Unpopular Opinions

[briancoogaert]

In light of this:

https://twitter.com/avtrusova__/status/1495049757169192961

My unpopular opinion is that the ISU might as well reduce the BV of quads for women specifically since it's obvious the judges are on crack when it comes to GOE.

I'd say going back to the -/+3 GOE scale would be a step in the right direction, but you know Scherbakova's glorified triples would still get maxed out scores.

It really infuriates me that the same elements are evaluated so differently across the two singles disciplines and we all have to pretend there's some sort of tech revolution going on in women's skating when in reality Russian skaters are simply being given full credit for elements they can't perform.

It's not just between the two categories. Netween ladies... I can't explain big GOE for awful jumps by russians compared to perfect jumping technique from Loena Hendricks, ot the japanese skaters.

 

[millyskate]

Yes, but in gymnastics they counts points from the actual performances, not just points based on placement. A gymnastic team where one gymnast’s skills are on the level of an average junior rather than elite gymnast would never be able to medal

Well it's a bit more complicated. Sometimes gymnasts who perform in qualifying wind up with a team medal even if they don't perform in the final (example Kelly Simm in Glasgow 2015).

 

[MsZem]

It's very nice that Sui/Han won their OGM on home ice, but I honestly don't get their appeal and have never been invested in their skating.

Likewise, Kaori Sakamoto; Joubert did a better Matrix. She does seem like a lovely person, though.

 

[Xela M]

In light of this:

https://twitter.com/avtrusova__/status/1495049757169192961

My unpopular opinion is that the ISU might as well reduce the BV of quads for women specifically since it's obvious the judges are on crack when it comes to GOE.

I'd say going back to the -/+3 GOE scale would be a step in the right direction, but you know Scherbakova's glorified triples would still get maxed out scores.

It really infuriates me that the same elements are evaluated so differently across the two singles disciplines and we all have to pretend there's some sort of tech revolution going on in women's skating when in reality Russian skaters are simply being given full credit for elements they can't perform.

Omg I didn't realise her TES was higher than the men I'm surprised that Trusova didn't score as high as Nathan Chen.

But the scoring was especially nuts in the SP!! How was Wakaba 5th behind Trusova, Valieva etc?! Wtf was that about?!

 

[bcash]

I think people feel sentimental toward them because they grew up in front of everyone’s eyes. There are aspects of their skating I’m not crazy about — some owing to the inherent limitations of their physiques. But her upper body expression is the best out of the entire pairs field. A rare thing to see in any discipline these days.

 

[irenemulindwairen]

Alexei Yagudin's "Winter" short program manages to be both boring and cringe. I don't know how it became regarded as one of the greatest men's programs of all time in terms of artistry. I still laugh when I picture him throwing the ice shavings into the air.

Silliest men's short program. Throwing ice in the air, I agree, very cringeworthy.

 

[gkelly]

How about this?

 

[bardtoob]

How about this?

Well, it certainly went with the story behind the music, a ballet, and immediately proceeded what was a state of the art technical element still rarely seen today, the 3A-2Lp.

 

[PinkRose]

I hate that figure skating seems like the only event that doesn’t medal for each event. They should medal Short program/Rhythm Dance, Free Skate/Free Dance and the Combined Event.

You’re eligible for 3 medals in your discipline. And a 4th if you’re in the team event.

 

[Vagabond]

I hate that figure skating seems like the only event that doesn’t medal for each event.

The Nordic Combined doesn't. Otherwise, it would be the Nordic Separated.

 

[skatingguy]

I hate that figure skating seems like the only event that doesn’t medal for each event. They should medal Short program/Rhythm Dance, Free Skate/Free Dance and the Combined Event.

You’re eligible for 3 medals in your discipline. And a 4th if you’re in the team event.

That's against the rules of the IOC - lots of events have different stages - sliding sports have multiple runs - some of the skiing events have multiple stages - curlers & hockey players play every day & they don't hand out the medals till the end of the competition.

 

[Areski]

I wish skaters would more often use pure instrumental music, I am annoyed by a lot of corny vocals/lyrics which bother me to no end. Oh and voiceovers (cringing hard when reminiscing most of these). It is kind of ironic I suppose as people pushed hard for introducing them in competitive skating besides Ice Dance?

 

[Areski]

It's not just between the two categories. Netween ladies... I can't explain big GOE for awful jumps by russians compared to perfect jumping technique from Loena Hendricks, ot the japanese skaters.

Polina Edmunds agrees with us on that!

 

[Areski]

I love the team event as well. I think that it is interesting from a strategic standpoint, and the athletes like the team event as well.

It is though anticlimactic and not exactly fascinating to follow (othern than watching skating itself), pretty early you already know the placements as was the case this year at the Olympic Games. Maybe if they would change the way points are being allocated in the LP then it would hold some real suspense, I mean being given with bigger increments according to placements (2 or even 3 the higher the placement is).

 

[Areski]

Yeah, it's too bad there's no figure skating discipline that involves a group of skaters who completed synchronized movements, tricks, and skills set to music.

