Starting Figures Class

When teaching edges to freestyle and adults, I always start with figures. For one thing, I think skaters should know just how hard it is. For another, the new USFS Moves tests have added figures at the Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Novice and Junior levels, including outside forward and backward eights, and loops. For another, there is no better way to help a skater understand body alignment.

Plus, I'm really good at figures, which is not something that can be said about most of my skating.

In the first few days, you should learn:
How to “lay out” your figure using the long and short axes.
The first 4 figures: Forward Outside, Forward Inside, Back Outside and 3s to the Center.

So here we go:
Imagine a long line down the ice. This is your Long Axis. All figures are laid out on a Long Axis (you know this from Delta and Pre Freestyle class, or from your Moves lessons). You always push perpendicular to (across) the Long Axis. We call this the Short Axis. It can also be used to mark your center (the middle of the figure). When you are just beginning figures, you can draw the long and short axes.

Now you’re ready to skate your circles! You’ll have a circle to your right and a circle to your left. You always start right in the middle where the two circles touch, facing the long axis.

The first four figures, plus a bonus.
Forward Outside 8: Two circles on forward outside edges. Each circle is completed from a single push. The “V” in the center is the two pushes- one to the right, one to the left. This figure has been added to the Preliminary Moves test (hooray!)

Forward Inside 8: Two circles on forward inside edges. Notice how the push changes.

Back Outside 8: Two circles on backward outside edges. Push changes again! Hey-how can you see where you’re going!? (hint-- you have to turn your head and look. Get those shoulders around, too!) This one is now in Pre-Juv Moves.

Threes to the Center: Forward Outside to Back inside edge. Place the 3-turn right on the long axis! Oh, and the push changes again-- now it's a "choctaw turn": change of edge, change of foot, change of direction. This is the easiest of the variations of the choctaw turn.

Bonus: Forward Right Outside-Inside Serpentine: You'll now have added a second circle to your right, touching the original circles (so, three in a row). Forward outside push off the original center. Without pushing again, change edge to inside at the new circle, and stay on the inside edge all the way around that third circle. When you get all the way around, back to the long axis (you've now traveled 1 1/2 circles on a single push), new push to the left inside edge, change edges at the original center, holding new left outside edge all the way around that circle until you reach your starting point.

Did I mention that in a test you do these on completely clean ice with no markers or guides, and you have to trace each figure perfectly twice (so, lay it out, trace it, trace it again). Oh, and the judge stands right there on the ice, watching every inch.

School Figures

Here's a study guide I wrote for beginning figures.

What is a school figure?
A figure is a set pattern of edges and turns based on full circles, and using every type of turn except, I believe, the mohawk. There are around 43 standard patterns and many variations. Figures are skated on 2 or 3 contiguous circles.

I’ve heard it called “Patch.” Why is that?
Because you skate it on a single patch of ice, approximately 6-9 times your height in length, by two to three times your height in width. (Beginners use a smaller circle.)

Who does figures?
Up to 20 years ago, all competitive skaters were required to pass up to 8 Figures tests (all 43 patterns mentioned above). Your free style level was determined not by which jumps you had mastered, but by which Figures tests you had passed. Most coaches born before 1985 or so have had at least some Figures background. US Figure Skating dropped the requirement in 1990. Now only a handful of rinks still teach this skill. If you watch Sarah Hughes' Gold Medal Olympic exhibition program, you'll see her start the program with a figure-- specifically, loops.

So why do it?
Figures help you with proper pushing, body alignment (posture and balance), edge control and clean, controlled turns. This will help you with your jumps, spins and footwork. A properly skated figure is two perfect circles, each one skated 3 times, one exactly on top of the others. Someone really good at it can trace it perfectly! It’s harder than it looks!