The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

Information on this sport's history, Olympic history and events, and the sports terms and glossary has been provided by www.NBCOlympics.com and www.Olympics.com.

When people think of contemporary figure skating they envision the beauty of graceful balletic movements and the power of athletic jumps and spins performed to beautiful, moving music. These elements, coupled with flowing designer costumes and the distinctive swish of blades cutting ice as the athletes crisscross the arena in the heightened tension of competition, engender figure skating as we know it today.

The origins of skating, however, were much more banal. Early man, out of the necessity of traversing frozen bodies of water, developed makeshift skates by binding the rib bones of elk or reindeer antlers to their feet with leather straps as a means of transportation across these icy surfaces. Even today the Dutch word for skate is schenkel, which means leg bone. The oldest pair of skates were found at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland and have been determined to be over 4,000 years old. These skates now reside in a museum in Berne, Switzerland.

By the fourteenth century wooden skates had become popular. The Dutch used them in the 1600s to travel from village to village along their many miles of frozen canals, developing a simple method of pushing off from one icesk8-animated

skate and gliding onto the other, which has ever since been called the Dutch Roll. With the introduction of metal skates in the 1300s, skating was transformed from mainly a mode of transportation to an important form of winter recreation. People began skating for the enjoyment and entertainment of it. This led to the formation of the first skating club in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1642. To join the club an individual needed the ability to jump over a pile of three hats placed on the ice and skate on each foot in a circle. These were the first figures from which figure skating took its name.

Since then, dance, music and costumes have been combined with the exciting spins and the triple and quadruple jumps that we have come to expect from today's figure skaters; and while the Olympics no longer include the tracing of intricate figures on the ice as part of the judging (they were dropped from competition in 1990), they will always be remembered for giving this crowd-pleasing sport its name.

In the past, figure skaters were designated by one of two labels: professionals or amateurs. It was easy to divide these two groups — professionals got paid, amateurs did not. Amateurs were allowed to compete in the Olympics and professionals were not. Period.

However, over the years these labels have changed and the lines between them have blurred. The huge expense associated with becoming a figure skater (as much as $40,000 per year) forced officials to re-think their position on allowing amateur skaters to earn money while they are still training and competing. But even now they may only earn money at sanctioned events.

Therefore, skaters are now called either eligible or ineligible. Those considered eligible are still able to participate in the Olympic games, while those deemed ineligible cannot participate in the Olympics because they have chosen to participate in an unsanctioned show, tour or competition. An unsanctioned event is one that has not received the blessing of the athletes' governing body for figure skating in their home country.

So why would a skater purposely participate in an unsanctioned event, thereby choosing an ineligible status? There are several reasons:

Figure Skating was the first winter sport to be added to the Olympics. It was introduced at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, England. The first separate Winter Olympics was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, the event was initially called International Winter Sports Week. It was an 11-day event including figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey, nordic skiing and bobsledding. The event turned out to be a huge success and was retroactively called the first Olympic Winter Games.

Olympic figure skating competition is broken down into four events: ladies' singles, men's singles, pairs and ice dancing. For singles and pairs competition the athletes are judged in two phases of competition. The first phase is the Short Program, also called the Technical Program. In the Short Program the athlete is judged on how well he or she executes a series of compulsory jumps, spins and footwork. For pairs, the couple is also judged on how well the pair performs together. The judges look for things like exact timing and simultaneous movements of the pair. This segment comprises 33.3% of the final score.

The second phase of competition for singles and pairs is the Long Program, otherwise known as the Artistic Program or Free Skate. The Long Program focuses less on the jumps, although they still count, and concentrates more on the overall artistic impression or mood the skaters create on the ice. The Long Program counts as 66.7% of the final score.

In the ice dancing event there is a male and female skater competing together, like there is in the pairs. However, in ice dancing there are three phases of competition: two Compulsory Dances, worth 10% each, where the competitors cannot deviate from a given dance style and compulsory set of moves; one Original Dance worth 30% which follows prescribed rhythms but allow the skaters to choose their own steps and music; and one Free Dance where the athletes can freely express themselves through their choice of dance styles, music and steps, which is worth 50% of their final score.

