The Globe & Mail Article About Judging System

[Mazurka Girl]

The Globe & Mail Article (http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/PEstory/TGAM/20021030/SFIQU/sports/sports/sports_temp/2/2/27/)

Includes a comment by Yagudin:
Yagudin said if the International Skating Union dropped ice dancing, everyone would be better off, Yagudin said, because ice dancing initially created the scandal at the Salt Lake City Olympics. "In [singles and pairs] we do elements. In ice dancing, they are just wasting money and they are wasting time changing systems."

A skater who is not afraid to express an opinion. :twisted:

[spiralsrfun]

I applaud the "many" recent outspoken remarks from Alexei, but he's not giving the ice dancers any respect here...what they do is VERY difficult. I certainly do not dispute the fact fact that ice dance has been a major problem as far as scandal, but his harsh comments are overboard IMO. :??

[verte76]

I agree, there have been many controversies about ice dance that haven't made it look great. Don't throw it out of the Olympics, let's give the new judging system a chance and see if it stops the worst controversies. If it's not a little controversial it's not skating.;)

[what?meworry?]

if have two questions,

i thought i heard that even though there is anonymity of judging at each event, there is an end-of-season evaluation of the judges' judging. if that is so, who does the evaluation?

if there isn't, or if there is a disconnection from judge and the prying eyes of their own federation, doesn't this mean that the judges are relatively protected from being pressured into cheating by their own federations?

[Gaela]

I think you are right that there is an end of season evaluation. So says the ISU. Maybe it's real or maybe just for show, hard to trust the ISU.

What I found interesting in this article (not the bash ice dance, bash D&V, or bash C&S possibilities) was what Anne Shawn said about reforming the new ice dance judging criteria to meet the computer system. She basically said the technical people who had to revise criteria for the new judging system took advantage of it, getting really detail oriented into the minutae if ice dance. . .turns, numbers of turns, and so on. She said the new requirements would confuse the judges so much they would be forced to mark fairly.

I don't think its just North America vs. Non North America, hope not anyhow. It could just be a real shake-up, if I read her right. I was freaked when C&S lost. I thought it WAS a conspiracy because it seemed so obvious. But maybe this judging was fair (about previous competitions, I don't know)

So, if she's right, we'll be seeing fair judging maybe. I'll watch the whole season with fresh, clean eyes, not comparing anyone to anyone

The feeling may only last a few days, but peace in the land of ice dance is a odd sensation for me so I'll enjoy it while it lasts.