Yu Na KIM lived up to expectations and her PSA coach Brian Orser finally won his well deserved, Olympic Gold Medal. Americans Mirai and Rachell and their coaches Frank and Tom Z. should feel extremely proud. There was a lot of pressure in that Olympic arena. For goodness sake even the PA announcer said the global TV audience was more than 450 million people. Inside the PAC arena I counted 18 former Olympic Champions that I could see from my seat. The Mayor of Vancouver was sitting less than 10 feet away and there were heads of state, celebrities, and a very boisterous Canadian crowd. It was so exciting when the last flight of ladies took to the ice for their 6 minute warm up. Every athlete in that last group living their Olympic dream were fully prepared for all the pressures and distractions that go with that big of a dream. And they all went out there and skated their hearts out on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world. Well done athletes, and THANK YOU.
For me these Olympics were a vindication of IJS. I don’t think the 6.0 System could of accurately measured the depth of talent in these Olympics as IJS has done. There is a saying in business that goes, ‘you cannot manage what you cannot measure.’ Figure skating is a sport that must be measured as accurately as possible and managed as best as possible. Every official at these Games knew there was more accountability for their actions here in Vancouver. And the people who manage figure skating actually had tools to use to do their jobs better.
When I was first asked (in 2003) to serve and volunteer as an official for the “new ISU judging system” I had several reservations. Back then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was seriously considering removing figure skating from the Olympics. Many people ignored this warning or wrote it off as an idle threat. But I was truly scared when I heard IOC President Jocque Rouge say back in 2003, (paraphrased) ‘Figure skating needs to decide if it belongs in the arena or the museum”
Based on the feedback we got from skater, officials, judges and coaches, IJS worked well. We do belong in the Olympics.
I understand there are still a lot of critics of IJS. Maybe IJS is not the perfect solution for figure skating, but it certainly is not destroying our sport and after spending 3 weeks at the 21st Olympics I can honestly say using 21st century technology IJS provided a well managed and accurately measured Olympic sport.
Well done, IJS.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dance/Ladies
The Dance Event was incredible. PSA coaches, Igor Spilbond and Marina Zoueva can now add 2010 Olympic Champions and 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist to their very impressive coaching resume. Their 4 young students, Tess, Scott, Meryl and Charlie have reached a level never accomplished in Olympic Ice Dancing history.
Other dance history being made here in Vancouver includes; There was not one American, Russian or Canadian judge on the panel for the final Free Dance. North America has never had a first and second place finish. This is the first time since Ice Dancing was included in the Olympics that Russia did not win the Event.
My good friend Johnny Johns came to Vancouver and stayed with me during the dance Events. Johnny who also coaches with Igor and Marina in Detroit was fun to be around during this historic moment in ice dancing. We spent some quality time with Marina in Vancouver and I have to tell you that it was like hanging out with Picasso or a Rembradt, (although hanging out with Johnny was more like a George Carlin).
Marina gave me some thought provocative insight into her world of dance. She explained how Tess and Scott’s FD was more than a man and a woman, but a “…soul to soul.” Watching their FD and feeling their souls become one was breathtaking.
Marina also pointed out how her students at the Olympics were the first generation truly raised on IJS.
Just when I was really getting into dance, the Ladies began their Event with the Short Program. Both Rachel and Mirai were great. All week at practices I don’t think I saw the 2 of them miss any elements (and they did full run thrus on mahority of practice sessions). PSA coaches Tom Z. and Frank C. have prepared their students well. The teaching style of both coaches is similar yet I was most impressed with the non- verbal communication skills they had with their athletes all week.
The Ladies long program will be exciting. Korea is the heavy favorite but there is a great battle for the other 2 medals. Both Americans are in that hunt.
I think IJS has proven so far during these Olympics that our sport can be measured more accurately. I think the Ladies free skate on Thursday night will be as thrilling and emotional as every other event has been. It was my hope the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver would inspire more participation in our sport. Time will tell that answer, but I’m feeling very optimistic.
