FIGURE SKATING

   

   -         blends athletic and artistic skills, requires stamina and imagination

   -         posture for good balance: chin up, body upright, knees slightly bent

   -         move by stroking (pushing forward one foot, gliding)

   -         stop: snowplough, T stop, hockey stop (turn feet sideways)

   -         jumps: distinguished by take-off (forw or backw)

   -                      Axel – for

   -                      salchov – back

   -                      lutz – back

   -                      loop (Rittberger)

   -         spins: centred on a single spot – upright, sti, camel

   -         toe picks

   

   COMPETITIONS

   1.      Individual Skating

   -         a short program (technical) – 1/3 of the score, 8 tech. Elements (jumps, spins,
   footwork sequence) – 2min 40sec

   -         a long program (free skate) tech. And art. Elements, 4 and 4 30sec., no required
   elements

   -         jumps and spins judged on: speed, height, position, difficulty, marks 0.0 – 6.0;
   deduction for falls, omission, touch

   

   2.      Pairs skating

   -         incorporates overhead lifts and throw jumps

   -         death spiral – man as a pivot, swings the woman around

   -         judged on tech. dif., artistic merit, timing

   

   3.      Ice dancing

   -         developed from ballroom dancing

   -         three parts: compulsories (two dances selected by ISU), original dance (own
   choreography to given music) – 30%, free dance – 50% of the score

   

   4.      Precision skating

   -         team skaters, from 16 to 24 members in unison and precise formations

   -         not yet in the Olympics but official since 1994

   -         short program – 5 required elements: straightline, wheel, intersecting maneuver,
   circle, block; 2 40sec., marks for composition and  presentation

   -         long program – 3 changes of rhythm and speed, 4 30sec.

   -         Accuracy, synchronized arm position, orderly formation, spacing, speed

   -         Originality, intricacy, synchronicity!!