One big skating family?

[windsor]

Last night I was reading something about how some skaters once felt that there should be no "Pros" or "Eligibles" (thus the movement back in '94 regarding reinstatement). Basically, that skating should be all inclusive and both Pros and Eligibles should be able to compete in whatever they wanted to (including Olympics) and perform in whatever shows they wanted to.

What do y'all out there think?

[Oracle]

Anytime prize money/valuable gifts are awarded I believe the recipient automatically becomes a professional. All skaters should have the opportunity to enter into any shows or competitions that they choose to enter.

[Schmeck]

But how would it work at Nationals? Would the old pros have a bye, since they hold Nat/World titles, or would they have to go back to Regionals?

[Oracle]

Most of the pros of today are in their mid to late 30's & from what I've read they wouldn't be interested in competing in the ISU events. However, if any would like to compete in their nationals/gp events, etc. then, by all means, they should qualify thro regionals & sectionals.

[loveskating]

That is pretty much what happened with the pro ams, and what it did was basically destroy pro skating.

[Oracle]

That is pretty much what happened with the pro ams, and what it did was basically destroy pro skating.

I disagree. The ISU's decision to pay out prize money to the amateurs & call them eligibles is what led to the downfall of the pros. It was a move intended to force the takeover of professional competitions by the ISU (remember the ISU's World Professional Championships? Kwan & Yagudin won, LOL). However, the pros refused to play ball & with no new blood entering their ranks (except for the injured) they melted away. Another major factor was that Dick Button sold his interest in the pro comps to one of the management corporations who subsequently did nothing to promote the comps.

[loveskating]

I disagree. The ISU's decision to pay out prize money to the amateurs & call them eligibles is what led to the downfall of the pros. It was a move intended to force the takeover of professional competitions by the ISU (remember the ISU's World Professional Championships? Kwan & Yagudin won, LOL). However, the pros refused to play ball & with no new blood entering their ranks (except for the injured) they melted away. Another major factor was that Dick Button sold his interest in the pro comps to one of the management corporations who subsequently did nothing to promote the comps.

I think that paying the amateurs prize money did nothing harmful to pro skating...and it enabled skaters with little money in their family to keep skating. IMHO it was not untiil the pro ams came along that pro skating was diminshed (and pro skaters as well). The pro ams took all the possible television time from real pro skaters.

Interestingly, show skating, like SOI and COI, seems to remain at least profitable, if not highly profitable.