Glossary of figure skating terms

The following is a glossary of figure skating terms, sorted alphabetically.

0–9


3 turn: Also three turn. A one-foot turn with a change of that results in a '3' shape traced on the ice

4CC: An abbreviation for the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

6.0 system: The old scoring system used in competitions until 2004, in which skaters were scored relative to each other. The lowest score was a 0.0 and the highest was a 6.0.

A
A: The scoring abbreviation for the

age-eligible: Either "old enough" or "young enough" to compete internationally at a certain level. Skaters who have turned 13 but not yet 19 (21 for the man in and ) before the July 1 when a new season begins are eligible to compete in events for the whole season. Skaters who have turned 15 prior to that date in their place of birth are age-eligible for events. The overlap in age eligibility allows for some skaters to compete at Junior level events, and some  skaters to compete at Senior level events.

attitude: A leg position in which the is lifted behind the body, with the knee bent at an angle, and held behind at a 90-degree angle to the. This is the leg position often used for the.

arabesque: A leg position in which the is extended behind the body in a straight line. This is the leg position used for the basic.

Axel jump: The only counted as a jump that starts with a forward approach. An Axel jump has an extra half rotation (180 degrees), and is landed with the skater gliding backwards (as is the case with all rotational jumps). It was named after Axel Paulsen.

B


backflip: A reverse somersault in the air. Backflips are banned in competition, but play a role in show skating and s. See Backflip (acrobatic).

backspin: A performed on a back

base value: A part of the – a numeric value assigned to each technical in a skater's, designed to standardize the elements' potential scores in an attempt to make judging more impartial

Besti squat: A -like move where the skater glides on two s with knees bent. Named after Natalia Bestemianova.

BiDs: Abbreviation for "backward inside "

Biellmann spin: A position where the free leg is pulled above the head from behind. Can be either a or a  position. By regulation, a spin becomes a Biellmann at the moment the skate passes over the level of the head. Named after Denise Biellmann, who popularized the position but did not invent it.

boards: The vertical barrier between the ice and the ground at the point where the ice ends. In non-Olympic competitions, the boards are usually covered with advertisements for the sponsors. At the Olympics, they are usually covered by designs or the Olympic logo.

BoDs: Abbreviation for "backward outside "

bracket turn: {{defn|A one-foot turn with a change of {{gli|edge}} that results in a '}' shape traced on the ice}}

butterfly jump: A with a two-foot takeoff, in which the body goes almost parallel to the ice in the air, with a scissoring leg motion

bye: Permission to compete in a higher level of competition without having competed in the requisite qualifying competition

C


CD: The scoring abbreviation for the in an competition

COP: An abbreviation for

CSp: The scoring abbreviation for the

camel spin: A position with the extended in the air in an  position parallel to the ice

cantilever: An in which the knees are bent and the back is bent backwards, parallel to the ice. The element can be performed with the hands on the ice or extended in the air.

carry lift: A without rotation

catch-foot: A or position in which the  is held by one or both hands. The most notable catch-foot position is the.

centered: A that stays in one spot on the ice – the opposite of

chack: Also chacked, chacking. When a medal-winning or otherwise noteworthy is not shown on television. This term is named after Michael Chack, whose bronze medal winning performance at the U.S. Championships was not aired on television.

change-foot spin: A that changes position from a back  on one foot to a back   on the other foot (or vice versa), while retaining the same rotational direction

chasse: An that can be a, a, or a

check: Stopping the rotation of a or a by use of arms and shoulder as a counter-rotation

cherry-flip: Another name for the

cheated: A that was not fully rotated in midair, with either the first rotation starting on the ice or the final rotation finishing after the landing

choctaw turn: A two-foot turn with a change of that results in a change of

Charlotte spiral: Also candlestick spiral. A position in which the torso is bent down towards the, with the held in a 180 degree vertical  position.

