- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
How do you define consistency? Which skaters are/were consistent? How do age and technique affect this?
Yuna retired at 23 and she never placed off the podium. Osmond has medalled at 13/15 competitions she’s been in in the past two seasons (placing 4th both other times).
Mao was a “maybe”: but she was landing 3As for over a decade straight (compare to Tuktamhsheva) and won a slew of World, 4CC, GPF medals and titles. Between 2011 and 2014 (over 18, and before the time off) she only missed the podium twice, and the same between 2003-2010 (but which includes pre-18 years, obviously).
As for Orser, Hanyu has medalled at literally every single competition he’s been in from 2015... and since the six seasons he’s been with Orser, he’s only missed the podium twice (also placing 4th both times.) Javi has only missed the podium three times since Sochi. Yuna, while she was with him, won 3 GP Finals and a World and Olympic title, aside from setting 11 world record scores.
In what universe are those not consistent results?!
I, too, think consistency should be defined by results, not by the dubious "lands all jumps" criterion.
How do you define consistency? Which skaters are/were consistent? How do age and technique affect this?
I do recognize skaters who consistently complete their technical elements with relatively few errors, à la Miyahara or Medvedeva, regardless of results... but to me skater who never misses anything but places 4th and 5th (or lower) over and over again is less impressive than the skater who messes up more often but is still able to do enough to step onto the podium. I’d regard the latter’s consistency more highly.
But I realize that obviously many others primarily judge by the number of mistakes, so, maybe there should be a contrast between “consistency” and “consistent results.”
I think I would say that the experimental period of the CoP would be 2002-2005. There continue to be little tweaks each year, even now, of course.(As a tangent, this is actually what makes the rivalry of Yuna and Mao so interesting during the 2007-2010 quad, because what are the off-chances that we can have two great skaters during the experimental period of CoP.)
I think I would say that the experimental period of the CoP would be 2002-2005. There continue to be little tweaks each year, even now, of course.
Michelle Kwan finished first or second in every event she entered from 1995-96 through 2000-2001, and never missed a podium through 2004.
How do you define consistency? Which skaters are/were consistent? How do age and technique affect this?
I don't think that "results" should be the defining factor at all. Someone with incredibly inflated PCS like Kostner can place high competition after competition due to the power of massively high PCS that most other skaters just cannot hope to compete with, even if she only lands 3 triples. That's not consistency to me. And Osmond was used as an example even though she's only had about 2 clean competitions(And neither of them were entirely clean).
In my opinion, it's clear that what makes a skater consistent is them being able to perform all their elements with high quality time after time, regardless of how they get scored. And a skater who never places within the top 10 can be consistent as well.
I don't think that "results" should be the defining factor at all. Someone with incredibly inflated PCS like Kostner can place high competition after competition due to the power of massively high PCS that most other skaters just cannot hope to compete with, even if she only lands 3 triples. That's not consistency to me. And Osmond was used as an example even though she's only had about 2 clean competitions(And neither of them were entirely clean).
In my opinion, it's clear that what makes a skater consistent is them being able to perform all their elements with high quality time after time, regardless of how they get scored. And a skater who never places within the top 10 can be consistent as well.
I don't think that "results" should be the defining factor at all. Someone with incredibly inflated PCS like Kostner can place high competition after competition due to the power of massively high PCS that most other skaters just cannot hope to compete with, even if she only lands 3 triples. That's not consistency to me. And Osmond was used as an example even though she's only had about 2 clean competitions(And neither of them were entirely clean).
In my opinion, it's clear that what makes a skater consistent is them being able to perform all their elements with high quality time after time, regardless of how they get scored. And a skater who never places within the top 10 can be consistent as well.
Well, reposting myself from the other thread:
Obviously I fall more on the side of placements and results, ideally over multiple seasons. To me, consistently should be measured first and foremost by the ability to do well enough to earn medals, time and time again, preferably without noticeable periods of lesser results. And I’m more impressed by it at older ages, especially for the women, because by then it’s more likely to be due to primarily to skill, technique, and/or sheer will and determination, but I don’t think we should discount young skaters who go on to do well.
I do recognize skaters who consistently complete their technical elements with relatively few errors, à la Miyahara or Medvedeva, regardless of results... but to me skater who never misses anything but places 4th and 5th (or lower) over and over again is less impressive than the skater who messes up more often but is still able to do enough to step onto the podium. I’d regard the latter’s consistency more highly.
For the women, Medvedeva, by my definition, would take the crown as probably the most consistent skater of recent times, except she would maybe be behind Yuna. I’d also put forward Michelle, Katarina Witt, and among pre-triples era skaters, obviously Sonja Henie and Carol Heiss.
Someone like Mao would be behind them, because of her post-Vancouver slump and her last two seasons after her time off, but between 2003-2009/10 and 2011/12 to 2014, I would include her among the most consistent skaters.
But I realize that obviously many others primarily judge by the number of mistakes, so, maybe there should be a contrast between “consistency” and “consistent results.”
I sometimes call consistent performers consistent skaters too. My shining example is Daisuke Takahashi - his quad consistency post-injury is a mess but as long as he steps on the ice, I know I would be in for a treat.