This year's Olympics will include 30 ladies' and men's singles competitors, 20 pairs competitors and 24 teams in the ice dance category. Athletes must have reached 15 years of age by July 1, 2001, to be eligible to compete in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

CHECK THE OLYMPICS SCHEDULE FOR DATES AND TIMES OF PAIRS, MEN´S AND WOMEN´S SHORT AND LONG PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE ICE DANCING EVENTS

The following link will take you to the schedule page for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, where you can view Olympic schedules by date, by individual sport or by sports venue:

The following link will take you to the television schedule for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games:

Name: Todd Eldredge, DOB: 8/28/71, Hometown: Chatham, Mass., Notes: Won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Timothy Goebel, DOB: 9/10/80, Hometown: Rolling Meadows, Ill., Notes: Finished fourth at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Michael Weiss, DOB: 8/2/76, Hometown: Fairfax, Va., Notes: Won the silver medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games

Name: Evgeni Plushenko (Russia), DOB: 11/3/82, Hometown: Solnechni, Russia, Notes: Won the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Alexei Yagudin (Russia), DOB: 3/18/80, Hometown: St. Petersburg, Russia, Notes: Won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Takeshi Honda (Japan), DOB: 3/23/81, Hometown: Koriyama, Japan, Notes: Finished fifth at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Michelle Kwan, DOB: 7/7/80, Hometown: Lake Arrowhead, Calif., Notes: Won the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Sarah Hughes, DOB: 5/2/85, Hometown: Great Neck, N.Y., Notes: Won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Sasha Cohen, DOB: 10/26/84, Hometown: Laguna Niguel, Calif., Notes: Finished second at the 2000 U.S. Championships

Name: Irina Slutskaya (Russia), DOB: 2/9/79, Hometown: Moscow, Russia, Notes: Won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Maria Butyrskaya (Russia), DOB: 6/28/72, Hometown: Moscow, Russia, Notes: Finished fourth at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Viktoria Volchkova (Russia), DOB: 7/30/82, Hometown: Moscow, Russia, Notes: Finished sixth at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Kyoko Ina / John Zimmerman, DOB: 10/11/72 / 11/26/73, Hometown: Guttenberg, N.J./ Birmingham, Ala., Notes: Finished seventh at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Tiffany Scott / Philip Dulebohn, DOB: 5/1/77 / 9/13/73, Hometown: Hanson, Mass./ Germantown, Md., Notes: Finished 11th at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Jamie Sale/David Pelletier (Canada), DOB: 4/21/77 / 11/22/74, Hometown: Red Deer, Alb./Lachine, Que., Notes: Won the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Elena Berezhnaya/Anton Sikharulidze (Russia), DOB: 10/11/77 / 10/5/76, Hometown: Nevinnomissk, Russia/St. Petersburg, Russia, Notes: Won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Xue Shen/Hongbo Zhao (China), DOB: 11/13/78 / 9/22/73, Hometown: Harbin, China/Harbin, China, Notes: Won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Naomi Lang / Peter Tchernyshev, DOB: 12/18/78 / 2/6/71, Hometown: Allegan, Mich./ St. Petersburg, Russia, Notes: Finished ninth at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Beata Handra / Charles Sinek, DOB: 1/3/77 / 12/28/68, Hometown: San Rafael, Calif./ Lexington, Mass., Notes: Finished 4th at the 2001, 2000 and 1999 U.S. Championships

Name: Barbara Fusar Poli/Maurizio Margaglio (Italy), DOB: 2/6/72 / 11/16/74, Hometown: Sesto San Giovanni, Italy/Milan, Italy, Notes: Won the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat (France), DOB: 8/30/75 / 4/21/72, Hometown: Lyon, France/Lyon, France, Notes: Won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships

Name: Irina Lobacheva/Illia Averbukh (Russia), DOB: 2/18/73 / 12/18/73, Hometown: Moscow, Russia/Moscow, Russia, Notes: Won the bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships

Who can do it (by age groups)?

