International Skating Union

Dragonlady · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 3662 Location: Edge of reason

In spite of all of the discussion about rule changes the ISU was about to pass (changes in scoring, more points for quads, etc.) these are the things which really did pass, as taken from the ISU website:

http://www.isu.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-308030-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html

Nahanni · Joined: 23 Nov 2009 Posts: 9 Location: The North

Thanks DL, but don't plan your happy dance quite yet! Birth Certificates are easy to change as we found out at the 2008 Summer Olympics gymnatics competition.

Seriously, does anyone know the details on qualifying round eligiblity and the reduction in the number of competitors? I have visions of the new rules evolving into a situation where there are only 15 skaters in the free skate representing only 6 or 7 countries. Not good!

tennisfan · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 807

LillyElfi · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 7

Only people from bigger federations think that this qualifying rule is a good rule! All other fans from the smaller skating federations are in shock that this rule has passed! Crying or Very sad

This minimum standard rule is really bad for figure skating, because many skaters from smaller countries would never reach that minimum score, the bottom line is, that this federation will lost the interest in figure skating and give up!
Thank you ISU! Mad

tennisfan · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 807

LillyElfi · Joined: 07 Oct 2009 Posts: 7

Have you ever thought, that the training standard is much higher in USA than in other countries?
It makes no difference, if the skaters are import or grow up in that country they represent.
Only the import skaters allows a small federation to grow, because it gives more motivation to the skaters from this smaller country.

Eladola · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 612

I must say i agree with LillyElfi ,
Though i admit i don't enjoy watching lower level skaters and don't persue their careers , This is a BAD decision .

ClockwiseSpinner · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 153

So, that's it? No changes in the scores?
I suppose we're gonna have to prepare for another year without quads...

loveskating · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 677

nowthen · Joined: 27 Feb 2010 Posts: 84

Well the last three world champions and the current Olympic champion didn't do even one quad among them so its obvious that the people in charge of the sport don't want to see quads anymore.

Culturegeek · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 486 Location: Canada

I think it's more obvious that they don't want to see the quad at the expense of everything else. But I also think that the changes mentioned earlier will come about next season, as I believe they fall under a different heading then these ones.

NoJumpinBean · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

Smaller Federations buying skaters without the talent to "make it" in their country of origin does not enhance the talent of the new country- in fact often it undermines the motivation of local talent. The alien skaters have the majority of local money thrown at them to the detrement of the locals. They seldom repay this with any form of loyality when they are no longer competing leaving the fedration who supported them with little to show for their money. These skaters often only reside in their country of adoption long enough to satisfy rules then return abroad to train and return only to qualify to represent the new federation.

Coming from a small federation we have seen it in both figure skating and speed and it has not assisted the development in any way.

I am aware that the majority of members of this forum are only interested the "big players" (North America and Europe) without much thought to skaters who battle local bias against skating and when they make onto the international scene they fight the polical bias on the judging panels.

So folks spare us a thought when forming opinions on shutting home grown skaters from small federations out of ISU Championships

Dragonlady · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 3662 Location: Edge of reason

JimSlate71 · Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 118

Dragonlady · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 3662 Location: Edge of reason

harvey · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 174 Location: Naples, Fl.

My take is that although Yuna (This year) was crowned justifiably above all others, the ability to defeat her is monumental at best considering the lead she will have achieved from the judges, callers, etc in future competitions. The suggestion to “Eliminate? (or downplay)” Mao’s 3A from her program(s) however (IMHO) is unjustified since I’ve NEVER seen any ladies skaters land them as consistently and cleanly she does (in pratices and compeitions), and now that it’s allowed in the short program it should help her within the current scoring system (If she can land it while achieving high levels in other elements and skating to appropriate choreography).
Note: I’m an UberFan of both Yuna and Mao (and some others that don't belong in this thread ), but from watching practices and competition this past season I think that Yuna’s confidence and consistency, clean landings,and edges AND SPEED will still defeat Mao’s best efforts but it's going to be an interesting seasoin to watch and I hope that Mao 'Closes the Gap".

Dragonlady · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 3662 Location: Edge of reason

Harvey, you're not fit to carry water for either the Mao or Yuna ubers. You're far tooo sane and reasonable. You don't post endlessly of the wonders and perfection of either skater, endlessly slag other skaters, argue that blatant under-rotations were rotated, and last but certainly not least, I don't think you've created and posted video tributes to either on YouTube.

I like both of them too, but admit to favouring Mao, slightly. Mao was the sole reason I went to Jr. Worlds in 2005. I was afraid that all of that jumping would destroy her body at a such young age that she might not make it to seniors or ever achieve her true potential but she seems to have survived it well. Yu-Na has been less durable.

I think this rivalry, like the Kwan/Slutskaya and Yagudin/Plushenko rivalry at the turn of the century, is the greatest thing possible for the sport. When you have two such amazing skaters trying to top one another, it drives the two of them to the highest levels of achievement. The same can be said of Davis & White and Virtue & Moir. And we get to sit in our seats and be amazed by all of them.

tennisfan · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 807

Hear, Hear Dragonlady. Couldn't agree more - wish more people could appreciate the positives of both skaters and enjoy the fact that we have two such talented skaters at the top of women's skating.

harvey · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 174 Location: Naples, Fl.

Thank you DL Very Happy

I consider it to be a quite high honor. (Even though by the way your post started out I thought I was about to be "Dissed"). I also agree on the D/W / V/M "Rivalry". That's another example of why I devote all of my "Vacations" to attending ISU competitions, and much of my (Now limited) time to keeping up with news in the skating world. I'm anxiously awaiting the start of the next season and those 2 referenced rivalries are at the the top of my list of things to watch (And critique (At least by reading others' comments)) in the upcoming year.

loveskating · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 677

I love and ADORE V&M and D&W (and Domina and Shabalin too and some others)... but I cannot for the life of me figure out why I don't care that much about either Mao or Yu Na? Its like "fine fine", ok, ok. Just being honest, sorry if I offend, I don't mean to.

Mao does sometime get to me, but not that much.

I don't think another rivalry like that would be good for skating at all. I don't think this "zero sum game" approach in a global economy is anything but a massive loser. The best thing would be if a lot of different people won, gee, like, basd on the actual skating?