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