What the heck is Team Figure Skating! - Page 5

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/8/2014 pitdakota said:
On 2/8/2014 Tenners said: I think you're missing the point. This is new and only an attempt by TV to add more figure skating to their line-up. The sports you list were never individual events.

Wow. So US TV along with British, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French, and other TV corporations all agreed and were able to convince the Olympic committee? Sign that TV group up for the United Nations!!

Makes you wonder if there really is a G and he's guiding the networks here and abroad.

Actually, I like the team event because it allows some really hard working and good skaters to win a mental when they wouldn't otherwise. The teams can exchange one skater or pair who skated in the short program for another in the long. Russia did that with their pairs allowing their second best to skate in the long program. They were really good but not as good as the Russian pairs in the short.

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/8/2014 cyndog said: I'm asking again, are the teams going to skate together on air? I thought it was just adding individual scores to make a team total and not an actual skating event. Anybody know?

It's an actual event and every Olympics new events are added and some old ones eliminated.

dmod nj · ‎10-04-2011

On 2/8/2014 faeriemoon said:
I don't get the team competition either.

On another note (rant), I used to love to watch figure skating when there was more focus on artistry. Now all they care about is landing triple jumps (which they seldom manage to do under the pressure of competition.) I find it rather boring, personally.

Adding: I enjoy ice dancing the most.

I love ice dancing the most, too.

You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the girl. Jersey Girl living in CNY.

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/8/2014 Tenners said:
On 2/8/2014 Linders Back said:
Have any of you been watching the Team Ice Skating Competition?

It has been wonderful to see the individual skaters perform and for them to have their team mates in the "Kiss and Cry" area supporting them. The commentators, former Olympians themselves, have marveled at the camaraderie engendered in a sport that usually is a bit contentious even among the same nation's competitors (Think Tanya/Nancy or "The Cutting Edge").

I'm sure it will boost TV ratings, but it has also given viewers a chance to get to know the different competitors before the individual events. It also gives some skaters a chance at a Medal when they aren't the top in their particular discipline. It evens the playing field where one country might excel in Dance but not Men's Singles, for example. I think it is a great addition.

So you'd be fine getting a medal even though you messed up your portion of the team event based on someone else's exceptional performance that raised the final score? Let's give everyone a gold star on their forehead so no one will feel bad and no one will stand out as the best.

In the summer Olympics the swimmers compete in both individual and team competitions and some stronger swimmers compensate for weaker ones. I've not heard anyone taking exception to that.

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

Do you remember when they had the Compulsories? Katerina Witt was not very good at them but she won the gold

Cyndog · ‎10-08-2010

Thanks for the answers. Personally, I'm just glad other people watch figure skating, ha, ha, I'm the only one I know that does. There's not that much on every weekend like there used to be. I think Wide World Of Sports used to have it a lot. Women and pairs are my favorites, although I enjoy them all. Yes, I remember the compulsories.

Tenners · ‎05-29-2010

There you go! Now you're starting to see what I'm talking about! Those poor kids are going to be exhausted. And to the one who mentioned swimming, they do the team relay after the individuals compete.

Sushismom · ‎03-09-2010

On 2/8/2014 occasional rain said:
Do you remember when they had the Compulsories? Katerina Witt was not very good at them but she won the gold

I remember compulsories. They were worth 60% of the total score until 1968, when they were reduced to 50%. Then another reduction to 40% in 1973, another in 1976 to 30%, and yet another to 20% in 1989. They were eliminated altogether after the 1990 season.

Katarina Witt had strong short and free programs even after she placed 3rd in compulsories in the 1988 Olympics.

Sushismom · ‎03-09-2010

On 2/8/2014 Tenners said: One thing with which I do agree with some of the skaters is that the timing for the team event is too close to the individual competition. It would make more sense to let the skaters rest for a week between the events. There you go! Now you're starting to see what I'm talking about!

No, I don't see what you're talking about. I'm simply agreeing with ONE aspect of the team competition: the timing. I have no issues with a team competition at all nor do I place it below individual competition as you do.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/8/2014 ninjawife said:
On 2/8/2014 EmmaBunting said:
Well....I would suppose it's like team gymnastics.

Exactly. Competitors can opt out of the team competition or opt out of individual events.

What they said.

******

OP: ""What the heck..."" - I don't understand why you chose to use this phraseology. It's rather demeaning to all of the hard-working athletes.