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Numbers game takes over in
skating's new scoring system
At
2006 U.S. nationals, nobody will get a "perfect" 6.0 score. Instead,
final totals will be 168.32 or 193.71 or beyond.
That's the new international scoring system that, while not so new
anymore, will be used for the first time at nationals as well as the
Olympics.
Each technical element, from jumps and footwork to spins and spirals,
has its own base value. For example, a triple lutz jump is six points.
Judges can add or subtract up to three points to reward skaters for a
job well done or punish errors. A fall, for instance, is a standard
one-point deduction. Skaters pile up points for each element of a
performance.
Whereas the old system had a presentation score for artistic evaluation,
the new system has five component scores: skating skills, transitions,
performance, choreography and interpretation.
For the final score, the technical and component scores are added.
High score wins.
Brian Boitano, 1988 Olympic champion under the old system, is no fan of
the new math.
"I think the American public needs the 6.0 system. ... I think it's
simple for the American public to understand. I see someone with like a
197.75, that doesn't mean anything," he says.
But the International Skating Union adopted the system in 2004 in the
aftermath of the 2002 Olympic judging scandal, arguing the new system
would quantify performance, eliminate tendencies to judge skaters on
their reputations and/or skating order, plus curb hanky-panky.
En route to a silver medal at Skate America this season, the USA's
Alissa Czisny said the scoring was fine with her.
"You get more points for your spins and spirals instead of just getting
a check mark," she said.
"Obviously, it's hard to get to all the levels (of difficulty). It's
hard to understand what we need to have. ... But I feel like it's more
of a counting game now, that you just have to get as many points as you
can."
For sure, skaters are paying attention to it.
"I've been re-reading the rules and working steps over and over from the
footwork, to the spins to the programs," says Sasha Cohen.
Each element, from jumps and footwork to spins and spirals, has its own
base value. Judges still award points, but computers are used for
calculations, and
There have been glitches as everyone adjusts.
At the 2005 worlds, the USA's Johnny Weir was sixth initially after
qualifying. He learned that night he had been dropped to seventh.
Officials said the base value for a sit spin by a Chinese skater was
wrongly set at zero. It should have been 1.2. He vaulted past Weir.
At Japanese nationals in December, about an hour after medals were
awarded, the gold and silver medalists were reversed. Officials said the
original winner went beyond the allowed number of triple jumps and
incorrectly was awarded points. |
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