AI App Targets Bias in Figure Skating Judging
Figure skating judging is a problem. Scores depend on small details. Human judges can miss things. This isn’t news to athletes or coaches. Now, two computer scientists have built OOFSkate, an AI-powered app. They never skated. They didn’t need to. Their goal is simple: automate technical judging. The app watches jumps. It measures jump height, rotation speed, airtime, and landing accuracy. It works on any phone or tablet. No sensors. No special gear. Feedback is instant. Skaters see their mistakes right away. Coaches see them too. OOFSkate wants to remove subjectivity from technical scores.
Technical Accuracy Over Guesswork
Judging errors cost medals. Everyone knows this. Andrew Torgashev, an elite American skater, learned it firsthand. He tried a quad toe loop at a training camp. To the naked eye, he landed it. The app disagreed. Camera analysis showed his jump was a quarter-turn short. That’s enough to drop a skater off the podium. OOFSkate’s AI made the call in seconds. Judges can’t compete with that speed or precision. The app’s algorithms break down each jump. They check rotations. They measure height. They mark landing quality. The system pulls technical judging out of the guessing game.
Simple Hardware, Complex Analysis
OOFSkate doesn’t need expensive equipment. Any phone or tablet works. The app records a skater’s movement. It overlays data points on the video. The system maps ideal jump paths. It compares the skater’s real jump to the ideal. It checks for full rotations, correct blade edges, and spin speed. Coaches don’t have to rely on gut feeling. They see the numbers. The app makes technical feedback quick and clear. Athletes watch their practice session and get real stats. They see exactly where they lost points. That’s a game changer for training.
Separation of Art and Science
The creators don’t want to replace judges. Not for everything. OOFSkate targets the technical side. Computers measure physics. Humans judge artistry. That’s the split. The app automates what can be measured. It leaves interpretation to people. Technical panels use the same metrics: jump height, spin speed, blade edge. The app delivers those numbers with no bias. Coaches and judges get the facts. Skaters get the same data. This levels the field. There’s no hiding from the numbers. If a jump misses a rotation, the app sees it. If the landing is off, the app marks it.
Coaching Goes Digital
OOFSkate isn’t just for competitions. It works in practice sessions across the country. Coaches use it as a tool. They compare an athlete’s current performance to past jumps. They see progress in hard data. This helps plan training. Skaters adjust technique based on real feedback, not guesswork. The app gives teachers a way to measure improvement. It saves time. No more debating if a jump was complete. The numbers are on the screen. That changes how coaches prepare athletes for big events. It also cuts disputes over technical calls in half.
AI’s Direct Impact on the Sport
OOFSkate exposes what’s wrong with figure skating judging. Subjectivity costs athletes. Human error is constant. The app shows that AI can close the gap. It makes technical calls faster and more accurately than any judge. It gives skaters and coaches more control in training. The system is cheap and easy to use. No sensors. Just a phone. The next step is adoption at higher levels. If federations want fairness, they’ll have to let tech in. The old ways can’t keep up. OOFSkate isn’t about changing the sport. It’s about making the scores honest. The industry won’t ignore it for long.