Figure skating, explained plainly

Figure skating looks effortless from the stands. Underneath it is a sport of edges, rotations and a scoring system precise enough to separate two skaters by a fraction of a point.

Edges before everything

Every figure skating blade has two edges, inside and outside, separated by a shallow groove called the hollow. Almost every movement on the ice — a turn, a spin entry, a jump takeoff — is defined by which edge the skater is on and which direction they travel.

That is why early lessons spend so long on stroking and simple edges. A jump that looks identical to a spectator can be a different element entirely because it leaves the ice from a different edge.

What you will find here

Explanations of how skaters usually progress, how the six standard jumps differ, how the international judging system turns a program into a score, and what matters when choosing boots and blades.

• Getting startedWhat learning to skate usually looks like in Canada: group lessons, basic skills, and when figure skating becomes its own discipline.
• JumpsAxel, Lutz, flip, loop, Salchow and toe loop: which are edge jumps, which are toe jumps, and why the Axel has an extra half rotation.
• ScoringThe ISU Judging System in plain terms: technical element score, program components, base values and grade of execution.
• EquipmentHow figure skating boots and blades differ from recreational skates, why fit and stiffness matter, and how sharpening affects the edge.
• AboutA plain-language reference on figure skating basics.