Alissa Czisny on the Hinged Figure Skating Boot

[Mathman]

This is what I contend no matter what the scoring style it is subjective and prefences will always go to the known skater.

ITA. For a skater in Alissa's position, she can put hersef out there by scoring well enough at Skate Canada next week to make the GP finals. But it won't be easy, with Rochette at home, Poykio, Kostner and Suguri (if Fumie is OK to skate).

A fourth place at Skate Canada should give her enough points to make the GP final and put herself on the map.

MM

 

[orchid]

ITA. For a skater in Alissa's position, she can put hersef out there by scoring well enough at Skate Canada next week to make the GP finals. But it won't be easy, with Rochette at home, Poykio, Kostner and Suguri (if Fumie is OK to skate).

A fourth place at Skate Canada should give her enough points to make the GP final and put herself on the map.

MM

Oohh, I don't think a 4th place is her future, more like on the podium. Based upon the sleepy performances of the international competitors thus far, including Canada, Alissa skates even close to the SA skate, right on top.

 

[R.D.]

ITA. For a skater in Alissa's position, she can put hersef out there by scoring well enough at Skate Canada next week to make the GP finals. But it won't be easy, with Rochette at home, Poykio, Kostner and Suguri (if Fumie is OK to skate).

A fourth place at Skate Canada should give her enough points to make the GP final and put herself on the map.

MM

Wow, with that lineup there's no way Czisny is taking silver again

Maybe she can hope for 4th or 5th place. I predict she might fall in the 5th-7th place percentile. Or am I just underestimating her? Anyway, I hope she does well. She's had one nightmare and one relatively good performance (still have yet to see it), two opposites. Who knows how it will go down at Skate Canada? She could have another meltdown, or she could raise it up again. We just don't know.

 

[orchid]

Wow, with that lineup there's no way Czisny is taking silver again

Maybe she can hope for 4th or 5th place. I predict she might fall in the 5th-7th place percentile. Or am I just underestimating her? Anyway, I hope she does well. She's had one nightmare and one relatively good performance (still have yet to see it), two opposites. Who knows how it will go down at Skate Canada? She could have another meltdown, or she could raise it up again. We just don't know.

Underestimating Alissa and OVERestimating the rest.

 

[Zanzibar]

As far as this hinged boot technology goes - which personally I love and hope to see catch on - here's an excerpt from an article I did in 'Falconer' earlier this year interviewing biomechanic specialistst on jumps, hinged boots, etc:

"They must have the strength to control the twisting motion on their skate and lower body when they attempt to land," says King, "otherwise they're going down."

Looking for ways to reduce the joint injuries that plague skaters from the repetitive landings on unforgiving ice-covered surfaces, researchers at the University of Delaware have redesigned the traditional figure skate with a new hinged boot that allows the wearers' ankles to flex in order to cushion their jump landings.

"The current boot is so rigid that it's like putting your ankle in a cast. It forces skaters to land flat-footed, which leads to the injuries you see so often-primarily to the joints," says Jim Richards, Distinguished Professor of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and director of the University's biomechanics laboratory.

"With the hinged design, you can land with your heel relatively high in the air, increasing the landing time and resulting in a lot less stress on the knees, hips and spine," Richards says. "The force of impact spikes to as much as eight to 10 times the person's body weight for a short period of time, which results in a lot of stress on the knees, hips, and spine. We can decrease the impact by 20-30 percent and that's a huge difference when it comes to avoiding injury."

There is some early indication that the hinged skate might improve skater's ability to jump, although researchers say an increase in performance was never their goal, just a bonus. Nevertheless, it's exciting news for competitors looking to push another jump frontier - the yet-to-be-accomplished five-rotation quintuple jump.

In the upcoming Rohene Ward Golden Skate interview he'll talk a bit about the boots as he uses them also.

 

[SK8LUVR]

Hinged skates

These skates are just a fad and time will tell to see if they can become something that everyone wants. Personally, I think they are ugly and I am glad that Alissa covers them. I sure did like her skate at Smart Ones Skate America. I hope that she does well at Skate Canada but I'm rooting for Joannie!!! Go Joannie Go!!!!!

 

[IDLERACER]

These skates are just a fad and time will tell to see if they can become something that everyone wants. Personally, I think they are ugly and I am glad that Alissa covers them.

Spoken like a true female. "Sensible shoes are ugly, I'm don't care if they cripple me, I'm going to wear four-inch high-heels and that's that!"

I guarantee you that at this very moment, John Nicks and Frank Carroll are frantically pacing back and forth in a cold sweat, asking themselves, "Damn, how can I get a hold of those things before the olympic trials!?"

This is it. I predict that within a couple of years, ordinary skate boots are going to go the way of the four-cornered roller skate and the vinyl Lp, and you won't be able to give 'em away.​

 

[pollyls]

Spoken like a true female. "Sensible shoes are ugly, I'm don't care if they cripple me, I'm going to wear four-inch high-heels and that's that!"

Hey hey hey, Idleracer. I don't agree with your characterization of "a true female". I haven't worn high heels since 1989. They are bad for the feet/legs, and I won't torture my body for fashion.

Maybe you mean "a true fashion victim". You can have any kind of plumbing and be one of those.​

 

[pollyls]

And before we get too far off-topic, I am so excited about the hinged boot,s and so excited that someone of Alissa's caliber is skating in them. May technology march on and keep reducing injuries among our beloved skaters.