Code of Points: An informal name for the

combination: Two or more s (s, positions) performed in succession. See,.

combination lift: A combining two short lifts

compulsory dance: Formerly, the first of three s in an competition. All teams performed the same dance to the standard music. In 2010, the eliminated the compulsory and  dances and merged them into the. The compulsory portion is now officially known as the.

compulsory figures: Also school figures. Specific patterns traced on the ice by a skater's blade. While originally a major part of a skating competition, figures were removed entirely from international competition in 1990.

counter turn: A one-foot turn with entry and exit on the same but which results in a change of with the rotation outside the original lobe. Compare with.

cross roll: In, a series of two s across two s connected by a, by which the is crossed over the before being placed on the ice for the second step

cross stroke: An that begins with the feet crossed, the legs crossing above the knee, so the motion is begun by the of the

crossed chasse: In, a series of two s across two s (such as and ). On the second step, the crosses the  and is placed on the ice beside the skating foot.

crossed step behind: An that is begun with the in the air. It is then crossed below the knee to the opposite side of the, so that the free foot touches down on the ice on the of the skating foot. The leg is crossed behind.

crossed step forward: An that is begun with the in the air. It is then crossed below the knee to the opposite side of the, so that the free foot touches down on the ice on the of the skating foot. The leg is crossed in front.

crossover: Crossing one foot over the other while skating along a curve, as a way of gaining speed and turning corners; may be performed while skating either forwards or backwards

crouch: A two-foot skating move in which the skater's legs are both bent by at least 90 degrees

curve lift: A type of in which the lifter moves along a curve across the ice; the lift may be performed on one foot or two.

D


dance: See

dance jump: In, a small jump used to change foot or direction, performed by both partners while in hold or while very close together

dance lift: In, a type of where the lifter may not raise his arms above his shoulders

dance spin: In, a performed by both partners while in hold, similar to a

death drop: A type of into a

death spiral: An element in in which the lady skates on a deep edge with her body close to the ice, and skates in a circle around the man who is in a low pivot position and holding her by the arm.

discipline: A part of ice skating governed by unique rules. Currently, the four disciplines that compete at the Olympic Games are men's, ladies', , and.

double: A with two full rotations (720 degrees) in the air; the double requires the skater to complete 2.5 revolutions (900 degrees).

downgraded: A or where the element is missing a half rotation or more

drag: Another name for a

draw: The act of choosing the starting order before an event – may be either open (public) or closed (private).

E


element: An identifiable component of a ; includes s, s, s,, s, etc.

eligible: A skater who earns money solely from ISU-approved competitions and s. Only skaters may compete in the Olympic Games.

edge: May refer either to part of the skate blade, or the result of skating on that part. May be either (towards the body) or (away from the body), and either forward or backward, giving a total of four different edges: forward inside, forward outside, backward inside, backward outside. A "deep edge" is a steep lean on the edge of the skate – deep edges are rewarded, while skating on a "" (on both edges at the same time) is discouraged.

edge jump: A general term to refer to any that takes off from an ; the three edge jumps that count as jump s are the, the, and the

edge violation: Performing a on the wrong

European Figure Skating Championships: An ISU Championship for skaters from European countries

Europeans: An informal name for the European Figure Skating Championships

exhibition: Non-competition skating or a show, for example, the gala after a competition in which the highest placing skaters perform a show program. Exhibitions often feature s banned in competition as well as spotlights and show lighting.

extension: The way in which a part of the body is held in a stretched position

F


F: The scoring abbreviation for the

FD: The scoring abbreviation for the program in an competition

FS: The scoring abbreviation for the program in a and  competition

fan spiral: A position in which the is lifted, held upwards in front of the body, and lowered, in the style of an opening and closing Japanese fan

FiDs: Abbreviation for "forward "

field moves: See

figures: See

flat: Skating on both s at the same time; generally less desirable than skating on one edge

flight: Also warm-up group. A grouping of skaters at a competition who warm up together immediately prior to competing. The final flight of the in is made up of the highest-scoring six skaters from the.

flip jump: A that takes off from a back and lands on the back  of the opposite foot

flood: (verb) to resurface the ice

flutz: A portmanteau of "flip" and "Lutz", for an improperly executed, where the outside take-off edge is mistakenly changed to an inside edge, making it a

flying spin: A jump that lands in a spinning position. Those commonly performed include flying s and flying s.

