1. Spin position variations can no longer be repeated for level credit. Do a hair cutter in your layback, and you can’t repeat it in your combination spin.

2. Goodbye original dance in ice dancing.

3. ….and more, this is really a test post.

Lake Placid Adult Skating Weeks

Aspen Adult Summer Camp

Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fantasy Camp

You may be watching some of the events this week, and scratching your head over the scoring system. Gone are the days of the 6.0 scale in high level competitive figure skating. What you’ll see instead on your television while the skaters and coaches are sitting in the “kiss and cry” are two sets of much bigger numbers, the Technical Element Score (TES) and the Program Component Score (PCS).

The judging panel actually consists of more than just judges now. The panel is split into two groups: The technical panel, and the judging panel. In short, the job of the technical panel is to assign a base point value to every element, while the job of the judges is to determine how well that element was executed.

The technical panel uses video replay, if necessary, to determine the base point value of an element. Every element is worth a certain number of points. For example, a triple Axel has a higher starting value under the point system than does a triple Lutz, because the Axel is a more difficult jump to perform. The technical panel evaluates whether the element was done technically correct. For example, a triple jump requires the skater complete 2.75 rotations in the air, after both feet have left the ice. If the skater starts rotating before actually taking, they may underrotate the jump, and only be given the point credit for a double jump.

The technical panel uses published base points, strictly defined feature counts to assign levels of difficulty, etc. to determine a raw point value for each and every element in a program. Elements include jumps, spins, spirals, step sequences, lifts, and more. Each individual element is assigned this base point value by the technical panel. Then, the judges assign what is called a Grade of Execution (GOE) to each element. The GOE ranges between -3 and +3, and is an expression of how well an element was executed. Certain errors require certain deductions from the GOE, and the judges award positive GOE for features that are unique, special, or difficult.

The GOE is converted into points based on the specific element, and there are exhaustive tables published by the ISU for this conversion, called the Scale of Values. For example, let’s say that a skater performs a double Axel and a triple Lutz. The double Axel has a base value of 3.5, and the double Lutz has a base value of 1.9. For the sake of argument, let’s say that the technical panel awards full base value for each element, as they were done technically correct.

A judge awards a +1 GOE on the double Axel because the skater held his hands above his head in the air and because the element was performed to look effortless. Both of these extra features are actually written out in the guidelines for assigning GOE, and the fact there were two of them grants the +1.

The same judge thinks that the double Lutz wasn’t so special, but was just average. In fact, the judge thinks that the skater took too long to prepare for the jump, using too much of the ice surface to set up and actually launch. This is also a specifically listed item in the GOE guidelines, and warrants a -1 GOE.

Under the Scale of Values (SOV), a +1 GOE bumps the double Axel from 3.5 points to 4.5 points, as the +1 GOE contributes a full point. However, since the GOE point values are scaled based on the base value of a jump, the -1 GOE for the double Lutz only subtracts 0.3 points, making the total points for the double Lutz 1.6.

At the Olympic level, you’ll typically see Technical Element Scores ranging from the 40′s in to the 60′s. This makes sense, as skaters are limited to how many jumps, spins, and other elements they are allowed to perform, and can only repeat them so many times (otherwise, men would just do all triple Axels and maybe a quad if they can do one). Similarly, the rules stipulate the minimum and maximum number and type of spins, spirals, etc. For the pairs and singles short programs, there are defined required elements. For the free skates (“long program”), the rules are called “Well Balanced Freeskate requirements”, if you want to look them up.

Most triple jumps have base values in the 4 to 6 point range, except triple Axel, which is worth 8.2 because of it’s difficulty. Spins, flying spins, and combination spins are usually worth 2 to 3 points, depending on positions and difficulty. Step sequences and spiral sequences are usually worth 2 to 5 points, again depending on the level of difficulty. So, as you can see, eight jumps + two spins + 1 step sequence = 40 to 60 points if you add it all up.

The judges panel has one other major thing they need to assess: The Program Component Scores (PCS). The PCS is similar in nature to the Presentation Score under the old 6.0 system. The Program Component Score is based on the following items:

• Skating Skills
• Technical Transitions
• Performance/Execution
• Choreography/Composition
• Interpretation/Timing

Each of these program components is further sub-divided into additional bullet points for the judges to consider. As examples, the judges must consider balance, mastery of one foot skating, emotional involvement, intricacy of transitions, utilization of the ice surface, and use of finesse to reflect nuances in the music.

For each of the 5 areas, the judge awards a mark of 1 (very poor) to 10 (outstanding). Fractional intermediate values on the quarters are allowed (4.25, 6.50, 7.75). The marks from each judge are averaged together for each of the 5 program components, and then those five program compent scores are added together. The highest possible score for each component is 10.0, so thus the highest PCS possible is 50.

It is possible for a skater’s PCS to exceed his or her TES, based on how the base values for elements work out. However, this is rare amongst elite skaters.

Lastly, the huge number you see at the end of an event is the total competition score, where scores from the short program and the free skate are actually added together. This is why you will see overall competition scores in the high 100′s to low 200′s.

