We are constantly being told in the programme that the "skate off" is based PURELY ON THAT PERFORMANCE

So why then was Nicky (and no I am not his number one fan) the only "honest" person on Sunday when Greg got voted out.

Greg did a faultless performance - Zaarah made errors, yet all but Nicky put Zaarah through for having the more potential - that isn't basing your choice on the "skate off" now is it

I agree with you 100%. Last week Nicky was the only one who honestly voted on the preformance. greg was amazing in the skate offs, i was shocked and delighted

The week before Linda did an almost prefect element while Zaraah did not even attempt to do one yet they voted her through. I mean if it is a required element and it is missing then how can it be better???

The skate offs are a means of the judges keeping their favorites in rather than the best dancer/skater

Didn't Tim get voted off because he couldn't do the element? Why is it different for Zaraah?

Now you mention it poor Tim did get voted off for not managing the required element and it was actually mentioned by the judges that was the reason he had to go ... definately not one rule for all then is it

Im not complaining. Id rather have Zaraah in than Greg any day!

I think, and this is just a guess, that it who would score more highly, so Zarrah with errors is still better than Greg. I think the week Tim was voted out the required element was the thing in the judges mind that seperated him and Steve.

Last year in the Champion of Champions Bonnie still scored higher than Stefan, Duncan and Gaynor despite falling because the fall was the only error and had she not it would have been straight sixes

This is why giving the judges the choice of the bottom 2 is always so predictable - with most of the skate offs we know which of the skaters they prefer, and invariably that one will go through - and what's more - so do the skaters.

I remember in series 1 when Kelly had to skate off against Bonnie (props week - Kelly chair vs Bonnie feather boa) you could see from her face that she knew it was a waste of time setting foot on the ice again, and indeed, she didn't even try the difficult move at the end of her routine.
It wouldn't have been so bad, but that week she had got a more difficult prop to use and skated well with it, whereas Bonnie had (as usual back then) spent her routine being carried around by Matt.

If its supposed to be on the skate off only, it should be on the skate off only with everything else forgotten, potential or past performance shouldn't come into it.

Lets face it, the judges had made it so clear for several weeks that they hated Greg, so all Zaraah had to do on Sun was get through her routine without falling over to get through - Greg was going regardless!

Which is why he said as much to Phil before they even went to get judged in the skate-off.

I think I found that the saddest thing of all. Frankly, I actually enjoyed Greg's performance on Sunday - and was disappointed by Zaraah's - which had been good the first time she skated it.

But Greg can still be proud that he came 5th and almost reached the semis. Despite the judges (most particularly Jason), who obviously wanted him out from day one!

They're obviously not judging impartially. They definitely have their favourites. But that's the way it has always been and it happens in other shows of a similar ilk. I doubt that changing the judging panel would help, either as it's terribly difficult to remain impartial when you're seeing the same people week after week. You obviously do start to like some people's performances/personalities better than others. It's human nature. And the judges are nothing if not human! (Although I'm not sure about Jason ... )

As I have stated elsewhere I think the skate off is a farce
and, as proved by last week, the judges do not vote BASED SOLELY ON THE SKATE OFF.

For ONCE Greg was better than Zaraaaah in the S.O. but she won the vote 4-1.Lets abolish the skate off and leave it to the public.

They voted for Zaraah over Greg because her skate had more content that was off a higher standard. Although she made mistakes in their eyes therefore she was still of a better quality. Greg performed with no mistakes but of a lower standard of skating, lifts and skills.

Zaraah is a better skater and should have gone through BUT since the judges are supposed to vote based on skate off performance, it should have been Greg voted through.

Only one judge said anything about content, & it wasn't about skating, lifts, or skills; it was about her use of props.

What skating can Zaraah do better then Greg? Certainly not jumps. Being lifted isn't skating. Props aren't skating. She had a good spin, maybe she's better there, but it wasn't in that routine.

Imo:[list=1][*]The judges should have to explain their decisions & not just who they think is better but also why. (Nicky & Jason did that; the others didn't.)[*]The skate-off should be a 2nd chance, not a last chance. They should stop pretending the result is based solely on that performance, since it isn't, and be upfront about whatever else is included.[/list]

Her skate didn't have more content, she hardly let go of Fred for the entire routein. She did a few seconds solo skating that was wobbly and had to stand still to use her prop then she dropped it and lost her timing ... sorry thats a low standard in a lot of peoples eyes hence why she was in the skate off to begin with :sleep: