Re: Style Reversals in Programs
EllynK is right about how not all skaters are anatomically able to do a spread eagle as well as the other things she's brought up about a "to the T" choreographed compulsory program. But I've been thinking about a compulsory program replacing the Q round for singles and also the pairs skaters. The way they could get around the different entrances to jumps with which skaters are comfortable is by listing the jump, say a 3lp, but allowing for different entrances. As long as the entrance doesn't take up to much time in the music, I think there can be variation there, just like there will be variation between the skaters who jump clockwise and counterclockwise. As for the Lutz, I think every senior lady at an elite competition such as Worlds should be required to do a 3Lutz. However, a possible solution for those skaters down in the lower parts of the field could be to specify a "2 or 3Lutz." A 2Lutz would receive less points, however, but the skater would know that going in. The idea, IMO, is to give the skaters the same <em>essential</em> program but not the same <em>exact</em> program.
At ballet competitions, for example, where everyone is required to do the Petipa choreography for the "Don Quixote" (since somebody mentioned it
) pas de deux, you still never get every couple and dancer doing the exact same moves. Some guy might do nine pirouettes whereas another guy might only do five. But that's the kind of thing that's taken into account by the judges. Also, slight variations in musical interpretation--does the dancer do the steps exactly on the downbeat or does she make the artistic choice to delay slightly? Such things are considered by the judges. Some may like it, some not, but it's the chance the dancer takes.
Anyway, in figure skating, I think that with some thought and experimentation by choreographers who have long been working in the field, coaches, and former skaters, that compulsory programs could be designed that would accommodate the individual differences in everyone while still maintaining a certain standard of what senior level figure skaters should be able to do. As Joe said, the point would be to look at the quality of basics according to the COP. The list is on my other computer, but basically the choreography of the compulsory program would be designed to look at sureness, depth, and quality of edges; speed; entrance into a jump, correct take-off edge where applicable; body position and rotation in the air; body position on landing; and run-out on the proper edge. Given that there are quad jumps where the skaters have different entrances and different edges that don't affect the correctness of the jump, just leave that open as optional.
As for quads for the men in general, again, the skaters could be given an option: A 4toe or a 3Axel. The next year that particular complusory jump option could be, "A 4Salchow or a 3Axel." The compulsory is not to make all skaters equal, IMO. It's a program that I would make about three minutes long designed to set a standard. Not all skaters will be able to do all the elements. As a senior ladies skater who cannot do a 3Lutz, she will either have to do a 2Lutz or probably fall trying to do the 3Lutz. But I think if four or five jumps are included (I'm thinking five as including a fairly simple combination), that will live plenty of time for the choreographers to focus on things that would best allow the judges to compare skaters of similar ability but with different styles on basics. I'd love to see Irina and Michelle, just to name two, do a spiral sequence that neither has ever done before and see how they make the most out of the edges, body position, musicality, etc. Same with footwork, spin combinations, and overall interpretation of the program. BTW, I would have the ladies all wear the same costume: Black leotard and black skirt, no matter what the music is. Same with the men and pairs. Something very basic.
For me, the whole idea of doing one's LP as the Q Round just gives the judges a energy conserving version of the LP. The judges see some skaters very early in the morning, there is no audience, yet for the LP the skaters have been working on performance quality. I think it doesn't give the judges any more information about the skaters and it just tires out the skaters. A compulsory program might be boring to watch 25 skaters do the same three minute routine, but if seeded right so that skaters with similar capabilities are in the same group, judges could perhaps get a better idea of how deep Skater A's edges are compared to Skater B. How they compare on speed. Perhaps the judges may see that Skater A's strong point is holding positions whereas Skater B's strongpoint is the motion through the positions. Different approaches but in some judges minds, equally difficult. OTOH, some judges might prefer one style over another.
I would love to see compulsory programs used on a trial basis, say just with the GP series one year. Certainly there are a lot of problems to solve and questions to be addressed, but I have no doubt they could work and would make the whole competition, ie, compulsory, SP, and LP a much better total indicator of the skaters' total abilities.
Rgirl
urple;font-family:georgia;font-size:x-small;">I, too, have thought a compulsory program would be a great thing. While I have had the misfortunate of sitting through a dance CD, and it bored me senseless, it does allow you to see which teams are better. Really. And I hate dance. 
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figure skating wouldn't be the same without them. :lol: 
