Definition of Figure Skating Terms
Age-eligible
The term age-eligible refers to the age of a
skater that allows them to compete internationally
in specific event level.
A Junior-age-eligible skater is one currently
under the age of 19 (21 for the man in pairs and
ice dancing), whereas a Senior-age-eligible skater
is over the age of 16.
There is an overlap in age eligibility that allows
for some Senior-age-eligible skaters to compete at
Junior-level events, and vice versa.
Attitude
The Attitude position in figure skating is an
upright position that is derived from ballet. The
free leg position is lifted behind the body with the
knee bent at an angle and is held behind at a 90degree angle to the skating foot. This leg position is
often used for the Layback spin.
Arabesque
The move is performed while skating forward or
backwards on an outside, flat, or inside curve. The
free leg position is extended behind the body in a
straight line and elevated above the hip. This also
is the leg position used in the basic camel spin.
Axel Jump (Axel Paulsen Jump)
The only forward take off jump that is counted
as a jump element. An axel jump has an extra half
rotation (180 degrees), and as all jumps is landed
with the skater gliding backwards.
Back flip Jump
A backward somersaulting jump performed
with a tap to propel the skaters upwards to allow a
full revolution somersault landing backwards on
one foot. Performed only in exhibitions and shows
and banned in competition.
Besti Squat
The performance of a spread eagle with the
knees bent in a squatting position and the torso
held upright. It is named for Natalia Bestemianova.
Biellmann Spin
A catch-foot position where the free leg is
pulled above the head from behind. Can be either a
spin or a spiral position. By regulation, a spin
becomes a Biellmann at the moment the skate
passes over the level of the head. It is named after
Denise Biellmann, who popularized the position.
Boards
The vertical barrier surrounding the ice surface
that forms a physical part of the game of ice
hockey. Clear sheets of glass/plastic are attached
to the top of the solid barrier. In most practice
rinks a curtain of netting is attached to the clear
sheets of the barrier to protect spectators in the
stands.
In non-Olympic competitions, the ice barrier is
usually covered with advertisements for the
sponsors. At the Olympics, they are usually
covered by designs or the Olympic logo.
Bracket Turn
A one-foot turn with a change of edge that
results in a '}' shape traced on the ice.
Butterfly Jump
A flying spin with a two-foot takeoff. The
body goes almost parallel to the ice in the air, with
a scissoring leg motion.
Bye
Permission to compete in a higher level of
competition without having competed in the
requisite qualifying competition.
Cantilever
An inside spread eagle in which the skater
bends backwards at the knees at a 90-degree angle
creating a cantilever with the back parallel to the
ice. The hands can be extended to the side or in
the air or with the hands on the ice.
CD
A scoring abbreviation for the compulsory
dance in an ice dancing competition.
CD
Compact Disk is a computer disk containing
music or data.
COP
Abbreviation for Code of Points
Camel spin
A spin position during which the free leg is
extended in the air in an arabesque position
parallel to the ice.
Catch-foot
A spin or spiral position in which the free leg is
held by one or both hands. The most notable
catch-foot position is the Biellmann.
Centered
A spin that that stays in one spot on the ice.
The opposite of traveling.
Chasse
A step used in ice dancing and MITF that can
be a simple chasse, a crossed chasse, or a slide
chasse.
Check
Stopping the rotation of a jump or a spin.
Cherry-flip
Another name for the Toe-Loop jump.
Cheated
A jump that was not fully rotated in midair,
with either the first rotation starting on the ice or
the final rotation finishing after the landing.
Choctaw Turn
A two-foot turn with a change of edge that
results in a change of lobe.
Choke
To perform poorly under competition pressure.
Charlotte Spiral
A spiral position in which the torso is bent
down towards the skating leg, with the free leg held
in a 180 degree vertical split position. Also known
as a candlestick spiral.
Clean Program
A skating program with jumps fully rotated
without falls, hands on the ground in jumps and
spins, or illegal use of toe picks in edge jumps that
can all result in point deductions.
