Figure Skating

Figure skating

Figure skating is a sports activity that involves individuals and groups in figure skating. Winter sports were first included in the Olympics when competing at the London Olympics in 1908. The four individual disciplines are combined as a team event, originally included in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Among the non-Olympic sports are

synchronized skating, theatre on ice, and four skatings.

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ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international senior-level figure skating competitions organized by the International Skating Union (ISU). It was established in 1995 and consists of six events. skaters earn points based on their placements at each event and the top six in each discipline qualify for the ISU Grand Prix Final.

The events are:

Skate America

Skate Canada International

Cup of China

Rostelecom Cup

NHK Trophy

Internationaux de France

The first ever ISU Grand Prix event was Skate America in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in October 1995. Todd Eldredge of the United States won the men's competition, Nancy Kerrigan of the United States won the ladies' competition, and Oksana Grishuk / Evgeny Platov of Russia won the pairs' competition.

The ISU Grand Prix Final was first held in December 1995 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event consisted of six disciplines: men's singles, ladies singles, pairs, ice dancing, and compulsory figures.

In 1996, the event was held in Hamilton, Canada. In 1997, the event moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, and then to Osaka, Japan in 1998. The 1999 edition was held in Nice, France before returning to St. Petersburg in 2000. Between 2001 and 2005, the ISU Grand Prix Final was not held due to the cancellation of the World Championships.

The 2006 ISU Grand Prix Final was held in December 2006 in Torino, Italy. The 2007 event was held in Tokyo, Japan, and the 2008 event took place in Graz, Austria. The 2009 event was held in Seoul, South Korea, and the 2010 event was in Beijing, China. The 2011 edition returned to France and was held in Quebec City, Canada. The 2012 competition was again held in China, this time in Shanghai. In 2013 the event moved to Fukuoka, Japan and it is currently being hosted in Barcelona, Spain.

The 2014 ISU Grand Prix Final will take place from December 5–7, 2014 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain.

Figure skates

The blades of a figure skate are about 3/16 of an inch (4.8 mm) thick and taper from the toe to the heel. The boot is generally made of leather and the blade is attached to the boot with screws. The toe pick is a metal spike at the front of the blade that is used for jumping.

Most figure skaters sharpen their blades, which requires special equipment. The blades are sharpened with a file, which can be handheld or electric, and then a stone is used to smooth out the file marks. Once the blade is sufficiently sharp, it is polished with a piece of cloth called a honeslick.

Figure skaters require strong calf muscles and ankles for jumps and spins. A typical jump takes off from the back outside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other skate. The most common jumps are:

The Salchow, named after its inventor, Ulrich Salchow, is a jump that takes off from the back inside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other.

The loop is a jump that takes off from the back outside edge of one skate and lands on the same edge.

The flip is a jump that takes off from the back inside edge of one skate and rotates one-and-a-half times before landing on the back outside edge of the other skate.

The lutz is a jump that takes off from the back outside edge of one skate and rotates one-and-a-half times before landing on the back inside edge of the other skate.

The axel is a jump that takes off from the forward outside edge of one skate and rotates one-and-a-half times before landing on the back outside edge of the other skate.

Jumps can be done in combination, such as a double loop or a triple flip, and they can be combined with spins to create more complicated sequences. Spins are usually done on either the back inside or back outside edge and require good balance and coordination.

Figure skating is both an individual and team sport. Men, women, and pairs can skate individually, and ice dancing is done in pairs. There are also team events, which consist of four skaters skating together. The team with the highest combined score wins.

Figure skating is a judged sport, and the judging criteria have evolved. In the early days of figure skating, judges simply awarded points for clean execution of jumps and spins. Today, judges take into account the difficulty of the elements, the skater's posture, footwork, edges, transitions, interpretation of the music, and overall performance.

The scoring system used in figure skating has also evolved. In 1894, the first international competition was held using a 6-point scale. This scale was eventually replaced by the International Skating Union's (ISU) 9-point scale, which is still in use today.

Under the ISU scoring system, each judge award points for each element on a scale from 0.0 to 10.0. The highest and lowest scores are discarded and the remaining scores are averaged to produce the skater's score for that element. The skater's final score is the sum of their scores for all of the elements.

