Part three of a six-part series
Q: How is figure skating judged?
A: The Canada Winter Games will feature 13 figure skating competitions: pre-novice men's and women's' singles, pairs and ice dance; novice men's and women's singles, pairs ad ice dance; and Special Olympics level 2 and level 3 singles for men and women, and level 2 solo dance.
The competitions will be judged using Skate Canada's Cumulative Points Calculation Judging System, based on the International Skating Union's judging system.
At the Canada Winter Games the novice and pre-novice singles and pairs will all compete in a short program (2:30 or less for singles, and 2:40 or less for pairs) and a free program (either three or 3.5 minutes, plus or minute 10 seconds). Each program or dance has a number of required elements which skaters must perform, plus time to choreograph their own elements.
The ice dance competitions will include one pattern dance (featuring two specific dances that the skaters must perform) and a free dance.
Each program or dance is scored separately, then the two scores are added together to determine the winner.
The score for each program or dance is divided into two sections: a technical score and a program component score. After the two scores are added together, any deductions are subtracted to give a final score.
The technical score is determined by judging each individual element the skaters perform during their program or dance.
Each element is assigned a base point value by Skate Canada, which publishes point lists (called scales of value) for all the legal elements in each discipline. Every jump, spin, lift, throw, etc. is assigned a starting value, based on how difficult it is.
For example, in singles a single Lutz has a value of 0.6 points while a quadruple Lutz is worth 13.6.
To further complicate things, many elements have different levels (rated, highest to lowest, 4, 3, 2, 1, B), depending on the complexity and difficulty of the movement.
The higher the level, the higher the base point value. For example, a level B flying sit spin has a base value of 1.7 points, while a level 4 flying sit spin has a base value of three points.
The panel of judges then each individually assign a grade of execution to each element the skaters perform. The grades of execution are from worst to best: -3, -2, -1, base, +1, +2 and +3.
The grade of execution modifies the amount of points each element is worth.
For example, take the quadruple Lutz worth 13.6 points from the earlier example.
A sloppy one with a grade of execution of -3 is only worth 10.6 points, while a masterful quadruple Lutz with a grade of execution of +3 is worth a whopping 16.6 points.
These grades of execution are based on things like the height of a jump, the smoothness of the take off and landings, conforming to the rhythm of the music, etc.
The final points earned for each element is determined by averaging the grade of execution given by each judge. If there are five or more judges, the highest and lowest scores are dropped.
The total points awarded for all the elements completed as part of the program or dance becomes the skater or pair's technical score.
Judges then give the skater or pair a program component score, based on the performance as a whole. The judges look at five categories: skating skills; transitions/linking footwork and movement; performance/execution; choreography/composition; and interpretation of the music.
Each judge than gives the skater between 0.25 points (very poor) and 10 points (outstanding) in each of the five categories.
The judge's scores are again averaged, with the highest and lowest dropped if there is five or more judges on the panel.
After the averaged scores are determined in each of the five categories, they are then multiplied by a factor between 0.4 and two, to determine the final points awarded for each of the five categories.
For example, in the pre-novice singles short program the skating skills scores are multiplied by 0.7; transitions/linking footwork and movement is multiplied by 0.5; performance/execution is multiplied by 0.7; choreography/composition is multiplied by 0.4; and interpretation of the music is multiplied by 0.7. So the program component score in pre-novice singles is worth a maximum of 30 points.
Of the deductions, falls are the most common. At the novice and pre-novice level, each fall outside of an element is a half point penalty. If both skaters in a pair fall, it is a one-point penalty.
Falling during an element may result in either a reduced grade of execution for the element or, if the element wasn't completed, potentially no score.
To top it all off, at the pre-novice and novice level there are bonus points for completing some types of difficult elements.
If your brain is whirling faster than a fly change foot camel spin trying to understand it all, you're not the only one.
Q: What makes freestyle skiing different than alpine skiing?
A: The Canada Winter Games is featuring moguls, dual mogul, slope style and big air competitions in the freestyle skiing category for men and women.
According to the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, the big difference between alpine skiing and freestyle skiing is alpine skiing is all about speed - while freestyle events are judged events, with points awarded primarily for technical skill and style. Freestyle events are judged differently, depending on the event.
In moguls, skiers race one at a time down a 200- to 270-metre course with an average grade of 26 degrees. The course is covered in moguls -small hills of packed snow -set about 3.5 metres apart.
Skiers race down the fall line of the hill, quickly turning back and forth between the moguls. Two small jumps are placed on the course, which skiers use to launch themselves to perform aerial tricks like back flips, grabbing their skis, spins and other maneuvers.
Each skier is judged by a panel of seven judges. They award a score based 50 per cent on the technical quality of the skier's turns, 25 per cent on the two aerial maneuvers and 25 per cent on speed.
At the Canada Games, skiers each make two runs during the qualifying round. The best 10 scores will advance to the final.
The single moguls will determine the seeding order for the double mogul event.
In double moguls two skiers go down the mogul course at the same time in head-to-head elimination rounds.
The seven judges are each given five votes to allocate between the two skiers. Four judges score the turns, two judges score the jumps and one judge scores the speed.
The skier who gets the most votes wins, and advances to the next elimination round.
In slopestyle skiing, skiers ski down a course that contains a number of obstacles including rails, jumps and tabletops.
As the skier goes down the course, he or she performs a series of tricks and jumps.
Five judges score each skier on the execution of tricks and combinations, how much air they get on jumps, variety of tricks, the perceived degree of difficulty and the artistry or choreography of the run. Each run is given a score out of 100.
Skiers perform two runs each, and the best single score wins.
In the big air competition, skiers ski down a minimum 30-metre, 20-degree slope to a minimum two-metre-high jump. After hitting the jump, skiers perform aerial tricks.
Three to six judges give each jump a score between one and 100, based on amplitude (or height of the jump), difficulty, execution, landing and progression (or pushing the limits to perform new tricks.).
At the Canada Games, skiers will each perform two jumps in the qualifying round, with the top eight scores proceeding to the final.
Freestyle skiers also often use different equipment than alpine skiers. Many freestyle skiers use twin-tip skis -skis with tips at the front and back, which allow skiers to land and ski backwards.
Q: Why do men and women compete on different apparatuses in artistic gymnastics?
A: The Canada Winter Games will feature men's and women's' individual and team competitions in artistic gymnastics and trampoline.
Prince George Gymnastics Club head coach Jodie Hinks said in artistic gymnastics both men and women do the vault and floor exercise, but that is where the similarity ends. Male gymnasts also compete on the pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars and high bar, while female gymnasts compete on the uneven bars and balance beam.
In all events for both genders, competitors are judged based on the skill of execution, degree of difficulty and overall presentation -including body posture, landings, etc.
Even the floor routine is different between women and men: women perform a 70 to 90 second long, choreographed routine with instrumental music. Female floor routines often include tumbling, jumps, dance elements and acrobatic skills.
Men typically perform four passes - crossing from one corner of the 12 metre wide square floor to another - totalling 60 to 70 seconds. Men perform without music in the floor routine. Men's routines put a greater focus on the tumbling and power, Hinks said.
"It just comes down to strength kind of events for men, and the women have more events that have more grace to them," Hinks said.
However, that doesn't mean female gymnasts don't require strength, she said.
"The uneven bars take a lot of strength," she said. "[But] it comes down to beauty."
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