Backward power three turns

A back outside three, a forward inside mohawk and a back crossover, repeated round each circle of a figure eight.

On a figure eight

Not checked yet. The drill details on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The run LBO three LFI · mohawk to RBI · back crossover to LBO · three to five times round the circle; then the other circle, RBO three RFI · mohawk to LBI · back crossover to RBO

The pattern on the ice, one line for the blade on the ice, coloured by edge.

shoulder to hip —on the —

LBO three LFI · mohawk to RBI · under-push · stroke onto the other circle · RBO three RFI · mohawk to LBI · under-push. Negative twist means the shoulders are held back against the hips, which stores rotation before a takeoff and checks it on a landing.

This is the forward drill run backwards. A back outside three brings you forwards, a mohawk takes you backwards again onto the other foot, and a back crossover puts you on the back outside edge for the next three.

Facing forwards after a back three is where control goes: the rotation wants to continue, and the mohawk has to be ready before it can. Coaches look for the mohawk’s free foot to come in close and the hips to open evenly rather than swing.

Three to five sets fit on one circle of a figure eight before the pattern changes to the other circle and the other direction; the US Figure Skating test asks for that many. The tracing shows three on each circle, and the drawing skates one set on each.

This drill trains

Left backward outside three turnLBO to LFI: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Left forward inside mohawkLFI to RBI: a step onto the other foot, holding the edge and staying on the same lobe. No cusp.

Built from

Left backward outside edgeLBO: the left foot travelling backwards on an outside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.
Left forward inside edgeLFI: the left foot travelling forwards on an inside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.
Right backward inside edgeRBI: the right foot travelling backwards on an inside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.

Found in 3 independent sources: coaches' public teaching and published skating-skills tests, taken as base guidance and written for the guide.