Figure Skating Turns |
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In figure skating a turn is a change in direction on the ice from forward to backward or backward to forward. |
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Some figure skating turns are completed on one foot and others are completed by a change of foot. Since there are eight "edges" in figure skating there are eight possibe variations for one foot turns and four for two foot turns. A turn may include a change of edge and/or a change of lobe.. |
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3-Turn |
A thee turn is usually the first turn that a figure skater learns. A three turn is completed on one foot. The ice skate blade makes the pattern of a "3" on the ice. Three turns are done from either an outside edge to an inside edge, or an inside edge to an outside edge. |
Bracket |
A bracket turn is completed on one foot. The tracing the ice skate blade makes on the ice after the turn is completed points outward. The body
rotation is counter to the natural direction of progress causing the
cusp to print outward from the center of the lobe curvature. The edge
before and after the turn is on the same lobe.
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Counter |
A counter is completed on one foot from a forward to backward or backward to forward edge. The move is completed on an inside to inside edge or an outside to outside edge. The rotation of the body in this turn is counter to the natural direction of the curve made by the edge, so the top of the turn points out.
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Rocker |
A rocker starts like a three turn, but unlike a three turn, the turn occurs from same edge to same edge. The turn continues on a different curve. The body rotation is in the
same direction as the natural progress causing the cusp to point
toward the center of curvature of the first lobe. |
Twizzles |
Twizzles are multirotational one-foot turns done in figure skating. Twizzles can be done in a row. It is very common to see a skater doing a twizzle in one direction and then to follow the first twizzle with a twizzle in the other direction. Usually skaters turn for at least four revolutions on a twizzle. |
Mohawk |
A mohawk is an ice skating turn that is done from same edge to same edge, from either forward to backward or backward to forward. The edges before and after the turn are on the same
lobe. |
Choctaw |
A Choctaw involves both a change of skating foot and a change in the
character of the edge (ie. BO to FI). The
edges before and after the turn are on different lobes having opposite
directional curvature. |