Forward & backward crossovers

Crossovers in both directions and both rotations, joined by an optional turn to backwards and a step back to forwards.

BIS Skills 1exercise 3In the syllabus both before and after 01/10/2026

Not checked yet. The requirements 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.

All four crossovers, in one continuous run: forwards one way, backwards the same way, across to the other rotation, and forwards again. The exercise is built so that neither side gets to be the good side, and the assessment says as much: the outcome being looked for is equal quality on both. Competence on the strong side alone does not meet it.

The joins are left to the skater. Getting from forwards to backwards is an optional turn and getting back is an optional step, and the document describes both as choices. That is Skills 1 being careful about what it is testing: the crossovers are the subject, and a skater who has a mohawk they trust should not be penalised against one who has a three turn.

The middle of it (staying on one foot, stepping wide, and transferring weight to start rotating the other way) is the part that catches people. Nothing in it is difficult on its own, and it happens backwards, at speed, in the space of about two seconds.

Elements

Left forward outside crossoverLFO to RFI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling forwards.
Right forward outside crossoverRFO to LFI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling forwards.
Left backward outside crossoverLBO to RBI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling backwards.
Right backward outside crossoverRBO to LBI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling backwards.
Left forward outside edgeLFO: the left foot travelling forwards on an outside edge, tracing an anticlockwise lobe.
Right forward outside edgeRFO: the right foot travelling forwards on an outside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.
Left backward outside edgeLBO: the left foot travelling backwards on an outside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.
Right backward outside edgeRBO: the right foot travelling backwards on an outside edge, tracing an anticlockwise lobe.
Left backward inside edgeLBI: the left foot travelling backwards on an inside edge, tracing an anticlockwise lobe.
Right backward inside edgeRBI: the right foot travelling backwards on an inside edge, tracing a clockwise lobe.
Right backward inside step wideRBI to LBI: a step onto the other foot placed wide, nothing crossing, still travelling backwards, and the lobe reverses.
Left backward inside push backLBI to RBO: a push off the inside edge onto the other foot's outside edge, still travelling backwards, and the lobe continues.

Not covered here

The optional turn to backwards, which the document offers as a three turn or a mohawk, and the optional step to forwards. Both are the skater's choice and neither is specified, so neither is listed as a requirement here.

This page lists which elements the exercise calls for and what it is working on. It does not reproduce British Ice Skating's sequence, pattern or wording. For the exercise as published, go to their own document.