Definition of Figure Skating Terms

Definition of Figure Skating Terms

Definition of Figure Skating Terms
Age-eligible 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 The term age-eligible refers to the age of a skater that allows them to compete internationally in specific event level. stands.
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.
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.
There is an overlap in age eligibility that allows for some Senior-age-eligible skaters to compete at Bracket Turn
Junior-level events, and vice versa.
A one-foot turn with a change of edge that results in a '}' shape traced on the ice.
Attitude
The Attitude position in figure skating is an Butterfly Jump 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. Bye
A flying spin with a two-foot takeoff. The body goes almost parallel to the ice in the air, with a scissoring leg motion.
Permission to compete in a higher level of Arabesque competition without having competed in the The move is performed while skating forward or requisite qualifying competition. backwards on an outside, flat, or inside curve. The free leg position is extended behind the body in a Cantilever straight line and elevated above the hip. This also is the leg position used in the basic camel spin.
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.
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 CD with the skater gliding backwards.
A scoring abbreviation for the compulsory dance in an ice dancing competition.
Back flip Jump
A backward somersaulting jump performed CD with a tap to propel the skaters upwards to allow a full revolution somersault landing backwards on music or data. one foot. Performed only in exhibitions and shows and banned in competition. COP
Compact Disk is a computer disk containing Abbreviation for Code of Points
Besti Squat
The performance of a spread eagle with the Camel spin knees bent in a squatting position and the torso held upright. It is named for Natalia Bestemianova.
A spin position during which the free leg is extended in the air in an arabesque position parallel to the ice.
Biellmann Spin
A catch-foot position where the free leg is Catch-foot 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. Centered
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.
A spin that that stays in one spot on the ice.
Boards The opposite of traveling.
The vertical barrier surrounding the ice surface that forms a physical part of the game of ice Chasse hockey. Clear sheets of glass/plastic are attached
A step used in ice dancing and MITF that can be a simple chasse, a crossed chasse, or a slide stroke from the outside edge. The legs cross above chasse. the knee.
The crossing foot should actually skate in front
Check 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.
Stopping the rotation of a jump or a spin.
Cherry-flip
Another name for the Toe-Loop jump. Crossed chasse
In ice dancing, a series of two edges across two
Cheated 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.
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.
Crossed step behind
A two-foot turn with a change of edge that results in a change of lobe.
Choctaw Turn 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 Choke outside edge of the skating foot. The leg is crossed To perform poorly under competition pressure. behind.
Charlotte Spiral Crossed Step Forward
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.
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 Clean Program in front.
A skating program with jumps fully rotated without falls, hands on the ground in jumps and Crossovers spins, or illegal use of toe picks in edge jumps that can all result in point deductions.
Crossing one foot over the other as a way of gaining speed and turning corners. Identical to dance progressive except crossovers and not
Code of Points limited to 3 strokes (steps).
An informal name for the ISU Judging System.
Crouch
Two or more elements (jumps, spin positions) performed in succession.
Combination A two-foot skating move in which the skater's legs are both bent at least a 90-degree angle.
Dance Jump
Compulsory Dance 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.
The first of the three programs in ice dance in qualifying competitions. All teams perform the same dance to the standard music.
Compulsory Figures
Specific patterns traced in the ice by a skater's Dance Spin blade. While originally a major part of a skating competition, figures were removed entirely from international competition in 1990.
A spin performed in ice dancing by both partners while in hold. It is similar to a pair spin.
Death Spiral
Counter turn 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 original lobe. in a low pivot position and holding her by the arm.
A one-foot turn on the same edge but results in a change of lobe with the rotation outside the Cross stroke (Forward) Discipline
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 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 FS dancing. Synchronized Team Skating has a world championship, but is not an Olympic event.
The scoring abbreviation for the free skating in a singles and pairs competition.
Double Fan Spiral
A jump with two full rotations (720 degrees) in the air (two and a half rotations for double Axel).
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.
Draw
The process of determining the starting order Figures before the event. Can be either open (public) or See compulsory figures. closed (private)
Flight
Element 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.
An identifiable component of a program.
Includes spins, spirals, jumps, footwork, lifts, etc.
An identifiable component of MITF tests.
Eligible
Skaters who earn money only from ISU- Flip Jump approved competitions and exhibitions. Only eligible skaters may compete in the Olympic
Games.
A toe-assisted figure skating jump that takes off from the back inside edge.
Flood (v.)
Edge An old fashion term referring to the processes used to resurface the ice prior to the Zamboni iceCan refer either to part of the skate blade, or the result of skating on that part. Can be either resurfacing machine. inside (towards the body) or outside (away from the body), and forward or backward, for a total for four Flutz different edges. A "deep edge" is a deep lean on the edge of the skate.
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.
Edge Jump
A general term to refer to any of the three Flying Spin jumps (waltz type, Loop, and Salchow) that take off A jump that lands in a spinning position. from an edge. Commonly performed flying spins include flying camel spins and flying sit spins.
European Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship for skaters from Free Dance
European countries. The third and final program in a qualifying ice dance competition.
Europeans
An informal name for the European Figure Free Leg
Skating Championships. The leg that is not on the ice.
Exhibition Free Skating
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 skate. the highest placing skaters perform a show 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 program. Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
An ISU Championship for skaters from
Extension countries that are not in Europe.
