http://figureskate.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/patrick-ibens-interview/

This is a must-read for anyone interested in how the just finished Olympic skating was judged, as well as, how other competitions are scored. Much of this is rather eye-opening in regard to what the interviewed judge, Patrick Ibens, has to say.

Mary C.

thanks for the interview, it was really interesting to read.

thank you! very interesting interview

thanks mary

Thank you for posting the link! It was interesting to read. Also, it made me wondering if that judge was 100% truthful. I find it hard to believe in his honesty, especially since he admits that there are some skaters with whom he keeps in touch. Besides, I don't trust those who berate their own kind ('10% are honest, the rest are either being biased or unprofessional. I've been in the sport for 40 years and not a blemish on my cristal-clear reputation, bla-bla-bla...) The way he's trying to blacken everyone around him and make himself look like a saint is a bit suspicious, or is it just me?

Many judges keep in touch with skaters from around the world. It's not uncommon at all for the judges to do some traveling in the early months of the season to watch the skaters' new programs and offer suggestions. I mean, there's no better source for opinions than the people actually judging the stuff!

I asked him how many judges he thought had been COMPLETELY honest throughout the years that he's been involved, and he said 10% . He wasn't berating anyone specifically, but would you rather go straight to a source and get a fabricated answer, or an honest opinion? As you see from my response, I was even surprised the number was so low, but he is around the "action" for many of the big competitions, while none of us are.

Thanks a lot for this article which is interesting to read and that m' brought good answers.
Welcome on BJDG Tony and thank you for this interview.
Merci beaucoup pour cet article qui est intéressant à lire et qui m' a apporté des bonnes réponses .
Bienvenu sur le BJDG Tony et merci pour cet interview .

Thanks to Mary for linking to this very interesting interview!

Tony!

He says he is now going to give advice to skaters...maybe Brian shoud give him a ring!

But thanx Mary for this article. It really explained a lot!

I have to give an enormous "thank you" to Tony Wheeler for conducting, writing and putting this interview online. When I first saw it through a link at Golden Skate Forum I thought I'd hit the jackpot, lol. Stuff I'd always suspected was going on behind the scenes, really is! I'm so glad Tony had the guts to ask this kind of thing of that judge, and I agree completely that the best way to find this stuff out is to ask those who are involved in it on a regular basis.

What really surprised me was the part about a "second" email from Joe Inman. Good Lord, if the one that was outted was that revealing, what was the other one like? I'd still like to know who "outted" that email and why but that's off-topic, so I'll shut up on that point, lol.

Mary C.

Thank you for the link. It's really interesting. It opens eyes on what's going on during competitions. I totally agree with him about Daisuke.