 

[backspin]

The Jackson hinged boot is available to anyone who wants a pair--they're in the Rainbo Catalog: http://www.rainbosports.com/shop/site/product.cfm?id=0CF27061-D610-7E99-D22B54B2BB89DB78 They're very expensive, as boots go (for example, a pair of women's is $600.00--by comparison a pair of custom made Klingbeils is $500.00). Actually, competitors couldn't be wearing them if they weren't available to anyone & everyone--that's in the rule book.

They are quite ugly, & anyone I've seen wearing them covers them completely with their tights (or pants in the case of a guy). Say what you want about "girls want pretty shoes" but presentation is a big part of skating & there's no getting away from that fact that you have to look good, & these skates are pretty clunky. Though not quite as bad as the photo in the previous link--those were a prototype.

The only person I know who's currently wearing them is an ice dancer, who likes them because they allow for unlimited knee bend.

 

[R.D.]

I was wondering about this (whether they were available to everyone), because if they were only available to certain people that would give those people an unfair advantage over others. The boots were designed to reduce injury, but do they REALLY help with jump consistency? I think we have to wait and see on that one.

 

[Frau Muller]

The HFSB will be, to figure skating, what the 'clacker skater' was to speed-skating & the "V position" was to ski-jumping a few years ago. Here's the problem: how many skaters will try to jump on the "HFSB Wagon" now, to get used to them in time for Olympics? Will the anticipated Mad Dash to adopt the HFSB cause its own spate of injuries. Remember - Alissa Czisny said that it took her six months (since last April) to get accustomed to the new boots.

Are there six months between now & the Turin Olympics? No - there's about 3.5 months; less than that for Nationals & Europeans.

p.s. - I remember the Mad Dash to change to the clacker skate in speedskating, not so long ago. Anyone else remember? With the old stationary speed skates, it was instantaneous "Now you see them - now you don't!"

 

[Sylvia]

In the upcoming Rohene Ward Golden Skate interview he'll talk a bit about the boots as he uses them also.

Yes, Ward only just switched to the new hinged boots last month and the good news is that he has been landing triple axels and quad toe combos in them.

 

[Mathman]

How many skaters will try to jump on the "HFSB Wagon" now, to get used to them in time for Olympics?

Hey, I bet that's the real reason Michelle and Sasha bailed from the grand prix -- they got some new hinged boots and need the time to get used to them! :agree:

p.s. - I remember the Mad Dash to change to the clacker skate in speedskating, not so long ago. Anyone else remember? With the old stationary speed skates, it was instantaneous "Now you see them - now you don't!"

I remember their Olympic debut (1998?) In the timed races every skater who competed broke the old world record, only to have his time beaten in turn by the very next skater. Talk about 15 minutes of fame, LOL.

 

[backspin]

The boots have been available since at least last winter that I can remember. And they've been talked about for a long time--they were in development for a couple of years at UD & the skating world was very aware of it. This was not a surprise that got sprung at Skate America. If a skater hasn't switched to them at this point, they're not likely to (for this season anyway).

 

[Bijoux]

Again, jumps, jumps, jumps. When Alissa skates at Nats, and I hope, stands up all her jumps, her spins will BLOW Sasha right off the frozen water. Compare edging in the spins, Sasha FLAT, Alissa deep. Glorious !! Anyone can see the difference and appreciate the skating from the schmaltz.

Alissa's grace and beautiful presentation will overall garner more points than Kimmie's *** one time so far*** triple axel.

MM: How did you determine her boots didn't support her 3 jumps? The rest of the ladies struggled with the traditional skates.

Alissa won't blow Sasha away, but Michelle should worry Good question on the boots helping with jumps.

 

[Bijoux]

I wish I could be confident about this. At Skate America, Alissa's glorious zowie! presentation gave her an advantage of only twenty-four hundredths of a point in PCS over Elena Sokolova's sleepwalk.

MM.

well put! She was a snooze!

 

[Frau Muller]

The boots have been available since at least last winter that I can remember. And they've been talked about for a long time--they were in development for a couple of years at UD & the skating world was very aware of it. This was not a surprise that got sprung at Skate America. If a skater hasn't switched to them at this point, they're not likely to (for this season anyway).

The clackers in speedskating were available before 1998 but the majority of competitors didn't catch-on til the 97/98 season.

 

[Piel]

I was awfully impressed with Allisa. I think she is every bit as flexible as Sasha, looks more mature, is as charismatic as Kwan. and has a 3/3. Just when I thought I might become a nonfan if Kwan retires along comes a skater who has the best of Cohen, Kwan, and Slutskaya without any of their weaknesses. When she becomes consistent with the jumps she could be unbeatale.

 

[Bijoux]

I was awfully impressed with Allisa. I think she is every bit as flexible as Sasha, looks more mature, is as charismatic as Kwan. and has a 3/3. Just when I thought I might become a nonfan if Kwan retires along comes a skater who has the best of Cohen, Kwan, and Slutskaya without any of their weaknesses. When she becomes consistent with the jumps she could be unbeatale.

why piel, you are gushing! as charismatic as kwan? that's almost well, heretical!hope the other kwaniacs don't attack you!