LOL. I know that you allude to synchronised skating. And now I'll give my unpopular opinion on it, I find it totally unwatchable. I certainly don't miss it at the Olympic Games.

 

[Areski]

In my mind, France won the 1998 bronze with the voidiest team ever

Can someone explain me in detail what being voidy really is?

 

[Vagabond]

Can someone explain me in detail what being voidy really is?

- Figure Skating Universe - fsuniverse.net-

Void
Has several meanings - And one day there shall be more I am sure.
Official Skating wise Explanation from Skate Guv:
"Oh gawd that's a tough one to define, better ask christopher dean !!"
It stems from me and sharps watching old documentary about T&D where we pee'd ourselves laughing at the following quote from Chris, which he said, erm, very dramatically "....and suddenly, we found ourselves in this...hole...this huge, big VOID !! We could do anything we wanted to, our only limits were our own imagination !! It's like floating free, it's like being in outer space !!"
"So we use the term "Voidy" to describe anything in skating which is a drama fest ala Dean. You know the sort of thing, angst expressions, hands outstretch, weird programs with weird music, skaters who clearly think they are skating as ar-TEESTES and creating an arty masterpiece...it's all "voidy"

It might be in the Oxford English Dictionary too. I haven't checked recently.

 

[Vash01]

I wish skaters would more often use pure instrumental music, I am annoyed by a lot of corny vocals/lyrics which bother me to no end. Oh and voiceovers (cringing hard when reminiscing most of these). It is kind of ironic I suppose as people pushed hard for introducing them in competitive skating besides Ice Dance?

I agree with this. I would add that I hate covers of great songs and of classical music. Listening to Beethoven, which gets interrupted by someone's words, and lyrics are added to this gem of music. Totally ruins it.

 

[DBZ]

Not sure if this is an unpopular one, but I much preferred Jason's initial version of his Sinnerman SP than the one he performed this season. I felt the choreographic changes he made to it this season (e.g., taking out the wally jump before the flip, putting the change foot camel at the end instead of the combo spin, etc.,) really affected my enjoyment of it, even though the changes were minor.

IMO the program was perfectly choreographed the 1st time around, so any changes ended up detracting from it. It was like taking something that was perfect and messing with it. I even liked the old costume better.

Anyway, it's still a masterpiece, but this was a case of "If ain't broke, don't fix it," for me.

 

[Xela M]

LOL. I know that you allude to synchronised skating. And now I'll give my unpopular opinion on it, I find it totally unwatchable. I certainly don't miss it at the Olympic Games.

Me too!! I find synchro skating utterly unwatchable.

I do like synchro in swimming though

 

[Seerek]

I feel like seeing all the cartwheels in programs now... it's an accident waiting to happen

 

[hoptoad]

- Figure Skating Universe - fsuniverse.net-

It might be in the Oxford English Dictionary too. I haven't checked recently.

In related news, I'm sorry to report that 'voidy' is not accepted by wordle.

 

[exNyer]

If you’re not planning to do your best at a worlds/Olympics competition, you should not be sent. Overscored untouchable skaters are too selfish. There are many athletes who deserved to go & represent their country. Do the “making history/record books at a small competition.

 

[Areski]

I agree with this. I would add that I hate covers of great songs and of classical music. Listening to Beethoven, which gets interrupted by someone's words, and lyrics are added to this gem of music. Totally ruins it.

The worst are those classical pieces of music ruined by some pop or musical-esque vocals. That's why I cringed during the SP of Cheng/Peng at the Olympics.

 

[Icetalavista]

This upcoming quad I will try to see Mark Kondratiuk fairly, but right now he looks out of control and hanging onto jumps just barely. Like his voidy drama - approaches French- level voids, and that’s a high standard

 

[Areski]

Silliest men's short program. Throwing ice in the air, I agree, very cringeworthy.

The step sequence is/was iconic. The audience reaction says it all.

 

[Areski]

This upcoming quad I will try to see Mark Kondratiuk fairly, but right now he looks out of control and hanging onto jumps just barely. Like his voidy drama - approaches French- level voids, and that’s a high standard

I have recently browsed some old programs of Ivan Dinev. I think I begin to get what the voidiness is about!

 

[Icetalavista]

Dinev did a program to superfast Balkan horn music before it got widely popular. At the time I thought it was odd, but would love it now

 

[CantALoop]

I recoiled when I first saw Nathan Chen's Olympic Rocketman shirt, but the more I look at photos of his winning FS, the more I like it.

I wouldn't buy it off the rack (or Wish ), but I think the bright reds and orange really makes him stand out in photos and the ice-blue boards and arena. The contrast really makes him "pop" out against the background.

Rocketman is far from my favorite program, but I think his choice and costume was smart in bringing energy to his performance and making him stand out among washed-out drab costumes and ponderous music.

 

[DreamSkates]

Silliest men's short program. Throwing ice in the air, I agree, very cringeworthy.

One of my favorite of his programs. I preferred Yagudin to Plushy, but that's my opinion. I didn't find any of Yagudin's programs silly but I did find some of Plushy's silly. Likely another unpopular opinion.