Weighting the artistic side higher has caused problems with the development of younger skaters too. When the artistic side of the mark was getting more attention many pipelines of very young skaters moved away from increasing their jumping arsenal to include more jumps with more revolutions. When the concept of increasing points for attempted jumps factored in, many formerly promising skaters were left in the dust. Somehow they're going to have to really work on a concept that hits the sweet spot for both sides -- and more than that clean up their judging all the way around.
The Russian ladies long program last night offers another perspective. No jumps at all until second half of program to boost the bonus score on each, resulting in a second half of the program with no attempt at artistry or choreography whatsoever, merely jump, after jump, after jump, after jump . . .
Well, they weren't all that promising if they couldn't keep up and were left in the dust, IMO.
I've been watching figure skating since the 1972 Olympics and still can't tell the difference between a lutz and flip. I've seen diagrams and read explanations, but it's all Greek to me, so I sit back and enjoy watching.
I liked when they showed the score from each judge rather than just the total.
For a right handed (CCW) skater:
All jumps are landed on outside edge of right skate.
Waltz/Axel - forward take-off left skate outside edge
All other jumps backwards take off:
Toe loop - skating backwards on right foot outside edge, left skate jammed into ice with toepick for take-off
Loop - skating backwards on right foot outside edge for take-off (note - a loop takes off and lands on same skate edge)
Salchow - skating backwards on left foot inside edge for take-off, most skaters do a 3-turn into the jump.
Flip - skating backwards on left inside edge (like the salchow) but toepick with right foot for takeoff
Lutz -skating backwards on left outside edge, which is going opposite the jump direction. Right foot toepick just like flip.
The loop and salchow don't have the toe-pick like the toe loop, flip and lutz.
The loop takes off and lands on same foot and edge.
The salchow goes from one foot to the other.
The toe loop is a loop with a toe-pick assist.
The lutz and flip have the same feet, just the entry edge is opposite - inside for flip, outside for lutz.
It's kind of rude to say 'it's all Greek to me' BTW.
It is not a sport if:
1. Scoring is primarily decided by judges;
2. It requires a costume instead of a uniform;
3. Makeup and/or glitter are involved;
4. It is performed to music; or
5. You can smoke a cigarette while doing it.
If any of these apply it may be considered an athletic competition, performance art or an active hobby.
So men's hockey is a sport, but women's hockey isn't. I dare you to go tell the USA women's hockey team that in person.
Call me weird, but I really enjoy biathlon. There’s such strategy - ski too hard and you’ll be out of breath & miss your targets. Ski too slow and you lose the race. And it’s such a goofy concept for a sport anyway! Loved seeing the 50th ranked guy take the silver!!
Not a goofy concept - it's from Norwegian military training.
They did amazing. Johnny Weir said they were the only ones who made the team due to merit.
And you believe anything that comes out of Weir's brain?
I think that's partially true.
However, I honestly didn't even remember Tessa & Scott from Sochi. I just barely watched Davis & White.
Figure Skating used to be my favorite Winter Olympic event. However, I don't know if I've changed or if the sport changed because over the last couple of Olympics, I found figure skating to be somewhat boring. I wasn't as invested in any of the routines.
This year the pairs & dancing gained my interest again due to the couples like Virtue & Moir.
I remember watching all the routines in Lillehammer (Gordeeva & Grinkov!) & just loving them... it seemed the routines were more passionate & dramatic. I don't even remember who the Americans were, but I was rooting for Gordeeva & Grinkov then. I also loved Katarina Witt. And there was a Russian dancing pair I remember & the girl had this beautiful flame-red hair - their routines were so passionate & beautiful.
In Vancouver, I do remember the Canadian pair - Jamie Sale & her partner (can't remember his name) & really liking them.
Oh, & remember the Canadian pair from years ago - His name was Lloyd & I can't remember her name, but I loved them too.
For me, I need some drama & passion to go w/ my figure skating. LOL! That's why the Shib Sibs just don't really interest me. They're very talented, & I wish them well. I'm just more interested in the other couples.
This time around in the pairs, I loved the French couple who skated to Disturbed's "Sound of Silence".
So, you are a fan of the 'waist up' skating. I suggest going to the ballet?
I tried watching the Olympics one night and got turned off by NBC's identity politics crap. I tried watching skating another night and got turned off by Tara's yaping. She won the Oympics on a fluke at age 15 and then never competed again....and there are no words to describe Johnny....what's with the hair. I used to compete in figure skating as a kid and teen, but I'm lost with the new scoring. I think this is worst coverage I've ever seen of any Olympic games. Whats weird is how empty the stands are. Big loss for S. Korea.
I agree with some of this - Lipinski and Weir are horrible commentators. Both are very under-educated, ignorant, entitled oddities. Lipinski is 35 years old, and has had so many injections that she looks inflated, plastic. It's sad. Weir is just self-centered and obnoxious. I turned off the women's short program because they were inane and clueless. They couldn't even call half of the jumps. Not impressed. I miss Dick Button.
I used to get annoyed by Tara and Johnny Weir, but now I like them and they make me laugh. I much prefer their honest critique versus fluff. Heck, I am way more critical of the skaters' performances than they are. Yes, Tara won by having her performance of a lifetime and was smart to just retire knowing she would probably never duplicate her gold medal win. However, she also was suffering from many injuries that required surgery after her retirement.
I miss listening to Dick Button and Peggy Fleming commentate. Dick could often be very critical, but I loved him for it. If he didn't like a spin position, he would say it - "That's a very unattractive position", "That camel spin was almost somewhat acceptable." He was great!
Tara wouldn't have made it out of nationals if she was skating now - her under-rotated jumps (by at least half a rotation sometimes) and her low to the ground roller skating technique (which gave her the injuries) shouldn't have been given the value they were even back then. She got lucky, by one judge, I think?
I too, miss Dick Button. Not Peggy Fleming. I met her once and she was less than gracious. Actually, she was nasty. Scott Hamilton is awesome, Sarah Hughes is a sweetheart, but Peggy Fleming? Nope. Kurt Browning? Adorable and sweet. Sasha Cohen? Obnoxious. The stories I could tell about her!