The way a body part is held in a stretched position. GP
An abbreviation for a Grand Prix event.
FD
A scoring abbreviation for the free dance event GPF in an ice dancing competition.
An abbreviation for the Grand Prix of Figure
Skating Final An abbreviation for Grade Of Execution.
GOE Inside Edge
The edge of a skate blade facing towards the body.
Gold Medalist
In addition to referring to the winner of a I-Spin
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.
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
Grade Of Execution The international governing body for ice skating A part of the ISU Judging System. sports.
Grapevines ISU Championship
A type of figure performed on two feet.
A championship-level competition held by the ISU. The four figure skating ISU Championships
Grand Prix are the World Figure Skating Championships, the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and the European Figure Skating Championships.
Haircutter The synchronized skating ISU Championships is the World Synchronized Skating Championships.
A series of six international invitational events that build to the Grand Prix Final.
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 ISU Judging System 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. highest score wins.
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 Hollow JGP
The groove in the middle of a blade between the inside and outside edges.
An abbreviation for the Junior Grand Prix.
Jackson Haines Spin
Hop The original name for the sit spin.
A small jump that does not include a rotation.
Jump
IJS A skating move where a skater pushes off the ice, springing into the air, rotates, and typically
System lands on one foot going backwards.
An abbreviated term for the ISU Judging
ISU Jump combination
An abbreviation for the International Skating
Two or more jumps performed one right after
Union. the other, without intervening steps or turns.
Jump combinations most commonly involve the toe
Ice Dancing 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.
The skating discipline in which two skaters perform a choreographed program of dance steps, turns, spins, and lifts.
Jump Sequence
Ina Bauer Two or more jumps connected by turns or A two-footed move in which the skater skates hops. with the legs parallel, with one foot on a forward edge and the other leg on a backward edge on a Junior Age Eligible different but parallel edge (i.e., inside or outside).
A skater who has reached the minimum age and has not exceeded the maximum age defined by
Ineligible the ISU for junior level competition.
"Professional" skaters; skaters who receive money from sources not approved by the ISU. Junior Grand Prix Level (skating)
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.
The division by competitive level of skill.
International ISU competitions currently take place at the Novice, Junior, Senior, and Adult levels.
Lift
Junior level 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 The level below Senior (Olympic) level competition. International competitions for Juniors include the ISU Junior Grand Prix and the World
Junior Figure Skating Championships. man.
Junior Olympics Lobe
A name for various different competitions in different countries. In the United States, the Junior
Olympics referred to a competition held to Long Program determine the national champions at the Intermediate and Juvenile levels.
A semicircle created on the ice
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 Junior Worlds time limit is 4.5 minutes for men's singles and pairs and 4 minutes for ladies' singles at the senior
An informal name for the World Junior Figure
Skating Championships. Also: World Juniors. (Olympic) level.
Killian Loop Jump
A dance hold used in ice dancing.
An edge jump that takes off from the back outside edge.
Kiss and Cry
The area next to the rink at major competitions Lunge where the skaters wait to get their results.
A skating move in which one leg is bent sharply at the knee and the other is extended backwards in
LP a straight line with the boot or blade touching the An abbreviation for the long program. ice.
Ladies Lutz Jump
The official term for female competitors.
A toe-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside
Landing Leg edge of the opposite foot.
The leg on which a skater lands a jump.
Opposite of free leg. Mirror Skating
Two or more skaters skating in such a way that
Layback Spin they are mirroring each other. The opposite of A spin position in which the back is arched and unison skating. the shoulders and head lean backwards, the free leg bent behind, and the arms often stretched to Mohawk Turn the ceiling or arched overhead.
A two foot turn on the same edge that continues along the same lobe.
Leg Wrap
An air position in jumps where the free leg is Nationals held at a right angle to the landing leg, crossing it above the knee, so that it appears to be "wrapped" Most skaters keep their legs more vertical and crossed at the ankles when they jump.
A country's national championships, used to decide their national champion. The highest-level around the other. competition on the national level. See: List of national championships in figure skating.
Novice level
Level (judging) A level of competition below Junior. Novice level skaters compete in some international events, but there are no Championship-level events for Novice The assigned difficulty of an element under the ISU Judging System. The highest difficulty level is
Level 4. level skaters. OD Positional Jump
A scoring abbreviation for the original dance in an ice dancing competition.
A jump for the purpose of displaying a position, such as stag and split.
Open Stroke Presentation
A step that is started close to the skating foot that doesn't cross in front or behind.
The second set of scores in the old 6.0 judging system, otherwise known as "Artistic Impression".
Ordinal Professional
Under the 6.0 system, the skater's ranking within the group of skaters by a specific judge. events. See: Ineligible.
Ordinals were what counted, not the specific Skaters who are not eligible to compete in ISU marks. Program
Skating elements set to music performed by a Original Dance skater in a defined length of time. There are usually two programs for pairs and single skaters competition. and three for ice dancers in ISU competitions.
The second program of an ice dance Outside Edge Quad - See quadruple jump.
The edge of a skate blade facing away from the body. Quadruple Jump
A jump with four full rotations (1440 degrees)
Overrotated 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).
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 Qualifying Round single axis while holding on to each other.
A round of competition prior to the short program or compulsory dance to determine which