Small fed pros and cons

[farahfan]

So I'm trying to understand the reality of small feds vs big feds. It seems like the pro of a small fed is that a skater can make it to a major championship as long as she has the tec minimums. The cons seem to be 1) less funding, 2) less clout, meaning lower scores (especially PCS). Thoughts?

 

[Orm Irian]

One of the major cons is lack of access to resources. Such as ice rinks (there is, for instance, only one in my state, which is half again the size of Texas), or ice that isn't constantly full of other people and thus a poor or unsafe training environment, or professional choreography, or the funds to pay for professional choreography/costumes.

Another, less recognised issue: if you're based in the southern hemisphere, as a lot of small fed skaters are, the entire structure of the skating year is antithetical to the rest of your life. Given the age range of most active skaters has them still in education, for example, while their northern hemisphere counterparts are filling in their long school/uni breaks with multiple short or long training camps, southern hemisphere skaters have got two or three weeks in the depths of winter to travel to a new location, acclimatise to a hot environment, train, and head back home in time to restart study. That's not good for either their skating or their study, or their general wellbeing. And then think about how disruptive the competition calendar is, and how hard and expensive even getting to those competitions is too...

 

[farahfan]

One of the major cons is lack of access to resources. Such as ice rinks (there is, for instance, only one in my state, which is half again the size of Texas), or ice that isn't constantly full of other people and thus a poor or unsafe training environment, or professional choreography, or the funds to pay for professional choreography/costumes.

Another, less recognised issue: if you're based in the southern hemisphere, as a lot of small fed skaters are, the entire structure of the skating year is antithetical to the rest of your life. Given the age range of most active skaters has them still in education, for example, while their northern hemisphere counterparts are filling in their long school/uni breaks with multiple short or long training camps, southern hemisphere skaters have got two or three weeks in the depths of winter to travel to a new location, acclimatise to a hot environment, train, and head back home in time to restart study. That's not good for either their skating or their study, or their general wellbeing. And then think about how disruptive the competition calendar is, and how hard and expensive even getting to those competitions is too...

Thanks, I had not thought of the academic calendar- it's a huge obstacle!

 

[skatingfan412]

So I'm trying to understand the reality of small feds vs big feds. It seems like the pro of a small fed is that a skater can make it to a major championship as long as she has the tec minimums. The cons seem to be 1) less funding, 2) less clout, meaning lower scores (especially PCS). Thoughts?

I've actually wondered about this too! In addition to more international opportunities with small feds, I also wonder if it is a matter of resources for skaters who are with big federations earlier in the career (novice, juniors) then switch to small feds for senior. Referencing my fave pair GamKor, I read Isabella was with US and Spain for novice and juniors which probably has better funding opportunities for juniors before switching to the Philippines for her senior career (she's actually full Filipino per Wiki). She won silver for novice pairs at US Nationals earlier in her career so probably could have had a future as a US senior pair skater, and she had good showings at Jr Worlds and JGPs for Spain, but chose to go with the Philippines for her senior career.

But maybe another pro for a small fed is that since there are fewer skaters, funding can go to 1 or 2 skaters versus the big feds who have a much bigger pool of skaters to consider funding with a set budget. There seems to be so many gofundme campaigns to give a lot more US skaters international opportunities.

 

[farahfan]

I've actually wondered about this too! In addition to more international opportunities with small feds, I also wonder if it is a matter of resources for skaters who are with big federations earlier in the career (novice, juniors) then switch to small feds for senior. Referencing my fave pair GamKor, I read Isabella was with US and Spain for novice and juniors which probably has better funding opportunities for juniors before switching to the Philippines for her senior career (she's actually full Filipino per Wiki). She won silver for novice pairs at US Nationals earlier in her career so probably could have had a future as a US senior pair skater, and she had good showings at Jr Worlds and JGPs for Spain, but chose to go with the Philippines for her senior career.

But maybe another pro for a small fed is that since there are fewer skaters, funding can go to 1 or 2 skaters versus the big feds who have a much bigger pool of skaters to consider funding with a set budget. There seems to be so many gofundme campaigns to give a lot more US skaters international opportunities.

Isabella wasn't a strong singles skater before going into pairs (no stable 2A or triple jump) so I think her long-term potential might have been limited in a pool as competitive as the US. Also, finding a male US partner is already super hard, and a non-US partner needs at least 8-9 years (?) to get US citizenship for the Olympics. US pairs aren't going to be able to count on Efimova, and I don't know where Parkman and Lewer are with citizenship. All things considered, the small fed looked like the way to go, and Isabella really does have strong connections to the Philippines. In an interview they once asked her why she chose the Philippines over the US and her answer centered on being proud of being Filipina (we can suppose, of course, there are the other factors, too).

 

[skatingfan412]

Isabella wasn't a strong singles skater before going into pairs (no stable 2A or triple jump) so I think her long-term potential might have been limited in a pool as competitive as the US. Also, finding a male US partner is already super hard, and a non-US partner needs at least 8-9 years (?) to get US citizenship for the Olympics. US pairs aren't going to be able to count on Efimova, and I don't know where Parkman and Lewer are with citizenship. All things considered, the small fed looked like the way to go, and Isabella really does have strong connections to the Philippines. In an interview they once asked her why she chose the Philippines over the US and her answer centered on being proud of being Filipina (we can suppose, of course, there are the other factors, too).

Agree with this. For pairs it also seems like partner availability and match with many US skaters going to other countries or others like Efimova or Parkman coming to the US. I was referring to US pairs future not as a single.

Edited to add another thought: it seems pretty common for singles who have peaked potential or encoutner competitive limits to then try pairs or ice dance right? Like which US pair team has consistent sbs jumps now? They all seem pretty shaky at best. Maybe Danny & Ellie seem to be strongest this season, but everyone else can definitely be hit or miss.