Is Skating Declining?

[Mafke]

whether it's the current skaters, or the COP influence, for me the beautiful skates of the past, were not just programs - they were performances - ... in which the whole became greater than the sum of it's parts. ... Now the parts equal the whole -

Yeah, a big problem I have with COP is that it's very hard to think of performances that end up being greater than the sum of their parts. Almost every COP program I've seen somehow ends up stubbornly remaining _less_ than the sum of its parts.

And I absolutely blame the judging system and not the skaters. There are some wonderfully talented skaters out there at present who I'm sure could do really great programs but COP keeps getting in the way. In the end, they're left with the choice of either _skating_ well or _scoring_ well as you can't really do both in COP.

At present in terms of pure skating skills CD's are probably the most interesting things out there and the ISU obviously trying to dump them.

 

[sillylionlove]

I think here in the US the cost also has something to do with it. If you want to see the competitions live, it costs to travel. You have to pay for airfare, the hotel, you have to eat. Plus the price of tickets is expensive and add that all together and many people can't afford to go.

And with many of the competitions being shown in tape delay and you can't afford to go to the real thing, people lose interest.

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Originally posted by Kathy:
for me the beautiful skates of the past, were not just programs - they were performances - heavily influenced by musicality, art, portrayal and theme - the fantastic athletics was almost hidden in the beauty - more like dance. I just haven't seen that in so long. And that truely is what made me a fan of figure skating. I loved the performances in which the whole became greater than the sum of it's parts.

Very well said...you put my thoughts and feelings into words with that statement!

I also agree with sillylionlove, cost has something to do with it.

And like so many other things, it took the big scandal of Harding/Kerrigan to draw attention to skating and create a surge of interest. That is so old news now it no longer is helping to draw in people who wouldn't otherwise pay attention to skating. And I admit...I am one of the people that WAS drawn to skating because of this scandal.

 

[gkelly]

My husband has been watching figure skating with me for years. While he is not a serious skating fan, he has some knowledge, more than the average viewer. He knows a messy program when he sees one that's for sure. A clean program is a thing of beauty, and now, a rare thing of beauty.

I'm just saying that clean programs have always been rare in fall competitions, especially the ladies' events.

Kwan was more consistent than most, but even she ended up winning several fall events just by making fewer mistakes than the rest of the field. And later in her career she didn't skate in the GP at all.

 

[Johar]

Another thing--it's a sport the common person can't strongly relate to. Many of us have driven a car, shot a basketball, swung a baseball bat, played football, kicked a soccer ball. Not many people have put on skates, let alone skated in a competition.

 

[alicelouise]

The Decline and hopefully not the Fall of Skating

One other factor that hasn't been mentioned is the lack of a strong American skater. Since 1965 there has almost always been an American Ladies competitor on the podium of Worlds/Olympic competitions. People in the US (the average viewer-not someone who accesses this forum) will watch skating to root for an American. If there is not strong American or one who has a chance; Ice Skating will go the way of Rhythmic Gymnastics.

The fact that the COP is set up to make Ice Skating as dull as possible with everyone having to have a cookie cutter routine doesn't help matters. Just look at Gymnastics. No one watches that either, again, unless there's an American contender come Olympic time. This is what the American Average Joe and Josephine wants to see.

The cost of tickets to a competitive event is a factor. It costs less to see Kurt Browning(superior skills everywhere) than to see the US Nationals. I know that Kurt Browning is going to put on a good show. We can't be sure with the US Nationals. I, myself, cannot get excited about skaters who might have a chance for Bronze on the World stage if the top worlds competitors falter in their Cookie Cutter routines.:chorus:

 

[attyfan]

Anyone know how well the Disson shows are doing? They might be a guide. If, for example, their TV ratings are not sinking the way the ratings for competitive events are sinking, then it would indicate that the problem is with the programs. If ticket sales are down, but the ratings unchanging, then it might indicate that cost is an issue -- and the extent to which cost is an issue is related more to the general economic situation. After all, IIRC, skating was at an all time high between '94 and '00 -- and the economy was doing real well at that time, also.

 

[JPierce]

- Incomprehensible scoring system
- Falls (usually) don't matter (unless they make you lose subsequent jumps in combination)
- Most programs look similar, to conform to CoP requirements
- No Michelle Kwan
- No Sasha Cohen
- No Dick Button / Peggy Fleming commentating
- Moved from ABC to NBC
- ESPN constantly pre-empts it with garbage like bull fighting or weightlifting

:thumbsup:

 

[cassieandcheetah]

It's the new judging system basically that's to blame....IMO.

 

[OldSkaterMom]

Here's something to show it is decling even more. COI tour has been canceled. It is dead because not being able to attract big enough audiences. Now that is a real shame for the amateur skaters because that was a way for them to make money to cover their expenses. I am hoping some other group will pick it up. I think again, the cost of tickets is the problem.

