event.

With today's tecnology figures could be more interesting to watch or atleast to see a hi-def view of the actual tracings.
Figure scoring was full of politics and unlike freeskating fans had very little to go on.

With today's technology, figures could actually be the "fairest" stage of the competition. Imagine a computer measuring speed, edge depth, axis, etc. It would also be easier for a computer to judge whether a skater's turns were clean, or whether they eked out their bracket, three turn, etc.

 

[janetfan]

With today's technology, figures could actually be the "fairest" stage of the competition. Imagine a computer measuring speed, edge depth, axis, etc. It would also be easier for a computer to judge whether a skater's turns were clean, or whether they eked out their bracket, three turn, etc.

I agree but not sure how the anonymous judging would hold up against such scrutiny.
Would ISU really ever consider something that would interfere with the politicing and favoritism?

I would supsect better use of technology shared with the fans would only happen over Speedy's dead body.

 

[Binthere]

Anonymous judging would have NEVER held up! Bahahaha. From my days of competing figures, a gabillion years ago, I would have wished for anonymous judging since being the "Oriental" girl back then sure did me no favors, even though my figures were "Asian" precise (haha!).

 

[brightphoton]

Compulsory figures? Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. About as exciting as those compulsory exercises gymnasts used to do.

 

[Binthere]

Compulsories in gymnastics could at least be masterful as an actual performance. Think Nadia on bars in Montreal. Figures, everyone looked like they were being tortured... and they WERE!

 

[Tinymavy15]

uhhh thank god I didn't skate back then. and I thought MITF were boring and tedious.

 

[silverpond]

Compulsory school figures were the real "figures" in figure skating. The intricate figure eights, brackets, "paragraphs", and other combinations of the basic figure eight were a big part of the singles competitions until they were eliminated from national and international competitions after the 1990 competitive season.

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since this aspect of competition ceased to exist. At least I'm assuming there are no longer competitions including compulsory figures, but perhaps there are??

School figures used to comprise 60 percent of the score, with 40 percent for the free skating -- prior to the short program, i.e. Great figures skaters raked up so many points after the figures they were practically assured of a medal, provided that their free skating skills were good. Peggy Fleming was a master at both, and she won her US, World, and Olympic titles with a comfortable margin. One of the best compulsory skaters of all time, Beatrix Schuba of Austria, won two World titles (1971,1972) and the 1972 Olympic gold medal, by piling up a huge lead after the figures, despite having relatively weak free skating skills.

I've never skated "figures", so I'm just hazarding a guess that many skaters let out a high sigh of relief after the ISU removed the figures from competitions. So many pre-dawn hours were spent tracing the figures in freezing-cold ice rinks. Not much fun, was it??

I dug out my copy of "Magic Moments on Ice", which included footage of Ulrich Salchow skating the figures. He was skating outside, wearing knickers and a sweater, and he skated those figures really fast.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Compulsory figures? Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. About as exciting as those compulsory exercises gymnasts used to do.

OT Daniela Silivas of Romania was a Queen in cumpolsory gymnastics exercises. Hers actually soared, looked elegant and magical imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOuNBMnh3ik&feature=related


Back OT No they weren't exciting but I feel the pain of no compulsory figures today, and I hardly even remember them. So much has been lost it seems in control of edges, speed etc. when it comes to some skaters anyway.

I think they are still competing figures in some areas-just for fun obviously. I believe I saw some European figures competition video on youtube a couple years back. I'll try and dig it up.

ETA-Found it!:

Mountain Cup 2007 - compulsory figures (bracket)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxgR_Cx52-s

Mountain Cup 2007 - compulsory figures (counter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVOKNPNeqZI&feature=related

Mountain Cup 2007 - compulsory figures (loop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5wois3E5cg&feature=related

Yes, history can be boring kiddies but you should know the history of your sport! Learn it! Know it!

Compulsory school figures were the real "figures" in figure skating. The intricate figure eights, brackets, "paragraphs", and other combinations of the basic figure eight were a big part of the singles competitions until they were eliminated from national and international competitions after the 1990 competitive season.

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since this aspect of competition ceased to exist. At least I'm assuming there are no longer competitions including compulsory figures, but perhaps there are??

School figures used to comprise 60 percent of the score, with 40 percent for the free skating -- prior to the short program, i.e. Great figures skaters raked up so many points after the figures they were practically assured of a medal, provided that their free skating skills were good. Peggy Fleming was a master at both, and she won her US, World, and Olympic titles with a comfortable margin. One of the best compulsory skaters of all time, Beatrix Schuba of Austria, won two World titles (1971,1972) and the 1972 Olympic gold medal, by piling up a huge lead after the figures, despite having relatively weak free skating skills.

