I think even with < and << the jump is still counted as a triple because it was an attempt.
Yes.
The very first year or two of the new system they counted downgrades as the lower-value jump, but then there was a problem with a downgraded quad being counted as a triple, leading to too many triple toes in a program and throwing out one of the triple jump passes, which was not the intention, so they started using the < sign to note
And then a couple years ago they introduced the < vs. << distinction so that triples between 90 and 180 degrees short still ended up being worth more than doubles.
However, there's still no scoring advantage to doing a downgraded (<<) triple vs. doing an intentional double. If anything there's a disadvantage because it requires negative GOE whereas an intentional double is likely to earn 0 or positive GOE.
So if you
know that your jump is going to be at least 180 degrees short, you also know that you're going to lose points by trying it. If you're able to rotate it, or come closer than 180, at least half the time in practice, then it's a risk worth taking.
Otherwise, the only reason to try a jump in competition that you expect to be downgraded would be for practice, making it that much more likely you'll be able to land it when it counts next year or whenever in the future you develop the skill to rotate it fully or close enough -- assuming that time ever comes.
If the results of
this competition are important and you are pretty sure the jump is going to be downgraded, it would be throwing away points to try it.
(I'm not talking about Gold specifically, but general strategy for jumps that aren't quite ready for prime time yet.)
Very aware of the ur/dg rules. Just trying to add some comedy.
