How Much Do You Know About Figure Skating?

Overview of Figure Skating: Terminology, Equipment, Disciplines, Scoring, Music, and Costumes

• Figure skates have toe picks on the front part of the blade, used for jumping and not for stroking or spins.
• Blades are mounted to the sole and heel of the boot with screws and are about 4.7 millimetres thick.
• Skaters use the sweet spot of the blade, which is one of two rockers to be found on a blade and is the roundest portion of the blade, for spins.
• There are different types of boots and blades to suit different disciplines and abilities.
• Ice rinks have varying dimensions, with Olympic-sized rinks preferred for major events by the International Skating Union (ISU).
• Ice quality is judged by smoothness, friction, hardness, and brittleness, with toe picks causing more deterioration.
• The world standing of a skater/couple is calculated based on the results over the current and preceding two seasons, with points based on final placements at events.
• Skaters and couples have personal best (PB) scores, but PB scores are not completely comparable if achieved in different seasons due to variations in technical requirements.
• Skaters were once restricted to instrumental music for competitive programs, but since the 2014-15 season, skaters from all disciplines can choose music with words.
• In competition, women may wear a dress, typically with matching attached briefs, and men must wear trousers.
• Costumes in competition must be fair, non-revealing, and appropriate for both short and long programs, and should not be showy or exotic in nature.
• Accessories or props are generally not permitted in competition, but there was an exception for the original dance in the 2007-08 season.