Over the Edge
PSA OFFICERS President First Vice President Second Vice President Third Vice President Treasurer Past President
JIMMIE SANTEE, MPD, MG
PSA BOARD OF GOVERNORS West
Renewing the Evolution of Figure Skating
S
ome believe that we can blame judges for the substandard quality of skating today as too many tests pass that are poor. I don’t entirely believe that. We can’t blame the judges exclusively, because as coaches, we continue to seek out the minimum standard needed to pass tests. As an early specialization sport, coaches understand that skaters tend to struggle through the maturation phase. We are in a hurry to get our skaters doing triples before maturation sets in. Worse, with the margin of error for smaller, lighter skaters being much greater than those who have matured physically, it allows coaches and judges to overlook flaws in technique that will eventually stop the skater’s progress. As a whole, we have strayed from the correct way to develop talent. The emphasis of developing skaters, either as a judge or coach, should not focus on passing tests, but on mastering skills. In some ways, it’s not the skill itself, but the root of the skill to be learned that needs to be mastered. As an example, a senior level skater does beautiful footwork… great edges and turns with speed and power. The coach asks the skater to do a basic back three turn by itself on a circle; something so simple to many of us who skated figures. But this skater struggles to hold onto the check and stay on the circle. It’s as if they were learning this turn for the first time. The skater is not over their skates, arms firm, and on the circle. They turn by swinging the leg, breaking at the waist, as opposed to rocking to the heel, rising out of the knee and countering “... I can’t wait for pressure between the shoulders and hips as the hips and shoulders rotate against each other. the unveiling of A few simple corrections and the turn looks the updated and good. The skater completed two distinctly different turns. One is off axis and the skater rebranded Learn struggles to hold the position, but doesn’t put his foot down. The second is smooth with to Skate USA a strong check and is easily held for three program later seconds. I believe this is the problem. As the standards of passing tests have declined, we this year. This often see skaters pass tests with a poorly done turn like the first example. They complete the is a tremendous turn…but it was not easy. The story could be opportunity for repeated for many elements. Additionally, I believe the majority of the industry to jumping mistakes happen during the take off. ‘right the ship.” Often because of weak basic skating skills, the skater is unable to balance their center of mass over the correct portion of the skate. Think about the two distinctly different turns I described above. Literally with the first turn, if they don’t jump quickly after the turn they would fall to the ice. As opposed to the skater controlling the edge, gravity does it for them. Why do you think U.S. skaters have such a problem staying on the outside edge for a Lutz? Back to the top please… a lack of understanding of fundamental skating skills and the four basic edges. This also contributes to what I have been writing about in the last two de-
4
NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2015
East
Doug Ladret Todd Sand Teri Klindworth Hooper Patrick O'Neil Tim Covington Robyn Petroskey-Poe Don Corbiell Cindy Larson Sullivan Kirsten Miller-Zisholz
PSA
The Big Picture
Mid-West
Angela Riviello Christine Fowler-Binder Rebecca Stump Alex Chang Carol Murphy Kelley Morris Adair
Members at Large
Committee on Professional Standards Ratings Chair Seminar Chair ISI Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Rep to PSA U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Executive Director Legal Counsel
Robbie Kaine Tom Hickey Doug Mattis Scott McCoy Ben Miller-Reisman Kelley Morris Adair Jimmie Santee David Shulman
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Awards Coaches Hall of Fame Education Seminars State Workshops Apprentice Area Representatives Hockey Skating PS Magazine Sport Science Endorsements Executive Executive Nominating Finance Fundraising ISU/ IJS Ethics and Legal Nominating Professional Standards PSA Rep to ISI Ratings Special Olympics
Denise Williamson Kelley Morris Adair Heidi Thibert Doug Mattis Tom Hickey Rebecca Stump Gloria Masterson Leous Paul Paprocki Bob Mock Heidi Thibert Jamie Santee Angela Riviello Kelley Morris Adair Carol Murphy Patrick O’Neil David Santee David Shulman Kelley Morris Adair Robbie Kaine Gerry Lane Tom Hickey Eleanor Fraser-Taylor
PSA AREA REPRESENTATIVES Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Area 5 Area 6 Area 7 Area 8 Area 9 Area 10 Area 11 Area 12 Area 13 Area 14 Area 15 Area 16 Area 17
Martha Harding Anne Marie Filosa Lee Cabell Tim Covington Gloria Masterson Leous Kevin Curtis Liz Egetoe Melanie Bolhuis Lisa Bardonaro-Reibly Stacie Kuglin Brigitte Carlson-Roquet Sharon Brilliantine Tracey Seliga-O’Brien Lisa Mizonick Don Corbiell Josselyn Baumgartner John Kauffman
THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine Mission: To bring to our readers the best information from the most knowledgeable sources. To select and generate the information free from the influence of bias. And to provide needed information quickly, accurately and efficiently. The views expressed in THE PROFESSIONAL SKATER Magazine and products are not necessarily those of the Professional Skaters Association. The Professional Skater, a newsletter of the Professional Skaters Association, Inc., is published bimonthly, six times a year, as the official publication of the PSA, 3006 Allegro Park SW, Rochester, MN 55902. 507.281.5122, Fax 507.281.5491, Email: office@skatepsa.com © 2004 by Professional Skaters Association, all rights reserved. Subscription price is $19.95 per year, Canadian $29.00 and foreign $45.00/year, U.S. Funds. ISSN-574770. Second-class Postage Paid at Rochester, MN 55901 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to The Professional Skater, 3006 Allegro Park SW, Rochester, MN 55902. Printed in the USA.