Equipment Required

Muscles used most

Physical attributes required

Common injuries

Calories burned per hour (estimate for range of 110-200 lbs)

Activities to help get/stay in shape

All ages, suitable for youth

Ice skates that fit well

Snug-fitting clothes

Thin socks

Water for hydrating

Legs

Trunk

Cardiovascular endurance

Flexibility

Balance

Strength

Sprains

Bruises

Cuts

Scrapes

Recreational:
250-810

Competitive:
450-1080

Off Season:

Walking

Hiking

Running

Circuit/weight training

In Season:

Warm-up exercises with strength training on off days, cool down

So now that you've watched all the Olympic figure skaters on television, you're inspired to get out there and try it yourself. You want to feel the rush of air past your face as you glide across the ice. You want to feel the exhilaration of flying through the air as you perform an impressive triple axel. You want to feel the dizzying speed of a perfectly executed sit spin. Well, good for you – that's great!

Skating is a terrific form of exercise and can be a lot of fun all year long – whether you do it alone, with your family or with a group of friends. Skating is also something you can do at any age. Everyone from toddlers to seniors can gain enjoyment and health benefits from ice skating. Ice skating helps to build endurance and increase flexibility, but it is very low impact. It can be either anaerobic or aerobic depending on the intensity and length of time of your skating.

There are many ways that skaters get in shape to compete at the Olympics. Besides the many hours spent on the ice perfecting their jumps, spins and footwork, these athletes must also work on their flexibility, strength training and aerobic and muscular endurance.

For flexibility, all skaters use a stretching regimen. This not only allows the complex moves a skater must perform, but prevents injuries. Strength training and muscular endurance can be done with weight machines, free weights or the individuals own body weight. Aerobic endurance is probably the most important type of condition- ing, since it is easy for figure skaters to perform a single triple jump but they must have the aerobic endurance to last through an entire four minute long program. Skaters often do jogging or long distance running, step aerobics or jump roping to help with their aerobic conditioning.

Watching Olympic athletes often motivates people to want to try their hand at a new sport or reclaim a sport from the past. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports encourages participation in a wide variety of activities, including the sports of the Winter Olympics, to enhance health and fitness. Since there are risks involved with sports, before starting to ice skate, particularly outdoors, be sure to consult these links which offer basic information about getting in shape and protecting yourself from cold-related stress and illness:

In winter it is beautiful to ice skate in the great outdoors on an area frozen pond or lake. However, remember

First-time skaters should wear comfortable clothing — nothing too tight or too baggy. Keep in mind that the temperature inside the rink will typically be between 50 and 60 degrees, so a warm-up jacket, sweater or light jacket is suggested. You should also consider bringing a basic pair of wool or acrylic gloves to keep your hands warm and protected should you fall. Other safety equipment can include a helmet as well as wrist, knee, elbow and hip pads or guards.

Wear thin socks — not thick athletic socks. Thinner socks will allow your skates to fit more snugly and prevent blisters. Thick socks allow more movement of the foot, which causes blisters.

Wearing the right clothing is extremely important when participating in cold weather sports. Remember to dress in layers. You can remove layers when you get warmed up by skating, and put them back on when you're resting and hydrating. Pay special attention to protecting feet, hands, face and head. Up to 40 percent of body heat can be lost when the head is exposed. Protect your feet against cold and dampness.

For those interested in learning to ice skate, you can get started for a minimal amount of money (usually around $10 - $15). All you need is a good pair of skates and a place to ice skate. It's best to call your local rink to find out their prices for skating and rental ice skates, and the times of their public sessions.

If you want to start figure skating seriously, you will probably want to buy your own skates rather than rent skates at the rink. It's VERY important to be sure to purchase a pair of skates that fit. Poor fitting skates can discourage you from continuing.

