Law 2: Steps and turns

A step is the visible tracing of one foot. It may be an edge, a change of edge, a one-foot turn such as a Three Turn, or a flat.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.1 · recall

In a Toe Step the skater steps from the toe of one skate onto the toe of the other without leaving the ice in a jump.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.10 · recall

In a Cross Stroke the feet start crossed and the push comes from the outside edge of the foot becoming free; the legs cross above the knees. In a Crossed Step In Front or Behind they cross below the knees.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rules 704.3-704.5 · recall

A Crossed Chassé is a Simple Chassé whose second step crosses: behind when skating forward, in front when skating backward. In a Slide Chassé the free foot slides off the ice instead.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.6 · applied

In a progressive the free foot passes the skating foot before it is put on the ice, so the new free foot comes off trailing the new skating foot.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.7 · recall

A Slip Step is skated in a straight line with both blades flat; the weight is over the skating leg while the free foot slides forward on the ice to full extension.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.9 · recall

In a Cross Roll the free leg passes the skating foot and is put down in front or behind it as the weight rolls from one outside curve to the next, but the new blade does not have to be placed on an outside edge.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.8.b · recall

A Swing Roll is held for several beats. Going backward the free leg lifts, swings forward, then back past the skating foot, then comes beside it; going forward the swing runs back first, then forward.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.8.a · applied

An Open Stroke starts close beside the skating foot without crossing. On forward edges the free leg is held behind before coming to the skating foot; on backward edges it is held in front.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.2 · applied

A flat is a straight double tracing on one foot, both edges of the blade on the ice; it is usually not acceptable. A is an edge, B a change of edge, D a Three Turn.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.1 · applied

A Three Turn goes from an outside to an inside edge or the reverse, its exit curve stays on the lobe of the entry curve, and the skater turns in the direction of the curve.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.i · recall

Bracket and Three Turn share the edges and the lobe; in a Bracket the skater turns in the direction opposite to the curve.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.vii · applied

Both go outside to outside or inside to inside onto a new lobe. A Rocker turns with the entry curve, a Counter against it, that is, with the exit curve.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.viii-ix · applied

It starts like the American Waltz type, with the free leg turned out over the tracing; after the turn the back inside edge is held for one beat before the weight goes onto the free foot.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.iii · recall

In Walk-Around Three Turns the couple turn at the same time around a common axis, in Waltz Hold or offset in a partial Tango Hold.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.vi · recall

The free leg swings past close to the skating leg before the turn; after it, the leg is either moved past and held behind over the tracing or allowed to swing forward.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.x · recall

A One Foot Turns Sequence is made of specified turns skated on one foot by each partner simultaneously, either in hold or separately.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.12.ii · recall

A Touchdown Three goes from a forward outside three to the back outside edge of the other foot without full weight transfer, and the skater then steps forward onto the original foot at once.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.v · applied

In this outside Three Turn, also called a Swing Three, the free foot's instep comes close to the skating heel during the turn and is extended behind the tracing afterwards.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a.ii · applied

C and D change lobe, so one is a Rocker and one a Counter. A Counter turns with the exit curve, so its point sits on the side the exit curve bends towards (D); a Rocker's sits on the entry curve's side (C). A is a Three Turn, its point into the curve, B a Bracket, its point out of it.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.a · applied

The angle between the two feet is up to the skater; the heel only has to go down on the inner side. Once the weight moves, the new free foot trails behind the new skating heel.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.b.i · recall

A Choctaw goes from outside to inside or inside to outside, and the exit curve runs opposite to the entry. A Mohawk keeps the edge and its curves are continuous.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.b.ii · recall

Here the instep is first drawn to the heel and put down behind it, so once the weight has moved the new free foot sits ahead of the new skating foot, the reverse of the open form.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.b.i · applied

The outside of the free foot is held in front of the skating foot and at right angles to it; the hip is open after the turn, and the step may be wide.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.b.ii · recall

A Twizzle travels while it rotates once or more in one continuous action, with the weight on the skating foot. A series of checked Three Turns is not a Twizzle.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.c · recall

A Twizzle travels. If the travelling stops while it is skated, it becomes a Solo Spin, also called a pirouette.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.c · applied

Both kinds of set have two Twizzles per partner, each at least one rotation and skated by both at the same time. Up to one step may come between them in the sequential set, up to four in the synchronized set.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.12.i · recall

Each partner skates two Twizzles, each at least one full rotation on one foot, at the same time as the other partner, with up to four steps between them.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.12.i.a · applied

A Turn Sequence is valued as one unit: the base values of the woman's and the man's turns are added, then the GOE is applied, and that GOE is the sum of the GOEs of the turns.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 353.1.i.iii · applied

A Mohawk changes foot with the entry and exit curves continuous, as in A. B changes foot with the curve reversed, a Choctaw; C and D stay on one foot.

Source: ISU Sports Rules S&P/ID 2026, Rule 704.11.b · applied