ISU Communication No. 1504

Subject: ISU Communication No. 1504 Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:43 am

Yup. Another one! I feel really bad for the choreographers and the staff involved in skating. X.X

http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=980

The most interesting change that will come out as a result of this communication is the idea of a "well balanced free program." In order for this to happen, free programs will need to have one LESS element resulting in:

a) Senior both Men and Ladies: maximum of three (3) spins, one of which must be a spin combination, one a flying spin and one a spin with only one position;
b) Junior Men: maximum of one (1) step sequence;
c) Junior Ladies: maximum of one (1) step sequence and no any Spiral Sequence;
d) Senior and Junior Pairs: maximum of 1 Step Sequence and no Spiral Sequence (seasons 2008-2009, 2010-2011);
maximum of 1 Sequence of Spirals and no Step Sequence (season 2009-2010).

There's also some changes in penalizing flutzes/lips.
1. The Technical Panel will use the sign “ e ” (edge) for severe cases of wrong take-off edge (long wrong edge, no correct edge at all etc.); in these cases GOE of the Judges must be reduced by –1 to – 3 and must be negative.
2. The Technical Panel will use the sign “ ! ” (attention) in cases when a wrong take-off edge is short or not so obvious; in these cases the decision on the GOE is at the discretion of every Judge.

For the most part, I like these changes. One less spin in the Free Program will give some much needed time for skaters to add more choreo, and the requirement of one spin being held in one position ONLY might be interesting to see in competition (I wonder which one Mao will pick). The idea of "attention" in addition to the "e" rule is also nice for those who do flutz/lip but not so severely, although the GOE is at the discretion of every judge...making it either good or bad.

But then again...maybe making the guidelines in scoring high levels on step sequences should be addressed first before removing a spin in the Free Program, because now so many skaters (especially in the ladies) do similar straightlines and with the exception of a few (like Mao) really drag it out and execute it really really badly.

The guidelines for a Balanced Free Program in junior ladies is rather awful too, because they won't be able to perform a spiral at all!
ETA:

Quote :: They can still do a spiral, it just won't count in their TES, but in PCS (TR) instead.

Thanks for the clarification Inskate! I really appreciate you pointing it out.

What do you guys think?
Smile

Dedicated Mao Fan Posts : 1298 Join date : 2007-10-29

I was about to write abouth this too; I just had to try and digest the information, because all those new rules are really confusing. I really feel bad for the skaters/choreographers/coaches. Unconscious

Most of the changes I like, though I wish they would be made known to public sooner. I wonder if some skaters have had the programs already choreographed before the announcement and will be forced to change the choreo to match the new rules. I think Mao should be safe, no? If I'm not mistaken, they announced the rule changes before her LP was choreographed, and the new rules affect long program the most.

But I feel bad for the skaters like Nobu (who's had his programs choreographed last season) or Miki (who's rumoured to keep her "Carmen" LP). They'll have to have their choreography altered, and often those "altered" programs end up looking worse than the original versions, because forcefully changing choreo to match CoP often ends up spoiling the timing and pacing of the program.
For example, I loved Mai's "Swan Lake" at Campbells and Miki's "Scheherezade" in 06-07 season, and I was happy that they decided to go back to those programs this season. However, the choreography, especially the spirals and steps, were changed so much that the programs looked almost unrecognizable to me and did not go with the music well. Sad

Quote :: For the most part, I like these changes. One less spin in the Free Program will give some much needed time for skaters to add more chore, and the requirement of one spin being held in one position ONLY might be interesting to see in competition (I wonder which one Mao will pick).

I think that getting rid of one spin is a good idea as well. Through the years, the skaters started to attempt more and more difficult elements, not just jums but steps/spins as well, and I think that the choreos became too busy and cluttered. In her LP last year it looked like Mao often had problems to even finish all the elements in time, and missed some really cool transitions (like the back arch/arm movement before the StSq).

I love the idea of one-position-spin as well. I expect Mao to do aither layback, side-layback or Biellman. flower

Quote :: But then again...maybe making the guidelines in scoring high levels on step sequences should be addressed first before removing a spin in the Free Program, because now so many skaters (especially in the ladies) do similar straightlines and with the exception of a few (like Mao) really drag it out and execute it really really badly.

I agree about the step sequences, the requirements are crazy. I'm really sad when I watch some of the pre-2007/08 programs, because they had great, difficult step sequences that would be completely worthless point-wise this season. Mao's Nocturne, Miki's Scheherezade, Mai's Swan Lake, YuNa's Lark Ascending and many others had gorgeous step sequences... It's enough to watch Mai's and Miki's performances of those programs this season to see how CoP forced skaters to drag out the step sequences forever. Disappointed

Mao's steps were gorgeous this season as well, but she was one of the few who were able to truly incorporate the required elements and still have her skating match the music. queen

Quote :: The guidelines for a Balanced Free Program in junior ladies is rather awful too, because they won't be able to perform a spiral at all!

They can still do a spiral, it just won't count in their TES, but in PCS (TR) instead. Actually, I hope this means that we will see some CoE arabesques in juniors this season, which were completely killed by CoP last season. I miss Mao's "Nocturne" arabesque... queen

Subject: Re: ISU Communication No. 1504 Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:55 am

Quote :: I agree about the step sequences, the requirements are crazy. I'm really sad when I watch some of the pre-2007/08 programs, because they had great, difficult step sequences that would be completely worthless point-wise this season. Mao's Nocturne, Miki's Scheherezade, Mai's Swan Lake, YuNa's Lark Ascending and many others had gorgeous step sequences... It's enough to watch Mai's and Miki's performances of those programs this season to see how CoP forced skaters to drag out the step sequences forever. Disappointed

Very good point. There's something wrong when skaters have to spend 30-40 seconds just on a straightline/circular/serpentine step in order to satisfy not even a level 4, but a level 3 ratification. I absolutely loved Miki's Scheherazade sequence - it was quick, full of pizazz, and had excitement - the audience cheered when she performed them both at Skate America and at World's...but that kind of sequence (another similar type will be Sasha's Dark Eyes straightline) might not even scrape a level 1 right now. confused

Quote :: I miss Mao's "Nocturne" arabesque... queen

Me too. And who can forget Dick Button's comment - "Beautiful Back" when he saw her perform that move Razz

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

clovera wrote:: Very good point. There's something wrong when skaters have to spend 30-40 seconds just on a straightline/circular/serpentine step in order to satisfy not even a level 4, but a level 3 ratification. I absolutely loved Miki's Scheherazade sequence - it was quick, full of pizazz, and had excitement - the audience cheered when she performed them both at Skate America and at World's...but that kind of sequence (another similar type will be Sasha's Dark Eyes straightline) might not even scrape a level 1 right now.

I agree with both of you. This is an issue that should be adressed by ISU sometime in the near future.

Aside from that, I find most of the changes to be good. I predict a bit of controversy about the edge calls, I wonder how exactly the technical specialist and the judges are supposed to decide what deserves "e" and what "!". Even this season there was a lot of controversies regarding edge calls, now it might get even worse.

I can't wait for the competitions to see how the changes will influence the programs and the judging!

» ISU Communication 1494 - New Rules!!!