FoDs: Abbreviation for "forward "

forward spin: A performed on a back

free dance: Formerly, the third and final of an competition; as of 2010, the second and final segment of an ice dance competition. The free dance is a creative dance program that expresses the character/rhythm(s) of the music chosen by the couple.

free leg: Also free foot. The leg (or foot) that is not on the ice

free skating: Also free skate, free program. The second of the two s performed by and at a competition, unofficially known as the. Historically, a term for the of a figure skating competition that was not.

Four Continents Figure Skating Championships: An ISU Championship for skaters from non-European countries

footwork sequence: A sequence of s, turns, and s – often a required

G
GP: An abbreviation for a event

GPF: An abbreviation for the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

GOE: An abbreviation for

gold medalist: In addition to referring to the winner of a particular figure skating competition, all skaters who have passed the USFSA's highest-level skill tests are called "gold medalists"; the latter usage is especially common on coaches' resumes.

Grade Of Execution: A part of the – a measure of how well a skater is judged to have performed individual s of a program

grapevines: performed on two feet

Grand Prix: A series of six international invitational events that build to the Grand Prix Final. See ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating

H


haircutter: A where the  is brought up to head level, but not above. In some cases, the head is dropped back and it appears that the skate blade is in a position to cut the hair of the skater performing the spin. This position is often performed as a segue between a layback spin and a.

hollow: The groove in the middle of a blade between the and s

hop: A small jump that does not include a rotation

hydroblading: A move in which a skater glides on a deep with the body stretched in a very low position, almost horizontal to the ice. Several variations in position are possible.

I


ice coverage: Use of the ice surface; a skater who covers more ice while gliding or executing an is said to have greater ice coverage.

ice dance: The skating in which two skaters, typically a male and female, perform a choreographed dance. An ice dance competition consists of two : the (previously the ) and the.

IJS: An abbreviation for the

Ina Bauer: A two-footed move, similar to a, in which the skater skates on parallel blades, with one foot on a forward and the other on a backward opposite edge (i.e. inside or outside); the knee of the forward leg is slightly bent and the trailing leg is straight.

ineligible: A skater who receives money from sources not approved by the, i.e. a "professional" skater

inside edge: The of a skate blade facing towards the body

I-spin: An position in which the skater pulls the up in a  towards the front of the body, creating an 'I' position

Intermediate level: The below, generally used in club/open competitions for younger competitors

International Skating Union: The international governing body for ice skating sports

ISU: An abbreviation for the International Skating Union

ISU Championship: A championship-level competition held by the. The four figure skating ISU Championships are the World Figure Skating Championships, the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and the European Figure Skating Championships. The senior synchronized skating ISU Championships are the World Synchronized Skating Championships and the junior-level equivalent is World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.

ISU Judging System: A judging system that produces a total score from the (TES) and the (PCS). The skater with the highest total score wins.

J
JGP: An abbreviation for the

Jackson Haines spin: The original name for the

jump: A skating move where a skater pushes off the ice into the air. May be a ' or a '; all jumps that count as s under the are rotational jumps, whereas positional jumps count as s (the term jump is most often used to mean a rotational jump for this reason).

jump combination: Also combination jump. Two or more performed one directly after the other, without intervening steps or turns. Jump combinations most commonly involve the or  as the final jump, because both of these jumps start from the back, which is the normal landing edge for all six jumps.

jump sequence: Two or more connected by turns or s

junior age-eligible: A skater who has reached the minimum age, and has not exceeded the maximum age, defined by the for competition

Junior Grand Prix: A series of eight international events that build to the Junior Grand Prix Final. This is the complement to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

Junior level: The ISU below. International competitions for Juniors include the ISU Junior Grand Prix and the World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Junior Olympics: A name for various competitions in different countries. In the United States, the Junior Olympics referred to a competition held to determine the national champions at the and levels.

