The International Skating Union tests a new judging format

A working group of the International Skating Union (ISU) will test a new judging format at the European Figure Skating Championships from January 23 to 29 in Finland.

It is envisaged that there will be two referee brigades, each with five people. However, the experiment will be conducted “in the shade”, i.e. parallel to the current system of refereeing. According to it, there is currently a technical panel of three people and a judging brigade of nine people at the major competitions.

The 2023 European Figure Skating Championships will be held from 25 to 29 January 2023 in Espoo, Finland. Medals will be awarded in the disciplines of men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.

In the summer of 2022, at the ISU Congress, the proposal of the Netherlands to have two panels, with judges evaluating only program components and the quality of performance in the other, was not accepted. The “shadow” format is expected to be tested at the World Junior Championships in Canada from February 27 to March 5 and at other tournaments.