Figure Skating Terminology: A Beginner's Guide to Common Skating Terms
Figure Skating Terms 101: A Beginner’s Guide for Adult Skaters
Welcome to our beginner’s guide to skating terminology – a friendly figure skating glossary for adult skaters! Starting to figure skate as an adult is exciting, but all the new lingo can feel like learning a foreign language. Don’t worry – we’ve got you. In this guide, we’ll break down common figure skating terms by category (jumps, spins, footwork, and competition levels) and explain them in plain English. By mastering this skating terminology, you’ll feel more comfortable communicating with coaches and fellow skaters, boosting your confidence on and off the ice. Remember, every skating veteran was once a beginner fumbling with the lingo, so you’re in good company. Let’s dive in and get you talking like a skater!
Diagram: An illustration sequence of a skater performing an Axel jump – one of the most famous figure skating jumps. Learning the names of jumps, spins, and moves helps you follow along in lessons and skating conversations.
Jumps (Leaps Into the Air)
Jumps are those thrilling leaps where a skater launches off the ice, rotates in the air, and lands on one foot. All figure skating jumps land on a backward outside edge of one skate, but they differ in how you take off. Here are the most common jump terms you’ll hear:
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Waltz Jump: Often the very first jump learned by beginners. It’s a half-rotation jump (about 180° rotation) where you take off from a forward outside edge and land backward on the opposite foot
. Coaches love starting with the waltz jump to build confidence. Usage: Your coach might say, “Try a waltz jump from a standstill” – now you’ll know it’s a simple half-turn jump meant to ease you into jumping. -
Toe Loop: The simplest of the full rotation jumps. You take off from a backward outside edge with help from your toe pick (hence “toe” loop), and make one full turn in the air before landing on the back outside edge of your other foot
. It’s often the first full revolution jump you’ll learn. Usage: “Let’s add a toe loop after your waltz jump.” – a coach might introduce combo jumps this way once you’ve got the basics. -
Salchow (Sal-kow): An edge jump taking off from a backward inside edge (usually of the left foot) and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. It’s usually the next jump after the toe loop in the learning progression. The Salchow is named after its inventor, Ulrich Salchow. Usage: “Prepare from a backward edge and spring into that Salchow.” – you’ll hear this when you start learning to take off from an edge without using the toe pick.
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Loop: An edge jump where you take off from a backward outside edge and land on the same outside edge (same foot)
. Think of jumping up from one foot and landing back on that foot after a full turn. It feels like a tight circle in the air (hence the name loop). Usage: “Keep your free leg close on the loop jump so you can land back on the same foot.” – coaches will remind you to stay tight in the air. -
Flip: A toe-assisted jump that takes off from a backward inside edge of one foot with a toe pick jab from the other foot. It’s like a toe loop’s big sibling – a bit more complex because of the inside edge takeoff. You’ll land on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. Usage: “Remember to check your inside edge before the flip.” – a common tip so you don’t accidentally take off from the wrong edge.
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Lutz: A challenging toe jump that takes off from a backward outside edge with a toe pick assist, and lands on the back outside edge of the other foot
. The key is an outside edge entry (away from the instep); new skaters often accidentally rock to the inside – known as a “flutz” when that happens. Usage: “Hold that outside edge long on your Lutz entry.” – you might hear this as you tackle this jump named after Alois Lutz. -
Axel: The legendary jump most adults have heard of – Axel is the only common jump that begins with a forward takeoff
. You jump off a forward outside edge and make 1½ rotations in the air for a single Axel (because of the forward takeoff, it ends up adding an extra half turn) . It’s often the last single jump you’ll learn and a huge milestone for any skater. Usage: “She just landed her Axel!” – landing an Axel is a big deal worth celebrating in any skating conversation.
