- Joined
- Aug 23, 2003
Octavio Cinquanta killed pro skating competitions. Speedy was upset that the ISU made the skaters stars through the GP and the major ISU competitions, and then the pro tours and competitions cashed in on that stardom and the ISU got nothing. When the top skaters could make good prize money, and take paid touring gigs in the off-season, there was great incentive to stay eligible.
When the brightest stars continued to compete in ISU eligible skating, the pro ranks thinned. The ISU held "open" competitions for both pros and ISU eligible skaters. The aging pros were no competition for the ISU skaters who were at the peak of their abilities. The major US skating tours conflicted with the ISU competition season and skaters could not do both.
Last but certainly not least, the "post-whack" skating boom saw interest in figure skating, which had previously been a niche sport that the rest of the world cared about only in Olympic years, rise to the stratosphere. Every promoter out there with an interest in the sport was producing made for TV competitions with less than the top ranked pros, and questionable judging. The public lost interest quickly. Audiences declined. Figure skating fans have been casting blame ever since, but in reality, skating is returning to its niche.
When the brightest stars continued to compete in ISU eligible skating, the pro ranks thinned. The ISU held "open" competitions for both pros and ISU eligible skaters. The aging pros were no competition for the ISU skaters who were at the peak of their abilities. The major US skating tours conflicted with the ISU competition season and skaters could not do both.
Last but certainly not least, the "post-whack" skating boom saw interest in figure skating, which had previously been a niche sport that the rest of the world cared about only in Olympic years, rise to the stratosphere. Every promoter out there with an interest in the sport was producing made for TV competitions with less than the top ranked pros, and questionable judging. The public lost interest quickly. Audiences declined. Figure skating fans have been casting blame ever since, but in reality, skating is returning to its niche.