Enjoy the Ladies.
Other dance history being made here in Vancouver includes; There was not one American, Russian or Canadian judge on the panel for the final Free Dance. North America has never had a first and second place finish. This is the first time since Ice Dancing was included in the Olympics that Russia did not win the Event.
My good friend Johnny Johns came to Vancouver and stayed with me during the dance Events. Johnny who also coaches with Igor and Marina in Detroit was fun to be around during this historic moment in ice dancing. We spent some quality time with Marina in Vancouver and I have to tell you that it was like hanging out with Picasso or a Rembradt, (although hanging out with Johnny was more like a George Carlin).
Marina gave me some thought provocative insight into her world of dance. She explained how Tess and Scott’s FD was more than a man and a woman, but a “…soul to soul.” Watching their FD and feeling their souls become one was breathtaking.
Marina also pointed out how her students at the Olympics were the first generation truly raised on IJS.
Just when I was really getting into dance, the Ladies began their Event with the Short Program. Both Rachel and Mirai were great. All week at practices I don’t think I saw the 2 of them miss any elements (and they did full run thrus on mahority of practice sessions). PSA coaches Tom Z. and Frank C. have prepared their students well. The teaching style of both coaches is similar yet I was most impressed with the non- verbal communication skills they had with their athletes all week.
The Ladies long program will be exciting. Korea is the heavy favorite but there is a great battle for the other 2 medals. Both Americans are in that hunt.
I think IJS has proven so far during these Olympics that our sport can be measured more accurately. I think the Ladies free skate on Thursday night will be as thrilling and emotional as every other event has been. It was my hope the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver would inspire more participation in our sport. Time will tell that answer, but I’m feeling very optimistic.
Enjoy the Ladies.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Olympics Week 3
Please accept my apologies for not posting regular blogs on the drama, taking place in Vancouver during the 21st Olympic Winter Games. It has been very busy.
First I must explain what I do inside the PAC arena. I’m one of the hosts on Axel Radio, a new concept in figure skating broadcasting. We broadcast to the audience and media inside the PAC arena via a direct head set live during all the figure skating Events. Our broadcast basically simulates a technical panel and provides audio analysis of what is happening (mostly levels and GOEs). Axel Radio also includes discussions on athlete techniques and coaches strategies. US Figure Skating used a similar broadcast at the 2010 US Nationals in Spokane, WA.
Typically at an Olympics official practice sessions are closed to the public. However in Vancouver it was decided to sell tickets to practice sessions. Then someone decided why not broadcast Axel Radio during practice sessions open to the public. Since the practice sessions were very reasonable in price ($30.) compared with ticket prices (avg $400), there have been very large audiences at practice sessions.
We decided to ask the audience during practice sessions to drive the discussions during the ‘on air- time’. The audience could text us questions or comments via a simple local service. WELL, this is FUN!!! First, the audience send several messages and second it is entertaining.
However, broadcasting live sometimes for 14 hours a day is grueling, but I hate to complain sitting inside the Olympic arena within a comfortable broadcast booth (it’s like sitting in first class on a plane and complaining). What this proved to me was that a figure skating audience is intelligent and wants to know more about our sport.
Based on the audience response so far, they want more. There have been several funny opinions and comments too (i.e. during the Ice Dance Compulsory Dance Event, The Tango Romantica a few husbands dragged there sent messages such as, “OMG, when will it end” or one of my favorites after 2 couples, “Are they going to play that same music all night?”
Entertaining and educating a skating crowd is a blast. However if that was not enough The ISU asked me to help give presentations to TV Commentators and media representatives on IJS strategies. It was exciting at the first ISU presentation to see Scott Hamilton, Sandra Besic and Peter Carruthers sitting in the second row. I really hope the media reports more on the advantages of IJS. The TV audience needs to know how Evan’s strategies beat Plushenko’s strategies, because it is simply to understand if you can read a Results Protocol Sheet.
