I can see why it was eliminated, but I can also see how important they are for technique.

Very good demonstration and explanation. I used to wonder, "Why did they ever do those figures as part of the competition?" Now I can see why: how fundamental, how disciplined, how difficult to do well. Thanks for sharing.

Scott Hamilton has always been a fave for me. Seems like such a lovely person. ❤

Wow, I'm almost 40 and I've never seen compulsory figures before, or even heard of them. What control, precision, and overall skill! I can see why they wouldn't go on TV for more than 20 minutes, but I can't see why they would be eliminated altogether. Many parts of the Olympics never go on TV. And I really can't see why they would no longer be taught. It seems to me (as a musician, not a skater) that this is akin to eliminating scales because they're "boring." Eliminate the rigor of scales & scale patterns, and you will eliminate much of the excellence in skill required to be able to exercise the musicianship and creativity and emotion of "normal" music.

@NYCBlonde

10 жыл бұрын

Excellent comment :) Figures really are the scales of skating. I get why they started to de-emphasize them but figures provided a backbone of technique that really helped the skaters.

@Tracymmo

9 жыл бұрын

NYCBlonde I am glad they reduced the amount of the overall score in competition since years ago they were worth 50%+ and some of the better figures skaters weren't such great free skaters, but I do think skaters must have learned a lot from them. I'd love to see someone do the elaborate patterns from the very early days!

@jhssuthrnmama

8 жыл бұрын

+crobc1 Very thoughtful comment, and I agree with you completely. I can understand why they wouldn't be part of the Olympics anymore, but I can't understand why they'd stop teaching them altogether.

@vampiress144

7 жыл бұрын

figures were my favorite part of the winter Olympics. i think it fell out because it was hard to follow on tv, but now we have the technology to follow along on screen, i think they should make a comeback.

@AmusedChild

6 жыл бұрын

I was SO fortunate to have Vivi-Anne Hultén (who competed against Sonia Henie) as a teacher. Not only did we learn figures, she drilled us in crossovers and spins before she would let us show her our jumps. I really wish they would bring back the figures as a separate event.

Wow! When my mom told me able compulsory figures, she made it sound like there was a pre-carved figure in the ice and they just had to follow it, doing various little tricks as they went along. This is far more complicated than that! Look at the discipline he has, to be so still and trace so perfectly. Amazing!

WISH THEY WOULD BRING BACK COMPULSORY FIGURES - DEFINITELY SHOWS HIGHEST QUALITY SKATERS FROM LESS SKILLED SKATERS

Figure Skating has turned into a jumping competition. So many skaters can jump but lack musicality, and lack the ability to make art on the ice. I know that practically noone wants to watch these compulsory figures anymore, but they still should be taught, and still should be required.

@gadeaiglesiassordo716

9 ай бұрын

I feel tehy should be taught because of how much you can work on control with them. apart from that i would be wayyyyy harsher with jumps and judging more how well a jump has been executed rather than how many turns you can do in the air

He seems like such a nice person. I’m glad he achieved so much success.

LOVE SCOTT HAMILTON!! I was six when this was aired

I understand why they abolished figures during competition. Having said that, why do coaches no longer teach them? There is much benefit to practicing school figures.

@flynnbadillo

4 жыл бұрын

I wish they still had figures even is it was worth 15%.

@faith5073

3 жыл бұрын

yeah some coaches still teach them but for the most part they aren’t very priorities

@TheRacingWind

2 жыл бұрын

As the coverage said, many skaters hate them. We still learn these elements (rockers, brackets, 3-turns, edges, etc) just not in this form, so I think most coaches think the tedium will be off-putting especially for younger skaters whose tolerance for boredom is lacking

@evl457

Жыл бұрын

I need to find someone who teaches me this. What a meditation and a structure for technique

@coachcecilyicecommand5513

Жыл бұрын

​@@evl457 Yes! I love to skate and teach figures. They were meditative because the whole rink was quiet and calm. Largely, we didn't need Yoga or Sports Psychologists or Meditation back then because we had figures (and, yes, the pace of the world was slower). The basic reason it is almost impossible to teach figures now is that they require daily hours to master and we no longer have the ice time devoted to those quiet Patch sessions where you had your own Patch to concentrate, practice and layout figures, really examining your figures pretty much without worrying about someone running into you. Financially, the rinks cannot seem to support this type of session anymore and the media will not pay to televise it.

BRING BACK FIGURES. And compulsories for gymnastics, thx :) Fascinating video, thanks so much for posting!

I knew this existed, but never saw it before. I see how this would really improve overall technique, but wow, tedious, though obviously took serious talent. So many comments on here saying people are wrong to think it's boring, but the video even said many skaters at the time did not like it! If you like it good for you, but it would drive me crazy. People are allowed to have different opinions.

