If they'd like to reduce the emphasis on jumps, I'd much rather see them reduce the number (I know they did to 7) rather than specifically discriminate against the more difficult jumps. For example, set the number of jumping passes to 5 but then leave it up to the skater which jumps to fill that with- five quads, five triples, whatever. I'd even throw away the Zayak rule and let them repeat jumps as many times as they want. Do five triple axels if you want.
That would show a severe lack of variety of skills. Would it be OK to allow 12 elements all of which are jumps, or even all of which are triple axels?
Or, for that matter, to allow 12 or 5 or even 3 spins, all of which are Biellmanns or all flying sitspins?
And ditch the outdated rule that makes an axel a requirement in the short program. Just make it three jumps. Why show favouritism to a specific jump and discriminate against others?
My understanding of the reasoning, which I don't think has ever been spelled out in writing, is to demonstrate mastery of a specific skill (jumping from a forward edge) that the ISU considers important and that would likely disappear entirely from the repertoire of skaters who can't do triple axels if they could fill their programs with other triples.
And I definitely don't think it's safe to assume that this will lead to less time spent on quads. Again, could be the exact opposite. If the top guys are still doing them, it will force others to learn them, and learn multiple quads since they can no longer repeat one, to remain competitive.
That does seem likely.
And they may need to spend MORE time on them to make sure they're perfected before attempting them in competition.
Possible.
I'd love to see two things play out at some point- 1 is exactly as outlined above- Chen rattles off 5 different quads, gets bonuses on the last three, and wins anyway.
Definitely possible. So much so, that I don't think the "anyway" is needed. Anyone who can land 5 quads, of 4 or 5 different kinds, with 3 of them toward the end of the program, is going to be in good position to win. And Chen is currently the most likely to do so.
Also, someone wins with 7 beautiful double axels.
That's not going to be allowed, any more than it will be allowed to do a program full of Biellmanns or flying sitspins. (Of course, it would be possible to do 3 different spins that start with a flying sit entrance or that include Biellmann positions, as long as they all have different codes, perhaps with and without change of foot, and at least one changes position and at least one of the spins-with-Biellmann has a flying entrance. But given the limits on difficult positions it would not be possible for all of the spins to earn level 4 that way.)
It would be legal to do a program with only edge jumps, or only toe jumps except for one axel with the current rules. But is that something we want to see?
Certainly quality should be rewarded, and difficulty of various kinds including but not limited to number of revolutions in the air. But what about variety? Does the sport want to reward skaters who can only do one thing and do it over and over and over again to rack up points, while showing hardly any other skills at all?
