I remember having to do that same figure at worlds in '82. I was in trouble from the first step down I couldn't get it together and people applauded when I was done because I didn't fall flat on my face.
I've been skating for a couple years now and never knew this was a thing skaters had to do at comps! Definitely gonna be practicing actual figures like this now! It looks so cool and difficult but satisfying if you get it right!
Never knew this used to be part of figure skating and where the name comes from. I think it's important part of history and looks very difficult but pretty ridiculous and boring too. And love the Brians, wish I had been able to see them compete.
The figures really aren’t ridiculous- skating is all about edges and this is how “figure skating “ started. When I skated in the 1960’s-1970’s, figures counted for 60% of our score and the long program 40%. No short program. There are 72 figures and they are very difficult (remember, you need to put one down then trace it twice.). There is a groove in the blade. If you “flat out” (go from your edge to a flat blade) the judges will see two lines. Most figures you are allowed 4” of flat lines when you have to change from inside/outside edges. Most skaters hated figures. I didn’t. But they made skating even MORE costly since you had to have a special time and different skates learning and practicing (called “patching” since you had your own patch of ice). But the public wasn’t interested so as TV took over, the advertising money was in free style. Figure skating sold out.
@@MrsEJVthe only problem I had with figures is the scoring system that was way out of whack and led to skaters like Trixi Schuba build up a huge lead ahead of wonderfull free skaters who had no chance of winning the competition. Perfect example the world championships in Lyon France 1971. Janet Lynn didn’t even make it on the podium but she won the free skate Trixie the gold medalist won the figures but was 7th in the free skate. I mean come on the winner of the free skate should be on the podium.
Ideally, skaters should be expected to do figures up through juniors, or possibly local senior events. Then we'd have skaters that were well trained, and then able to stop figures to concentrate on jumps and artistry. No reason you couldn't have figures continue to be skated as a separate, optional event for seniors under the conditions I described.
It seems skating figures day in and day out make the skaters better, more controlled, have better posture, etc. I think the reason the skaters of the 1990s were so good is because they had grown up training in figures, THEN were able to drop them and devote all their time to jumps and artistry.... but the subsequent generations have NOT been as elegant as they DID NOT GROW UP training in figures.
I can't stand watching skating now... they fling themselves from rickety edges and back down again wobbling all over the place and then throw themselves into the ugliest possible spin positions.... blechhhh
To clarify, I mean skaters should be trained in figures and continue to compete with them up through Junior Worlds. Some local senior events might require them, optional. But senior elite skating competitions would hold figures as separate events. I think that would give us the best trained skaters ever.
I just checked out a book about the skaters who were killed in a plane crash in 1961 and as I was skipping around reading it and looking at the photos, before I actually started to read it, I came across something about what they call school figures. The reason why they did away with them is because I think, from what I read, they didn't televise these 'compulsory figures' and it added to their points and how well they placed. Well, people were getting angry when perfect skaters like Janet Lynn couldn't medal and no one could figure out why. Turns out, if you didn't do good on these compulsory figures, and didn't excellent skating programs, it didn't matter. What mattered was how well you did in the figure compulsory, and that is why they did away with it and brought in the short skating program that we see now. Interesting the things you come across. I guess, if a up and coming skater was truly hard core, they would probably master the school figures, but when you have to perfect all the triples, and now, 'quads', guess they don't have time to master the school figure.
They got rid of them because people thought they were boring to watch, and maybe they are, but they teach control and clean edges which is sorely lacking in todays skaters
The short program was brought in well before the compulsories were eliminated. The short was instituted after the 76 olys, and school was dropped in 1990 after the world's. Initially, school and free counted for 50% each. Then the split was school 30, short 20, free 50. Starting from 89, the splits changed to school 20, short 30, free 50. And then starting from 91 untill cop, it was short 1/3, long 2/3.
Was listening to an interview with Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano where they were talking about practicing figures for hours. Boitano talked about doing them as long as 5 hours a day. I guess it's like practicing endless scales on the piano.
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It looks freaking funny to see nine judges come and examine that small figure. Like a crime scene.
I remember having to do that same figure at worlds in '82. I was in trouble from the first step down I couldn't get it together and people applauded when I was done because I didn't fall flat on my face.
I've been skating for a couple years now and never knew this was a thing skaters had to do at comps! Definitely gonna be practicing actual figures like this now! It looks so cool and difficult but satisfying if you get it right!
Apparently the nap worked. The third figure was supposedly almost flawless. by Boitano, where he practically retraced his grooves in places.
