COMPETITION
COMPULSORY DANCES: The two compulsory dances are each worth 10 percent of the total score in ice dancing. All skaters perform the same two selected dances that have prescribed rhythms and specific steps that must be done in an exact manner with exact placement on the ice. At some competitions, only one dance is competed, and then it is worth 20 percent of the total score.FREE DANCE: The free dance, which reflects 50 percent of a dance team's total score, is relatively unrestricted, and skaters select the mood and tempo as long as it is danceable. Skaters are allowed four minutes to display their full range of technical skills, interpretation and inventiveness.
FREE SKATE: The free skate counts for 66.7 percent of a skater's or team's final score in singles and pairs. It does not have required elements, so skaters select their own music and theme and choreograph the many difficult jumps, spins and footwork to best display their technical and artistic skills. The free skate (for senior level) has a length of four and one-half minutes for men and pairs and four minutes for ladies.
LONG PROGRAM: Slang term for the free skating portion of the singles and pairs competition.
ORIGINAL DANCE: The second competition phase in ice dancing that counts for 30 percent of the team's total score. Skaters are given a prescribed rhythm (such as the paso doble or rumba) with a defined tempo range and must create a completely original version of the dance. It has a time limit of two minutes.
SHORT PROGRAM: Official name for a two-minute, 40-second program in singles and pairs that consists of eight required elements and is set to music of the skater's choice. No more than eight required elements can be done. Failure to complete or to include any element is penalized in the scoring.
TECHNICAL PROGRAM: Former term for the short program.
EQUIPMENT
EDGES: The two sides of the skate blade on either side of the grooved center. There is an inside edge -- the edge on the inner side of the leg -- and an outside edge -- on the outer side of the leg. There is a forward and backward for each edge, equaling a total of four different edges.
JUDGING
ORDINAL: Each skater or team is given a score that is converted into an ordinal or "place." The skater or team that receives the highest marks from a judge is awarded the first-place mark or ordinal from that judge.
PRESENTATION MARK: The second of two marks awarded when judging the singles and pairs short program and free skate and the original and free dance. Judges consider the program's relationship to the music, the speed, utilization of the ice surface, carriage and style, originality and unison.
REQUIRED ELEMENTS MARK: The first mark given by the judges in the singles and pairs short program, evaluating how well each element is performed. There are defined deductions that are made due to errors skaters make when executing the required elements.
TECHNICAL MERIT MARK: The first of two marks awarded when judging the free skate (singles and pairs) and the free dance (ice dancing), which measures the difficulty of the performance, variety and clean lines.
TECHNIQUE MARK: The first of two marks awarded when judging the compulsory dance, based on the conformity of the dance steps, accuracy, style, form and carriage.
TIMING/EXPRESSION MARK: The second of two marks awarded when judging compulsory dances, based on the steps being to the beat of the music, correct timing and clear expression of the nature of the dance.
JUMPS
AXEL JUMP: One of the most difficult jumps, which 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. Named for its inventor, Axel Paulsen, it is easily recognizable as it is the only jump that takes off from a forward position.
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 take- off. 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.
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.
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.
THROW JUMP: A pair move in which the male partner assists the woman into the air. She then executes one, two or three revolutions and lands skating backward.
TOE LOOP: A toe pick-assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same back outside edge
LIFTS (PAIRS)
HAND-TO-HAND LIFT: A lift in which the man raises his partner, who is 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.
LIFTS: Pair moves in which the man lifts his partner above his head with arm(s) fully extended. Lifts consist of precise ascending, rotational and descending movements.
OVERHEAD LIFTS: The group of pair lifts 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.
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.
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.
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 pair 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 up to 2 1/2 turns. The man catches his partner and places her back on the ice.
MANEUVERS
CROSSOVERS: A method of gaining speed and turning corners in which skaters cross one foot over the other. There are both forward and backward crossovers.
FOOTWORK: A sequence of step maneuvers carrying the skater across the ice in patters, generally straight, circular or serpentine. Intended to show the precision and dexterity of the skater's movements.
SHADOW SKATING: Any movement in pair skating performed by both partners simultaneously while skating in close proximity.
SPIRAL: A move in which a skater demonstrates flexibility and a fluid line by extending their nonskating 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 outside edge.
STEP SEQUENCE: A sequence of steps that immediately follow one another, executed in time to the music and are choreographically related to each other.
STROKING: Fluid movement used to gain speed in which a skater pushes off back and forth from the inside edge of one skate to the inside edge of the other skate.
SPINS
CAMEL SPIN: A spin which is done on one leg with the nonskating leg, or free leg, extended in the air in a position parallel to the ice. The body remains in this "spiral" position while spinning.
COMBINATION SPIN: The combination of several spins where the skater changes feet and positions while maintaining speed throughout the entire spin.
DEATH SPIN: A pair 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.
LAYBACK SPIN: Generally performed by women, the layback spin involves an upright spin position where the head and shoulders are dropped backward and the back arches.
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 nonskating, or free, leg extended beside it.
Source: U.S. Figure Skating Association media guide.