Speed measurement

[SitTwizzle]

Sometimes we get a skater's average speed during a program, but I think this is not a very relevant information, given we know the duration of said program and can get ice coverage.

There is a huge difference between a program where a skater goes from an element to the next at a nearly constant speed, and a program with steep accelerations and decelerations, to speak only of measurable data. I think it would be easy to get, for instance, a skater's maximum speed (short track skaters, make way, Yuzuru Hanyu's arriving! ) and his maximum acceleration and deceleration, which would give a slight numerical idea. We could go further by mapping the time past by the skater at different speeds in a given program; it would have its accuracy but I would fear it may have a bad influence on choreography freedom, or even end in a clowning feast if choreographers feel forced to vary speed all the time even if it doesn't suit the program — and the skater. We could also seek a third, or even a fourth derivative of position (derivative, or second derivative of acceleration) to measure the smoothness of acceleration and deceleration. As, between the extremes of a very few skaters who accumulate a series of exercises at a nearly constant speed, and one skater (guess who! ;-) ) who "has it all", absolute speed, extremely quick yet smooth acceleration and deceleration, there are skaters who excel in quick acceleration and deceleration but not that smooth, or who have smooth, and slower at the time, acceleration and deceleration; and who all deserve notice, of course.

Just one of the elements allowing "hard data" for ISU to be able to maintain FS as an Olympic sports. And to lower judging bias, contrary to their project of a new system of notation.

[Paskud]

2 hours ago, SitTwizzle said:

We could go further by mapping the time past by the skater at different speeds in a given program; it would have its accuracy but I would fear it may have a bad influence on choreography freedom, or even end in a clowning feast if choreographers feel forced to vary speed all the time even if it doesn't suit the program — and the skater.

I don't think you need to worry about it.

I'm sure you know it, but skating isn't easy. Skating with constant but very good speed and complex steps isn't easy. Skating a bit slower but with many changes in speed isn't easy.

You don't see skaters with weak SS changing their speed. Even skaters with decent or good SS aren't doing it that often. Because it's hard.

And for skaters with empty programs: to accelerate or slow down you need to do ~something~.

[SitTwizzle]

2 hours ago, Paskud said:

I don't think you need to worry about it.

I'm sure you know it, but skating isn't easy. Skating with constant but very good speed and complex steps isn't easy. Skating a bit slower but with many changes in speed isn't easy.

You don't see skaters with weak SS changing their speed. Even skaters with decent or good SS aren't doing it that often. Because it's hard.

And for skaters with empty programs: to accelerate or slow down you need to do ~something~.

I was thinking more particularly to my dear Alina Zagitova, who has this ability (I know she is not popular here, and her glide itself is not as good), would she have got Me Voy, a great step in her artistic development but not showing it off? Unless it was measured either on the short program, or on the free.

 

As to speed variations, I think it impacts (should impact) not only skating skills score (directly), but also performance (at least in "dynamic" programs), transitions (for the parts concerned), maybe interpretation as judges can't see it by themselves?, and why not composition.

 

I wonder if a measurement of all angular movements of the blades, either towards revolution, or edge inclination, or even forward and backward, could be measured too.

 

In fact, I say "could" but I don't think it would be implemented, because we all know any "hard data" measurement would show Yuzuru Hanyu's superiority. I may be paranoiac but I wonder if the change proposed post-Beijing isn't aimed at "forcing" him to retire by telling him "anyway you will be even more underscored that you've ever been". They don't know him, it seems.

Elizabeth Bennet ("My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.") is not the character I see like his in Pride and Prejudice, but I don't see him changing his targets with such attempts, either. I tend to think, his decision will not depend on ISU's bad will towards him. Though this bad will may be the only dependable thing with ISU? ;-)

But I am going off-topic.