Charleston Figure Skating Club

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Figure Skating Disciplines

Silhouettes of figure skaters: a female skater performing a spiral, a male skater performing a split jump, a female skater performing a catch-foot spiral, a pairs team performing a death spiral, a synchro team performing spirals in unison, and an ice dance team

There are five separate disciplines in competitive figure skating: men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, ice dancing, and synchronized skating. Each discipline offers several levels for competing and testing. Skaters are not limited to just one discipline; they may choose to participate in as many as they like.

Skating Skills

Silhouette of a female figure skater doing a spiral to the right

Although skating skills is not a competitive discipline, it provides the foundation for both singles and pairs and is a prerequisite for all singles and pairs tests. Skating skills is designed to help skaters improve their execution of the basic moves of skating. Edgework, turns, stroking, body control and extension are emphasized, mostly done with “power” as the primary focus. There are skating skills test levels that match every singles and most pairs levels, and it is required that all skaters testing singles or pairs pass the equivalent skating skills test prior to taking the corresponding test in singles or pairs. More information about testing can be found in our Testing section.

Singles

Silhouette of a male figure skating doing a split jump to the right
Silhouette of a female figure skater doing a catch foot layback spin

Singles, both men’s and women’s, is the discipline that most spectators are familiar with. In this discipline, a competitive skater performs a program that lasts anywhere from 1 to 4½ minutes and is composed of elements such as jumps, spins and a step sequence and is skated to music.

Pairs

Silhouette of a figure skating pair performing a death spiral

Pairs skating is similar in many respects to singles skating, except that two skaters perform together. This adds opportunities for additional moves such as side-by-side solo jumps done in unison, throw jumps, overhead lifts, twist lifts, side-by-side spins, pair spins, and death spirals. Pairs skating also incorporates shadow skating, in which partners perform identical movements some distance apart, and mirror skating, in which partners perform movements in opposite directions and mirror one another. Pairs may consist of a man and a woman, two men, or two women, but only pairs of the same composition may compete against one another.

Ice Dance

Silhouette of an ice dance pair skating with the man on the right and the woman on the left

In ice dance, skaters complete difficult dance patterns, step sequences and maneuvers while showcasing exceptional interpretation of music and precise steps. Rooted in ballroom dancing, ice dance requires strong technical skating skills and excellent musicality. Ice dance consists of two main areas: pattern dance and free dance.

In pattern dance, skaters are given a type of dance to perform (waltz, tango, blues, etc.) and a very specific pattern to follow. This pattern is shown in the form of a drawing which specifies the skater’s moves right down to which foot is doing what particular step during every beat of the music.

In free dance, skaters create their own programs within specified guidelines that list specific elements which must be included. The skaters are able to choose the music and tempo of this dance with the goal of delivering an entertaining performance that looks effortless despite its difficulty.

Both pattern dance and free dance can be done as a solo skater or partnered. Unlike pairs, ice dance partners must consist of a man and a woman.

Synchronized Skating

Silhouette of three synchronized skaters performing spirals

Synchronized skating is a team sport in which eight to twenty skaters perform a program in unison. These programs are characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. The individual elements of a synchronized skating program include blocks, circles, wheels, intersections, spins, and pairs maneuvers, among others. Although synchronized skating is not yet an Olympic sport, it is very popular and is the fastest growing figure skating discipline in the country.

Although we have had synchronized skating teams in the past, we do not have any currently.