In a world where contact sports likefootballandsoccerseem to rule supreme , it ’s surprising that so many people become mesmerized by competitive figure skating . On the surface , the sport may seem pretty girly . After all , competitors routinely tire out tights , bubbling costumes and enough stagemakeupto keep L’Oreal in business . The reality is that these athletes have commit their lives to project an image of effortless grace , when in fact it take strength , symmetry , flexibility and even pain to pull off an excellent programme .
When ice skating took shape in its early form , it was for transportation use rather than play . Skeletons dating back to 10,000 B.C.E. found in the Netherlands had animal bones connect to their feet — crude skating blades . Though ice skating coat in other parts of the worldly concern , build skating really start to take soma with the cosmos of the Edinburgh Skating Club in 1742 . At this point , however , the pastime was closed off to women .
In 1772 , a British figure skater named Robert Jones write " A Treatise on Skating , " which conveyed his belief that successful skaters must have esthetic and gymnastic abilities . He also advance woman to become involved with the fun . Although much of the mention for the growth of militant figure skating is given to Jones , a nineteenth - century American concert dance professional dancer named Jackson Haines is deliberate by many to be for the most part responsible for morph it into the summercater we know today . Prior to Haines ' influence , name skating was potent and less creative than it is now . In the 1860s , Haines start to incorporate dance movement into skating function . His fashion was so well - liked that it became recognise as theinternational methodof trope skating , which endure today .
So what does it take to become a competitor in the sportsman of physique skating ? And what notorious scandal have been associated with the pastime ? Next , find out about the tests skater must pass to compete .
Testing and Types
Scott Hamilton . Michelle Kwan . Sasha Cohen . Evgeni Plushenko . All of these names elicit images of state of grace , mantrap and volatile intensity level in the minds of people who woolgather of satisfy their skates . For most material body skaters , attain superstardom is a long shot — it takes an huge amount of dedication and clock time to get there . as luck would have it , there are many levels of competitor for material body skater of all ages , let in juvenile , intermediate , initiate , junior and fourth-year . U.S. Figure Skating enforces only two age requirements for examination purposes : Skaters testing for a next-to-last point must be immature than 14 years older , and those testing for medium position must be younger than 18 [ rootage : USFA ] .
At each level there are dissimilar classes of tests that all competitive skater must pass to enter in qualifying competitions . The strength and required proficiency addition with every testing level . U.S. Figure Skating ( which brook by the stipulations set forth by the International Skating Union ) classifies these tests as follow :
To compete at the top level , skater must modify first at regional events , then the sectioned championships . If a skater qualifies at sectionals , he or she find an invitation to theU.S. Figure Skating Championships , a immense award debate that only the top four competitor at each of the three sectioned consequence are invited .
There are five major types of competitive bod skating : men ’s I , ma’am ' singles , distich , ice dance and synchronized squad skating . ingredient for each of these competition eccentric may not be precisely the same at international competitions , such as theOlympic Games , but they ’re very standardized .
Inindividual skating , competitors must do both a unforesightful and retentive program . Theshort programrequires skaters to showcase seven technical element with connecting steps ( a combination of jumps , footwork and spins ) in less than 2:50 . Thelong program , orfree skate , leave skater to showcase more artistic ability and is deserving two - thirds of the skater ’s score . Men are given 4:30 + - 10 seconds , and women have 4:00 minutes + - 10 second to perform the long programme , which has few ( if any ) technological requirements .
twosome skatingrequires many of the same technical elements as single skating , but also pin down that each couplet do rise and project jumps . Pairs must also prove their nerve by skate in sync with each other .
Insynchronized / precision skating , teams of 16 to 24 members vie . Complex formations , single startle and synchronise footwork are all required chemical element of a dear computer program . Teams do both a short and recollective / complimentary skate program . Judges compensate particular attention to synchronisation , formation , spacing , footwork and weapon motions .
chalk dancingis an offshoot of dance hall terpsichore and ask strong attention to timing and regular recurrence . Ice terpsichore mate are prohibited from doing lifts any higher than the male cooperator ’s shoulders , and jumps are n’t appropriate . ice rink dancing competition require pairs to execute twocompulsories , dances chosen by the International Skating Union ( ISU ) , such as the tango or walk-in . Skaters do anoriginal dance , which they choreograph and pick out the music for , as well as afree dance(similar to a barren skate ) .
Next , we ’ll take a closer look at the technological elements of the skater ' programs .
Key Moves in Competitive Figure Skating
There are 12 of different movement that private-enterprise figure skaters can showcase during programs . Here ’s a sampling of some of the most popular and coarse moves , jump out , have and spins :
On the next Sir Frederick Handley Page , we ’ll take a glimpse inside the skater ’s arsenal of equipment .
Tools: Equipment, Attitude and Nutrition
It ’s certainly possible to be a private-enterprise form skater at any age , although most of the skaters competing in external competitions are relatively young , from their mid - teens to mid - 1920s . Many — although not all — of the skaters who go on to compete at this degree begin lessons as kid , even as bambino .