I also read an article today that said skating is dead because there are really no big name stars any longer, and that basically the US is dominating the field. Tht may sound weird, considering there was only one World medal last year. But there are 6 US representatives at the GPF.

I think Michelle Kwan's ten year (or more) reign actually hurt US skating, as much as I love her. There just isn't anybody right now that is her caliber. Caroline Zhang might rise to the occasion, and I think Kimmie Meissner is maturing.

The rivalry between Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir should stir up interest, and Evan is a fierce competitor. He is as sexy and good looking as all get out and an interesting skater. If he gets back on the podium at worlds, perhaps he could help generate more interest. I also think Belbin and Agosto are pretty fabulous.

I don't think you can say that all of the programs being skated today look the same, because they don't. That is just a generalization. There are some pretty exciting ones. I was at Skate America where programs were debuted for the first time. Kimmie Meissner, Takahashi, and Evan Lysacek all got standing O's for one of their programs. They were electrifying and fantastic. So it still can be done.

 

[JPierce]

COI isn't judged under CoP or judged at all. It's a show. As for Michelle, I can't even believe you would say her celebrity had a NEGATIVE impact on the sport. Good lord...

 

[Ladskater]

You and your husband must really be new to figure skating!!! A few years ago - with the old 6.0 system still in place - skating went through a phase where all the guys were falling all over the place - of course that is because they were trying to learn all the big jumps like the triple axel and then the quad. I think maybe this is happening now with the ladies. They are adding more diffcult jumps and jump combos to their programs to up the ante. No I don't think skaters falling is a sign that figure skating is declining. However, with the media cutting back in their broadcasting of skating events, this could cause a few fans to fall off the map. Let's hope figure skating never goes into a "decline!" Long live figure skating!!!!

 

[Tenorguy]

Skating Decline

Lots of excellent analysis here.

For me, most of the lady skaters while technically excellent, have almost nothing to say off the ice. They are quiet, disciplined atheletes but rather soulless. Sorry, Arakawa may have won the gold but her personality is cold.

16 year old skating machines don't really captivate my interests and many other Americans it seems.

Someone mentioned the move from ABC to ESPN; free over the air station to subscription cable. Trying to find scheduled skating in the States is tough with so much programming out there.

The days of Wide World of Sports is over for sure. Skating in the States was on ABC or it just wasn't on. I remember when Ice Wars appeared on NBC and it just seemed really weird to see skating on another channel.

I don't really know what we need; bigger "stars" or less-complicated skating competitions.

I do have a suggestion - the men have GOT to drop the sparkles and crap on the costumes..... I know I'm going to get heat, but the Euro gloves and the fringe and the fluttering tatters on the men's costumes need to GO. American men are not gorillas, but they aren't going to fall in deep fascination with most male skater's regaglia. Sad perhaps, but true. This is not Russia....

 

[Vincero]

As for Michelle, I can't even believe you would say her celebrity had a NEGATIVE impact on the sport. Good lord...

It is undeniable while she was skating as an amateur, amateur figure skating was huge, especially in America, because she was a strong competitor and a great skater.

However, now that she that she has left the sport, the shoes she has left for the new skaters to fill are simply too big. Currently, nobody in the ladies field is as dominant a force as she was. Espcially since the Asians are now on the top of the ladies' field, it's easy to understand why people might lose interest.

So I would say she had a positive impact when she was skating and a negative one after she left.

 

[JPierce]

I do have a suggestion - the men have GOT to drop the sparkles and crap on the costumes..... I know I'm going to get heat, but the Euro gloves and the fringe and the fluttering tatters on the men's costumes need to GO.

Well, Johnny Weir is pretty big with the ladies, and he doesn't exactly have "masculine" costumes. So I don't know where you can really go with that argument?

Now that (Michelle) has left the sport, the shoes she has left for the new skaters to fill are simply too big.

Of course she has left an empty space, as has Sasha to a significantly lesser extent, but answer this - would Michelle Kwan have been nearly as big a force under CoP? Most agree she wouldn't, especially not with this kind of asian competition. So in order for someone to even attempt to "fill Michelle's shoes", artistry needs to be rewarded once again, the kind of artistry that Michelle was known for. The problems kind of weave together, don't they...

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Well, Johnny Weir is pretty big with the ladies, and he doesn't exactly have "masculine" costumes. So I don't know where you can really go with that argument?

Tenorguy goes well with me on that argument. I wouldn't exactly say Johnny Weir is big with the ladies. He does well with the crowd of girls who watch Disney movies and Gilmore Girls, etc. He would make money by selling a Johnny paper doll booklet with paper cut outs of costume of rhinestones and bugel beads. Lots of his little girl fans would buy it in a pinch.

I am aware that many female fans (and some male fans, too) of figure skating enjoy discussing flamboyant costumes. It's all so cute. Isn't it?

Joe

 

[Germanice]

Just the opposite, it's raising ... full arenas, tremendous tv-rates and skaters with an-almost-superstar-status ... in Russia and Japan ...