List of figure skating turns

A bracket turn is a kind of one-foot turn in figure skating.^[1]

The transition between edges during the turn is the same as for a three turn—for example, forward inside edge to back outside edge—but unlike a three turn, in which the cusp of the turn points into the curve of the arc on which it is skated, a bracket turn is counterrotated so that the cusp points outward. The tracing of the turn on the ice resembles a curly bracket "}".

Brackets are considered advanced turns in figure skating and commonly appear only in step sequences instead of as a simple means of changing direction. They were also part of the compulsory figures, which skaters were required to perform in every routine until they were abolished in 1990.

A choctaw turn is a turn in figure skating that involves both a change of foot and a change of edge and lobe. Choctaws are the two-foot equivalents of rockers and counters, in the same way that mohawk turns are the two-foot equivalents of three turns and brackets.

The most familiar choctaw seen in free skating is the step from a back inside edge to a forward outside edge that is used as the entrance to forward spins. Otherwise choctaws are most commonly used as elements of step sequences.

In Canada this turn is called an S turn due to its shape. It was changed on October 28, 2020, by Skate Canada. In this announcement they also changed the Mohawk turn to the C turn. They stated this was done to "improve equity, diversity and inclusion in the sport." They also said that this change works toward the decolonizing of their terminology.^[2][3]

Choctaws are also prominently featured in several compulsory dances in ice dancing, including:

• The Kilian features a crossed open choctaw from a left forward inside edge to a right back outside edge, with the right foot placed on the ice slightly in front of the left foot at the turn. It is called an open turn because the left foot ends up behind the right foot after the turn.
• The Blues includes a closed choctaw, again from a left forward inside edge to a right back outside edge, but in this case the right foot is placed just behind the left heel at the turn. It is called a closed turn because the left foot is extended in front after the turn.
• The Rhumba includes a double choctaw sequence. The first is a wide open choctaw, once again from left forward inside to right back outside, but in this case the left foot crosses wide in back at the turn. From the right back outside edge, the dancers then immediately execute a wide closed choctaw to the left forward inside edge, again with the free foot crossing wide in back at the turn.

A counter turn is a kind of one-foot turn in figure skating. Unlike three turns and brackets, where the entry and exit edges follow the same curve, in a counter the entry and exit are on opposite curves. When executing a counter, the skater turns outward to the curve of the entry edge, and exits on a curve in the same sense as the turn. Another way to look at it is that a counter is similar to the entry of a bracket turn combined with the exit of a three turn. (The opposite combination is called a rocker turn.) ^[4]

While counters are sometimes used to perform a simple change of direction, they more commonly appear in step sequences and in compulsory dances in ice dancing. For example, in the Westminster Waltz, the lady performs a rocker while the man performs a counter turn. Counters also appear on the USFSA's Novice-level moves in the field test.^[5]

A mohawk (named after the native American people) is a figure skating turn that involves a change of skating foot but not a change of edge. It is a turn from one foot to the other, from forward to backwards (or backwards to forwards) in which the entry and exit curves are continuous and of equal depth (e.g. where each edge forms part of the same curve).^[6][7]

In Canada this turn is called a C turn. This was changed on October 28, 2020, by Skate Canada, the governing body of figure skating in Canada. In the announcement they stated that this is done to "improve equity, diversity and inclusion". They also said that this "works towards decolonizing their language".^[8][9]

Several variations are listed, open and closed. These relate to where the free foot is placed in relation to the skating foot on entering the turn, before weight is transferred. A swing mohawk is another variation that is used in ice dance. It can be either open or closed. The free leg swings closely past the skating leg before returning to the skating foot to execute the turn.^[7]

A common mohawk turn is the forward inside open mohawk. In this turn, the skater faces into the circle and the free foot is brought to the instep of the skating foot at an angle of 90° or more, before being placed on the ice on a backward inside edge during the transfer of weight. This leaves the former skating foot (and new free foot) in front of the new skating foot after the turn. Along with the 3 turn, this is one of the most common ways for skaters to change direction while skating, and is one of the first turns learned by beginning skaters.

In a closed mohawk, the transfer of weight happens with the free foot being placed behind the skating foot rather than at the instep, so that after the turn the new free foot is carried behind rather than in front.

Outside mohawks are similar, except that the skater faces outside of the circle. Again, there are both open and closed variants.

Mohawk turns are essentially executed with crossed feet, and this is reflected in the tracings. In a good mohawk turn, the weight transfer is executed smoothly, without jerking of the hips or upper body. It is somewhat easier to accomplish this if the skater has open hip joints and can turn out the free foot at a greater angle before placing it on the ice, but lack of flexibility can be compensated for with careful timing.

The corresponding turns from backward to forward do not involve crossed feet and are usually considered simple steps rather than mohawks.

A rocker turn is a kind of one-foot turn in figure skating. Unlike three turns and brackets, where the entry and exit edges follow the same curve, in a rocker, the entry and exit are on opposite curves. When executing a rocker, the skater turns inward on the curve of the entry edge, but exits on a curve in the opposite sense. Another way to look at it is that a rocker is similar to the entry of a three turn combined with the exit of a bracket. (The opposite combination is called a counter turn.) In a rocker turn, the skating edge is maintained; for example, a rocker from a forward outside edge ends on a backward outside edge.

While rockers are sometimes used to perform a simple change of direction, they more commonly appear in step sequences and in compulsory dances in ice dancing. For example, in the Westminster Waltz, the lady performs a rocker while the man performs a counter turn.

A three-turn is a figure skating element which involves both a change in direction and a change in edge. For example, when a skater executes a forward outside three-turn, the skater begins on a forward outside edge and finishes on a backwards inside edge.^[10] There are eight three-turns in all; one for each possible combination of direction (forward or backward), skating foot (left or right), and edge (inside or outside).^[11]

The turn is named for the tracing that it makes on the ice. Each edge makes a curve, and the change of edge in between them is marked by a point. It looks roughly like the number three.^[12] When skaters joined two circles on either foot, it created a tracing that looked like the number 8. These tracings inspired skaters in Holland and throughout Europe to develop methods of carving other numbers and letters of the alphabet in the ice, as well as, among more accomplished skaters, writing their own names and drawing elaborate patterns.^[13]

Three-turns are considered basic turns in figure skating. Along with mohawk turns, they are the first one-foot turns (where only one foot is on the ice during the entry, exit, and turn) learned by beginning skaters, and the most common way for skaters to change direction. Three-turns can also be used as the common entrance to a toe loop jump and the flip jump.^[14]