You should know that skate sizes frequently do not match shoe sizes, so be sure to take your time and make sure your rentals fit. Your heel should be snug against the back of the ice skate, and you should have just enough room at the front to wiggle your toes up and down slightly. When you lace your skates, do not wrap any excess lace around your ankle — this can cause the laces to slip. Lace the boots tightly (but not so tight as to constrict circulation), then lace the extra length back down the hooks, which is what most figure skaters do. icesk8-skateboot

The following elements all play a big part in choosing competition-quality skates. If you are just starting out or are merely buying a pair of skates to occasionally take to the local rink, then you can be less stringent on the quality of skates you get.

Once you get your skates and become reasonably proficient at basic ice skating, you can begin to learn the "good stuff" — figure skating techniques. You'll be anxious to learn to do the spins and jumps that you see figure skaters doing in the Olympics. These moves require learning the techniques and a lot of practice. The best way to learn them is to take lessons at an ice rink in your area, or find a coach to instruct you.

The most important thing to remember about spinning is speed, the number of rotations, center and control. Your goal is to get as many rotations as possible in your spin, because fast spins with many rotations show skill and mastery. There are a wide variety of spins. The following are the basic spins that you see in competi- tions like the Olympics:

The Scratch Spin (also called the Blur Spin, the Upright Spin or the Corkscrew Spin); the Layback Spin, the Camel Spin (with variations like the Flying Camel, the Catch Foot Camel or the Hamill Camel — named for Dorothy Hamill); and the Sit Spin.

Most people watch figure skating to see the athletes do their breathtaking jumps. However, it is often difficult to tell the difference between jumps because the differences are very subtle. Even the judges sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between the different jumps. The main differences come in which foot and which edge of the blade is used for take-off. If you learn the techniques and differences for each of the following six jumps, you will be ready for the Olympics in no time:

The Toe Loop (or Toe Jump) is the easiest of the jumps. Animated Skating Figure

The Lutz is one of the most difficult jumps because the skater is leaning in opposite directions mid-air on the take-off and landing. The Salchow is named after Swedish figure skater Ulrich Salchow. The Flip looks like the athlete's skates are flipping in the air. The Loop requires more use of the thigh muscle to lift the skater. The Axel, named for Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen, is the most difficult of all the jumps — it is also the only one that takes-off from the forward position.

It is important to remember that a good jump must have a clean landing — this means that the free leg must not touch the ice upon landing. If the foot touches, then the landing is called a "two-foot" landing or an "unclean" landing.

Whether you live in a big city or in a rural area there is usually a place to go ice skating nearby. Opportunities to skate can be quite varied. Year round you can go to a local ice rink in your town if you want an indoor venue with music to skate to and the availability of individual or group lessons. Many recreation centers or sports centers offer ice skating too. You could even join a local ice skating club. Across the nation there are also many summer ice skating camps for youth, which can be a great way for kids to learn to skate while enjoying the social aspects of a summer camp. With the popularity of ice skating these days, many ski resorts now offer either indoor or outdoor ice rinks for those who want some winter activity but don't want to be limited to skiing.

Axel jump. Named for its Norwegian inventor, Axel Paulsen, the Axel jump is easily recognized: It is the only jump that takes off from a forward position. Skaters launch into the air from their forward outside edge and land on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.

Artistic mark. A component of judging in the short programs of singles and pairs, the artistic mark is based on the performance to the music, ice coverage and general flow.

Blade. Modern figure skate blades are curved slightly. Only the bottom quarter-inch of a blade is made from time-tempered steel to maintain a sharp edge. The "sweet spot" of the blade is below the ball of the foot.

Boot. Olympic figure skaters wear boots that are custom-made for each foot and heavily reinforced with thick, stiff leather interiors and extra ankle bracing.

Boot tongue. Olympic figure skaters wear boots that are custom-made for each foot and heavily reinforced with thick, stiff leather interiors and extra ankle bracing.

Camel spin. A spin on one leg with the non-skating or free leg extended parallel to the ice and the upper body pitched forward, arm extended.

