Level 3 Difficulty & CoP

[Buzzing84]

I was looking at all of the detailed results from Skate America today, and noticed that no one had spins and step sequences of a level 3 difficulty. Most of the skaters had a mix of level 1 and 2 spins and step sequences. Miki Ando had no spins higher than a level 1. This led me to look back over a lot of last years results, and once again I didn't find anything higher than a level 2. I also noticed some discrepancies between this and last year. Both Yukina's flying camel and combination spin were considered a level 2 in her last year's program, while this year they were only a level 1. Now she did the exact same flying camel in both, and as far as I could tell, her combination spin in this year's long was far more difficult. Did they make some adjustments to the system in the last year that would account for this? As I've been watching skaters compete under CoP the past two seasons, I have often thought how difficult a lot of the spins and footwork sequences are that are being done. What exactly does is it going to take to get those level 3 rankings, and why aren't we seeing any of them?

[prunes89]

Only Sasha will get Level 3 anything. Mark My Words!!! :bow:

[fadedstardust]

It takes people ACTUALLY understanding what the heck you need to do to get a level 3, and judges willing to award it to the skaters. I mean, I'm sure my layback will only get a level 2. Level 3, you're supposed to hit 4 positions or something like that, I don't see how a person is supposed to execute something like a layback and have it still be pretty and effective with choreography and hit four positions. I'm not gonna give up artistic freedom and check off the number of times I contort in this one spin just to get the level 3. I doubt you'll see very many level 3's in the next few years, because most of us just have no idea what to do to please this new system. I've gotten an evaluation over the summer and everything was a level 1-2, I think that's just what most people will have, level 3 is I think meant to be more of the "unreachable" than a 1-2-3 step to getting more points.

[robertp]

I would add, that it appears that there is some confusion on how to apply the levels. The USFS issued a notice to that effect recently for pairs and dance. I would assume that some of that criteria and confusion is also present in singles.

It appears that unless the level move was executed to the degree that the caller determines, that a lower level is issued. This appears to be another factor to deal with by the skaters.

[Buzzing84]

I believe Sasha had one element from her programs last year that was a level 3, but I don't remember what it was. There were actually a few other skaters who had elements graded as level 3, such as Tatiana Basova who I believe had a level 3 spiral sequence. It's still excedingly rare to see though.

[roza]

There were actually a few other skaters who had elements graded as level 3, such as Tatiana Basova who I believe had a level 3 spiral sequence. It's still excedingly rare to see though.

As it should be. The purpose of the seemingly impossible requirement of Level 3 is to reward the skaters who truly excell. Level 3 should be a rarity and something to work towards over a long period of time, not something attainable by the majority, or even a significant minority of skaters.