Questions about Skating and US Nationals

[catcritter]

As a total Novice when it comes to figure skating, and learning it on my own by watching tv or ice network. I have a few questions that I am hoping someone can answer about this years nationals and skating who I love to watch. I belong to three skating group and will post the same questions in each group hoping someone with answers some or all of my questions.

First I must say I love watching the little kids skating on the ice as I know I would be lucky to get around the ring without falling several times and possibly causing injury to myself.

Questions about skaters

1. I been watching Maria Soldatova and Faddey Soldtov for a few years now. I remember watching them skate as Juvenile. What happened to them? I know they were supposed to skate in the Eastern Sectional but they withdrew. Are they okay?

2. Is Cate Fleming related to Peggy Fleming?

3. Which former skaters have kids or grandkids skating? I know some do but they are hard find online.

General questions

1. I would like to know the ages of some of the skaters especially the youngers one is there a website I can go to find the ages?

2. Do skaters get to pick their own music?

3. Is there a way I can watch some of the shows online? Ice network used to have them but now they don’t ☹?

4. During sectionals I noticed a American Flag next to the Canadian Flag. Why are both flags the same size and height? I thought when display flags from other countries the other country was lower.

5. Is there a place I can go to, to leave messages for the skaters?

6. Why isn’t synchronizing skating in the Olympics?

National Questions

1. Who scheduled the event?

2. Why did they schedule the junior event and 8:55pm (11:55 Pm) New’s Year Eve? I feel bad for the skaters as they can’t see the ball drop or watch the crazy people who want to watch the ball drop with the windchill being below 0?

3. Is there a listing of what music the skaters are skating to as well as ages?

Thanks all.

 

[Sylvia]

Is Cate Fleming related to Peggy Fleming?

No.

Which former skaters have kids or grandkids skating? I know some do but they are hard find online.

I posted some info in the Kiss & Cry section here (subscription required) and I can start a new thread in the Trash Can section later (old thread on this topic has been archived).

Do skaters get to pick their own music?

Yes; some skaters are more involved in picking their music; others let their coaches have more influence.

Is there a way I can watch some of the shows online? Ice network used to have them but now they don’t ☹?

Check out the TV Alerts forum, specifically this 2018 U.S. Nationals on TV & IceNetwork thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...on-tv-icenetwork-incl-free-in-content.102747/

National Questions
...
Is there a listing of what music the skaters are skating to as well as ages?

I plan to have a list of the ages (and hopefully program music?) of the Novice/Junior singles & pairs skaters at 2018 U.S. Nationals available in the days ahead. I've been posting (in Kiss & Cry section here) and tweeting links to local & other articles about the younger U.S. Nationals competitors, including Juvenile/Intermediate, but haven't compiled all the links in my blog yet (will post a link here if/when I do).

 

[Willin]

@catcritter

As for General questions, I can answer some of them.
1. It can be really hard to find unless they're a top skater on the Junior/Senior level. I would assume Sylvia knows for some, but generally it isn't disclosed. Sometimes the commentators or local news articles will say, but for the most part it's not known until they're at the upper levels. For Juniors/Seniors competing internationally, you can find the information on Wikipedia, ISU bios, and IceNetwork.
2. It depends. Some coaches pick for them, some pick by themselves, sometimes the parents pick. Generally it depends on the coaching team's attitude towards picking music. For the most part I'd say that it's collaborative. That is, the skater will discuss the music with the coaching team and they'll negotiate until they find something that everyone can put up with. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard.
4. A lot of rinks, particularly in the Upper Midwest, have a lot of Canadian coaches and skaters that stop by - especially for Hockey games - so they display both equally. In other parts of the country this is less common.
5. I'm sure others know more about this than me, but most top skaters have agencies you can send fanmail to. Some skaters also respond to messages on social media. I'm unsure which skaters are most likely to do that.
6. The Olympics are hard to find a host for because so many athletes attend. When they add a sport, they consider how many more athletes will require housing. As it stands, each Synchro team has 20 skaters (16 +4 alternates), meaning under the current proposal of 10 teams qualifying for the Olympics each host city would need to build accommodations for 200 skaters plus the coaching staffs. That's a lot of people. Even without alternates, 160 is still a lot. As that is the primary problem with including synchro in the Olympics, the ISU is trying a system in which teams have 12 skaters each, which is apparently more palatable to the IOC.

National Questions:
1. USFSA creates the dates and then accepts bids. Some bids for regionals are from skating clubs, but for an event as big as nationals local sports committees organize the bids. These committees are set up to help the region host sporting events like National and International competitions being held in the region and are not specific to skating. If they see that local facilities for hosting events have vacancies during an event (ie. the USFSA date range for Nationals) that will bring in a profit, they submit a bid. These sports committees give USFSA an idea of what they plan in the bid, and then USFSA chooses the best plan presented to them. From there the two work together to work out the exact details.
2. They can still watch the ball drop in the West Coast replays at midnight. There's also plenty of local New Year's events they can attend afterwards, and in San Jose it probably won't be getting below 40 - so it won't be cold at all compared to where most of the skaters are coming from. Honestly, it was probably a matter of scheduling that they did it that way. There's tons packed into that last week of Nationals, and they need to fit in in somehow. Outside of competition there's hours of practice ice to schedule. Usually Nationals is the last week in January so they don't run into these scheduling problems, but since the Olympics are in February, they have to hold them this early.
3. For the Senior International competitors, yes. Just google "[skater name] ISU Bio" and that will provide their age, coaches, music, past results, personal bests, training location, and a few other tidbits of information. You can also usually find that information on Wikipedia. For US Skaters, IceNetwork also has this information in their skater directory.

I hope that helps.

 

[purple skates]

2. Do skaters get to pick their own music?

Yes, although the younger they are it’s more likely the music was chosen by a coach or even a parent.

4. During sectionals I noticed a American Flag next to the Canadian Flag. Why are both flags the same size and height? I thought when display flags from other countries the other country was lower.

Now that I think of it, I think it’s common to have them at the same level in the rink. I’ll have to look the next time I skate (on Tuesday).

6. Why isn’t synchronizing skating in the Olympics?

They tried for 2018 but logistically it wasn’t possible due to the number of people involved. They are hopeful for 2022.

 

[Roux]

First I must say I love watching the little kids skating on the ice as I know I would be lucky to get around the ring without falling several times and possibly causing injury to myself.

I love that too! And sometimes I think the most impressive part of a senior program is when they slide to a stop when leaving the ice—everything else they do is too hard to imagine!

 

[livetoskate]

3. try YouTube. it's amazing how fast some people post competitions and shows on YouTube. there's even live streaming of some competitions. I love how skating uber fans can even see competitions, shows and newscasts about skating from other countries online. Check out the ShibSibs' videos on YouTube-- I love them!

5. A lot of skaters are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and can be contacted there. It used to be that you'd have to snail mail a letter to the skater's rink or agent. Now it's a lot easier to keep up with your favorite skaters.