U.S. Figure Skating offers a Basic Skills Program through which novice skater of any years can learn the fundamentals in more than 800 registeredrinksacross the country . In fact , many countries ' figure skating governing establishment offer standardized course of study . Most of these programs introduce the sport as both play and easy , although it does require a lot of determination and exercise . In the early 24-hour interval when many skater descend down as often as they skate , the program also demand resiliency .
Proper habiliment and skates are key to successful chassis skating . While skates do n’t necessarily have to be brand - new , they should n’t be broken in to the decimal point where they provide small or no support . They should fit the foot snugly and intertwine up correctly . U.S. Figure Skating recommends that skater purchase new or used skates from a reputable pro shop to ensure a sodding paroxysm . expert also encourage skaters to wear layered clothing during praxis sessions , as rinks are air - conditioned to between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit ( 10 and 15.5 degree Celsius ) . Form - fitting but not overly tight pant are recommended as well , although tights often allow the honest burst inside the skate .
It ’s not a bad idea for tyro skaters to wear mitten or gloves : Frequent falls bring them in airless contact with ice-skating rink on a unconstipated basis . commence skater and child under the age of 6 are advised to wear helmets to prevent nous hurt . Once skater hit higher point of competition , their clothing becomes much more elaborate and expensive . Custom costumes for high - level skater can be thousands of dollar sign .
internal-combustion engine skating is an aerobic action and is a great path to stay in shape and burn off unwantedcalories . According to U.S. Figure Skating , competitive skater can burn between 450 and 1,080 small calorie per hour , whereas recreational skaters sting between 250 and 810 . Competitive figure skaters are encouraged to practice dependable nutritionary habits by eat a well - balanced diet and produce certain to take enough water , protein , fats , fibre , carbohydrate , calcium , Vitamin viosterol and smoothing iron . expert also urge that skaters eat five or six small repast disseminate out over the course of the twenty-four hour period rather than three large ones . This helps even out profligate glucose storey and hasten their metabolic process .
The Judging System
U.S. Figure Skating , along with many other national figure skating associations , is pen up under the vast umbrella that is theInternational Skating Union(ISU ) . The ISU was form in the 1890s to serve as the governing body that sets the operation necessary and rules for anatomy skating , amphetamine skating and ice dancing competition . Once physical body skating had become internationally establish and recognize , the sport was include in the Summer Olympic Games in 1908 and 1920 , and it was switched to the Winter Olympics batting order in 1924 . chicken feed saltation join the Olympian lineup in 1976 . Today , the ISU rule govern all of the competitions that lead down the golden road to the World Championships and theOlympics , which are deal wide the two most honored physical body skating competitions in the world .
As we ’ve find out , free-enterprise figure skaters have a laundry leaning of requirements they must meet during the various programme . In the United States , this judgement system is followed at all regional and sectioned event , including the U.S. Championships , theU.S. Synchronized Skating Championshipsand theU.S. Adult physical body Skating Championships . This system is also followed in other skating competition governed by the ISU , including the Olympics and World Championships .
In previous days , the ISU Judging System relied on the6.0 points organisation , in which the judges put forward scores and the skater or distich of skaters ranking closest to 6.0 at the end of the competition win . According to the ISU , today ’s judgment organization focuses entirely on " evaluate the quality of each element performed ( Technical Score ) and the quality of the operation ( Presentation Score ) . It ’s considered to be a fair and more balanced grading system of rules . Under the old system , skater fear being chosen to go first because they believed that judge consciously or subconsciously gave lower scores until the end of the competition , when they were capable to compare more of the jock .
Judges are now responsible only for evaluating the quality of each single functioning , thanks to the work of thetechnical control panel . While nine jurist oversee ISU sanctioned events , the proficient panel is made up of three functionary : the Technical Controller , the Technical Specialist and the Assistant Technical Specialist . Their role is to identify the dissimilar proficient constituent performed by each skater as they are completed . The Technical Specialist takes the lead story on this task and is backed up by the Assistant Technical Specialist and the Technical Controller to insure that any mistakes are caught and corrected quickly . skater and judges may also call for a critical review of the Technical Panel ’s study if they consider a maneuver was neglect or categorized incorrectly ( such as a double axel being mistakenly classified as a single , which merits a lower difficulty rating ) .
To further cement the wholeness of the proficient judgement process , a video action replay operator is apply to immortalise the programs so that they can be reviewed if needed . A data wheeler dealer also records all of the manoeuvre and their difficultness levels . In case of divergence , the majority among the three official principle .
Having been relieved of this burden , the Book of Judges can concentrate on the quality of the manoeuvre performed . In the next plane section , we ’ll see the scores the judges assign to skater .
