| Figure skating is a technically demanding and | | | | Each country has a figure skating federation |
| graceful sport. A pleasure to watch as the | | | | to govern which is an eligible event. Once an |
| skaters glide over the surface of ice. | | | | event has been given the blessing of the |
| | | | governing body, anyone can enter. |
| But do you really understand what it is all | | | | |
| about? | | | | Some skaters who have had success at the |
| | | | Olympics may feel they would be better off |
| What makes one jump tougher to do than | | | | skating professionally and retire. Others may |
| another? | | | | have simply decided to retire due to time or |
| | | | money restraints of Olympic competition. |
| How do the Judges award the scores? | | | | |
| | | | Becoming eligible for Olympic competition is |
| With the popularity of figure skating | | | | extremely competitive and some skaters simply |
| growing, especially during the Olympic games | | | | drop out and turn professional performing in |
| we thought we should help you to understand | | | | such shows as Ice Capades and Disney on Ice. |
| what it is all about. | | | | |
| | | | There are two programs in competitive figure |
| Here is an amazing fact. Figure skaters will | | | | skating. |
| beat every hockey player in a flat out race. | | | | |
| They even beat them skating backwards. | | | | The short program lasts 2 ½ minutes. |
| | | | Worth one third of the overall score, |
| If you ever attend a professional hockey game | | | | consists of required elements that the skater |
| and sit near the ice you will find the above | | | | may perform in any order to the music they |
| statement hard to believe. But it's true. | | | | have chosen. They have three jumps, three |
| Figure skating is fast. | | | | spins and two footwork requirements. Failure |
| | | | to execute any of these compulsory movements |
| The reason for this is the hockey player is | | | | will reduce their score. A missed move is a |
| trained to use his power to accelerate in a | | | | lost move since the skater cannot retry a |
| quick burst of speed and to dart from side to | | | | move. |
| side instantly. The figure skater is trained | | | | |
| to glide with longer strides with less of the | | | | The longfigure skating program last four |
| quick turns. They train to jump. | | | | minutes and counts for 2/3 of the over all |
| | | | score. Judges allow a little more flexibility |
| Figure skaters got their name from the | | | | and there are no set requirements. Most of |
| compulsory figures they had to do in | | | | the competitors today include 6 or 7 triple |
| competition prior to 1990 when it was finally | | | | jumps, several spins and combinations. Most |
| dropped. The skaters were required to perform | | | | men not only do the same but also do |
| figures tracing a pattern on the ice such as | | | | quadruple jumps during their free-skate |
| a figure eight. Not only that but they had to | | | | program. |
| do it on the inside or the outside of the | | | | |
| blade. | | | | The judges then award points for a score. Two |
| | | | aspects are considered. |
| Once completed the judges would literally get | | | | |
| down on the ice to check the tracing to see | | | | Technical mark takes into account the |
| how close they came to perfection. Since | | | | requires elements. It reflects the difficulty |
| figure skating is not an exact science, | | | | the skaters had to perform as well as the |
| everything must be considered. | | | | clean execution of the spins, footwork and |
| | | | jumps. |
| Points were awarded or lost if the figure | | | | |
| went too far or there were additional | | | | The Presentation mark reflects the flow, as |
| tracings caused by wobbling or putting the | | | | well as the choreography and the balance of |
| other foot down. Skaters and audiences were | | | | the figure skating program. It also takes |
| no doubt extremely happy to hear they were | | | | into account the skaters ability to reflect |
| eliminated. | | | | themselves into the music. They must skate |
| | | | with speed, confidence and effort. |
| The School figures competition was a part of | | | | |
| the figure skating because the judges were | | | | Scoring. |
| able to better judge the technical perfection | | | | |
| than the current methods do. Technique is not | | | | Figure skating is not an exact science and |
| as important today as skaters who may be | | | | neither is judging. The scores can range from |
| weaker technically may still win. | | | | 0.0 to 6.0. Judges must take into |
| | | | consideration all of the various aspects |
| Up until recently there were two categories | | | | involved in the program and make a scoring |
| of skaters. Pofessional and Amateur. Only | | | | decision based upon the guidelines. Very |
| amateur skaters could compete in the | | | | rarely will an Olympic figure skating |
| Olympics. Professional skaters were barred. | | | | contestant obtain a score of 6.0. |
| Times have changed as the cost of preparing | | | | |
| to compete in figure skating has risen so | | | | Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the |
| that today it can cost up to $45,000 per | | | | Whistler Mountain and valley area of British |
| year. | | | | Columbia for many years. They have camped, |
| | | | hiked and skied the mountains and fished and |
| Now amateurs are allowed to earn money, but | | | | kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website |
| only in eligible, sanctioned events. The old | | | | One couples guide to the exciting |
| categories are no more. Now eligible skaters | | | | Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone |
| are able to compete in the Olympics and | | | | considering a trip to Whistler as well as the |
| ineligible skaters have given up the right by | | | | 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and |
| competing in unsanctioned events. | | | | all to take a look. |
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