Woooow
Cool
🙏💐🌼👍🌸🌿🤗
So... this is what Brian Boitano did. O=
That was Brian Orser, not Brian Boitano.
Never knew this used to be part of figure skating and where the name comes from. I think it's important part of history and looks very difficult but pretty ridiculous and boring too. And love the Brians, wish I had been able to see them compete.
School figures used to be more elaborate than this. The inventor, Gilles Grafstrom, could trace very intricate designs into the ice
The figures really aren’t ridiculous- skating is all about edges and this is how “figure skating “ started. When I skated in the 1960’s-1970’s, figures counted for 60% of our score and the long program 40%. No short program. There are 72 figures and they are very difficult (remember, you need to put one down then trace it twice.). There is a groove in the blade. If you “flat out” (go from your edge to a flat blade) the judges will see two lines. Most figures you are allowed 4” of flat lines when you have to change from inside/outside edges. Most skaters hated figures. I didn’t. But they made skating even MORE costly since you had to have a special time and different skates learning and practicing (called “patching” since you had your own patch of ice). But the public wasn’t interested so as TV took over, the advertising money was in free style. Figure skating sold out.
@@soulcornflake1 Some skaters could write their names!
@Elizabeth Verrill that would be a neat trick! Who could do that?
@@MrsEJVthe only problem I had with figures is the scoring system that was way out of whack and led to skaters like Trixi Schuba build up a huge lead ahead of wonderfull free skaters who had no chance of winning the competition. Perfect example the world championships in Lyon France 1971. Janet Lynn didn’t even make it on the podium but she won the free skate Trixie the gold medalist won the figures but was 7th in the free skate. I mean come on the winner of the free skate should be on the podium.
Hi to everyone else who came here from Let's Learn Everything!
I wish they had a drone back then to televise it so that it’s clear what they were doing. Also, Brian Orser!!!
School Figures teaches concentration, and Focus - a must for all aspects of Skating..
HowDareThey1970, as a musician, these seem comparable to scales and scale patterns to me, and I totally agree with your assessment!
Ideally, skaters should be expected to do figures up through juniors, or possibly local senior events. Then we'd have skaters that were well trained, and then able to stop figures to concentrate on jumps and artistry. No reason you couldn't have figures continue to be skated as a separate, optional event for seniors under the conditions I described.
I like that idea a lot!
It seems skating figures day in and day out make the skaters better, more controlled, have better posture, etc. I think the reason the skaters of the 1990s were so good is because they had grown up training in figures, THEN were able to drop them and devote all their time to jumps and artistry.... but the subsequent generations have NOT been as elegant as they DID NOT GROW UP training in figures.
I can't stand watching skating now... they fling themselves from rickety edges and back down again wobbling all over the place and then throw themselves into the ugliest possible spin positions.... blechhhh
I wish they would've done a close-up of the figures.
Beautifull, We should always do it!!
To clarify, I mean skaters should be trained in figures and continue to compete with them up through Junior Worlds. Some local senior events might require them, optional. But senior elite skating competitions would hold figures as separate events. I think that would give us the best trained skaters ever.
I think that idea is absolutely brilliant!
Brian Orser!!!
I just checked out a book about the skaters who were killed in a plane crash in 1961 and as I was skipping around reading it and looking at the photos, before I actually started to read it, I came across something about what they call school figures. The reason why they did away with them is because I think, from what I read, they didn't televise these 'compulsory figures' and it added to their points and how well they placed. Well, people were getting angry when perfect skaters like Janet Lynn couldn't medal and no one could figure out why. Turns out, if you didn't do good on these compulsory figures, and didn't excellent skating programs, it didn't matter. What mattered was how well you did in the figure compulsory, and that is why they did away with it and brought in the short skating program that we see now. Interesting the things you come across. I guess, if a up and coming skater was truly hard core, they would probably master the school figures, but when you have to perfect all the triples, and now, 'quads', guess they don't have time to master the school figure.
They got rid of them because people thought they were boring to watch, and maybe they are, but they teach control and clean edges which is sorely lacking in todays skaters
The short program was brought in well before the compulsories were eliminated. The short was instituted after the 76 olys, and school was dropped in 1990 after the world's. Initially, school and free counted for 50% each. Then the split was school 30, short 20, free 50. Starting from 89, the splits changed to school 20, short 30, free 50. And then starting from 91 untill cop, it was short 1/3, long 2/3.
Was listening to an interview with Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano where they were talking about practicing figures for hours. Boitano talked about doing them as long as 5 hours a day. I guess it's like practicing endless scales on the piano.
God this is so boring it's hilarious
What a waste of time.