Bofrost Cup On Ice 2003
Part 1
Text
by Joy and Mireille Geurts
Photos © Joy
In
November 2003 there was Bofrost Cup on Ice, but not the Bofrost Cup like
we’ve known thus far. It was quite different. Why was that?Because
since this year Bofrost Cup on Ice is no longer part of the Grand Prix
Series, but an independent competition, all on its own.
After the ISU relocated the Grand Prix event to Bejing, people from
the Sportparadies in Gelsenkirchen as well as the German Skating Union
weren’t happy about it and they decided to still have a contest, but then
a combination of a jump event and the free program of the ‘normal’ competitions:
DEU President Reinhard Mirmseker: "With the combination of a jump
event and free skating we will present a world première at the 'Bofrost
Cup on Ice' in Gelsenkirchen, We are grateful that title sponsors
'Bofrost' have agreed straight away to further support us, even without
having the Grand Prix status for this event. The
Grand Prix was allocated to China this year. However, the good field of entries is proof that this new
kind of event is a success with the athletes. The question whether this event will
be staged again in Gelsenkirchen next year depends on the success -ultimately
it's a decision of athletes, coaches, spectators and the media."
According
to Competition Director Ingrid-Charlotte Wolter, the idea for this new competition was born
during a simple conversation. With this combination of a jump competition
and free skating we merge the athletic and artistic aspects of figure
skating.
Like
R. Mirmseker already stated, the organising committee was satisfied with
the entries:
“We are very
happy that Winkler/Lohse are competing here in
Gelsenkirchen. Despite
some withdrawals at short notice, skaters from the international Top 20,
respectively the European Top 10, will compete
here in Gelsenkirchen. Among them
skaters with a possibly great future such as Italy's Carolina Kostner,
Russia's Alexei Vasilevskiy and Jeffrey Buttle from Canada." (Wolter)
The
decision about still having a Bofrost Cup on Ice, in this entirely new
format, was made quite late. However, ticket sales were satisfactory:
Reiner Nerowski,
Manager of Sportparadies Gelsenkirchen: "Due to the rather late decision
to organise the 'Bofrost Cup on Ice' even without the status of an ISU
Grand Prix event, the advance ticket sale was more or less slow in the
beginning. But in the last few days we gold a great number of tickets
so that we expect to have a sell-out crowd.”
Now
you may think: “A jump competition, what’s in that? Just some skaters
doing a jump and that’s it? Must I like that??”
I
guess lots of people thought so, but you had to be there to notice the
real fun of this part of the Bofrost Cup on Ice. It was fun, informal
and everybody; skater and audience, just had a great night that Friday.
The general party feeling of the jump event was definitely for a large
deal caused by the way it was set up and presented.
Of
course there were some rules and the organizing committee explained them
as follows:
“There will be a warm-up of ten minutes.
Each competitor has two tries.
After the
first try the skater then goes to centre ice to watch the replay of the
jump on the big screen at the end of the rink. The marks will be shown.”
Each juror
gives marks from 0-5: 0 meaning the element didn’t succeed and 5 is the
perfect score.
“After this he/she/they signalise(s) whether the second chance is used.
Only the better of the two tries will be counted for the result.
If yes, follow the same procedure,
if no, just leave the ice. There will be an immediate announcement, whether
you have reached the next level. To reach the next level you need a minimum
of 10 points. The highest and the lowest mark of the seven judges are
struck out. The marks of the five remaining judges are added, so 25 is the perfect score.
After each level the competitors remaining in the competition will be announced
and may skate a round to have a quick warm-up.
The order of skating in the next level will be in reverse order of the
result of the previous (just completed) level.
Then the same procedure is followed as above.
At the
end of the competition the result will be shown on the scoreboard and
there will be an immediate "Small Victory Ceremony". The best-placed
three will be called to the Referee for a presentation of flowers and
diploma.”