Fun fact: Jumps are often categorized as toe jumps (if you use the toe pick to vault, like the toe loop, flip, and Lutz) vs. edge jumps (taking off purely from the edge, like the Salchow, loop, and Axel)
. If you’re watching skating, you can impress friends by noting whether the skater used a toe pick or not on takeoff. And don’t be surprised if your coach frequently reminds you to bend your knees – that’s crucial for jumping (so much so that we even put it on a t-shirt!). Learning these jump names will help you share the excitement when you or your rink-mates nail a new jump – you’ll be shouting “Holy Salchow!” along with the best of them.
Spins (Spinning in Place)
Spins are the dazzling moves where a skater rotates in place, centered over one point on the ice. In a spin, you balance on the sweet spot of the blade (near the ball of your foot) and can strike various body positions while rotating. Mastering spin terminology will help you understand your coach’s instructions during practice. Here are common spin terms:
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Two-Foot Spin: The beginner’s introduction to spinning – you start rotating with both feet on the ice. It’s a stepping stone to get the feeling of spinning before trying it one-footed. Usage: “Get comfortable with a two-foot spin, then slowly lift one foot off.” – a common approach in early lessons.
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One-Foot Spin (Scratch Spin): The basic upright spin done on one foot. As you get better, you’ll pull your arms and free leg in tight to spin faster, like a pencil – that classic scratch spin look
. Usage: “Find your center on the one-foot spin.” – your coach will emphasize balance so you don’t travel across the ice while spinning. -
Sit Spin: A spin performed in a sitting position – one leg bent deeply as if sitting on an invisible chair, the other leg extended forward. The skater’s backside is low to the ice while spinning
. Usage: “Lower into your sit spin – really bend that skating knee!” – a typical reminder to achieve the proper sit spin posture. -
Camel Spin: A spin done in an arabesque position – one leg glides on the ice while the free leg is extended straight behind, parallel to the ice (like the shape of a camel with the free leg as the camel’s “hump”)
. This looks like a horizontal line and requires good balance. Usage: “Keep your free leg up in that camel spin.” – all about maintaining that flat horizontal position. -
Backspin: A spin on the opposite foot and direction than your usual one-foot spin. For instance, if you normally spin on your left foot, a backspin would be on your right foot, spinning the other way. It’s an important skill for learning jump landings (since jumps land backward). Usage: “Practice your backspin to help with your Axel landing.” – because the Axel lands similarly to a backspin position.
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Combination Spin: When a skater changes body position (and sometimes foot) during one spin. For example, starting in a camel spin then dropping into a sit spin without stopping the rotation. Combo spins show off versatility. Usage: “Our program has a combo spin – camel to sit to upright.” – skaters will discuss which positions they connect in one spin.
Spins can have many variations and fancy names (like the Biellmann spin, where the skater pulls the free blade over their head – a move requiring extreme flexibility
). As a beginner, focus on the basic positions first. Coaches might say things like “check your arms” or “find your center” – which means to center your weight so you don’t wobble. It takes time to get used to the dizzy sensation, but with practice, you’ll be able to spin faster and longer. Plus, knowing the lingo means when someone gushes about your “great camel spin,” you’ll know it’s a compliment on your form, not about any animals at the rink!
Footwork & Moves (Edges, Turns, and Glides)
Footwork refers to steps and turns that skaters perform to move across the ice with flow and agility. These may not be as flashy as jumps or spins, but they are the glue connecting everything in a skating program – and coaches will talk a lot about them in lessons. Moves in the field (sometimes called field moves) are beautiful gliding elements that show edge control, like spirals and spread eagles. Let’s decode common terms in this category:
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Edges (Inside & Outside): A fundamental concept – each blade has two edges. An inside edge is the inner side of the blade (inner side of your foot), and an outside edge is the outer side (pinky-toe side)
. Skating on an edge means you’re leaning to one side so only that edge cuts the ice. Usage: “Push onto a deep outside edge.” – you’ll hear this to help you lean and create those nice curves on the ice. Everything in skating (turns, spins, jumps) relies on mastering your edges. -
Forward & Backward: Skating forward means facing the direction you’re moving; backward means skating with your back in the direction of travel. Seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning because coaches will specify “do this forward” or “do this backward” for many skills. Usage: “Try backward skating across the rink.” – you’ll work on gaining comfort going backward early on.