@eden409

5 ай бұрын

I know this is an extremely old comment but I agree with you! Many people think that skaters nowadays lack musicality, artistry, and overall skating skills because of the intense focus on executing difficult jumps, and that compulsories should be brought back. I see why people may think this, but it was removed for a reason. Figure skating is a sport, and jumps make it special and athletic. There’s a reason ice dance exists.

I wish figures still played a role in figure skating. I miss seeing the dazzling footwork we got during short and free skate programs by skaters like Scott Hamilton, Kirt Browning and others. Jumps are amazing. But so is stellar footwork.

i'm not an old fan of figure skating, i've been one for about 4 years now but ever since i found out about compulsory figures (which was 4 years ago lol), i've been wanting it back at some of the competition nowadays. i agree that only few skaters nowadays are graceful and artistic, and their skating skills aren't the best. they focus soooo much on the techniques nowadays to the point that's where most of the points come from for top level skaters. at least include figures in training or something, since not a lot of skaters can "skate" properly nowadays

The fact that he only pushes off at only one place in the entire figure is insane.

Figures might seem irrelevant, but they are vital to build the skating skills needed to do all the fancy stuff. They need to bring them back. That would put an end to all the jumping jacks who don't seem to know an edge from a toe pick.

When competitive figure skating started, figures were 60% of the score, and the skaters had to execute 6 figures, not 3. As skating became more popular and televised, the figures portion was gradually reduced, until it was eliminated entirely in 1990.

I could watch these all day ❤️⛸

Brings back memories of REAL figure skating.

@flynnbadillo

4 жыл бұрын

5 years ago I started taking lessons again after 25 years and the coach couldn't believe it when I told her I wanted to practice with my scribe. She had no idea what I was talking about. It's a lost skill nowadays. Its sad.

Wow, amazing. I would love to see the compulsory‘s reinstated.

Scott Hamilton has so much skill and talent and crowd appeal!!! Truly impressive!!! 👏👏❤️

Great and informative video. Why not bring it back and make it a mandatory exam before progressing to particular things? Very fascinating

Wow. Watching Scott Hamilton, then the best in the world put a single axel in competition and not having a triple axel is like watching ancient history. Ten years later Tonya Harding and Midori Ito had huge triple axels and single axels were not even thought of for women.

@FightingIncorrectStereotypes

5 жыл бұрын

baritonebynight Ancient history, my ass! I remember watching that live and I am in no way ancient!

@tanyarobinson1146

2 жыл бұрын

The single axel was for emphasis on some spots, but in his Olympic ling he was popping out of jumps due to illness. Triple axels were the hardest jumps at the time.

This is really neat you have to be very precise and patient with grace

And I'm just over here judging the US team's costumes at the beginning...

My man really went on television and introduced himself as Dick Button 2:10

I grew up back then bring it back it's probably one of the hardest things to do to be that precise

The ice skaters today have little grace. The figures give you knowledge of edges . Edges are paramount when you take off for jumps . Wrong can equal a wrong or poorly executed jump. I 💖classic elegant skating like Scott Hamilton's and Dick Button's.

@overgrownkudzu

2 жыл бұрын

if they don't know edges how come they're jumping quads?

@tanyarobinson1146

2 жыл бұрын

Many do there jumps wrong and prerotate.

I couldn't do brackets or back loops to save my life, which is the reason why I never competed successfully. I went back in 1991 when moves in the field was being developed, but it was different. Still, I love to spin and fly!

I would like to see these technic in exivision with visible trace by VR.

Wow this is the first time I hear about this, I didn't know it used to be part of figure skating. I wouldn't really be interested of watching a competition where they paint a picture with the skates so I understand why this seems pretty much forgotten today but I still think it's a very important part of the history of creation of figure skating and shouldn't be forgotten, I'm sure this is pretty good when practising your skating skills.

Someone in the comments....said figures are boring and outdated. Sooo completely wrong headed. Figures are fun and challenging. The boring and outdated statement is a product of the "short attention span" world kids grow up in. God in in the details and that is why thet are bringing figures and loops back in the moves in the field tests. So mr. Boring and outdated...let me see you do a bracket figure...and hold the edge like Scott Hamilton.

So glad I noticed this video! I enjoyed it so much! I remember many years ago watching figures in competition...I was so intrigued and appreciated the skill that they had to achieve! I assume that as time moved on...the focus was forced to be on displaying skills that were more entertaining...no?

Watching this makes me shudder remembering the nightmare of 5:00AM patch sessions in a freezing ice rink. NO fun!

too difficult for most skaters to do now a days.

Having not grown up with this part of figure skating, I had no clue why senior skaters in costume were concentrating so hard on edging. XD Now I know!