Junior Worlds: Also World Juniors. An informal name for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships

Juvenile level: The between and, generally used in club/open competitions for younger competitors

K
Kilian hold: Also Killian position, side position. A dance hold used in where the two skaters are side-by-side, facing the same direction, with the man standing to the left and slightly behind the lady. The lady's left arm is held straight across the man's body to hold his left hand; the man places his right arm behind the lady's back with his right hand resting at her waist over the right hip, and the lady places her right hand on the man's right hand, forming a triangular shape with her arm. Switching the position of the dancers results in a reverse Kilian/Killian.

kiss and cry: The area next to the rink at major competitions where the skaters wait to get their results

L


LP: The scoring abbreviation for the

ladies: The official term for female competitors

landing leg: The leg on which a skater lands a – opposite of. For right-handed skaters, it is usually the right leg, and vice versa.

lasso lift: A type of hand-to-hand

layback spin: An position in which the back is arched and the head is dropped back, with the bent behind, and the arms often stretched to the ceiling or arched overhead

leg wrap: An air position in s where the is held at a right angle to the, crossing it above the knee, so that it appears to be "wrapped" around the other. Most skaters keep their legs more vertical and crossed at the ankles when they jump.

level (judging): The assigned difficulty of an under the. The highest difficulty level is Level 4.

level (skating): The division by competitive level of skill. International ISU competitions take place at the,, , and Adult levels.

lift: An element in and, in which one skater lifts his/her partner while rotating. s, unlike s, go over the head. Some dancers perform gender bending or "reverse" lifts, in which the woman lifts the man.

lip: A portmanteau of "Lutz" and "flip", for an improperly executed, where the inside take-off edge is mistakenly changed to an outside edge, making it a.

Lo: The scoring abbreviation for the

lobe: A semicircle created on the ice by a skate blade

long lift: A group of s that may last up to ten seconds in competition at the

long program: An unofficial, but widely used, name for the second and longer of the two s performed by and at a competition. The time limit is 4.5 minutes for men's singles and pairs, and 4 minutes for ladies' singles at the.

loop jump: An that takes off from a back and lands on the back outside edge of the same foot

lunge: A skating move in which one leg is bent sharply at the knee, and the other is extended backwards in a straight line with the boot or blade touching the ice

Lutz jump: A that takes off from a back and lands on the back outside edge of the opposite foot

Lz: The scoring abbreviation for the

M


mirror skating: Two or more skaters performing in such a way that they are mirroring each other – the opposite of

mohawk turn: A two-footed turn on the same, which continues along the same

moves in the field: Chiefly used in the US; also field moves (UK), skating skills (Canada). Elements of figure skating that emphasize basic skating skills such as edge control and turns, for the purposes of assessing a skater's technical ability on the ice and helping to determine the skater's competitive.

mule kick: A takeoff of a (usually or ) where the toe-picking leg is lifted or bent excessively high

N
Nationals: A country's national championships, the highest-level competition on the national level, used to decide the national champion. See List of national championships in figure skating.

Novice level: The ISU below. Novice-level skaters compete in some international events, but there are no Championship-level events for Novice-level skaters. For national competitions, Novice-level skaters may be further subdivided into Basic Novice, Intermediate Novice, and Advanced Novice sections.

O
OD: The scoring abbreviation for the in an competition

open stroke: An that is started close to the that does not cross in front or behind

ordinal: Under the, the skater's ranking within the group of skaters by a specific judge. Ordinals were more important than the specific marks.

original dance: Formerly, the second of an competition. In 2010, the eliminated the  and original dances, merging them into the.

outside edge: The of a skate blade facing away from the body

over-rotated: A in which the skater rotates past the position for landing the jump in the air, or fails to the rotation on landing.

P
PB: An abbreviation for ""

PCS: Abbreviation for

pair lift: Type of where the lifter's arms are raised above his shoulders

pair spin: Type of in which two skaters rotate around a single axis while holding onto each other

pair skating: Also pairs. The skating in which a partnership, typically composed of a male and female skater, performs overhead s, s, s, s and s. A pairs competition consists of two : the  and the.

pancake spin: A that has the tucked over the other, with the upper body bent over the leg

pattern dance: Since 2010, the official name of the compulsory portion of the (now the )

pearl spin: A in which the is pulled over the head as in a, however the body stays laid back. This spin was first performed by Caroline Zhang of the United States.

personal best: The highest score a skater has earned in competition. Scores from national championships do not count as personal bests.

pivot: A two-footed movement in which one foot is flexed and the s are inserted into the ice as a pivot point, while the other foot travels around the pivot point, such as the movement of a drafting compass.