Code of Points
An informal name for the ISU Judging System.
Combination
Two or more elements (jumps, spin positions)
performed in succession.
stroke from the outside edge. The legs cross above
the knee.
The crossing foot should actually skate in front
so the motion is begun by the outside edge of the
free foot. The crossing action should be in the air
which is a cross step.
Crossed chasse
In ice dancing, a series of two edges across two
steps (such as inside and outside). On the second
step, the free foot crosses the skating foot and is
placed on the ice beside the skating foot.
Crossed step behind
In ice dancing, a step that is begun with the
free foot in the air. It is then crossed below the
knee to the opposite side of the skating foot, so
that the free foot touches down on the ice on the
outside edge of the skating foot. The leg is crossed
behind.
Crossed Step Forward
In ice dancing, a step that is begun with the
free foot in the air. It is then crossed below the
knee to the opposite side of the skating foot, so
that the free foot touches down on the ice on the
outside edge of the skating foot. The leg is crossed
in front.
Crossovers
Crossing one foot over the other as a way of
gaining speed and turning corners. Identical to
dance progressive except crossovers and not
limited to 3 strokes (steps).
Crouch
A two-foot skating move in which the skater's
legs are both bent at least a 90-degree angle.
Compulsory Dance
The first of the three programs in ice dance in
qualifying competitions. All teams perform the
same dance to the standard music.
Dance Jump
In ice dancing, a small jump used to change
foot or direction. The jump is performed by both
partners while in hold or while very close together.
The male skater cannot lift his arms above his
shoulders.
Compulsory Figures
Specific patterns traced in the ice by a skater's
blade. While originally a major part of a skating
competition, figures were removed entirely from
international competition in 1990.
Dance Spin
A spin performed in ice dancing by both
partners while in hold. It is similar to a pair spin.
Counter turn
A one-foot turn on the same edge but results in
a change of lobe with the rotation outside the
original lobe.
Death Spiral
An element in pair skating in which the woman
skates on a deep edge with her body close to the
ice and skates in a circle around the man, who is
in a low pivot position and holding her by the arm.
Cross stroke (Forward)
A stroke that is starts with a crossing motion of
the new skating foot’s outside edge that supplies
the initial power and the previous skating foot
extends backwards over the tracing to complete the
Discipline
A specialized form of skating governed by
unique rules established by the International
Skating Union (ISU). Currently, there are four
disciplines that compete at the winter Olympics -
men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice
dancing. Synchronized Team Skating has a world
championship, but is not an Olympic event.
FS
Double
A jump with two full rotations (720 degrees) in
the air (two and a half rotations for double Axel).
Fan Spiral
A spiral position in which the free leg is lifted,
held upwards in front of the body, and lowered, in
the style of an opening and closing Japanese fan.
The scoring abbreviation for the free skating in
a singles and pairs competition.
Draw
The process of determining the starting order
before the event. Can be either open (public) or
closed (private)
Figures
See compulsory figures.
Element
An identifiable component of a program.
Includes spins, spirals, jumps, footwork, lifts, etc.
An identifiable component of MITF tests.
Flight
A grouping of skaters at a competition who
warm up together immediately prior to competing.
The final flight of the free skating in single skating
is made up of the highest-scoring six skaters from
the short program.
Eligible
Skaters who earn money only from ISUapproved competitions and exhibitions. Only
eligible skaters may compete in the Olympic
Games.
Flip Jump
A toe-assisted figure skating jump that takes
off from the back inside edge.
Edge
Can refer either to part of the skate blade, or
the result of skating on that part. Can be either
inside (towards the body) or outside (away from the
body), and forward or backward, for a total for four
different edges. A "deep edge" is a deep lean on the
edge of the skate.
Edge Jump
A general term to refer to any of the three
jumps (waltz type, Loop, and Salchow) that take off
from an edge.
European Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship for skaters from
European countries.
Europeans
An informal name for the European Figure
Skating Championships.
Exhibition
A non-competition skating activity or a show.
Exhibitions often feature elements banned in
competition as well as spotlights and show
lighting. Also: the gala after a competition in which
the highest placing skaters perform a show
program.
Extension
The way a body part is held in a stretched
position.
Flood (v.)
An old fashion term referring to the processes
used to resurface the ice prior to the Zamboni iceresurfacing machine.
Flutz
The common term used when a "Lutz” jump
does not occur from the outside take-off edge, but
is changed to an inside edge, making it a flip jump.
Flying Spin
A jump that lands in a spinning position.
Commonly performed flying spins include flying
camel spins and flying sit spins.
Free Dance
The third and final program in a qualifying ice
dance competition.
Free Leg
The leg that is not on the ice.
Free Skating
Originally a term for the part of the skating
competition that was not compulsory figures. Now
the official name of the long program. Also: free
skate.
Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship for skaters from
countries that are not in Europe.
GP
An abbreviation for a Grand Prix event.
FD
A scoring abbreviation for the free dance event
in an ice dancing competition.
GPF
An abbreviation for the Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Final
GOE
An abbreviation for Grade Of Execution.
Gold Medalist
In addition to referring to the winner of a
particular figure skating competition, all skaters
who have passed the USFSA's highest-level skill
tests are called "gold medalists"; the latter usage is
especially common on coaches' resumes.
Grade Of Execution
A part of the ISU Judging System.
Grapevines
A type of figure performed on two feet.
Grand Prix
A series of six international invitational events
that build to the Grand Prix Final.
Haircutter
A catch-foot layback spin where the free leg is
brought up to head level, but not above. In some
cases, the head is dropped back and it appears
that the skate blade is in a position to cut the hair
of the skater performing the spin. This position is
often performed as a smooth transition between a
layback spin and a Biellmann spin.
Hollow
The groove in the middle of a blade between the
inside and outside edges.
Hop
A small jump that does not include a rotation.
IJS
An abbreviated term for the ISU Judging
System
ISU
An abbreviation for the International Skating
Union.
Ice Dancing
The skating discipline in which two skaters
perform a choreographed program of dance steps,
turns, spins, and lifts.
Ina Bauer
A two-footed move in which the skater skates
with the legs parallel, with one foot on a forward
edge and the other leg on a backward edge on a
different but parallel edge (i.e., inside or outside).
Ineligible
"Professional" skaters; skaters who receive
money from sources not approved by the ISU.
Inside Edge
The edge of a skate blade facing towards the
body.
I-Spin
An upright spin position in which the skater
pulls the free leg up in a split towards the front of
the body, creating an I position.
International Skating Union
The international governing body for ice skating
sports.
ISU Championship
A championship-level competition held by the
ISU. The four figure skating ISU Championships
are the World Figure Skating Championships, the
World Junior Figure Skating Championships, the
Four Continents Figure Skating Championships,
and the European Figure Skating Championships.
The synchronized skating ISU Championships is
the World Synchronized Skating Championships.
ISU Judging System
The judging system in which the elements
skaters perform (TES) and the way in which they
perform them (PCS) add up to a total score. The
highest score wins.
JGP
An abbreviation for the Junior Grand Prix.
Jackson Haines Spin
The original name for the sit spin.
Jump
A skating move where a skater pushes off the
ice, springing into the air, rotates, and typically
lands on one foot going backwards.
Jump combination
Two or more jumps performed one right after
the other, without intervening steps or turns.
Jump combinations most commonly involve the toe
loop or loop jump as the final jump, because they
start from the back outside edge, which is the
normal landing edge for all 6 jumps.
Jump Sequence
Two or more jumps connected by turns or
hops.
Junior Age Eligible
A skater who has reached the minimum age
and has not exceeded the maximum age defined by
the ISU for junior level competition.
