- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
This is not a Lutz jump.
Honestly, we've argued over edge calls and URs and DGs for so long, I take it as a part of figure skating by now. It's even fun in some ways. But I do not recall a situation such as this.
The way he jumps this one, has nothing to do with the very definition of a Lutz jump. Not a thing. He obviously cannot do it in any other way, so he has this strange take off that makes it a mash of several jumps. It's some sort of Lutzberger with maybe even a tad of the Sal thrown in there, and perhaps even a somewhat weird Axel entry.
At what point is the ISU going to start calling these jumps of his (his flip is the same)? I really want to know because for me, if he does this, and he is not called, this opens up a very large issue that is way beyond Shoma himself. It boils down to a simple question - are all the other current skaters fools? Yes, very harsh and blunt, but that's exactly what it is. If the ISU is going to allow this type of improper jumps, then everyone should know that they are free to reap the benefits of this type of take offs.
There are plenty of skaters who are not capable of quad jumps (and heck, even triples!). The question then is, with this type of melding of jumps, would they be able to though? The answer is of course yes, because what Shoma does there, in order to jump his quatriple Lutzberger, makes the jump far easier. It's not a quad, it's not a toe jump, it's not even a Lutz!
If this is how things are, then please ISU make this clear and open up the field so that
a) skaters know that this type of jump melding is now allowed
b) skaters know not to waste their time with proper technique
c) skaters know that pre-rotation is no longer to be an issue at all
d) fans can play around with naming new hybrids
That way it evens out the playing field for everyone and everyone can benefit from the now much less strict conditions. Of course, then we won't have actual specific jumps any more, and what's a quad/triple/double will be somewhat loose in definition but at least it's there for all.
Honestly, we've argued over edge calls and URs and DGs for so long, I take it as a part of figure skating by now. It's even fun in some ways. But I do not recall a situation such as this.
The way he jumps this one, has nothing to do with the very definition of a Lutz jump. Not a thing. He obviously cannot do it in any other way, so he has this strange take off that makes it a mash of several jumps. It's some sort of Lutzberger with maybe even a tad of the Sal thrown in there, and perhaps even a somewhat weird Axel entry.
At what point is the ISU going to start calling these jumps of his (his flip is the same)? I really want to know because for me, if he does this, and he is not called, this opens up a very large issue that is way beyond Shoma himself. It boils down to a simple question - are all the other current skaters fools? Yes, very harsh and blunt, but that's exactly what it is. If the ISU is going to allow this type of improper jumps, then everyone should know that they are free to reap the benefits of this type of take offs.
There are plenty of skaters who are not capable of quad jumps (and heck, even triples!). The question then is, with this type of melding of jumps, would they be able to though? The answer is of course yes, because what Shoma does there, in order to jump his quatriple Lutzberger, makes the jump far easier. It's not a quad, it's not a toe jump, it's not even a Lutz!
If this is how things are, then please ISU make this clear and open up the field so that
a) skaters know that this type of jump melding is now allowed
b) skaters know not to waste their time with proper technique
c) skaters know that pre-rotation is no longer to be an issue at all
d) fans can play around with naming new hybrids
That way it evens out the playing field for everyone and everyone can benefit from the now much less strict conditions. Of course, then we won't have actual specific jumps any more, and what's a quad/triple/double will be somewhat loose in definition but at least it's there for all.