Psychology Today - 'skating stars'??

[Schmeck]

Having been bumped out of my classroom because of a teacher's meeting, I took my class (of 2 students ;) ) to the library. I actually got time to look through the newest magazines, and my eye caught this one in Psychology Today:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20060831-000001.xml

Now, the link above just has the first few paragraphs, not much at all, but it's another typical, mistake-ridden article about figure skating. The writer says the girl landed her perfect axel, on two feet... :roll: Anyways, I wasn't too impressed, and I'm tempted to email her about the mistakes and assumptions she made. Should I do it, or would it be a waste of time?

It's the October 2006 edition, BTW.

[AshBugg44]

I could only read the clip on the website, but I found a mistake already:

She pushed through the turns, hoisted her left knee up and landed on the precarious outside edge of her right blade

You're either going to "hoist" your RIGHT knee up and land on your right blade, or if you "hoist" your left knee up, you're going to land on your left blade!

[doubletoe]

Well, she would lift the left knee in order to check out the free leg on landing, so that isn't actually wrong. However, anyone "arcing" in the air would be highly unlikely to land an axel safely on her foot (or feet, as the case may be), LOL.

Sure, why not go ahead and write, not necessarily pointing out every single mistake, but suggesting that if she writes anything about figure skating in the future, she might want to have a figure skater look over it to check for accuracy (or at least she could watch the move she's talking about in slow motion to make sure she's describing it correctly).

[Schmeck]

Yeah, I wasn't planning on just listing the mistakes, just pointing out a few as examples about how not to write an article about a subject you really don't know much about. I think what really bothered me was the hype about these 3 girls in the article - none of them were at the level of becoming elite skaters, (the 14 yr old just got her 2 sal, I think?) yet that was the premise of the article, to a point. I'm going to photocopy it today at work, and reread it before I decide how to respond.

[Isk8NYC]

Anyways, I wasn't too impressed, and I'm tempted to email her about the mistakes and assumptions she made. Should I do it, or would it be a waste of time? If you're willing to be a resource for her in the future, send the email and offer. Generally, most writers (and editors) don't care about accuracy in figure skating. The NY Daily News once did an article where they quoted our old skating director as explaining spins are done on the toe picks. Now, no one believed she said that; obviously the writer and editor just made a mistake. They didn't care once the article was printed - the only corrections that make the next issue are names and places.

[doubletoe]

Yeah, I wasn't planning on just listing the mistakes, just pointing out a few as examples about how not to write an article about a subject you really don't know much about. I think what really bothered me was the hype about these 3 girls in the article - none of them were at the level of becoming elite skaters, (the 14 yr old just got her 2 sal, I think?) yet that was the premise of the article, to a point. I'm going to photocopy it today at work, and reread it before I decide how to respond.

I hear ya! In addition to getting her facts straight on techniques before describing them, it would have been a good idea for her to actually ask someone what jumps other girls their age were landing at Nationals, Sectionals & Regionals to get a sense of where they stood in the competitive world. I think any athlete would think to ask that type of question, but apparently, most journalists are not athletes. . . :roll:

[Schmeck]

I'm not expecting to make a figure skating expert out of her, or a fan, but just want to point out to her that her mistakes me less likely to believe all the other points she tries to make in her article. Hopefully she'll learn to be more accurate before she attempts another article about something she doesn't know much about...

[Erica Lee]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to point out the blatantely gaping errors. Something about left/right outside/inside details is a little more forgiveable... even people involved in the sport can get those types of things wrong. But a 14 year old with a 2sal is hardly a 'star' skater.

I'd love to read the whole article.. may have to look for it at the library.

[4rkidz]

I think its an excellent article and its not supposed to be about figure skating but the various psychological aspects of the sport and its impact on the skaters and their families. Sometimes you can get so caught up in a slight technical interpretation and you miss the point of the whole article.. I think when she was referring to landing the jump and being on two feet - she was referring to fact she didn't fall and was able to stay up on her feet after landing the jump - or that is what I got from it.
Also, why would she reference other skaters or what they are doing at their levels - again that isn't the point of the article - the reality is for 95% of the skaters out there its about their own journey - not comparing them to every skater out there - don't forget even the top juniors or intermediates at the end of the day are not going to be representing the U.S. at the Olympics - even for those skaters its still about the journey and its all relative - what might be great at your club level isn't so great nationally but that isn't the point is it? For that moment in time those girls competing felt like they were winning and suceeding and their hard work was paying off, who cares whether in comparison to another 11 year old its not as advanced?

[Schmeck]

Yes, but how can I believe she knows what she's talking about, with the mistakes and hype? If she can't even go the distance to check her tech stuff, why would I believe she knows what she's talking about? Sure, it's a cute article about some girls who compete, but wouldn't it be more substantial if she got her facts straight, and interviewed some of the more elite young skaters? The article hypes these kids as 'skating stars' - when in fact, they are recreational level, IMO.

My point is that this article loses its integrity for me, because she made mistakes in it. How are we to know that what she quotes the kids as saying, the parents, etc, is not a bunch of baloney?

Anyways, I haven't had a chance to copy the article so I haven't emailed her yet. Hopefully, I'll have the time to this Friday!

[TreSk8sAZ]

I think its an excellent article and its not supposed to be about figure skating but the various psychological aspects of the sport and its impact on the skaters and their families. Sometimes you can get so caught up in a slight technical interpretation and you miss the point of the whole article.. I think when she was referring to landing the jump and being on two feet - she was referring to fact she didn't fall and was able to stay up on her feet after landing the jump - or that is what I got from it.


I finally just got to read the full article. While I agree that the technical aspects aren't necessarily as important the overall idea of the stress young girls go through in our sport, blatant errors such as those made in the article can be distracting. For example, the axel reference that the author made later in the piece that other people caught as well: "She pushes off, soars up, and in the blink of an eye lands on both feet - a perfect axel." Even those who do not practice our sport but has watched it on tv has some knowledge that landing on 2 feet is not a perfect axel. The commentary talks about that all the time during programs, explaining the deduction for that landing.

I do have to agree that the level of the young girls is not "star" quality. However, the underlying theme of the artcile was whether you needed an Olympic dream or not in order to be dedicated. I think that while maybe not the best choice of girls, they do suit the articles purpose since the author talks of their motivation and how they work on the ice.

I have to bring up a point about the portrayal of adult figure skating, as well. Yes, adults usually have more fear of falling than the kids who start young. However, the kids having a more acute sense of fun? Hmm.... ever seen the difference in the atmosphere between a kids comp and an all-adult comp? Seems to me that the adults skate more for the fun of it... they HAVE to otherwise we'd never take time off work, or schedule time away from our families. Adults, too, go to many competitions throughout the year (and not just in skating) which was overlooked by the author saying that kids put themselves on the line more often than most adults, who would be drained by doing so.

Granted, I liked the article. But these points kind of got on my nerves as I was reading it.

[4rkidz]

Yes I agree about the adult part, she obviously hasn't watched any of the adult comps as your right its obvious adult skaters really do have a more 'acute sense of fun', its far more relaxed as they have already realized they are not going to the olympics and their mothers aren't usually hanging around all stressed out too!8-)