I hope that this brief overview of the IJS is helpful in understanding scores when you see them on TV this week and next month at the Olympics.

Kimmie reacting to her scores. I think many of us felt the same way:

Kimmie’s absence from nationals removes any possibility of her making the world team for Los Angeles in March. I was really looking forward to seeing her compete this week.

Wishing her the best — heal up, girl!:D

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In November, Rachael will be traveling to Moscow to participate in the Cup of Russia. The event will be held November 20-23 at the Ice Palace Megasport.

As part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, high placement at these events will earn Rachael a berth at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in December in Goyang, South Korea.

Good Luck @ Skate America, Rachael!!!!

Photo: Michael O’Leary/ The Herald (Everett, WA)

Photo: Michael O’Leary/ The Herald (Everett, WA)

At her Thursday practice session, Rachael skated extremely well. Her practice jumps were clean, including the difficult triple flip-triple loop combination that she has become known for. While practicing for her short program, she executed this combination flawlessly, at least to my eyes.

An analysis of the overall level of difficulty for the short programs reveals that these same four skaters have a base value that is at least a full 3+ points ahead of the rest of the pack.

Here are the top four skaters based on base level of difficulty in order:

Miki Ando
Rachael Flatt
Kimmie Meissner
Yu-Na Kim

In order for Rachael Flatt to win the short program, she will need to skate a perfect short program, as Miki Ando has been at the top of her game this year. Also, based on a quick look at the free skate planned elements, Miki and Rachael lead the pack in terms of base difficulty there, as well. Kimmie’s free skate ranks at third, several points behind Rachael’s.

Based on all this, assuming that Rachael skates a clean short program and does as well with her free skate as she did when I saw her at the Colorado Springs Invitational, she could actually win Skate America. Although I’m obviously biased, I definitely expect her to medal, and think she has a great shot at earning a spot at the Grand Prix finals in Korea.

Group 2 includes Kimmie Meissner, Mirai Nagasu, and Miki Ando, all of whom are stiff competition.

Rachael finished the free skate with a technical score of 50.65 and a presentation score of 50.16, for a free skate segment score of 100.81. Combined with her short program score of 54.92, she finished Skate America with a score of 155.73. This was well shy of her personal best 172.19 at Junior Worlds, but a respectable score in a field of higher level skaters.

During the group two warmup, Rachael appeared to have a slight look of concern to her, and this carried into her free skate. After finishing her program, she looked almost relieved that it was over. This surprised me to an extent just because of the extreme confidence that she naturally oozes.

Her program was identical to the program she skated at the Colorado Springs Invitational, the tail end of which I caught on tape and posted here. This rendition didn’t have the speed and connection with the audience that I expected. It was almost as if she was being cautious in her execution, and the intensity was slightly off. She had a hand down during one jump, and three of her seven planned triples became doubles instead.

Normally a very reliable jumper, Rachael said to the press after her free skate performance, “The jumps weren’t on tonight.”

If I get the chance to speak with her before the Cup of Russia, I’ll ask her about this, and see if there actually was some sort of hesitation to her program at Skate America.

Rachael is making her second senior Grand Prix appearance, having finished 4th at her debut on the circuit at Skate America. Rachael told reporters after the short program that her third place finish actually surprised her a bit. “I honestly didn’t know where I was going to come out for the standings. But I’m very excited. I didn’t skate my best, it could’ve been better, but I’m happy with where I am,” said Flatt.

Scores:

Technical: 31.80
Presentation: 24.12
Total Segment Score: 55.92

Fumie Suguri of Japan is currently leading the event. Americans Alissa Czisny and Kimmie Meissner finished 5th and 8th, respectively.

Rachael’s scores for the free skate:

Technical: 60.86
Presentation: 49.28
Total: 110.14

Rachael actually had the highest technical marks in the free skate, and the second highest technical marks in the short program. However, Carolina Kostner’s nearly 9 point advantage in the presentation marks of the free skate sealed her gold medal victory. As is often the case in figure skating, the free skate determined the medal placements, with the first through sixth place order of the free skate being the same first through sixth places overall, despite the short program results.

Rachael will be making her next scheduled competition appearance at the 2009 US Figure Skating Championships, January 18-25 in Cleveland, Ohio. Flatt will be defending (and hopefully transcending!!!) her silver medal at the 2008 U.S. Championships.

Having never watched a practice session at this level, I have to say that it was like having a front row seat to an all-star ice show. Roger Corvasce ran through his long program, and was getting some absolutely incredible air on his jumps. Marissa Secundy was also practicing, as were several other Team USA members.

Rachael did a fairly smooth run through her short program, and had several perfect triples. After having some rest and recovery following her awesome performance at the Cup of Russia (yay Rachael!), Rachael is now getting ready for U.S. Nationals. There will be a lot of focus on her at Nationals this year, following her success in her debut on the Senior ISU Grand Prix circuit, her silver at ’08 Nationals, and her gold at Junior Worlds.

There’s a judge’s critique session on the 30th, to provide an opportunity for the Club’s competitors going to Nationals to receive critiques from high level judges. I’m planning on attending that (as a spectator, not as a judge) and will report back on the results.