By: Pj Kwong

Say what you will, but in my opinion, the correct people usually end up on the podium at the end of an event regardless of the judging system that is or has been used. Please note the ‘usually’ in that last sentence.

It doesn’t stop the umbrella organization for figure skating known as the International Skating Union (ISU) from trying to tweak how and what the skaters will perform in the upcoming season on the international stage, and this year is no exception.

Changes can come in all forms and get reviewed and passed or defeated at the ISU Congress taking place in mid-June in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simply put, there is a movement afoot to simplify technical requirements for pairs and to lessen the jump possibilities for single skaters from seven to six as well as some changes to spins and choreography among other things.

What do I think?

Well, I come back to the ‘usually’ word at the top of the page and the fact that champions endure. Truth is, the more that ‘choreography’ is ‘legislated,’ the less of it I see but that doesn’t take away from masterful skating and program construction that ends up on the ice. There is just less of it in my opinion. The coaches, choreographers and skaters’ hands are tied as they search for ways to be able to compete and come out on top. Similarly, the judges are also limited by the rules that are out in front of them.

It isn’t easy and we have gone from a sport where ‘feeling the performance’ was everything to one where math is king. It’s apples and oranges.

My advice? Continue to watch and love skating and leave the judging to the judges. If you’re like me, you continue to place programs in the favourites’ playlist of your mind; I’m talking about you Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier! #SkateOntarioProud

Don’t forget to follow Skate Ontario on social media and check back to the In The Loop section on the website for more great content like this.

By: Pj Kwong

Say what you will, but in my opinion, the correct people usually end up on the podium at the end of an event regardless of the judging system that is or has been used. Please note the ‘usually’ in that last sentence.

It doesn’t stop the umbrella organization for figure skating known as the International Skating Union (ISU) from trying to tweak how and what the skaters will perform in the upcoming season on the international stage, and this year is no exception.

Changes can come in all forms and get reviewed and passed or defeated at the ISU Congress taking place in mid-June in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simply put, there is a movement afoot to simplify technical requirements for pairs and to lessen the jump possibilities for single skaters from seven to six as well as some changes to spins and choreography among other things.

What do I think?

Well, I come back to the ‘usually’ word at the top of the page and the fact that champions endure. Truth is, the more that ‘choreography’ is ‘legislated,’ the less of it I see but that doesn’t take away from masterful skating and program construction that ends up on the ice. There is just less of it in my opinion. The coaches, choreographers and skaters’ hands are tied as they search for ways to be able to compete and come out on top. Similarly, the judges are also limited by the rules that are out in front of them.

It isn’t easy and we have gone from a sport where ‘feeling the performance’ was everything to one where math is king. It’s apples and oranges.

My advice? Continue to watch and love skating and leave the judging to the judges. If you’re like me, you continue to place programs in the favourites’ playlist of your mind; I’m talking about you Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier! #SkateOntarioProud

Don’t forget to follow Skate Ontario on social media and check back to the In The Loop section on the website for more great content like this.