Jimmie Santee is Over the Edge

Test Refresh…Refreshing Originally published July/Aug 2017 PS Magazine As U.S. Figure Skating continues to rebrand and refocus their direction, I am excited about the potential of the newly passed test refresh.  The refresh is a more simplified scoring system using “0” as the passing standard, and ranging from -3 to +3 like the GOE used in IJS. It provides consistency between testing and IJS scoring and also removes the serious error restriction which allows the judge to exercise their judgment in the best interest of the tester. It rewards the skater’s strengths rather than a “check the box” approach. Makes sense to me. Test requirements now reflect the Well-Balanced Free Skate with minimum technical elements and program duration. No more need to have a test program and a competition program. Makes sense to me. I especially like the new addition of passing with honors and passing with distinction. Why not reward skaters who exceed the standard by a wide margi...

Is the Triple Axel Becoming Irrelevant? Originally published MAY/JUN 2017 PS Magazine Watching Nathan Chens 2017 U.S. Championship Free Skate live and in person was one of the craziest things I had ever witnessed. The first time that 5 quads in one program was completed in competition. Looking at the protocol on the icenetwork app was equally mind blowing. The base value of the jumping passes alone - 91.96! 1.       Quad Lutz + Triple Toeloop                                        17.90 2.       Quad Toeloop + Double Toeloop + Double Loop       13.40 3.       Quad Flip                    ...

Be Diligent Originally published MAR/APR 2017 PS Magazine In December of 2016, a nine-month Indianapolis Star-USA Today investigation  concluded at least 368 gymnasts throughout the United States were allegedly the victim of some form of sexual abuse over the past 20 years. More than 100 coaches, gym owners, and other adults connected to the sport have been accused of abuse. Between 2000 and 2010, at least 36 swimming coaches were banned for life by USA Swimming because of sexual misconduct. The Boy Scouts of America, the Catholic Church, Penn State, English Youth Football, Canadian Junior Hockey, U.S. Speed Skating, and even figure skating have had instances of adults having sexually abusive encounters with children. It wouldn’t be fair to say any specific activity attracts more abusers than another. Where there are children, there will be pedophiles. Some organizations, however, have made it easier by not having policies and procedures to safeguard th...

The Forgotten Art of Coaching Etiquette Originally published Jan/Feb 2017 PS Magazine “Perhaps one of your great writers could cover the guest coaching policies that many rinks employ in a future issue of the magazine? Read on: This afternoon I check in on the freestyle and noticed an adult in shoes on the ice that I don't know coaching two skaters that I have never seen before and then the coach proceeds to step into the scorekeeper’s box to play their music! I did not receive an email from anyone, including the coach, or that team inquiring about our guest coaching policies nor did the team pay for the freestyle before they stepped on the ice! The Supervisor on Duty hauled the coach into my office and I informed him of our policies, which is always uncomfortable. Am I missing something? Is there any rink anywhere that I could get away with doing that? Thank you.” -David George, posted August 7, 2016, Facebook page of Professional Skaters Association   ...

The Gambler Originally published Nov/Dec 2016 PS Magazine In the last issue I wrote about the necessity of change. The editorial was written prior to PSA’s decision to withdraw from the potential merger with ISI. After the announcement was made that the merger was not moving forward, I had the opportunity to pull the editorial from the magazine. I decided against it. The point that I made was making was still valid – change is inevitable. So are challenges and opportunities. While it was an emotionally difficult decision to make, it was in the best interest of PSA. It also reminded me of the Kenny Rodgers song, “The Gambler”: You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run PSA folded the hand…we didn’t walk away or run. We are still at the table and hopefully the three organizations can still find a way to support one national learn to skate program.  This is important as we need to rebuild the i...

The Necessity of Change Originally published Sep/Oct 2016 PS Magazine “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” -   John F. Kennedy If you were to do a Google search of the oldest companies of Fortune 500, only 13 of the businesses have been around for more than 150 years. The longevity of these businesses is a testament to their continuous adaptation to economic conditions, innovation, and the demand for their services or products.  One of those companies is Macy’s. Rowland Macy had failed several times until he opened R.H. Macy’s in New York City in 1858. Over the next 158 years, Macy’s grew, contracted, merged, acquired competitors, filed bankruptcy, and yet is still as relevant today as it was in 1858. Change is inevitable. So are challenges and opportunities. At about that same time Macy’s was established, skating had become one of the most popular forms of winter recreation. Millions...

The Line That’s Crossed …Continued Originally published July/Aug 2016 PS Magazine My last editorial seemed to strike a major chord with a number of our readers. In fact, I received more responses than any other editorial I have written in the last 10 years. I thought that what I wrote was the apex of the controversy but I was wrong in that assumption. Despite the fact that the Russians were dealing with the meldonium outbreak, they were also dealing with accusations that their anti-doping laboratories had destroyed thousands of urine samples in order to avoid exposure to WADA investigators. The specific issue nonetheless, is that there are new witnesses and developing evidence that the Russian government officials allegedly orchestrated the entire fiasco. Following the airing of investigative journalist Hajo Seppelt’s documentary, "Doping – Top Secret: The Shadowy World of Athletics”, on the German TV network ADR (Olterman, 2014) , WADA identified Dr. Grigory Rodchenko, ...

The Line That’s Crossed Originally published May/June 2016 PS Magazine “Everyone is allowed their own opinion but no one is allowed their own facts” Unknown In December of 2014, the first part of investigative journalist Hajo Seppelt’s documentary, "Doping – Top Secret: The Shadowy World of Athletics“, screened on the German TV network ADR making allegations of a state-sponsored doping programme in Russia and a cover-up involving IAAF [International Association of Athletics Federations] officials. The documentary led to an independent investigation by WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency]. (Olterman, 2014) I bring this up because I believe it is relevant to the current rash of positive tests for meldonium. Neither corruption, extortion, nor doping surprise me. We had and will have athletes in the United States that will use performance enhancing drugs (PED), but the massive scope of use in Russia is mind boggling. Quite honestly, I’m not sure what to think. We have a...