Fans and Experts Blame the Scoring System

Tim's 2 cents worth -

I see the main problems with the judging system as -

1. Ugly spins and footwork can yield the highest points,  there is no factor in the scoring system for the artistry or beauty of the spins,  moreover it is the positions used in the spins that can be ugly.  There needs to be an extra factor applied to spins for beauty.  Take for example a classic layback spin with good speed, centering and a pleasing position,  this should be worth as much as a level 2 or 3 layback spin.   if the skater then added a beilman to the end of it then it possibly could be worth as much as a level 4 layback spin.  Have a look at some of these layback spins on Youtube and here on Youtube

2.  Judges are just not awarding the plus GOE's, particularly at the lower levels,  it is also inconsistent;  some competitions the judges will award the same skaters plus GOE's and other competitions the same skaters will receive none.  The point learned from this is that to rely on the judges awarding plus GOE's is not working.  An artistry factor (as per with No.1 above) would work much better as there would be no avoiding the factor by the judges.  Secondly the ugly spin positions would receive poor marks therefore resulting in their reduction or elimination from future skating performances.

3.  To obtain high levels in spins, a spin may take up to 20 seconds to perform,  for example a change of foot combination spin may contain 4 or 5 different positions,  one held for 8 turns plus a change of edge which may require 6 turns,  during the spin some ugly positions may be held such as a camel spin with a pull up or sideways leaning layback.  A spin position held for 8 turns/rotations quite often runs out of speed, for example the skater may be turning very slowly at the end of the 8 turns,  almost grinding to a halt.  All this adds up to boredom for the audience.

4.  The Gala performances at Grand Prix events pulls the largest audience by far.  I was at the Gala segment at both Skate Canada (Oct 2011) and the Grand Prix final in Quebec city (Dec 2011) and I have to say the attendance at Gala events is much higher. What does this say about what the audience want to see?    Well if I may answer my own question - the sport is too technical for mass audience appeal.  That's fine with me I am good at coaching the technical aspects.

5.  Some skating moves/elements that used to set skaters apart no longer recent any reward/points,  such as split jumps, walleys, signature spirals etc.   There needs to be an 'exellence' mark that skaters can pick up when they do something that is above an beyond the norm.

But do we want a return to the old 6.0 system?  Definitely NO.  There were many things wrong with the old 6.0 system.

Some changes to the present scoring system (IJS) away from the technical side and towards the artistic side would help.  

Other wrong turns made.

After the 1984 Winter Olympics,  the ISU changed the direction of ice dance away from the model that Torvill and Dean had been skating.   Perhaps that was such a long time for many to remember or to have witnesses,  but the point is that; in that era skating was so popular and audiences flocked to see them perform at events, on TV and on their world tour that followed.  They skated some of the greatest routines of all time including the bolero, Paso Doble etc.  This is what the audience wanted to see and this is the direction the sport of figure skating needs to head if it is going to regain some of it's lost popularity.