- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
After seeing some truly scary moments where a skater is severely injured by a skate blade, I had to ask: is it becoming ridiculous for skaters to (basically) be required to grab their blades? In spins, in lifts, in choreographic dance moves, there are increasing ways in which a skater can be sliced up. The amount of times I see a man's thigh being taped up with a bandage after lifting his partner on his leg. The amount of times a skater is sitting in kiss-and-cry being tended to, blood visible on their hands. Even programs being halted after a skater slices a hand during a spin.
The sport is already dangerous, and after seeing an increasing number of concussions (where typically the referee wont even stop the program) I worry that the ISU rules aren't taking into account how dangerous it is to be grabbing blades while twisting into contortionist positions. Often skaters wear thick gloves, but even then, gloves are not foolproof. Many fans are against gloves, saying they're ugly and distracting.
There isn't a way of grabbing the toe of the boot instead of the blade? Or grabbing the ankle?
The sport is already dangerous, and after seeing an increasing number of concussions (where typically the referee wont even stop the program) I worry that the ISU rules aren't taking into account how dangerous it is to be grabbing blades while twisting into contortionist positions. Often skaters wear thick gloves, but even then, gloves are not foolproof. Many fans are against gloves, saying they're ugly and distracting.
There isn't a way of grabbing the toe of the boot instead of the blade? Or grabbing the ankle?