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Crossovers: A method for gaining speed on curves by crossing one foot over the other in a stepping pattern. You can do forward crossovers and backward crossovers. Crossovers are essential for building speed and are used to navigate corners of the rink
. Usage: “Do some clockwise crossovers to get your speed up.” – a typical instruction during practice or public sessions when you want to go faster in a circle. -
Three-Turn: A one-foot turn that changes your direction and edge in one move. You start on a forward edge and turn to glide out backward on the opposite edge (or vice versa), tracing a “③” shaped curve on the ice – hence the name three-turn. This is often the first real one-foot turn you’ll learn. Usage: “Let’s work on your forward outside three-turn.” – coaches break it down by entry edge and direction. Mastering three-turns leads to better turns and entries into spins and jumps later.
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Mohawk: A two-footed turn where you step from one foot to the other to switch direction (forward to backward or backward to forward) on the same edge. For example, a forward inside Mohawk means you step from a forward inside edge on one foot to a backward inside edge on the other foot. Mohawks are common in beginner footwork and used in many routines. Usage: “Use a Mohawk to change direction.” – you might hear this in a sequence where a smooth turn is needed without changing your body’s face too much.
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Spread Eagle: A majestic move where you glide on both feet with toes pointed in opposite directions (heels almost touching). Both feet are on outside edges (or inside edges for the less-common variation) as you travel in a straight or curved line
. Think of a classic wide open-legs glide – like a ballet first position on ice. Usage: “He did a huge outside spread eagle.” – you’ll hear skaters admire this when someone glides effortlessly in that wide stance. -
Ina Bauer: A beautiful two-foot glide similar to a spread eagle, but with one foot on a forward edge and the other on a backward edge, feet spaced apart. One knee is deeply bent and the other leg extended straight, creating a graceful arching pose
. (If you’ve seen the movie Frozen, think of the pose Anna does on the ice – that’s an Ina Bauer.) Usage: “Her program opens with an Ina Bauer.” – often highlighted as a dramatic, flexible move in exhibitions and programs. -
Spiral: A classic figure skating move where the skater glides on one foot and lifts the free leg high (usually behind them) in the air, ideally above hip level. This looks like an arabesque and shows off balance and flexibility. Spirals can be done forward or backward, on inside or outside edges. Usage: “Hold your spiral longer down the length of the rink.” – coaches encourage developing strong spirals for grace and extension.
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Shoot-the-Duck: A deep knee-bend move where a skater glides on one foot in a crouching position, with the skating knee bent all the way down and the other leg stuck out straight in front (like you’re shooting a toy duck in a carnival game). It’s a fun move that really tests your leg strength and balance. Usage: “Can you do a shoot-the-duck? It’s a great party trick on ice!” – skaters challenge each other for fun with this classic move.
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Swizzles (Sculling): A beginner move to get you moving. With heels together, you push your feet outwards then pull them back together, making an oval shape on the ice
. Swizzles can be done forward or backward and help newbies learn to use their edges to move. Usage: “Let’s do some forward swizzles across the rink.” – in adult learn-to-skate classes, this is one of the first exercises. -
Stops (Snowplow & Hockey Stop): Learning to stop is as important as going! A snowplow stop is when you push out on both feet (toes pointed in, like a wedge) to scrape the ice and slow down – like a plow pushing snow. A hockey stop is the dramatic skid to a stop by turning both feet sideways (usually one foot leading, the other just behind) and digging the edges in, spraying up ice shavings. Usage: “Practice a snowplow stop to slow down safely,” or “Once you’re comfortable, we’ll try a hockey stop like the hockey players do.” – coaches will ensure you can halt confidently on the ice.