The 2014 ISU Grand Prix Final will feature six events: men's singles, ladies singles, pairs, ice dancing, and two new team events. The team event will consist of four skaters skating together: two men, one lady, and one pair. The other team event will be a mixed-gender event, with two ladies, two men, and one pair skating together.

The 2014 ISU Grand Prix Final will take place December 11-14 in Barcelona, Spain. The competition will be held at the Palau Sant Jordi, which was built for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Some of the biggest names in figure skating will be competing at the 2014 ISU Grand Prix Final, including:

Yuzuru Hanyu (Japan): The reigning Olympic gold medalist and world champion.

Patrick Chan (Canada): A three-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist.

Javier Fernandez (Spain): The current European champion.

Daisuke Takahashi (Japan): A two-time Olympic medalist and world champion.

Tessa Virtue (Canada): An Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion ice dancer.

Meryl Davis (USA): An Olympic silver medalist and five-time world champion ice dancer.

Pioneers of the sport include:

Jackson Haines (USA): One of the first figure skaters to incorporate ballet into his skating.

Clara Schumann (Germany): One of the first female figure skaters.

Ulrich Salchow (Sweden): Invented the Salchow jump, one of the most common jumps in figure skating today.

Alois Lutz (Austria): Invented the Lutz jump, another common jump in figure skating.

Axel Paulsen (Norway): Invented the axel, the only jump that takes off from a forward edge.

Some of the most popular figure skating movies include:

The Cutting Edge (1992): A romantic comedy about a former Olympic hockey player and a former figure skater who team up to compete in pairs skating.

Blades of Glory (2007): A comedic movie about two male rivals who are forced to skate together in pairs.

I, Tonya (2017): A biopic about the life of Tonya Harding, an American figure skater who was embroiled in a scandal surrounding an attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan.

Figure skating is a popular sport to watch and compete in. With its origins dating back to the early 19th century, figure skating has evolved into a complex and exciting sport. Whether you're a fan of the movies or the competition, there's something for everyone to enjoy about figure skating.

Ice rinks and rink equipment

have also evolved over the years. In 1876, the first artificial ice rink was opened in London, England. This rink used a process of freezing water using ammonia and salt, which was then shaved to create a smooth surface to skate on. Today, most rinks use a system of refrigeration pipes buried beneath the skating surface to keep the ice frozen.

Rink equipment has also changed over the years. The first skates were made of bone or metal and were attached to the feet with leather straps. Today, skaters use specially designed boots and blades that are made of steel or titanium. The blades are sharpened to allow for better traction on the ice.

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Competition format and scoring

The sport of figure skating is divided into four distinct categories: men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Each discipline has its own rules and regulations governing the competition format.

In general, each discipline is contested at two levels: junior and senior. The junior level is for skaters who are younger than 19 years old, while the senior level is for skaters who are 19 years old or older.

Each competition consists of two parts: the short program and the free skate. The short program is a set routine that all skaters must perform, while the free skate is a longer routine in which skaters are free to choose their music and choreography.

Skaters are judged on a variety of factors, such as skating skills, footwork, spins, jumps, and interpretation of the music. Judges award points on a scale of 0 to 6.0, with 6.0 being the highest score. The skater with the most points at the end of the competition is the winner.

Competitions are held throughout the year at both the national and international levels. The most prestigious international competitions are the World Championships and the Olympics.

Terminology

The sport of figure skating has its unique terminology. Some of the most common terms are listed below:

Axel - A jump in which the skater takes off from the forward outside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other skate. The name "axel" comes from the fact that this was the first jump to be performed with a full rotation in the air.

Double axel - A variation of the axel in which the skater performs two full rotations in the air before landing.

Triple axel - A variation of the axel in which the skater performs three full rotations in the air before landing. This is the most difficult jump currently being performed in the competition.

Lutz - A jump in which the skater takes off from the backward outside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other skate.

Salchow - A jump in which the skater takes off from the inside edge of one skate and lands on the back outside edge of the other skate.

Toe loop - A jump in which the skater takes off from the inside edge of one skate and lands on the toe pick of the other skate.

