Talk:Compulsory figures

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[edit] Higher injury, missing skate control

Even though these compulsory figures aren't the most interesting to watch on TV, the skaters did not have to risk to much injury doing as many complicated jumps that they do now under the old competition system. Some of the most briliant jumpers such as Midori Ito and Tara Lipinski can no longer skate because of injuries incurred from these jumps. Skaters such as Peggy Flemming and Dorothy Hamill have had very long careers on the ice. Also, compulsory figures were a great measure of skate control. Oksana Baiul, who won the gold in 1994 after the new rules were added, did not have very good skate control and this affected her later career. Gmosaki 21:46, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Special figures

"Special figures" were *not* the same thing as compulsory figures. "Special figures" were the fancy geometrical patterns that skaters invented on their own, like the Maltese cross, things shaped like flowers or rosettes, etc. Dr.frog 21:31, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

• I'm going to create a new Wikipedia entry for special figures with appropriate references. Dr.frog 16:25, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Grapevines

I've added a bit on Grapevines. My source for this information is [1], but she references the following book: Jones, Ernest The Elements of Figure Skating, Second Edition, Unwin Brothers Limited, London, 1952 - which is what I have put in the article. I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do - but I'm being bold. --Gary van der Merwe 13:32, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

I've reverted this edit because I don't believe grapevines were ever considered "compulsory figures", or included in compulsory figure competition. E.g., Irving Brokaw's "The Art of Skating", written in 1910, classifies grapevines as elements of free skating. The confusion may arise because, back then, even free skating elements were referred to as "figures". E.g., Brokaw also refers to spirals as "figures", and says "Mohawks and Choctaws are favorite figures from which jumps may be made." Anyway, what I suggest is starting a new article about grapevines, and when I have time I'll contribute what Brokaw has to say about them (3 pages in his book). Dr.frog 15:31, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Ok - Let me know if I can help in any way --Gary van der Merwe 06:47, 25 July 2006 (UTC)