Anyway, as I said, it has been busy. I will do my best to keep this blog on a regular basis next week…Tomorrow we go on air at 7:00am and end with the Ice Dance OD late in the evening. The competition in dance is fierce and full of passion for gold.
Earlier today I asked Olympic coach Marina Z. (coach of USA dancers Charlie/Meryl and Canadian dancers Scott/Tess) of any questions I should ask the audience during the Original Dance live Axel Radio broadcast. Marina said, “Yes, ask them how they feeeeel when my skaters dance.” I will.
First I must explain what I do inside the PAC arena. I’m one of the hosts on Axel Radio, a new concept in figure skating broadcasting. We broadcast to the audience and media inside the PAC arena via a direct head set live during all the figure skating Events. Our broadcast basically simulates a technical panel and provides audio analysis of what is happening (mostly levels and GOEs). Axel Radio also includes discussions on athlete techniques and coaches strategies. US Figure Skating used a similar broadcast at the 2010 US Nationals in Spokane, WA.
Typically at an Olympics official practice sessions are closed to the public. However in Vancouver it was decided to sell tickets to practice sessions. Then someone decided why not broadcast Axel Radio during practice sessions open to the public. Since the practice sessions were very reasonable in price ($30.) compared with ticket prices (avg $400), there have been very large audiences at practice sessions.
We decided to ask the audience during practice sessions to drive the discussions during the ‘on air- time’. The audience could text us questions or comments via a simple local service. WELL, this is FUN!!! First, the audience send several messages and second it is entertaining.
However, broadcasting live sometimes for 14 hours a day is grueling, but I hate to complain sitting inside the Olympic arena within a comfortable broadcast booth (it’s like sitting in first class on a plane and complaining). What this proved to me was that a figure skating audience is intelligent and wants to know more about our sport.
Based on the audience response so far, they want more. There have been several funny opinions and comments too (i.e. during the Ice Dance Compulsory Dance Event, The Tango Romantica a few husbands dragged there sent messages such as, “OMG, when will it end” or one of my favorites after 2 couples, “Are they going to play that same music all night?”
Entertaining and educating a skating crowd is a blast. However if that was not enough The ISU asked me to help give presentations to TV Commentators and media representatives on IJS strategies. It was exciting at the first ISU presentation to see Scott Hamilton, Sandra Besic and Peter Carruthers sitting in the second row. I really hope the media reports more on the advantages of IJS. The TV audience needs to know how Evan’s strategies beat Plushenko’s strategies, because it is simply to understand if you can read a Results Protocol Sheet.
Anyway, as I said, it has been busy. I will do my best to keep this blog on a regular basis next week…Tomorrow we go on air at 7:00am and end with the Ice Dance OD late in the evening. The competition in dance is fierce and full of passion for gold.
Earlier today I asked Olympic coach Marina Z. (coach of USA dancers Charlie/Meryl and Canadian dancers Scott/Tess) of any questions I should ask the audience during the Original Dance live Axel Radio broadcast. Marina said, “Yes, ask them how they feeeeel when my skaters dance.” I will.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Pair Long Program
Two Chinese pair teams set new World and Olympic records last night in the Pairs Free Skate. Shen and Zhao beat out their team mates Pang and Tong for the gold, but Pang and Tong put out the best long program of the evening. The gold was won in a ‘gray area’. A gray area is an element or a feature in which the call could of gone in their favor or against the skaters. In the case of 2010 Olympic Champions, Shen and Zhao, they did an axel lasso lift that was in the gray area. The lift was not completed and fortunate for them they managed to avoid a Level 0. In the lift the rotation in the air by the girl was exactly at the minimum requirement of 2 revs. However, it is possible that the call could have been a Level 0 which would of cost Shen and Zhao at least 4.5 points and the gold medal. In my opinion the call was correct, but a difficult decision for the technical panel. I think when a skater or team is in a gray area, the technical panel should always go in favor of the skaters. It was very reassuring for me to see that basic principle decide a Gold Medal at the Olympic Games. Both American teams should feel very proud this morning for the way the handled the Olympic pressure and represented our country. However, the Chinese and Germans dominated the pairs event (side note, this is first Olympics since 1964 that a Russian team did not win Gold). The US needs to get back into the hunt for a world or Olympic medal. We have a long way to go, but it can be done.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Day 3 Pair Short
