The "footwork" in a long and short program...is just a way of saying ... "We don't do figures now, so let's see if we can stick something that resembles them, as an element, into both the short and the long program."
At least let the skater do what they want in the Free Program! The footwork is meant to be a part of the choreography where the skater doesn't have to do any known spin or jump, and skaters should be able to create their own little masterpiece in their program, in a skating/dancing fashion, really interpreting the music!
Remember Plushenko and Yagudin when they would go wild doing their footwork... how fantastic that was! Now everyone looks the same.....all using the same dialogue, the same contents in a variety of ways, thinking they have created something new and original, but when they are all out there they all look the same...variations on a theme is what it is, which is absolutely boring.
I have heard some coaches saying they just go onto IceNetwork.com and copy a footwork sequence to save time working one out. There is a lot more to footwork than rockers and counters....there are so many moves and tricky steps. The skaters should be able to do what they feel fits the music, without having to do a full length accumulation of typical turns, twizzles and hops.
Let's break the rules! What if everyone decides to demonstrate what they really feel; then what are the judges going to do? There are some really great skaters coming up with positions that look amazing so hopefully the skaters will be the innovaters not the imitaters!