I was 5 at the time of these Olympics and I only vaguely remember the compulsory figures as they were eliminated by the time I was about 11. I do remember seeing Scott in the Ice Capades, though!

I skated years ago and compulsory figures I hated! I'm so glad they're not required anymore.

Bring it back! They won't...it's all about TV ratings sad to say.

WOW HE WAS SO YOUNG HERE.

If they broadcast figures, and found a way to make them more interesting to the audience (perhaps an overhead shot so that they could see the figures being traced), figure skating would probably come back. However they should make the figures more interesting. Hearts with flowers in them for the women, perhaps, and a car or motorcycle for the men...

I adore Scott

When I first started watching competitive skating on television,, these figures were an important part of the judging and it was so interesting to see the skaters working on these and the judges on the ice, next to them and marking as each figure was completed .I don`t bother to watch now ,it seems to be based on athleticism and even the interpretation of music seems to have gone. you can turn the sound off and all you can see for almost every skater is frenetic whirling around and leaping ( and falling ,now that this seems to have taken over).

I guess they’re gone because it’s less interesting for the public and it takes a lot of time to perform and train, taking time from learning quads etc that are more obviously impressive to casual viewers.

This is insane!!!

Wooooooooooow Soooo great... 🧐🙏😊💯💕🥰🤓🤗🗽

they should just drop figure from the title and go with ice dancing singles or pairs.

@gadeaiglesiassordo716

9 ай бұрын

in spanish the name of the sport is "patinaje artístico" "artistic skating"

That is why figure skating is called figure skating. I used to wonder why the sporting is called figure skating. Where is the figure?

Did they ever have this for pairs?

@westnyacktwins

3 жыл бұрын

No

But why did they get rid of custom figures?

Now figures is on artistic roller skating

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

I roller skate and they’re taking away figures from worlds from us:(

in the begining he was doing singles. in the olympics. thats what i couldnt believe.

Its actually very impressive, but it would also be very boring to watch. I can see why they ditched it, but man, this looks so hard lol. Art was my worst subject in school. 😂

this was worth 30%of the mark? and what was athletic about it exactly?

@RaymondHng

8 жыл бұрын

+vistaprime The circles that are traced in the ice must be perfectly round, without wobbles, flats, bulges, or curling inward. To do that requires nerves of steel and good balance, the same requirements for a gymnast performing on the balance beam.

@vampiress144

7 жыл бұрын

it takes all kinds of muscle control to keep your lines together. it was also the one thing that was consistent for all skaters unlike the long and short programs which had requirements, but were also unique to each skater.

@susanrogers1678

6 жыл бұрын

LOL vista, I can tell you're not a skater. Otherwise you'd know how incredibly difficult this is.

@AmusedChild

6 жыл бұрын

This is the fundamentals of figure skating. There is no athletic sport that does not also involve precision and control.

@binkbaf

6 жыл бұрын

vistaprime probably the control demonstrated. The discipline.

Oooo so coool... Skaters used to create patterns? Wow... So nice... How interesting!! Well, it would have been interesting to follow this aspect of the sport if it had AI judging to check the quality. The projections of the figures would be attractive to casual viewers, to see if they are well made or not and all. Hehehe... And cameras following the skaters blades... I think this was just boring to watch cause people didn't know what was happening with the technology back then. And hehehe skaters probably disliked it hehehe. Nowadays, anyone gets top skating skill scores if they have very high technical content. It's somehow... Become related.

Wow. This was a thing?

I don't really get this stuff. If in history figures are a form of art. Why is everyone drawing the same thing? That isn't art. It's in the olympics, therefore it's a sport.

@tanyarobinson1146

6 ай бұрын

It is the only way to compare one skater from another.

skaters today wouldnt be able to handle that

From watcher's point of view: yeah it's boring, and it was also very hard to judge. Old skating fans know that this was where a lot of the judging shenanigans went down. Secondly: compulsory figures often were a reason not-superb skaters won World Championships and Olympics (examples are Trixi Schuba, Jill Trenary or Scott Hamilton. As far as I know, Hamilton complained about lack of compulsory figures. I think they secured him gold medal in 1984 Olympics (without triple Axel). If not for them, Brian Orser would take 1st place.) In addition (in my opinion, this is the most important reason why they should not be restored): figure skating is very expensive sport: reinstatement of compulsory figures would worsen situation of families that now struggle financially to cover spendings for FS. What is more, FS is these days not profitable as it was in 80s or 90s. I suspect today's show earnings would not cover additional costs related to compulsory figures (unless you are Yuzuru Hanyu or top 5 Russian female skater). I once read an article about Paul Wylie and his costs of compulsory figures. 11 years of training cost him nearly $100 000 (the article was published in 1990). Imagine how expensive that would be now. It would worsen the difference between the haves and have-nots, which was also a reason why they were removed.