Skaters are judged on a variety of factors, such as skating skills, footwork, spins, jumps, and interpretation of the music. Judges award points on a scale of 0 to 6.0, with 6.0 being the highest score. The skater with the most points at the end of the competition is the winner.

Competitions are held throughout the year at both the national and international levels. The most prestigious international competitions are the World Championships and the Olympics.

Elements and moves

There are a variety of jumps, spins, and other moves that skaters can perform in their routines. Some of the most common elements are listed below:

Jump - A basic element in which the skater takes off from one foot and lands on the other. There are a variety of different jumps, such as the axel, lutz, salchow, and toe loop.

Spin - A move in which the skater rotates on the ice while maintaining balance on one foot. There are a variety of different spins, such as the sit spin, camel spin, and flying spin.

Footwork - A series of steps or turns that skaters use to travel across the ice. Footwork can be used to link together other elements or to simply add variety to a routine.

Pair skating - A discipline in which two skaters skate together as a team. Pair skating consists of a short program and free skating, similar to the individual disciplines.

Ice dance - A discipline in which couples skate together and perform a set routine. Ice dancing is similar to ballroom dancing, with the couple moving around the ice in rhythm to the music.

History

The sport of figure skating has its roots in early ice hockey and skating games played in Northern Europe. The first recorded competition was held in London in 1876, making it one of the oldest sports in the Winter Olympics. Figure skating was first added to the Olympic Games in 1908 and has been a part of the Games ever since.

The first World Championships were held in 1896, with only men's and women's singles competitions. The event has since grown to include a variety of different disciplines, such as pairs skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating.

Today, figure skating is enjoyed by people of all ages around the world. It is a popular sport to watch on television and continues to grow in popularity. With its unique mix of artistry and athleticism, figure skating is truly a fascinating sport to behold.

New rules for new development in Figure Skating

The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for the sport of figure skating. It was founded in 1892 and currently has over 80 member countries. The ISU sets the rules and regulations for all international competitions, including the Olympics.

In recent years, the ISU has made several changes to the rules of figure skating to keep the sport fresh and exciting. Some of these changes include:

Allowing skaters to use music with lyrics in their routines

Increasing the number of jumps that can be performed in a routine

Adding new elements, such as lifts and throws, to pair skating and ice dancing routines

These changes have helped to make figure skating more dynamic and exciting to watch. With the new rules in place, skaters can push the boundaries of their sport and truly showcase their talents.

The ISU is always working to develop the sport of figure skating. By constantly evolving the rules and regulations, the ISU is helping to ensure that figure skating remains a popular and exciting sport for both competitors and spectators alike.

More Skaters secure spots for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

The International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is an annual event that brings together the top junior skaters from around the world. The competition is held over two weeks in December, with the first week being a qualifier and the second week being the final.

A total of 24 skaters (12 men and 12 women) will compete in the final, with each country being represented by two skaters. The United States, Russia, Japan, and Canada are all sending teams to the event.

This year's event will be held in Zagreb, Croatia. It will be the first time that Croatia has hosted the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.

With so many talented skaters competing, the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is sure to be an exciting event. Be sure to tune in and catch all the action!

How to get involved in figure skating

There are many ways to get involved in figure skating. Whether you're a fan of the sport or a competitive skater, there's something for everyone.

If you're interested in watching figure skating, you can attend live events or watch competitions on television. You can also follow your favorite skaters and teams online.

If you're interested in learning how to skate, many local clubs and rinks offer classes for all levels. Once you've learned the basics, you can start practicing routines and even competing in competitions.

Figure skating is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you're a fan or a skater, there's a place for you in the figure skating community.

Shimada (JPN) wins second Junior Grand Prix gold in figure skating

Rika Shimada of Japan won the gold medal at the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Ostrava, the Czech Republic on Saturday. This is her second Junior Grand Prix gold medal this season.

Shimada competed in the ladies singles event and finished first with a total score of 215.42 points. Her closest competitor was Sofia Samodurova of Russia, who finished second with a score of 209.49 points.

In winning this event, Shimada qualified for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, which will be held in Zagreb, Croatia in December.

This is an exciting victory for Shimada and we can't wait to see her compete in the final. Be sure to tune in and catch all the action!