I've never skated "figures", so I'm just hazarding a guess that many skaters let out a high sigh of relief after the ISU removed the figures from competitions. So many pre-dawn hours were spent tracing the figures in freezing-cold ice rinks. Not much fun, was it??

I dug out my copy of "Magic Moments on Ice", which included footage of Ulrich Salchow skating the figures. He was skating outside, wearing knickers and a sweater, and he skated those figures really fast.

Ulrich Salchow looked like some Olympic God on Ice imo.

 

[Spun Silver]

Wow, thanks for the intro to Daniela Silivas. What an utterly phenomenal athlete. Her ballon, conditioning, line, extension, control - everything is astounding. Whoa Nellie!

 

[Olympia]

Agreed! It's a pleasure to see Silivas go through her paces. There's something immensely appealing about such precision.

I was amazed when I first learned that Peggy Fleming was such a whiz at figures. The first two "artistic" skaters who moved me among ladies' competitors were Fleming and Janet Lynn. I encountered them as pro skaters first, and I read Janet Lynn's autobiography, Peace + Love. Because Lynn was strong in artistry and less so in figures, I assumed that Fleming was also not a figures specialist. (I assumed you had to be one or the other.) Then I found out that she won her Olympics because she had built up such a lead in figures that no one could catch her. Her free skate was good but not as spectacular as she was capable of, according to her. Knowing that she excelled in both aspects of skating gave me even more respect for her. (Of course I also think highly of Janet Lynn, despite her less-than-stellar school figures. Who could feel anything but enthusiasm for such a splendid free skater?)

 

[dorispulaski]

Trixi Schuba skates figures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SscrUDzeDcs

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

From what I understand about Ice Skating - there were two early Sports developed: Racing and Barrel Jumping, but they did not satisfy the growing public who went as couples to the ice ponds.

Eventually, early skaters began to cut circles into the ice and did various turns on them. The circles having been done in both directions formed an Eight. Organizers of a new sport gave these circles with their variety of turns on one foot (threes, brackets, loops, etc.) separate numbers for judging with factors for difficulties. Other early skaters began to spin and jump on the ice which gave way to the free skating. Organizers combined the two into one sport.

In my day, Barbara Ann Scot of Canada was celebrated as the leading shool figure skater in the media and the popular magazine of the time, LIFE showd photos of her figures after three repeats of the same figure atop of each other. The photo showed one image of the tested figure after three repeats. Amazing!

There is Sport in plain figure skating, and it never should have been combined with free skating. Boring? Certainly for some who are more interested criticizing free skating's specious emotional values. But hey, I'm bored with Basketball.

 

[janetfan]

There is Sport in plain figure skating, and it never should have been combined with free skating. Boring? Certainly for some who are more interested criticizing free skating's specious emotional values. But hey, I'm bored with Basketball.

The whole post was interesting and it made me think of skiing and snowboarding.

In skiing we do have a combined event but basically the glory and prestigious medals go to the best downhill skiier and then the best slalom skiier.
Snowboarding is a newer sport but there are many ways to win a medal in snowboarding and it is not combined into one event.

Skating seems to have evolved differently and maybe because it was intially a sport for the elites.

I think Joesitz is right when he impies skating compulsory figures and skating freestyle are totally different disciplines with no logical reason to combine them.

Going back in time I wonder if Sonja won so many titles because her figures were untouchable or because her freeskating was the best :think:

Certaily when Dick Button won back to back OGM's along with a streak of WC's a big part was that he revolutionized the sport through his jumps.

If skating had been split by then would Button have won double medals? Meaning would he have been the best at figures and at freeskating?
I am sure his freeskating was untouchable back in his time but not sure where he would have placed in figures.


I dunno, the sport used to be about the disciline of tracing figures on the ice. Some say that is an artform unto itself and others say it is boring.

Part of me wishes figures were still a part of skating competitions - maybe 10-15 % because I still watch a skater like Kadavy or Trenary and see such beautiful edges. Watch Rachael skate and as she plods along the ice it is easy enough to see her skating skills can't begin to compare with skaters from the past.

On the other hand when I watch Mao I see such beautiful blade control and watching Yuna I see such effortless speed with great edges.

Moral of the story is that Frank is right and it is a CRIME that Rachael is considered Mirai's equal at US Natls when there is such a world of difference between the way they use blades on ice.

