Multi-directional 3-turns

All four forward 3-turns and both backward inside ones on the first side, and 3-turns run into open mohawks on the second.

BIS Skills 3exercise 2In 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.

Multi-directional means the exercise turns to backwards and then turns again to forwards without stopping in between. The first side does it with backward inside 3-turns, which are the ones nobody practises: they arrive after a crossover, on the edge a skater is least comfortable holding, and they turn into the circle.

The difficulty is in the exits. Every turn here exits onto an edge that immediately has to carry a step or another turn, so an exit that is nearly checked is not good enough: the rotation left over from one turn is still there when the next one starts, and it compounds. It is the first exercise where a skater can do every element in it and still not be able to skate it.

Swap sides and the backward turns give way to the 3-turn into an open mohawk from Skills 2, after which the skater steps wide and pushes back to the other lobe. That combination is the shape most step sequences are built from, which is why it turns up again at every level above this one.

Elements

Right forward inside three turnRFI to RBO: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Left forward outside three turnLFO to LBI: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Left forward inside three turnLFI to LBO: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Right forward outside three turnRFO to RBI: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Left backward inside three turnLBI to LFO: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Right backward inside three turnRBI to RFO: half a turn into the circle, changing edge and staying on the same lobe.
Right backward outside three-mohawkRBO → RFI → LBI: 2 turns on two feet.
Left backward outside three-mohawkLBO → LFI → RBI: 2 turns on two feet.
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.
Right backward outside crossoverRBO to LBI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling backwards.
Left backward outside crossoverLBO to RBI: the free foot crosses in front of the skating foot onto the same lobe, still travelling backwards.
Left backward inside step wideLBI to RBI: a step onto the other foot placed wide, nothing crossing, still travelling backwards, and the lobe reverses.
Right backward inside push backRBI to LBO: a push off the inside edge onto the other foot's outside edge, still travelling backwards, and the lobe continues.
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.

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.