- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
A flat is an unclear edge - which means the edge isn't what it's supposed to be (so yes, it's not incorrect), but it also isn't egregiously wrong (as in going obviously on the inside edge) either.
Since it's not clearly the correct edge, a ! is applied, which does not reduce BV but does signal to the judges to reflect it in the GOE (which is fine, because true lutzers/flippers should be distinguished by those who don't exhibit a clear, correct edge). And, since it's not clearly an incorrect edge, it doesn't get the "e" call either.
Here's the Technical Handbook that outlines it (page 15): https://www.isu.org/inside-single-p...2/17595-tp-handbook-pair-skating-2018-19/file
e.g. Lutz
no call = clear outside edge (no deduction)
! = unclear edge (GOE hit; which makes sense since the execution was not ideal)
e = clear inside (wrong) edge (BV reduction + GOE hit, because the jump is wrong and the execution is also wrong as such, moreso than just having an unclear edge).
The ! is pretty much acknowledging that there are many skaters in-between who don't have a perfect edge technique but they shouldn't be hit as hard as someone who has very poor edge technique on a jump. Seems like for the longest time this was mainly due to flutzing being much more prominent (I mean, people barely even used the word "lip" - listen to commentary and whatnot; especially pre-IJS you'd never hear of edge calls on flip jumps), but seems they're being cracked down.
For flips, IMO, the best a skater can do is to try to ensure their entry edge is clearly an inside edge so that when they take off they're already on an inside edge. If the lead-in, entry edge after the 3-turn/mohawk ends up actually being an outside edge, there's the risk of a tech specialist calling it an unclear edge (!) upon takeoff. Which is fair. As TSL would say, hold the edge - not, switch to the edge last second and hope the tech specialist regards the couple frames where you've switched over onto the proper edge as a clearly inside takeoff.