Breaking Down the Score
With all of the technological responsibilities of scoring proceed to an appointed panel , the jurist are free to focus on the athletic and artistic meritoriousness of the execution , as well as the other political platform constituent . nock on a scale of .25 to 10 , these components are :
Thetechnical score(also called theelement account ) is a substantial portion of the overall score . Each maneuver is assign a level of difficulty , orbase valueprior to competition . During the execution , the judges give agrade of executionin the range of +3 to -3 to each move perform . Then , the understructure note value and the grade of execution are combined to watch the total chemical element scotch .
A skater’sfinal scoreis gain by tally his or her technical score and the display score . Their scores for short program and free skate scores are tallied together to form a last overall score .
Skaters expect for scores to be announced in an domain known as the " candy kiss and outcry zone . " The intention of this area is for skaters to do passably much that — kiss and shout with their parents , managers , coaches and other supporters while they expect for the judges to return an overall score . At the death of each competition , every skater is given a breakdown of his or her score and how he or she was pass judgment .
Competitive figure skating is bound by the iron - clothe International Skating Union rules , and there ’s seemingly little room for error . But figure skating outrage are some of the most salacious in the broad worldly concern of sport . We ’ll take a smell at a few of them on the next page .
Skating Scandals and the Rules They Inspire
As with any competitive sportsman , a thick rule book governs the way free-enterprise figure skaters can behave and curry . But costume rule were n’t understandably define before the 1988 Olympics , when Katarina Witt donned a costume cut scandalously high on the branch . A guideline dub the " Katarina Rule " says that skaters ca n’t show bare midriffs and that their pelvic girdle and buttocks have to be wholly covered . Men are prohibited from wearing sleeveless shirts , tights or vie bare - chested . In addition , overlytheatrical costumesare glower upon . skater may not have on costumes with " overweening " amounts of sequins , astragal , feathers or other decorations . Violations of this rule can induce a deduction of one - tenth part to two - tenth part of a point .
Another skater who inadvertently pep up a rule was Tara Lipinski . In 1998 , the then 15 - year - honest-to-goodness dynamo took home anOlympic gold medal , realise her the immature cleaning woman at the time to come through one . The International Skating Union ( ISU ) imposed an age limit on competitors that ’s now in effect : Male and female skater must have reached their 15th natal day prior to July 1 of the previous year . The approximation behind this rule is to keep new women from attempting overly unmanageable jumps at such a young long time , hopefully sparing them from unreasonable tenacious - term impairment to their bodies .
However , young female skaters are still intent on wowing audiences with difficult moves , and in 2014 in Sochi , Yulia Lipnitskaya was six days untested than Lipinski when she won Olympic gold with the Russian team in the team event , micturate her the youngest Olympian amber medalist in ladies figure skate . Though in August 2017 , sheretired at the new eld of 19after being cover for anorexia .
The ISU has rigid regulation that regularise substance vilification . Theanti - dopingpolicy requires that athletes undergo both pee and roue examination year - beat to keep and catch drug maltreater . you may study even more about the rules on theISU ’s Web site .
One of the most notorious events to rock the sport was the infamous and brutal stifle - club incident of 1994 . Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding were wide study to be two of the world ’s better figure skater at the time . In an attempt to fasten Harding ’s spot at the top , her then - hubby and his associates club Kerrigan ’s knee during a practice session . Although Kerrigan was unable to contend in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships , she still received a bid to the Olympics , where she shoot the silver grey medal . Harding point eighth . Although she was never considered directly responsible for for the brutal fire , Harding later accepted a lesser charge and pleaded hangdog , which resulted in her lifetime ban from the sport . The event all play out in the film " I , Tonya . "
In 2002 another scandal rocked the flesh skate community during the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City . During the pairs skate effect , the Russian twain squad Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze narrowly thump the Canadian pair Jamie Sale and David Pelletier . Such controversy erupted over the perceived mistake that an investigation eventually revealed that the Gallic figure skating justice Marie - Reine Le Gougne had been pressure into a vote - switch hatful with the Russians to vote in party favour of the Russian pair . Eventually , Olympics and skate officialsdecided to honour both teams with the gold palm .
And more recently in 2014 , despite out - skate Ashley Wagner ( by a lot ) at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston , Mirai Nagasu did n’t make the U.S. Olympic squad . The three spots went to Gracie Gold , Polina Edmunds and Wagner , who placed fourth in the U.S. Championships after fall double during her free skate . Wagner ’s public presentation in Sochi was n’t without controversy either . Wagner skate two fair course of study , but cease up behind Russian Julia Lipnitskaia , who fall in both of her program ; Japan ’s Mao Asada , who skate a disastrous short program ; and fourth - position closer Gracie Gold , her American mate who also took a fall on the frappe . Wagner finished in 7th place overall .
distinctly , competitive figure skating provide the world with all of the factors necessary for good strenuosity and amusement . Drama , beauty and machination abound among these often pint - sized jock , compelling millions of multitude around the world to look on the sport on television and anticipate the competition .
