| Figure skating is a technically demanding
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| | event. Once an event has been given the
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| and graceful sport. A pleasure to watch
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| | blessing of the governing body, anyone
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| as the skaters glide over the surface of
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| | can enter.
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| ice.
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| | Some skaters who have had success at the
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| But do you really understand what it is
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| | Olympics may feel they would be better
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| all about?
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| | off skating professionally and retire.
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| What makes one jump tougher to do than
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| | Others may have simply decided to retire
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| another?
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| | due to time or money restraints of
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| How do the Judges award the scores?
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| | Olympic competition.
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| With the popularity of figure skating
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| | Becoming eligible for Olympic competition
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| growing, especially during the Olympic
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| | is extremely competitive and some skaters
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| games we thought we should help you to
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| | simply drop out and turn professional
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| understand what it is all about.
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| | performing in such shows as Ice Capades
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| Here is an amazing fact. Figure skaters
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| | and Disney on Ice.
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| will beat every hockey player in a flat
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| | There are two programs in competitive
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| out race. They even beat them skating
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| | figure skating.
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| backwards.
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| | The short program lasts 2 ½ minutes.
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| If you ever attend a professional hockey
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| | Worth one third of the overall score,
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| game and sit near the ice you will find
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| | consists of required elements that the
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| the above statement hard to believe. But
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| | skater may perform in any order to the
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| it's true. Figure skating is fast.
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| | music they have chosen. They have three
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| The reason for this is the hockey player
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| | jumps, three spins and two footwork
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| is trained to use his power to accelerate
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| | requirements. Failure to execute any of
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| in a quick burst of speed and to dart
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| | these compulsory movements will reduce
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| from side to side instantly. The figure
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| | their score. A missed move is a lost move
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| skater is trained to glide with longer
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| | since the skater cannot retry a move.
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| strides with less of the quick turns.
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| | The longfigure skating program last four
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| They train to jump.
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| | minutes and counts for 2/3 of the over
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| Figure skaters got their name from the
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| | all score. Judges allow a little more
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| compulsory figures they had to do in
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| | flexibility and there are no set
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| competition prior to 1990 when it was
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| | requirements. Most of the competitors
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| finally dropped. The skaters were
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| | today include 6 or 7 triple jumps,
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| required to perform figures tracing a
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| | several spins and combinations. Most men
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| pattern on the ice such as a figure
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| | not only do the same but also do
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| eight. Not only that but they had to do
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| | quadruple jumps during their free-skate
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| it on the inside or the outside of the
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| | program.
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| blade.
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| | The judges then award points for a score.
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| Once completed the judges would literally
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| | Two aspects are considered.
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| get down on the ice to check the tracing
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| | Technical mark takes into account the
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| to see how close they came to perfection.
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| | requires elements. It reflects the
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| Since figure skating is not an exact
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| | difficulty the skaters had to perform as
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| science, everything must be considered.
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| | well as the clean execution of the spins,
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| Points were awarded or lost if the figure
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| | footwork and jumps.
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| went too far or there were additional
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| | The Presentation mark reflects the flow,
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| tracings caused by wobbling or putting
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| | as well as the choreography and the
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| the other foot down. Skaters and
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| | balance of the figure skating program. It
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| audiences were no doubt extremely happy
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| | also takes into account the skaters
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| to hear they were eliminated.
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| | ability to reflect themselves into the
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| The School figures competition was a part
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| | music. They must skate with speed,
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| of the figure skating because the judges
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| | confidence and effort.
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| were able to better judge the technical
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| | Scoring.
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| perfection than the current methods do.
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| | Figure skating is not an exact science
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| Technique is not as important today as
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| | and neither is judging. The scores can
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| skaters who may be weaker technically may
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| | range from 0.0 to 6.0. Judges must take
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| still win.
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| | into consideration all of the various
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| Up until recently there were two
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| | aspects involved in the program and make
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| categories of skaters. Pofessional and
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| | a scoring decision based upon the
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| Amateur. Only amateur skaters could
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| | guidelines. Very rarely will an Olympic
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| compete in the Olympics. Professional
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| | figure skating contestant obtain a score
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| skaters were barred. Times have changed
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| | of 6.0.
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| as the cost of preparing to compete in
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| | Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the
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| figure skating has risen so that today it
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| | Whistler Mountain and valley area of
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| can cost up to $45,000 per year.
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| | British Columbia for many years. They
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| Now amateurs are allowed to earn money,
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| | have camped, hiked and skied the
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| but only in eligible, sanctioned events.
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| | mountains and fished and kayaked the
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| The old categories are no more. Now
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| | rivers and lakes. Their website One
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| eligible skaters are able to compete in
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| | couples guide to the exciting
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| the Olympics and ineligible skaters have
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| | Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone
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| given up the right by competing in
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| | considering a trip to Whistler as well as
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| unsanctioned events.
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| | the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite
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| Each country has a figure skating
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| | one and all to take a look.
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| federation to govern which is an eligible
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