@sottosopravoce

9 ай бұрын

These are all very interesting points, but aren't the elements of figures part of being a superb skater just as much as the other parts of the competition?

@tanyarobinson1146

6 ай бұрын

It is hard to say if Scott would have lost or not. Not having figures would have shifted event dates. It is entirely possible he would not have been very sick with an inner ear infection on that day. It is moot point because we will never know.

@kevinthunder3375

22 күн бұрын

Scott was still a fantastic skater back in his day. It wasn't like he excelled only in this. He was first in compulsories and was second in both the SP and the FS. Brian Orser won both the SP and the FS, but he was 7th in compulsories. Yes, this is where he blew it, but that doesnt make Hamilton undeserving of his gold. He was the best overall. Who knows, if they didn't compulsories, then Scott would have placed all of his attention in the other programs. He might still have won. 🤔🤔 Who can say for sure. This was a different era.

短長曲都輸給Orser的Hamilton贏的很尷尬.

@bronzevillecomics2581

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, Hamilton knew what he needs to do to win and that was the maximize his advantage in the figures because the strongest free skaters, the ones who might beat him in that portion of the event, would place lower in figures. I don’t think he was embarrassed that Orser beat him in the free skate, but that Hamilton did not skate his best. He was fine with finishing second in the free skate. He knew the rules and the system and planned his training accordingly. He could have finished as low as 4th in the free skate and still won the gold medal.

It's almost like watching paint dry. Almost.

I wouldn't have joined figure skating if this was what it was all about... tracing nice figure on ice.... quite boring. I like the figure skating that is today that incorporates ballet, dance, jumps and spins...

@xtian384

6 жыл бұрын

that is such an ignorant statement! at the time figure skating wasn't all that, it was ALSO that. Only, instead of 2 programs (short and long), athletes would have to perform 3, compulsory figures, short and long program. Maybe compulsory figures were not so entertaining to watch for the non-experts, but there was plenty of artistry in the short and long programs.

@danaanthereal3687

6 жыл бұрын

in order for ballet and dance to be beautiful the performers have to learn how to do it correctly, that is how it becomes beautiful ballet and dance. Ignorant statement.

@mariamartin4385

6 жыл бұрын

I don't think it's fair to call this opinion ignorant just because you don't share it

@kates6371

3 ай бұрын

These are figure skatings roots ! Love them

好

Watching this is beyond boring, I bet 7 hours long live coverage of such event would cause sickness and fever to an average viewer today. It would turn people off and kill the sport for sure if lasted. Clever decision to get rid of this nonsense.

@gregoryschmidt1233

4 жыл бұрын

Not every Olympic sport has to be modified for the sole purpose of entertaining the masses with easily-digestible bits of television.

@lukephan63

4 жыл бұрын

@@gregoryschmidt1233 only the ones providing sustainable careers, the rest may be fed by yourself.

@kevinthunder3375

22 күн бұрын

I can see why they got rid of it, because it would be very boring to watch after two or three skaters, but it's a shame its not taught anymore. Skaters today have terrible technique, skill, precision, balance, and grace. Skating today, is more about athleticism and endurance, and the big jumps, even if most of these jumps look bad. I didn't even know about this till relatively recently, and I'm wowed by how much skill this would take. And the patience! It's quite telling that Kim Yuna and Mao Asada, the top skaters in their day, both worked on figures in practice. Those two had amazing technique and artistry. It's kind of similar to baseball and basketball in a way. They just dont teach the fundamentals anymore. Best ballers are coming out of Europe. American kids just go for the three, and they don't care about anything else. Baseball? So many sloppy baserunning mistakes, poor glove placement, etc. Hell, they rarely ever say, "I got it," anymore, which is why there are more collisions today then yesteryear. Fundamentals. Not saying we should sacrifice the athleticism for technique and artistry, but it would be nice to have all three.

There is definitely skill here, but oh my gosh this is boooooring!!!

This is so lame lmfao

No wonder they did away with this. It's boring and outdated

@RaymondHng

8 жыл бұрын

+jayrock277 Television played a large part in eliminating figures. It's not outdated. It just does not bring any television advertising revenue.

THANK GOD they got rid of figures - totally boring and pointless and nothing to do with actual skating

@Tracymmo

3 жыл бұрын

EVERYTHING to do with actual skating!

@faith5073

3 жыл бұрын

Ummmm I mean figure is kinda in the name I don’t know what you are talking about

@tanyarobinson1146

6 ай бұрын

Skaters are to skate on edges. There are poorly executed judges because of the lack of training.

@kevinthunder3375

22 күн бұрын

Lol. This made chuckle. "Figure" is kind of in the name.