“I see a loophole in the new rules that allows a skater to avoid performing their most problematic jump.” Rafael Arutyunyan criticized new figure skating rules that reduce the number of jumps in the free skate

Rafael Arutyunyan criticized new figure skating rules that reduce the number of jumps in the free skate, arguing they simplify the sport and harm its technical side.

original source: RT

Rafael Arutyunyan stated that reducing the number of jumps in the free skate makes figure skating more primitive. Here’s a translation of his comment.

On March 31, the requirements for singles elements for the 2026/27 season were published. In the free skate, the number of jump elements was reduced from 7 to 6: now there are four solo jumps and two combinations.

“I see a loophole in the new rules that allows a skater to avoid performing their most problematic jump. For example, the lutz or loop, which many really struggle with.

Each existing jump requires a specific entry and, accordingly, a certain level of skating skill—what is called ‘skating skills’ in the protocol.

If an athlete can’t jump from an outside edge, then by definition, their skating skills score shouldn’t be high. As a result, these rule changes hurt the technical side of figure skating and make it more primitive,” Arutyunyan said.

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