Lifts as Skated

In a lasso the woman rotates around the man between take-off and full extension; in Group 4 she only turns together with him.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

The rotation around the man must be visible by way of her shoulders and/or hips.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

One of the man's hands must stay clearly above his shoulders while she is lifted; if not, the lift is Group 4.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

A waist hold with the woman vertical and head up is Group 2; any other position from that take-off makes it Group 3.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

Revolutions are counted from the moment the woman leaves the ice until the man's arms begin to bend after full extension.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

If the man is sideways, for example in a spread eagle, his rotation is set by his front foot at the woman's take-off.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

Somersaults, one-hand take-offs, spread eagles, Ina Bauers or spirals on the entry curve count as difficult; a change of hand on ascent is simple.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

A difficult take-off such as a spiral on the entry curve must come before the man's arms are fully extended.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

In a lasso the woman turns around the man between take-off and full extension; the lift ends as his arms bend.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

In a step lasso they face each other, the man skating backward and the woman forward. A is the toe lasso, the other way round; C side by side is the Axel lasso; D both backward.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

The toe lasso is the mirror of the step lasso: here he goes forward, she backward, and she takes off from her toe.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

In an Axel lasso the woman is at the man's side and jumps from a forward edge, much like an Axel.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

In a reverse lasso the hold is right to left and left to right, and the woman's hand is behind her back.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

The lift bullets include speed, flow and ice coverage, effortless rotation, air positions and the man's smooth footwork.

Source: ISU Communication 2788, Levels of Difficulty and GOE Guidelines, Single & Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

Losing balance so that the woman comes down early is marked as serious problems on the descent of the lift.

Source: ISU Handbook for Referees & Judges, Single and Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

All holds in carry lifts are unrestricted, and carrying a partner on the back, shoulders or knees is allowed.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

A spread eagle by the man while dismounting counts if held from the start of the arm bend until she is on the ice; a change of hold is simple.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · recall

The spread eagle counts only if it lasts from the moment he bends his arms until she is placed on the ice.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

Take-off and landing features sit at either end; the others count only between full extension and the arms bending.

Source: ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied

C spreads its turns along the whole panel; A turns almost on the spot and B and D cover less of the ice.

Source: ISU Communication 2788, Levels of Difficulty and GOE Guidelines, Single & Pair Skating 2026/27 · applied