Junior Grand Prix
A series of eight international events that build
to the Junior Grand Prix Final. It is the junior level
complement to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure
Skating.
Junior level
The level below Senior (Olympic) level
competition. International competitions for Juniors
include the ISU Junior Grand Prix and the World
Junior Figure Skating Championships.
Junior Olympics
A name for various different competitions in
different countries. In the United States, the Junior
Olympics referred to a competition held to
determine the national champions at the
Intermediate and Juvenile levels.
Junior Worlds
An informal name for the World Junior Figure
Skating Championships. Also: World Juniors.
Killian
A dance hold used in ice dancing.
Kiss and Cry
The area next to the rink at major competitions
where the skaters wait to get their results.
LP
An abbreviation for the long program.
Ladies
The official term for female competitors.
Landing Leg
The leg on which a skater lands a jump.
Opposite of free leg.
Layback Spin
A spin position in which the back is arched and
the shoulders and head lean backwards, the free
leg bent behind, and the arms often stretched to
the ceiling or arched overhead.
Leg Wrap
An air position in jumps where the free leg is
held at a right angle to the landing leg, crossing it
above the knee, so that it appears to be "wrapped"
around the other.
Most skaters keep their legs more vertical and
crossed at the ankles when they jump.
Level (judging)
The assigned difficulty of an element under the
ISU Judging System. The highest difficulty level is
Level 4.
Level (skating)
The division by competitive level of skill.
International ISU competitions currently take place
at the Novice, Junior, Senior, and Adult levels.
Lift
A pairs and ice dance element in which one
skater lifts his or her partner while rotating. Pair
lifts, unlike dance, go over the head. Some dancers
perform "reverse" lifts, in which the woman lifts the
man.
Lobe
A semicircle created on the ice
Long Program
An unofficial, but widely-used, name for the
second and longer of the two programs performed
by singles and pair skaters at a competition. The
time limit is 4.5 minutes for men's singles and
pairs and 4 minutes for ladies' singles at the senior
(Olympic) level.
Loop Jump
An edge jump that takes off from the back
outside edge.
Lunge
A skating move in which one leg is bent sharply
at the knee and the other is extended backwards in
a straight line with the boot or blade touching the
ice.
Lutz Jump
A toe-assisted jump with an entrance from a
back outside edge and landing on the back outside
edge of the opposite foot.
Mirror Skating
Two or more skaters skating in such a way that
they are mirroring each other. The opposite of
unison skating.
Mohawk Turn
A two foot turn on the same edge that
continues along the same lobe.
Nationals
A country's national championships, used to
decide their national champion. The highest-level
competition on the national level. See: List of
national championships in figure skating.
Novice level
A level of competition below Junior. Novice level
skaters compete in some international events, but
there are no Championship-level events for Novice
level skaters.
OD
A scoring abbreviation for the original dance in
an ice dancing competition.
Positional Jump
A jump for the purpose of displaying a position,
such as stag and split.
Open Stroke
A step that is started close to the skating foot
that doesn't cross in front or behind.
Presentation
The second set of scores in the old 6.0 judging
system, otherwise known as "Artistic Impression".
Ordinal
Under the 6.0 system, the skater's ranking
within the group of skaters by a specific judge.
Ordinals were what counted, not the specific
marks.
Professional
Skaters who are not eligible to compete in ISU
events. See: Ineligible.
Original Dance
The second program of an ice dance
competition.
Outside Edge
The edge of a skate blade facing away from the
body.
Overrotated
A jump in which the skater rotates past the
position for landing the jump in the air, or fails to
check the rotation on landing.
Pair Spin
A spin in which two skaters rotate around a
single axis while holding on to each other.
Pair Skating
The skating discipline where two skaters
perform overhead lifts, side-by-side spins and
jumps. Usually refers to a man and a woman
skating together. Two men or two women together
are called a similar pair.
Pancake Spin
A sit spin that has the leg tucked over the other
and the upper body is bent over the leg.
