Arabian: A jump in which the skater leaps off the ice with one foot and assumes a camel position in the air, with arms and legs stretched out, and the body parallel to the ice.

Axel: A difficult jump which takes off from the forward outside edge and is landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. A single axel consists of 1-1/2 revolutions, a double is 2-1/2 revolutions, and a triple is 3-1/2 revolutions. This jump is easily recognizable because it is the only jump that takes off from a forward position. Named for inventor Axel Paulson, of Norway.

Camel Spin: A spin, which is done on one leg with the non-skating leg, or free leg, extended in the air parallel to the ice. The body remains in this "spiral" position while spinning.

Combination Spin: The combination of several spins where the skater changes feet and positions while maintaining speed throughout the entire spin.

Crossovers: A method of gaining speed and turning corners in which the skater crosses one foot over the other. There are both forward and backward crossovers.

Death drop: A maneuver in which the skater leaps off the ice with one foot, assumes an Arabian position in the air, then lands and spins in a sitting position.

Death Spiral: A dramatic sequence of maneuvers used in pair skating where the man pivots on the toe pick and acts as the center of a circle while pulling his partner around him. The woman, gliding on one skate, clasps his hand and leans horizontally over the ice while spinning around him.

Edges: The two sides of the skate blade on either side of the grooved center, or hollow. There is an inside edge, the edge on the inner side of the leg, and an outside edge, the edge on the outer side of the leg. There is a forward and backward for each edge, equaling a total of four edges.

Edge Jump: A jump where the skater takes off from the entry edge of the skating foot without bringing the free foot in contact with the ice to assist in the take off. The axel, loop and Salchow are common edge jumps.

Flip Jump: A toe pick assisted jump, taken off from the back inside edge of one foot, and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.

Flying Camel Spin: A jump spin ending in the camel-spin position.

Flying Sit Spin: A jump spin in which the skater leaps off the ice and assumes a sitting position at the peak of the jump. The skater lands in a similar sitting position on the same or other foot.

Footwork: A sequence of step maneuvers carrying the skater across the ice in patterns, generally straight, circular or serpentine. Intended to show the precision and dexterity of the skater's movements.

Layback Spin: Generally performed by women, the layback spin involves an upright spin position where the head and shoulders are dropped backwards and the back arches.

Lifts: Dangerous moves in pairs skating involving any maneuver in which the man lifts the woman off the ice with fully extended arms. The man often holds his partner above his head with one hand.

Loop Jump: An edge jump, taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the same back outside edge.

Lutz Jump: A toe pick assisted jump, taken off from a back outside edge and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. The skater glides backward on a wide curve, taps his toe pick into the ice and rotates in the opposite direction of the curve. The Lutz is unique because it is the only jump in which a skater enters the jump moving in one direction and concludes the jump skating in the opposite direction. The jump is named for its inventor Alois Lutz.

Salchow: Another edge jump, taken off from the back inside edge of one foot and landed on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. Created by Ulrich Salchow, who won 10 world championships from 1901 through 1911.

Scribe: Used to trace the ice if and when practicing figures.

Shadow Skating: Describes a situation in pair skating when the athletes perform simultaneous movements while skating in close proximity to one another.

Sit Spin: A spin which is done in a "sitting" position. The body is low to the ice with the skating (spinning) knee bent and the non-skating or "free" leg extended beside it.

Spiral: A move in which a skater demonstrates flexibility and a fluid line by extending their non-skating leg behind them into the air during a long glide.

Spiral Sequence: A sequence of steps which incorporates various spirals in a pattern across the ice. Spirals in a spiral sequence may be done going forward, backwards, in a straight line or on a curve, or on an inside or an outside edge.

Step Sequence: A sequence of steps that immediately follow one another, executed in time to the music and are choreographically related to each other.

Stroking: Fluid movement used to gain speed in which a skater pushes off back and forth from the inside edge of one skate to the inside edge of the other skate.

Throws: A pairs move in which the man lifts the woman into the air and throws her away from him. She spins in the air and lands on one foot.

Toe Loop: A toe pick assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same back outside edge. The toe loop is similar to the loop with that one difference that the skater uses the assistance of the toe pick of the free leg upon takeoff.

Toe Picks: The teeth at the front of the blade, used primarily for jumping and spinning.

Twist Lift: A pairs move in which the man throws the woman into the air and catches her after she spins one, two or three revolutions. After catching his partner, the man puts her back onto the ice