the "new" SKATING magazine...ugh!

[NiceIce]

I have flipped through the latest issue of the USFSA's SKATING magazine, looking for something of substance to read.
Who in Gods name "revamped" SKATING????????????????
It is full of pre-teen graphics, and insipid articles about complete unknowns .
The article about the little pre-preliminary skater was 2 full pages of:
"I like practicng"
" I like learning new things"
" I enjoy competitions"
" I love acting".
whew...ok, give her 1/4 page to say all that, and for us all to learn that a little girl of zero skating success likes to skate and act, but please, there are so many others of real skating accomplishment that I would love to hear about much much more. For instance, 2 pages on Rohene Ward, or
John Baldwins pairs partner from Japan,
or one of the many junior or senior level sectional skaters who have spent years reaching for their goals but are still unknowns, but unknowns that have accomplished alot on the ice.
Their stories deserve to be heard way before this one!
Same goes for that "big" story about the family whose name is Lutz.Nothing else was of interest. the name. thats it.
One or 2 lines would have sufficed. But actually, I could care less about a name.
I read skating magazines for info and news on important skaters, and hope to learn more about the accomplished up and comers.
In fact, I think most of us are hungry for stories/interviews about the skaters we know from regionals/sectionals/nationals that are not yet big names.

I find the new format extremely preteen girlish, and lacking.
Everyone at the rink agreed. I heard alot of "the new Skating sux"

[Mazurka Girl]

I have to agree with you that both those articles were way too long & there is a lot more they can offer in terms of more relevant articles & overall content.

Hopefully Clubs Matter was more to your liking this month though compared to our last discussion about it! ;)

[manleywoman]

As a graphic designer, I'm totally appalled by the design of the new magazine. The graphics are hard to read, especially the article with AP McDonogh printing on that blue.

And it does seem pretty pre-teen. But that's their main audience base too, remember. I'd be interested to know what the 15 and under crowd thinks.

[Yazmeen]

As someone who knows the Lutz family of skaters and has skated with them, I will simply say that they are lovely people, and I thought it was great to see an article on the "less than famous" with an intriguing hook.

Skating is a publication for members of the USFSA--designed primarily for skaters and less so for skating fans--it covers both the elite and the not so elite, and it lists our successes and interesting stories. I look forward to seeing my name in the "inside" listing when I pass my first USFSA test. My impression of your post, NiceIce, is that you don't find it particularly interesting to read about the average person who skates. If you want a magazine that concentrates on only the famous skaters you know or those you feel have the potential to be elites, may I suggest International Figure Skating, or Blades on Ice? SKATING is primarily designed for those of us who skate--and I'm happy to see them actually give the non-elite some attention.

Proud to be one of the "insipid,"

Beth

[Anjelica]

I agree NiceIce! I'll never understand why people always have to keep changing things and just make them worse in the process. "If it's not broken, don't fix it!"

[Mazurka Girl]

Originally posted by Yazmeen
My impression of your post, NiceIce, is that you don't find it particularly interesting to read about the average person who skates.
My impression of what NiceIce said is that a couple of the subjects in the magazine did not warrant a 3 or 4 page story. I agree. There was a lot of filler in those articles.

I'm all for articles about beginning skaters. But the magazine is supposed to be about SKATING, not a 9 yr old's acting career & what her brother does in acting. A pre-preliminary/no test skater who is being taken to competitions all over the country in addition to her other job might better be served by staying at her home rink a little more & learning the actual skating.

There is so often a predilection for the 'star search' skater articles in all the magazines. I'd rather see an article about an everyday pre prelim skater who spends 2 afternoons a week at the library & works on relevant community service projects. Or a profile about a couple of the skaters from Skating in Harlem who might be latchkey children who have to get themselves to the rink if they want to skate.

Right now in the skating world, there are wonderful coaches who are terminally/critically ill, 90 year old judges who have great stories to share, skaters working 2 & 3 jobs to pay their way, new developmental programs they're trying to get off the ground. The Lutz story as well as the 9 year old actress skater could have easily been limited to 1 page or less in length & still been effective. They should use their page space wisely, limit the unnecessary filler & address a wide range of skating interests.

[Yazmeen]

Mazurka Girl: Good points. Perhaps I misinterpreted NiceIce, but what bothered me was her comment that she wants to read only about "important skaters" and "accomplished up and comers." As I said I think those areas are still pretty well covered by SKATING and are available for fans in the other mags I mentioned. I still like seeing a forum for those with interesting stories who might never "make it" in the eyes of a skating fan.

Next we'll hear that fans don't want to see those "boring" lists of skaters who passed their tests or won low level competitions in SKATING... :roll:

To each their own, I guess.

[CMc]

Got a link to this? I can't seem to find it.

[Mazurka Girl]

Originally posted by Yazmeen
Next we'll hear that fans don't want to see those "boring" lists of skaters who passed their tests or won low level competitions in SKATING...
I don't think the lists will go away anytime soon. They've been included as long as I can remember & have been skating. :D

I thought the problem with this month's magazine was the weakness in the editing. Maybe articles are longer than they need to be because of insufficient research & lack of other content. In the case of the Shirley Temple starlet skater stories, it's probably someone promoting the skater, good old boy network, & what someone thinks everyone in skating wants to read.

[NiceIce]

Mazurka, I do believe that this is the first time we have ever fully agreed!!!!
You said it much better than I did though.

There are many people involved in real competitive skating who have stories to tell; stories with depth and examples of character, integrity, and yes, even actual skating talent/success.
I am happy that the tests are still included in the back, so I dont have a problem with that.
But the graphics, combined with those 2 snooze pieces , was just too much for me.
And if they are trying to market the magazine to preteen skaters then why put in an article, complete with " Glamour " shots ,about a very young girl whose claim to fame is acting?

I think the new format underestimates the intelligence and the focus of skaters of all ages.

[Artistic Skaters]

Originally posted by manleywoman
As a graphic designer, I'm totally appalled by the design of the new magazine. The graphics are hard to read, especially the article with AP McDonogh printing on that blue.
So true. They made a big deal out of revamping the magazine layout, but I don't like it nearly as much.

[FrozenMom]

I must agree with what has been already said. As a mother of a 13year old who reads Skating Magazine from cover to cover, she found this edition boring and too "Cute" for even her age group. She is more interested in substance articles (i.e. nutrition, exercises, experiences of other competitors, even some fashion fluff). It's not that young skaters are not important, but she thought they were just trying to fill space.

[Jennytisme]

I really want that issue cause Tim is featured. If you don't want it you can sell it to me!