Combination. Two skills performed with one immediately after the other are said to be done in "combination." In a combination jump, for example, the skater must not turn or change feet between jumps, i.e., the second jump must take off from the same foot that the first jump landed on.

Combination spin. A sequence in which the skater changes feet and/or positions while maintaining speed throughout a continuous spin.

Composition mark. The first of two marks awarded in the original dance. Judges consider the program's use of the ice surface, originality, difficulty and sureness.

Compulsory dances. The two compulsory dances are each worth 10 percent of the team's total score in ice dancing. All skaters perform the same two selected dances to the same music. The dances have prescribed rhythms and specific steps that must be done in an exact manner. Teams receive one technique mark and one timing/expression mark for each dance.

Costume. Figure skaters create outfits that match the style of their programs and the mood of their music. Costumes should complement a performance and not be a distraction. Ladies must wear a skirt and men must wear full-length trousers. Accessories and props are not permitted in Olympic figure skating.

Crossover. A method of gaining speed in which skaters cross one foot over the other. There are forward and backward crossovers.

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

Draw. The starting order for each event in a figure skating competition is determined by a lottery or "draw." Either the referee or chair of the competition conducts the process in the presence of other judges (closed draw) or in an open setting where the athletes actually draw a number from a pouch (open draw).

Edge jump. A jump in which the skater takes off from his or her skating foot without bringing the free foot in contact with the ice to assist the takeoff is referred to as an "edge jump." The Axel, Loop and Salchow are common edge jumps.

Edges. Skate blades are ground concave; only the two outer "edges" of the bottom of the blade contact the ice. On a skater's left foot, the right side of the blade is the inside edge and the left is the outside edge — vice versa on the right foot.

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

Flying sit spin. A jump spin in which the skater leaps off the ice, assumes the sitting position at the peak of the jump, and lands in a similar sitting position on the same or other foot.

Free dance. The free dance, which counts for 50 percent of an ice dance team's total score, is relatively unrestricted. Skaters select the mood and tempo of their music and are allowed four minutes to display a full range of technical skills and inventiveness using choreography of their own design. Teams receive one technical merit mark and one presentation mark.

Free skate. The free skate counts for 66.7 percent of a skater or team's final score in the singles and pairs competitions, and is skated second (following the short program). Unlike in the short program, there are no required elements. Skaters select their music and craft their choreography to best display their technical and artistic skills. The free skate is limited to four and a half minutes for men and pairs, and four minutes for ladies.

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. While airborne, she remains facing the same direction in the sitting position with her hands behind her, while her partner supports her by the hands.

Heel. Skating boots originally were street boots, and heels always have been part of the aesthetic. Different figure skaters prefer different heel heights — ice dancers often wear high heels, which push their body weight forward onto the balls of their feet for deeper edges and better control of quick steps and changes of direction.

Hollow. The groove down the middle of the bottom of a figure skate blade. Finely ground edges on either side of the hollow provide control and speed. The depth of the hollow varies depending on the skater's event, weight and style.

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

International Skate Union. The International Skate Union (ISU) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as figure skating's official governing body. The ISU makes the rules, trains and certifies judges, and determines how international figure skating competitions, including the Olympics, are run.

Layback spin. Generally performed by women, the layback spin is a variant of the upright spin. The skater arranges her arms in a circle in front of her body, arches her back, and looks toward the ceiling while spinning.

Long program. Slang for the free skating portion of the singles and pairs competitions.

Loop jump. An edge jump launched from a back outside edge and landed on the same back outside edge.

Lutz jump. A toe-pick assisted jump launched 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, Austria's Alois Lutz.

Line. A skater's carriage and position relative to the ice is referred to as his or her "line." The term also is used in ballet and dance.

Marks. Judges award marks to each skater/pair ranging from 0 to 6 based on the following scale:

0 = Not skated
1 = Very poor
2 = Poor
3 = Mediocre
4 = Good
5 = Very good
6 = Perfect

Tenths represent gradations of opinion (i.e., a 4.5 is between good and excellent).

Mirror skating. Opposite movements performed by pairs skaters in close proximity to one another.

