New rules to benefit Yu-na in record, Asada in scoring

By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff Reporter

With rule changes likely to be applied during future figure skating competitions, expectations are mounting that Kim Yu-na's current world record is likely to stand for a long time.

Prior to the 2010-2011 season, the International Skating Union's agenda includes proposed amendments to the current competition rules, to be discussed at its annual meeting in Barcelona next month.

The most significant changes would include those to the women's singles category, which would bring about some huge changes in the judging system if effectuated.

Debate is likely to arise in Barcelona, as some officials suggest the short program remove the spiral sequence from its required elements, and allow skaters to do a triple axel in lieu of a double axel.

Until now regulations required the women's short routine be comprised of three jumps, three spins, one step sequence and one spiral sequence, with a double axel as a compulsory jump.

There will also be talk of reducing the permitted number of double axels to a maximum of two as opposed to the current three in the free program.

Considering the current status of women's skating, it all comes down to one ultimate question: Which will they favor, Kim or Asada?

In a nutshell, the changes are likely to help consolidate Kim's world records for a long period of time, but aid Asada in upcoming competitions.

Kim, the sport's Korean sensation, set a staggering record of 228.56 points at the Vancouver Winter Games in February. With seamless and ethereal performances throughout the short and free programs, the 20-year-old left her perennial archrival Mao Asada of Japan 23.06 points behind her.

The two major changes in the short program, if implemented, would not make a remarkable difference in points. In Vancouver, Kim earned 5.4 points from the spiral sequence, while an upgrade from a double axel to a triple axel would have given Asada a 4.7-point advantage in the short program.

Asada would greatly benefit from the new system if she can do a triple-triple combination along with a triple axel in the short program. However, the Japanese star didn't include any combined triples last season because she was more focused on polishing her trademark triple axel and her previous triple-triple attempts were mostly downgraded due to a problem with poor rotation.

A new rule in the long program, however, could challenge Kim, who strongly relies on three double axels to make up for the lack of a triple loop.

Kim, currently at No. 1 in the world ranking by a large margin, has been ruling out the triple loop in her programs for the last few seasons because of shaky landings. Asada, in contrast, did only one double axel in her Vancouver free routine.

Some critics also say the inclusion of a triple axel in the short program wouldn't be good for Mao, because it remains to be seen how much longer Asada will perform that jump.

Asada was the only skater to include the 3.5-rotation jump in her routines for the last couple of seasons, but mostly ended up receiving deductions for under-rotation.

In Vancouver, she turned the tables to land all three of her triple axels in the short and free programs. However, her success rate has remained below 50 percent throughout her career, with the Japanese skater suspected of having passed her physical golden moment.

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