One has considerable skill and the other is sorely lacking. Watching Mirai skate faster on one foot than Rachael does on two feet, watching the way Mirai has such superior edges and balance is what skating used to be about.

But what does Frank know :think:

 

[blue dog]

Joe, I think you may have a point. When ice skating did away with figures, its sister, roller skating decided to keep figures as a separate event. Roller skating contests would have a figures champ, a freestyle champ, and then an all-around champ (who participated in both).

I agree with those who say they should either never have been taken away, or should be brought back in a minimal fashion. Moves in the field are good, but figures also teaches you carriage and discipline. Luckily, my coach is a believer in moves and figures, and insists everytime I have a coaching session that we spend at least half of it on moves.

 

[mskater93]

When ice skating did away with figures, its sister, roller skating decided to keep figures as a separate event. Roller skating contests would have a figures champ, a freestyle champ, and then an all-around champ (who participated in both).

I agree with those who say they should either never have been taken away, or should be brought back in a minimal fashion. Moves in the field are good, but figures also teaches you carriage and discipline. Luckily, my coach is a believer in moves and figures, and insists everytime I have a coaching session that we spend at least half of it on moves.

US Figure Skating maintained figures after they were eliminated from World level competition for a few years as a separate qualifying structure and eventually, the last figure was skated at a National level event competitively at US Adult Nationals in 2000 in Lake Placid. Results from that Adult Nationals available in this link: http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=24871

There's an all figures competition in Portland that's in it's third season this year in the summer. Mountain Cup has contested figures (and there's been some highly entertaining video of people being served Mimosas on the ice when completed by a waiter).

Figures not only teach carriage and discipline they also build your core and teach edge and balance that you don't need to pass moves tests.

 

[seniorita]

From what I understand about Ice Skating - there were two early Sports developed: Racing and Barrel Jumping, but they did not satisfy the growing public who went as couples to the ice ponds.

Eventually, early skaters began to cut circles into the ice and did various turns on them. The circles having been done in both directions formed an Eight. Organizers of a new sport gave these circles with their variety of turns on one foot (threes, brackets, loops, etc.) separate numbers for judging with factors for difficulties. Other early skaters began to spin and jump on the ice which gave way to the free skating. Organizers combined the two into one sport.

In my day, Barbara Ann Scot of Canada was celebrated as the leading shool figure skater in the media and the popular magazine of the time, LIFE showd photos of her figures after three repeats of the same figure atop of each other. The photo showed one image of the tested figure after three repeats. Amazing!

There is Sport in plain figure skating, and it never should have been combined with free skating. Boring? Certainly for some who are more interested criticizing free skating's specious emotional values. But hey, I'm bored with Basketball.

That was a nice story! And I will certainly make a petition to bring Ice barrel jumping back!

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Wow, thanks for the intro to Daniela Silivas. What an utterly phenomenal athlete. Her ballon, conditioning, line, extension, control - everything is astounding. Whoa Nellie!

Indeed she was. Her Olympic compulsories (especially bars and fx) were quite dreamy to watch as well:
Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV9yY3rVAzo
Floor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpW2qjAm5Y4
Not surprizingly she scored a perfect 10.00 on both those routines. She wasn't too shabby in optionals either taking 6 out of 6 medals at those Olympics-the only athlete I think to sweep (3 golds, 2 silver, and 1 bronze).

Ah for the days of the communist era-when they (allegedly) practiced ballet at least an hour a day to supplement their artistics sport-just as the Soviet figure skaters did. Sigh.. Minus the alleged beatings/abuse of course..

Back OT Trixie truly was the Queen of Figures. She was fortunate they held so much weight in her day.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

^^^
Training with any dance form will improve a student's free style. It doesn't have to be ballet. All dance forms have body line.

 

[mskater93]

^^^
Training with any dance form will improve a student's free style. It doesn't have to be ballet. All dance forms have body line.

While all dance forms may improve a skaters' style, not all dance forms focus on body line that is considered appealing in figure skating. My choreographer has demanded that I take ballet in order to work on my presentation through my shoulders and upper back as well as to gain core strength (although he requires me to do yoga for core and relaxtion as well. Can someone tell me when I will have time for my job at this rate? ). I threw out some other options (there's also a jazz/modern class on another evening along with hip hop at the same studio) but he ranked them thus:
1) Ballet
--------
--------
--------
--------
--------
5) Modern/jazz
6) Tap
7) Hip hop

He said once I have gained that effortless look that the best skaters have, then I can take up another dance form. I guess I'll be in ballet awhile.