Personal Best
The highest score a skater has earned in
qualifying competitions ranked by the status of the
competition – regional, sectional, national,
international, worlds, and Olympics.
Pivot
A two-footed movement in which one foot is
flexed and the toe picks are inserted into the ice as
a pivot point, and the other foot travels around the
pivot point, such as the movement of a drafting
compass.
Popping (a jump)
When a jumps "opens up" in mid-air, resulting
in the skater performing fewer than the desired
rotations.
Program
Skating elements set to music performed by a
skater in a defined length of time. There are
usually two programs for pairs and single skaters
and three for ice dancers in ISU competitions.
Quad - See quadruple jump.
Quadruple Jump
A jump with four full rotations (1440 degrees)
in the air. The only quadruple jumps to have been
completed in competition are the Toe Loop and
Salchow by men, and just the Salchow for ladies.
In a quadruple Axel, the skater would have done
4.5 revolutions (1620 degrees).
Qualifying Round
A round of competition prior to the short
program or compulsory dance to determine which
skaters qualify to compete in the next part of the
event.
Rittberger
Another term for the Loop jump.
Rocker Turn
A one-foot turn on the same edge but results in
a change of lobe with the rotation inside the
original lobe.
Roll
A forward or backward edge that is either short
or long. Can be a swing roll or a cross roll.
Rotational Jump
A jump done for the purpose of rotating in the
air. All jumps which count as elements under the
ISU Judging System are rotational jumps.
Positional jumps count as transitions.
Russian Split
A split jump in which the skater performs a
straddle position with the legs and the body
forming a "v" shape. Many also touch their toes.
SP
The scoring abbreviation for the short program
in a singles or pairs competition.
SBS - See side by side.
Salchow Jump
An edge jump that takes off from the back
inside edge. The jump is named for Ulrich Salchow.
Sanction
Permission to hold a competition or show,
granted by the ISU or national governing body.
Eligible skaters may only compete in sanctioned
events.
School figures - See compulsory figures.
Scratch Spin
An upright spin in which the skater has the
free leg crossed over the ankle of the spinning leg.
Senior Age Eligible
A skater who has reached the minimum age
defined by the ISU for senior level competition.
Senior B
A senior-level international competition held
with an ISU sanction that is not a Grand Prix or
ISU Championship event. Senior B events include
the Nebelhorn Trophy.
Senior level
Olympic-level competition.
Shotgun Spin
An upright spin position in which the leg is
held upwards towards the front of the body, but
not all the way. The leg is held by the ankle or the
calf, not the blade.
Sit Spin
Spin performed in a shoot-the-duck position. A
spin position with the spinning leg bent at the knee
and the free leg extended forward.
Shoot-the-Duck
A skating position in which the skater travels
on one foot with the skating leg in a bent position
and the other leg held forward, parallel to the ice.
This is the basic position for a sit spin.
Short Program
The first and shorter of the two programs
performed by singles and pair skaters at a
competition. This program has certain required
elements that must be completed.
Side by Side
Pair skating elements such as spins and jumps
that are performed with the skaters next to each
other, as opposed to pair spins or throw jumps,
which are performed as a team.
Signature Move
A move that a skater is known for and
frequently performs, sometimes performed in a
unique or unusual way.
Similar Pair
A pair team made up of two men or two
women.
Simple Chasse
In ice dancing, a series of two edges across two
steps (such as inside and outside). On the second
step, the free foot is placed on the ice beside the
skating foot and is then lifted up parallel to the ice.
Single Jump
A jump with one full rotation (360 degrees) in
the air (one and a half rotations for a single axel)
Single (discipline)
The skating discipline where one skater
performs alone on the ice.
Slide Chasse
In ice dancing, a series of two edges across two
steps (such as inside and outside). On the second
step, the free foot is placed on the ice beside the
skating foot and then slides off the ice in the
direction the skater is skating.