Judges ON the ice behind Eva Maria Fitze & Rico
Rex (GER)
Furthermore
the set-up was a bit different from normal contests:
“Innovation during the jump events at the
competition venue of in Gelsenkirchen: the judges will not sit on a podium
along the ice rink but will "sit at tables directly on the ice in
front of the judges seats", explained Reinhard Mirmseker, President
of the German Figure Skating Federation, during the opening press conference
at the Hotel Maritim in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday. "Furthermore
the spectators will be included in the event - they can mark the respective
points for each performance in the programme. And when they hand in those
sheets at a special counter at Sportparadies they can win free tickets
for the 2004 World Championships in Dortmund."
·····
“Of
course there are always spectators who are annoyed that they have missed
one or two elements during an interesting performance! These times are
over. During the jump events super slow motions of all jumps and elements
will be projected on a video screen with
the help of a beamer.”
And
also:
“The announcer
will be on the ice on skates. Music will be played during the performance.”
Now
this must lead to some expectations and so it all started on Friday night.
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The
ladies
were first to start their jumping competition, which started with
a triple toeloop or salchow. German Denise Zimmermann was last to
try and she failed both attempts, which led to a loud exclamation
by the announcer (Deniiiiiiise....) who than took her by the hand
to say goodbye to the audience. The
rest of the ladies went on to the second level. This level consisted
of a triple salchow or toeloop in combination with a double toe. The
first jump had to be different than the one completed at level one.
All remaining skaters got over the minimum for this level. Joannie
Rochette (CAN) got 22 points for her first attempt. Everyone thought
that was very good so nobody asked if she wanted to retry it. But
she did want to! And after doing it we all knew why. Now she got 25,
perfect score. WOW! |
Level
three, triple lutz. Alas Julia Sebestyen (HUN) didn’t make this level.
The first attempt was only a hop on the ice and by the second she fell.
So she got no more than 2 points. Goodbye to Julia and on to the next
level.
For
this level a triple lutz or flip was needed. Alas the before so perfectly
jumping Joannie fell at first attempt and at her second attempt she flutzed
with hands down. Worth 9 points so not enough. Level 5 was a triple lutz
or flip combination with a double toe. Carolina Kostner (ITA) and Elina
Kettunen (FIN) needed both attempts and barely made it. But they did and
all got through to level six; combination of 2 triples. Neither Elina
nor Susanna Pöykiö (FIN) succeeded and only
Carolina reached the next level. Level seven
was a combination of triple-triple-double.
Her first attempt at it was very troublesome but like the MC said
at least she is able to create something out of a messy situation. On
her second attempt she got 11 points. So the eventual winner was Caro!
It
all went very fast, accompanied by loud pop music (2 Unlimited, Safri
Duo and alike) and in between the elements the presenter educated us about
the origin of several jumps and obviously entertained us by joking and
fooling around. The skaters also took part in the latter, knowingly or unknowingly.
Immediately
after the ladies jumping competition, there was a
small victory ceremony and Carolina, Susanna and Elina were honoured
with bouquets of flowers and a diploma for respectively being first, second
and third.
A
press conference was held, in which the ladies could speak their minds
about this part of the contest:
*** QUOTES*** Ladies
Jump Competition
Carolina Kostner (ITA), 1st:”This competition is simply cool, it’s
an enrichment. Every skater has a second chance.
And this is a first in figure skating. This year I’ll be trying to show
good performances again, like I did with a fourth place at the European
Championships.”
Susanna Pökyiö (FIN),
2nd:”Such a jump competition is something totally different.
We can be really relaxed going into the event because we’re able to focus
longer on a single jump than in a short program.”
Elina Kettunen (FIN),
3rd:”I’ve been nervous during the whole day but I’m
quite pleased with the third place. This competition is really good, it’s
exciting and thrilling. I like the combination of a jump competition and
a free program on the second day.”
Denise Zimmermann
(GER), 6th:“I’m still young and this is my first big competition. The other skaters
are more experienced and I’ve been so nervous the whole day. It’s totally
new for me.”
Go to Part 2
*** Previously published by Europe on Ice
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