Skating glossary

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Axel jump: One of the most difficult jumps. It takes off from the forward outside edge and is landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. A single axel consists of 1 1/2 revolutions, a double is 2 1/2 revolutions, and a triple is 3 1/2 revolutions. The jump is named for its inventor, Axel Paulsen. It is easily recognizable as it is the only jump that takes off from a forward position.

Camel spin: A spin which is done on one leg with the non-skating leg, or free leg, extended in the air in a position parallel to the ice. The body remains in this "spiral" position while spinning.

Choctaw: A turn from forward to backward (or backward to forward) from one foot to the other in which the curve of the exit edge is in the opposite direction to the curve of the entry edge. The change of foot is from outside edge to inside edge or from inside edge to outside edge.

Combination spin: The combination of several spins where the skater changes feet and positions while maintaining speed throughout the entire spin.

Death spiral: A pairs move in which the man spins in a pivot position while holding one hand of his partner, who is spinning in a horizontal position with her body low and parallel to the ice.

Edge jump: A jump where the skater takes off from the entry edge of the skating foot without bringing the free foot in contact with the ice to assist the takeoff. The axel, loop and Salchow are common edge jumps.

Flip jump: A toe-pick assisted jump taken off from the back inside edge of one foot and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.

Footwork: A sequence of step maneuvers carrying the skater across the ice in patterns generally straight, circular or serpentine. Footwork is intended to show the precision and dexterity of the skater's movements.

Hand-to-hand loop lift: A lift in which the man raises his partner, who is in front of him and facing the same direction, above his head. She remains facing the same direction, in the sitting position with her hands behind her, while her partner supports her by the hands.

Hydrant lift: A lift in which the man throws his partner over his head while skating backward, rotates one-half turn and catches his partner facing him.

Layback spin: Generally performed by women, the layback spin involves an upright spin position where the head and shoulders are dropped backwards and the back arches.

Loop jump: An edge jump, taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the same back outside edge.

Lutz jump: A toe-pick assisted jump taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. The skater glides backward on a wide curve, taps his toe pick into the ice, and rotates in the opposite direction of the curve. The jump is named for its inventor, Alois Lutz.

Mohawk: A turn from forward to backward (or backward to forward), from one foot to the other, each edge forming parts of the same curve.

Platter lift: A lift in which the man raises his partner overhead with his hands resting on her hips. She is horizontal to the ice, facing the back of the man, in a platter position.

Rocker: A turn made on one foot from a forward to backward (or backward to forward) edge maintaining the same character, i.e., outside to inside or inside to outside.

Salchow: Another edge jump taken off from the back inside edge of one foot and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. Created by Ulrich Salchow.

Scratch spin: Also known as an upright spin. After entering from a controlled forward outside edge, the spin begins on a back inside edge. Gradual acceleration begins by moving and placing the free foot toward the top of the skating knee and drawing the arms close to the body. The spin exits into a backward outside edge.

Shadow skating: Any movement in pairs skating performed by both partners simultaneously while skating in close proximity.

Sit spin: A spin which is done in a "sitting" position. The body is low to the ice with the skating (spinning) knee bent and the non-skating, or "free" leg, extended beside it.

Spiral: A move in which a skater demonstrates flexibility and a fluid line by extending his or her non-skating leg behind them into the air during a long glide.

Spiral sequence: A sequence of steps which incorporates various spirals in a pattern across the ice. Spirals in a spiral sequence may be done going forward, backward, in a straight line or on a curve, or on an inside or an outside edge.

Star lift: A lift in which the man raises his partner by her hip, from his side into the air. She is in the scissor position, with either one hand touching his shoulder, or in a hands-free position.

Step sequence: A sequence of steps that immediately follow one another, executed in time to the music and are choreographically related to each other.

Swizzle: A method of two-foot progression, either forward or backward, by an in-and-out.

Throw jump: A pairs move in which the male partner assists the woman into the air; she then executes one, two, or three revolutions and lands skating backwards.

Toe loop: A toe-pick assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same back outside edge.

Toe overhead lift: A lift in which the man swings his partner from one side of his body, around behind his head and into a raised position. She is facing the same direction as the man in a split position.

Twist lifts: The group of pairs lifts where both partners begin skating backward and the man lifts his partner over his head and tosses her in the air. While airborne, she will rotate full or half rotations. The man catches his partner and places her back on the ice.

Twizzle:A traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations, which is quickly rotated with a continuous (uninterrupted) action. The weight remains on the skating foot with the free foot in any position during the turn, and then placed beside the skating foot to skate the next steps.

Waltz jump: A jump involving a half-turn in the air in which the skater takes off from a forward outside edge on one foot and lands on the backward outside edge of the other.

Source: U.S. Figure Skating