Original dance. The original dance is worth 30 percent of the team's total score in ice dancing and is competed following the compulsory dances. Skaters are given a prescribed rhythm (such as the Paso Doble or Rhumba) with a defined tempo range and must create a completely original version of the dance. The original dance has a time limit of two minutes. Teams receive one composition mark and one presentation mark.

Overhead lifts. A pairs lift in which one or both of the man's arms are fully extended as he holds his partner overhead. The man does not let go of his partner during the lift, except momentarily during changes in her position or during the dismount. Ascending, rotational and descending movements should be precise.

Platter lift. A lift in which the man raises his partner overhead with his hands resting on her hips and she extends her body horizontal to the ice in a position that resembles a waiter holding a platter.

Presentation mark. The second of two marks awarded in the singles and pairs short program and free skate, and the original and free dance. Judges consider the program's conformity to the music and the skaters' variation of speed, use of the ice surface and space, carriage and style, originality and expression.

Referee. Referees have full authority over all aspects of an event. It is the referee's responsibility to ensure that all rules are observed, that a high standard of judging is maintained, and that all technical aspects of the competition are satisfactory.

Required elements mark. The first of two marks awarded in the singles and pairs short program (the presentation mark is the second). Judges evaluate skaters' execution of eight required skills.

Salchow. An edge jump launched off the back inside edge of one foot and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. Named for its originator, Ulrich Salchow, who won 10 World Championships titles from 1901 to 1911.

Scratch spin. One of the most basic of all spins, the scratch spin is one of the hardest to do correctly. It consists of the skater standing up straight over the left leg while spinning on an inside edge. The right leg is extended in front of the body with the thigh raised high, and the arms are up and out to the side. Bringing in the free leg and arms accelerates the spin.

Shadow skating: Identical movements performed by pairs skaters in close proximity to one another.

Short program. The short program counts for 33.3 percent of a skater or team's final score in singles and pairs, and is skated first (ahead of the free skate). The short program is 2 minutes, 40 seconds long and comprises eight standard ("required") elements performed by all competitors.

Sit spin. A spin in a sitting position — low to the ice with the skating (spinning) leg bent at the knee and the non-skating or "free" leg extended.

Spins. Skills in which skaters rotate around their vertical axes while maintaining contact with the ice with one or both skates.

Spiral. A move in which skaters demonstrate flexibility and a fluid line by extending the non-skating leg behind them into the air during a long glide.

Star lift. A lift in which the man raises his partner by her hip from his side into the air and she assumes a scissors position with one hand touching his shoulder or in a hands-free position.

Starting order. The result of the draw, the starting order lists the sequence in which skaters will compete and the groups they will warm up with prior to competition.

Step sequence. A sequence of steps that immediately follow one another, executed in time to the music.

Technical merit mark. The first of two marks awarded in the singles and pairs free skate and the free dance (the presentation mark is the second). Judges evaluate the program's difficulty, variety, sureness and speed.

Technique mark. The first of two marks awarded in the compulsory dance in ice dancing (the timing/expression mark is the second). Judges evaluate the dance steps' placement and conformity to appropriate diagrams and descriptions, the couple's movement in unison, body positions, style, and sureness.

Timing/expression mark. The second of two marks awarded in the compulsory dance in ice dancing (the technique mark is the first). Judges evaluate the timing of the skaters' steps in relation to the music and the clarity of the expression of the nature of the dance.

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 faces the same direction as the man in a split position.

Toe picks. Teeth cut into the toe of the blade are used for pushing off in jumps and as the pivot point during spins.

Twist lift. A pairs lift in which the man lifts his lady partner over his head and tosses her in the air, where she rotates up to two and a half revolutions and then is caught and placed back on the ice.

Upright spin. Executed forward or backward, the basic upright position consists of an erect posture and free foot held next to the skating foot with the side of the toe touching the calf of the skating leg.

Waltz jump. Skaters launch into the air from their forward outside edge and complete a one-half rotation. Basically half an Axel, the waltz is rarely performed in competition.