As you get more comfortable, you’ll combine these steps into footwork sequences (also called step sequences) which string together many turns and edges. Not only do these moves look impressive, they also improve your skating quality. You’ll start hearing and using phrases like “change edge,” “deep knee bend,” or “quick transition” when discussing footwork. By knowing terms like three-turn and Mohawk, you can follow your instructor’s directions in class without confusion. Plus, understanding the difference between an inside vs. outside edge will help you decode feedback (for example, “try that on an inside edge” won’t leave you guessing). Essentially, this section of the skating glossary covers the ABCs of skating movement – the better you know them, the easier everything else becomes.
(And yes, every skater takes a misstep now and then – falling is part of the game. When it happens, just remember one of our favorite mottos: “But Did You Die?” 😉 Brush it off and try again, because every fall is a learning step in disguise!)
Levels & Competition Terms (Skating Levels Explained)
Figure skating has a whole hierarchy of levels and competition formats. As an adult beginner, you might hear other skaters talk about their “Pre-Bronze test” or someone aiming for “Adult Nationals,” and wonder what it all means. This section of the glossary will clarify those terms so you can nod along confidently and set goals for yourself if you’re the competitive type.
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Learn to Skate (Basic Skills Levels): Many adult beginners start in a Learn to Skate USA program. Adults have their own Basic levels usually called Adult 1 through Adult 6, roughly equivalent to the kids’ Basic 1-6 curriculum
. These classes teach foundational skills (forward skating, stops, edges, simple turns, etc.). Graduating from Adult 1–6 or Basic Skills sets you up to begin more advanced freestyle training. Usage: “I just passed Adult 4 in Learn to Skate – Adult 5, here I come!” – a common milestone for new skaters. -
Standard Test Levels (Pre-Preliminary through Senior): In U.S. Figure Skating, the traditional track for youth (which adults can also choose) goes Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior. Senior is the highest level (think Olympic-level). These levels are achieved by passing skills tests in Moves in the Field and Free Skate. While adults can work through these, there is also a separate adult track (below). Usage: “She’s working on her Juvenile Moves test.” – means she’s mid-level in the standard test hierarchy.
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Adult Test Levels (Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Masters): Adult skaters have an alternate track with names that feel more approachable. The levels in increasing order are typically Adult Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, with Masters levels beyond Gold for elite adult skaters. Each corresponds to certain test requirements and allowed elements. For example, Adult Bronze freestyles include simpler jumps (often no Axel), Adult Silver may include an Axel, and Adult Gold can include even more advanced elements. Passing the test at each level lets you compete at that level. Usage: “I’m an Adult Bronze skater.” – indicates you passed Adult Bronze tests and likely compete at that level.
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Competitions – Nationals, Sectionals, Worlds: Adult skaters can compete too! Locally, there are adult competitions for all levels (even those still in Adult 1-6 can do beginner events). The big goal for many is Adult Nationals, the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships held annually, where adult skaters from Bronze up through Masters compete for national titles. To get there, skaters often first compete at Adult Sectionals (regional qualifying events). In the standard track (non-adult), you’ll hear about Regionals (for juvenile–novice) and Sectionals or Championships for junior and senior leading to the U.S. Nationals, and elite skaters aim for the World Championships and Olympics. Usage: “Are you going to Adult Nationals this year?” – a question you might excitedly discuss with fellow adult skaters as a long-term goal.
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Programs – Short Program vs Free Skate: In competition lingo, a program is the routine a skater performs. Higher levels (and all international events) have two programs: a Short Program (a shorter routine with required elements) and a Free Skate (also called “long program,” a longer routine with more freedom to showcase skills). Adult competitive tracks sometimes only require one free skate program, especially at lower levels. Usage: “I’m choreographing my Bronze free skate.” – meaning the skater is putting together their competition routine for their level. Or if you’re watching the Olympics, you’ll hear commentators talk about the short program vs free skate scores.