Spin
A rotation upon the ice surface. Spins are
performed on the round part of the blade, just
behind the toe pick.
Spiral
An edge skated with the free leg extended at or
above hip level. Spirals are a required element for
ladies' and pairs competitions. A good spiral
depends on edge control and speed across the ice,
not necessarily leg position.
Split
A position in which the legs are parallel to each
other and extended in opposite directions on either
the horizontal or vertical axes.
Split Jump
A jump in the air in which a split is achieved,
rather than any specific rotation.
Spread eagle
An element performed with both feet on the ice,
the blades turned out with the heels pointing
towards each other. It can be performed on inside
edges or outside edges.
Stag Jump
A split jump in which the front leg is bent
under the body.
Step
In ice dancing, a one-foot tracing on the ice.
Toe pick
The teeth at the front of a skate blade that
assists a skater in jumps and spins.
Step-out
When a skater either under- or over-rotates a
jump so that he or she does not land cleanly and
must put the free leg down prematurely.
Toe step
In ice dancing, a step in which the skater
walks from one toe pick to the other.
Step Sequence
A series of footwork and field moves performed
during a program. Can be circular, straight line, or
serpentine in pattern.
Traveling
When a spinning skater moves across the ice
while spinning instead of centering the spin in one
spot.
Stroking
A way of moving across the ice and gaining
speed by using the edges of the blades.
Triple jump
A jump with three full rotations (1080 degrees)
in the air (3 and a half rotations for the triple axel)
Soldatova Rule
Unofficial name of the rule stating that a skater
must wait out a certain amount of time from
international competition when changing the
country they represent. The nickname refers to
Julia Soldatova.
Three turn
A one-foot turn with a change of edge that
results in a '3' shaped tracing on the ice.
Swizzle
A way of moving across the ice on two feet by
pushing the feet outwards from a 90 degree angle
V and then pulling them together again, forming
an oval on the ice. Also known as scissors, fishes,
or sculling.
Synchro
A common shortening for Synchronized
skating.
Synchronized skating
A discipline of ice skating in which groups of
figure skaters perform together as one unit.
'Tano Jump
An arm position variation in jumps made
famous by Brian Boitano (hence 'Tano) where one
arm is extended overhead instead of folded at the
chest during a jump. This increases the difficulty
of a jump.
Two-footed landing
The landing of a jump where both feet touch
the ice. A proper landing is on one foot.
Twizzle
A quick multirotational turn on one foot while
moving forwards or backwards.
Underrotated
A jump that does not complete the expected
number of rotations.
Unison in Skating
Two or more skaters performing the same steps
or elements at the same time.
Upright spin
The body is in an erect position. One of the
three main spin positions.
Vocal music
Music with people singing. This kind of music
is allowed in ice dancing competition, but not in
singles or pairs.
Throw jump
A pair element in which one skater throws the
other into the air, where she completes a normal
skating jump. Throw jumps usually have more
height and power than normal jumps because of
the extra help involved.
Warm-up group - See Flight.
Toe loop jump
A toe-assisted jump that takes off from the
back outside edge.
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship at the World-level in
which skaters who are Junior age eligible compete
for the title of World Junior Champion.
Toe jump
A general term to refer to any of the three
jumps that use a toe pick assist.
World Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship at the World-level in
which skaters compete for the title of World
Champion.
World Juniors
Informal name for the World Junior Figure
Skating Championships. Also: Junior Worlds.
Worlds
Informal name for the World Figure Skating
Championships
Y-spin
An upright spin position in which a skater
pulls the free leg up into a vertical split towards
the side of the body, creating a Y shape.
Y-spiral
A spiral position in which the free leg is held up
in a vertical split towards the side of the body,
creating a Y position.
Zayak Rule
A rule stating that skaters are only allowed to
perform a jump once in a program, twice if the
jump is in combination with another jump. This
rule applies only to triple jumps in senior level
competition. The rule is named after Elaine Zayak.