The Pairs Short Program was a great Event. For me there were two major highlights. First was the performance by USA Pair Team of Mark and Amanda. After witnessing their AWESOME Olympic performance and seeing the raw emotion and elation in Amanda's face, I realized right at that moment why people like me volunteer our time for a sport we love. As most of you have, I have followed Mark and Amanda for many years. Over the past several years I have been fortunate to serve as a technical specialist at many competitions in which Mark and Amanda were competing. I'm a volunteer at the Olympics for VANOC, the Vancouver organizing committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and I'm not an official at these Games but each judge and technical panel official tonight and the more than 800 other people inside the PAC arena were all volunteers. Without volunteers, we would of been watching a show instead of a competition. As a very lucky figure skating volunteer, getting to see Mark and Amanda's Olympic performance will be an inspiration and memory I will have for a life time. Wow! never knew volunteering paid so well.
Second is a little strange. There are millions of skating celebrities inside the arena at an Olympics so that is normal, but tonight the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden sat almost directly in front of my location in the PAC arena. All around us were several secret service personnel and it was very exciting. Peggy Fleming arrived with the Vice President and sat with him during the Pairs Short Program. This reminded me of a story Past PSA President Sandy Lamb shared with me recently. Sandy a champion of the Special Olympics had the distinct pleasure of introducing Vice President, Joe Biden at the Special Olympics held in the United States last year. Sandy told me how proud and honored she felt not only introducing the Vice President of the United States, but how proud she felt that he was at the Special Olympics. I think the Vice President really enjoyed being at both Olympics. At one point during the competition I had an opportunity to visit with Peggy Fleming and she told me how cool it was driving in the limousine and being with the Vice President. I almost got up enough courage to ask Peggy if she would introduce me to the Vice President, but I chickened out, oh well just talking with Peggy was pretty cool enough. Can't wait for the Pairs Free Skate.
Second is a little strange. There are millions of skating celebrities inside the arena at an Olympics so that is normal, but tonight the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden sat almost directly in front of my location in the PAC arena. All around us were several secret service personnel and it was very exciting. Peggy Fleming arrived with the Vice President and sat with him during the Pairs Short Program. This reminded me of a story Past PSA President Sandy Lamb shared with me recently. Sandy a champion of the Special Olympics had the distinct pleasure of introducing Vice President, Joe Biden at the Special Olympics held in the United States last year. Sandy told me how proud and honored she felt not only introducing the Vice President of the United States, but how proud she felt that he was at the Special Olympics. I think the Vice President really enjoyed being at both Olympics. At one point during the competition I had an opportunity to visit with Peggy Fleming and she told me how cool it was driving in the limousine and being with the Vice President. I almost got up enough courage to ask Peggy if she would introduce me to the Vice President, but I chickened out, oh well just talking with Peggy was pretty cool enough. Can't wait for the Pairs Free Skate.
Pairs Short Program
Figure skating competition begins today with the Pairs Short Program. Before I came to the Olympics there were favorites to win the pairs, either the Germans or the Chinese. I have attended all official pair practices in the PAC arena and can report, that there are at least 5 teams that could win this event. Watching all the practices you can tell who is skating well/poor, who is in the best physical condition, who has good timing, etc. Some teams would do complete run thrus on practice sessions, some teams only did sections (this is over a 5 day practice schedule). Both American teams did complete run thrus every practice session, while the Germans, Chinese and Russians only did program sections. One Olympic coach said to me, "We train at home like we are at a competition, and we train at the competition like we are home." I thought that was interesting. It is fun to talk with Olympic coaches and hear their different strategies on how to handle practice sessions. I should note that at the Olympics Games, figure skating practices are closed to the public. However here in Vancouver the IOC opened at least one practice session for each discipline to the public (needless to say the few practice sessions that were opened to the public sold out in less than 4 hours).
So the last pair practice was full and you could really feel the passion being displayed by both the skaters and audience. Time to head out to the arena for the competition, I'll blog the drama later...
So the last pair practice was full and you could really feel the passion being displayed by both the skaters and audience. Time to head out to the arena for the competition, I'll blog the drama later...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Opening Day
It has been thrilling to witness the growing excitement and anticipation building for the Opening of the 21st Olympic Winter Games. The host of the 2010 Olympic Games Vancouver, BC is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is looking her best. The city is bustling with activity preparing for the largest sporting stage in the world. You can feel the passion in the air as you easily navigate the city streets past all the Olympic logos, colors and rings everywhere.
For the next 2 weeks this PSA blog will follow figure skating and provide analysis of coaches and skaters competitive strategies as they play out in the Pacific Coliseum (PAC) the venue for all figure skating Events. The PAC arena is also the venue for all the short track speed skating Events.
At the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy the International Judging System (IJS) was used for the first time at an Olympics. In my opinion in Torino because IJS was so new the details and strategies of IJS were really only known by the athletes and coaches who took the time to get educated on IJS. In Vancouver I feel that detailed knowledge of IJS is growing into the media and the general public.
Maybe the media realize that IJS is not as difficult to understand as many people said it would be. Or maybe audiences will want more details on how figure skaters are being judged. I have always felt that figure skating audiences are intelligent. However, TV producers seem to keep their announcers comments limited to things like, “That was a good spin.” or “That was a poor jump”. It has almost been like the media was afraid to talk about how athletes can gain or lose points with each element the athlete executes.
IJS brings to figure skating an enormous amount of information that an intelligent audience can understand. I hope that the media covering these Games reports more details about how skaters can increase their elements levels of difficulty or how the judges use the Grade of Execution and Program Components to measure each athlete individually. And guess what, the one with the most points, WINS the GOLD.
Now how hard is that to understand?
Thank you for following this long blog (I’ll try less words next blog).
But, just one more note on a quote I read today. It read; “It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication.” By Herb Elliott, Australian middle-distance runner who was world record holder in the 1500 m race (1958-67).
Enjoy the Games!
For the next 2 weeks this PSA blog will follow figure skating and provide analysis of coaches and skaters competitive strategies as they play out in the Pacific Coliseum (PAC) the venue for all figure skating Events. The PAC arena is also the venue for all the short track speed skating Events.
At the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy the International Judging System (IJS) was used for the first time at an Olympics. In my opinion in Torino because IJS was so new the details and strategies of IJS were really only known by the athletes and coaches who took the time to get educated on IJS. In Vancouver I feel that detailed knowledge of IJS is growing into the media and the general public.
Maybe the media realize that IJS is not as difficult to understand as many people said it would be. Or maybe audiences will want more details on how figure skaters are being judged. I have always felt that figure skating audiences are intelligent. However, TV producers seem to keep their announcers comments limited to things like, “That was a good spin.” or “That was a poor jump”. It has almost been like the media was afraid to talk about how athletes can gain or lose points with each element the athlete executes.
IJS brings to figure skating an enormous amount of information that an intelligent audience can understand. I hope that the media covering these Games reports more details about how skaters can increase their elements levels of difficulty or how the judges use the Grade of Execution and Program Components to measure each athlete individually. And guess what, the one with the most points, WINS the GOLD.
Now how hard is that to understand?
Thank you for following this long blog (I’ll try less words next blog).
But, just one more note on a quote I read today. It read; “It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives people not only to compete but to improve, and to bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and inspiration to those lucky enough to witness the athletic dedication.” By Herb Elliott, Australian middle-distance runner who was world record holder in the 1500 m race (1958-67).
Enjoy the Games!
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