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Ice Dance & Pairs (if applicable): While you might be focused on singles skating, it’s good to know ice dance is a discipline involving intricate footwork and rhythm (no jumps), and pairs skating involves two people performing lifts, throw jumps, and synchronized spins. Adults can participate in these too. The terminology for dance (like twizzles, a traveling spin on two feet, or the names of pattern dances like the Cha-Cha) and pairs (like death spiral or throw jump) could fill their own glossary, but you’ll encounter them if you branch out or watch others. Usage: “We’re learning a Bronze dance pattern.” – an adult ice dance duo might say this about practicing a specific dance.
As a newcomer, it might feel like everyone around you is speaking gibberish about levels and competitions. But over time, terms like “Prelim,” “Adult Silver,” “Sectionals,” etc., will become part of your vocabulary too. Knowing the structure can actually motivate you – you might set a goal like “Pass Adult Bronze by next year” or “Skate in Adult Nationals in a couple of years.” And even if you’re not competitive, understanding these terms helps when you’re chatting with other skaters about their skating journey. After all, figure skating is a community, and being able to share in the conversation (whether it’s celebrating a passed test or understanding the event someone is prepping for) makes you feel included. U.S. Figure Skating emphasizes that the adult skating program has a place for everyone, “regardless of age or level,” with opportunities from local events all the way to international adult competitions
. How cool is that?
Bringing It All Together: Talk Like a Skater!
By now, you’ve learned a skating glossary of key terms that will help you navigate the rink both physically and socially. To recap a few examples: you’ll know that a Lutz is a type of jump (so you won’t confuse it with a spin), a Mohawk is a turn (not an edgy hairstyle – though you might see some of those at the rink too!), and Adult Silver is a competition level (so when someone says they compete at Adult Silver, you’ll have an idea of their skill range).
Mastering the lingo has real benefits: you’ll feel more comfortable asking questions and understanding your coach’s instructions during lessons, and you can confidently chat with fellow skaters without feeling lost. The adult skating community is incredibly welcoming, and having the terms down is like holding the key to a secret club – the sooner you unlock it, the sooner you feel fully at home on the ice.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to use these terms in your practice. Say them out loud or in your head as you do them – “inside edge… now three-turn… crossover…” – it actually helps reinforce muscle memory and timing. And celebrate each new term you put into action: the first time you correctly identify someone’s camel spin or successfully do a Mohawk, give yourself a high-five (or treat yourself to that cute skating tee you’ve been eyeing)!
Finally, keep the learning spirit alive. This glossary covered the basics, but there’s always more to explore as you advance – from learning what an “Ina Bauer” really feels like, to decoding the mystique of the scoring system, to picking up fun slang used by skaters worldwide. Every term you learn is another thread weaving you into the fabric of the skating community. Before you know it, you’ll be the one explaining to a newbie the difference between a toe loop and a loop. 😊
Encouragement: You’ve got this! At Adults Skate Too, we believe skating is for everyone, and that includes speaking the language of the ice. Keep this guide handy as you practice, and pretty soon, you’ll be surprising yourself with how fluent you’ve become in skating terminology. Now go enjoy your time on the ice – glide, jump, spin, and most importantly, have fun knowing you’re truly an insider in this wonderful sport. And if you ever need a refresher or some extra tips (or even just a cool skating-themed hoodie or accessory for inspiration), you know where to find us. 😉 Happy skating!
Optional Resources & Next Steps: If you’re eager for more, check out our other blog posts and resources. For example, our guide on finding the right coach as an adult skater offers tips to build a great coach-student relationship (now that you’re armed with the vocabulary to communicate!). And remember, it’s never too late to learn – as our article on adult skating aptly says, skating has no age limit. Welcome to the club, and see you on the ice!
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