Obviously, it makes sense to read Vinson's book with a clear eye to what actually might apply and be of aid to today's skaters. I think it might be helpful to Starr if she had someone who could assist her in understanding and practicing good blade skills that would involve better control of edges and developing softer knees. But that goes for a lot of skaters too, not just Starr. Alina Zagitova comes to mind, with her ugly cross-overs and poor jump technique. And Tarah Kayne, with her choppy skating and lack of speed.
Maribel Vinson,
Primer of Figure Skating, Introduction, p4 (original edition):
*Today, that would probably read 'quadruple revolution jumps'
“My instructors used to say, 'Show me how you do an outside forward edge [the first figure in skating] and I will tell you just how good a skater you are.' Even though a skater may do double-revolution jumps* in the air and spin faster than a whirling dervish, (s)he is not a true skater unless (s)he has the gliding stroke, the effortless speed, the 'soft' knee and ankle, the graceful form, and the correct way of putting his skate upon the ice that come only from a thorough education in the first few fundamental figures.
"There are champions and near champions today who will do well to read over the instructions that follow on how to push off and how to complete the forward and backward strokes. Choppy steps and an unnatural style are usually the result of trying to become an advanced skater too soon. Once the fundamental figures are really mastered so that they are done with control, even speed, and correct form, the advanced figures come twice as quickly and they will then automatically be done with control, even speed, and correct form. Walking comes before running. A good primary figure comes before an advanced figure, and conversely, a half-mastered primary figure means many half-mastered advanced figures. Therefore, although the figures described in this book are only a small part of figure skating as a whole, they are by far the most important part.”
Now obviously, figures are no longer part of competition, so spending a lot of time on primary figures is not the most productive use of time for young skaters who have so much else to learn. However, I don't see why someone doesn't find a way to adapt figures practice to the needs of current skaters, in a way that is beneficial. I don't think merely practicing stroking and moves in the field is adequate to mastering blade skills. Especially since some of the stroking is probably not being done correctly.
Also, here's a passage from Vinson's book that no longer holds true, but was true in 1938:
“There has been an increasing tendency the last few years for the ordinary non-skating spectator at ice shows to think that acrobatics on ice are figure skating. That is not true. Acrobatics on ice may be enjoyable, but they are still acrobatics and not skating. No one has to be able to do a 'split' or … an exaggerated back-bend to become a good figure skater...”
Of course acrobatics, splits and back-bends are important in today's skating. There's no way that Vinson could have foreseen the direction in which skating would venture. She would probably be okay with some of the ways in which skating has evolved. But the poor state of blade mastery and resultant inconsistency of technical skills among far too many skaters, is rather appalling. That's not an across-the-board slam, because there are quite a few skaters who have improved their flow over the ice and their SS, which has often led to them winning and to being more consistent, particularly when they also possess other compelling attributes.
In general, however, the over-abundance of URs, poor cross-overs, and choppy steps detracting from the ability to build speed that we see among some top skaters, likely has Vinson spinning in her grave on a rotisserie.
Of course, URs today are more often a result of pushing to perform difficult rotations, and being nervous under competition pressure. Perhaps a focus on mastering proper edge control would go a long way toward helping skaters who are prone to URs, even though other factors are involved in correcting the problem. In any case, 'Why not learn how to walk before running?' 'Why not master the four primary edges, before prematurely rushing to perform acrobatics?' Per Vinson:
“It is always harder to break a bad habit than to learn a good one, no matter how difficult the good one may seem at first. And this is even truer of skating than of most other sports.”
I'm sure that Vinson's book was reissued and is still in print for a reason.