pop: As in popping a jump, also a popped jump. During a, when a skater prematurely abandons their tight rotational position ("opens up") in mid-air, resulting in fewer than the desired rotations.

positional jump: A for the purpose of displaying a position in the air, such as a and a

Preliminary level: The below, generally used in club/open competitions for younger competitors

presentation: The second set of scores in the old, also known as "Artistic Impression"

press lift: A type of hand-to-hand

professional: Skaters who are to compete in events

program: Skating s set to music performed by a skater in a defined length of time. All disciplines currently skate two programs in most events. Before the 2010/11 season, rs performed three or four programs.

program components score: A part of the ; equivalent to the "presentation" mark in the old

Q
quad: See

quadruple jump: A with four full rotations (1440 degrees) in the air. In a quadruple, the skater would need to complete 4.5 revolutions (1620 degrees).

qualifying round: A round of competition prior to the or to determine which skaters qualify to compete in the main competition

R


RD: The scoring abbreviation for the in an competition

reverse rotational lift: A or in which the lifter rotates in one direction, then switches and rotates in the other direction, while  across the ice

rhythm dance: The first of an competition (known as the  prior to June 2018); each team performs a required pattern from one of the compulsory s (e.g. foxtrot, quickstep) for about half the dance, followed by original choreography with some required s, to a rhythm and/or theme designated by the  annually for the current season.

Rippon jump: Any performed with both hands clasped above the head instead of folded at the chest. This jump variation was named after Adam Rippon of the USA.

Rittberger: Another name for the, named after Werner Rittberger who invented the jump

rocker turn: A one-foot turn with entry and exit on the same but which results in a change of with the rotation inside the original lobe. Compare with.

roll: In, a forward or backward that is either short or long – can be a or a

rotational lift: A or in which the lifter rotates in one direction while  across the ice

rotational jump: A in which the skater rotates in the air and typically lands on one foot going backwards. There are seven rotational jumps;,, , , , , and.

Russian split: A type of in which the skater performs a straddle position, with the legs and the body forming a 'V' shape, in many cases also touching their toes

S


S: The scoring abbreviation for the

SB: An abbreviation for ""

SD: The scoring abbreviation for the in an competition

SSp: The scoring abbreviation for the

Salchow jump: An that takes off from a back and lands on the back  of the opposite foot. Named after Ulrich Salchow.

sanction: Permission to hold a competition or show, granted by the or national governing body. skaters may only compete in sanctioned events.

SBS: An abbreviation for ""

school figures: See

scratch spin: An in which the skater has the crossed over the ankle of the spinning leg

season's best: A skater's or team's highest score in competition in a particular season

segment: A component part of a figure skating competition in which a specific is performed by each competitor/team

senior age-eligible: A skater who has reached the minimum age defined by the for competition

Senior B: A senior-level international competition held with an ISU that is not a Grand Prix or ISU Championship event. An example of a Senior B event is the Nebelhorn Trophy.

Senior level: Olympic-level competition

serpentine lift: A type of in which the lifter moves in a serpentine pattern across the ice

sheep jump: A in which the skater jumps upwards and bends both legs backwards, reminiscent of a sheep, often with the back arched

shoot-the-duck: A skating position in which the skater glides forward on one foot with the in a bent position and the held forward, parallel to the ice. This is the basic position for a.

short dance: A in an competition combining features of the discontinued  and s. Note: The name of the short dance program was changed to "" in June 2018.

short lift: A series of s that may last up to six seconds in competition at the

short program: The first and shorter of the two s performed by and at a competition. This program has certain required s that must be completed.

shotgun spin: An position in which the skater holds the upwards towards the front of the body (but not in a full split position as in the ). The leg is held by the ankle or the calf, not the blade.

side-by-side: s, such as s and s, that are performed with the skaters next to each other, as opposed to s or s, which are performed as a team.

signature move: A move that a skater is known for and frequently performs, sometimes in a unique or unusual way

similar pair: A made up of two men or two women

simple chasse: In, a series of two s across two s (such as inside and outside). On the second step, the is placed on the ice beside the and is then lifted parallel to the ice.

single (jump): A with one full rotation (360 degrees) in the air (one and a half rotations for a single

single skating: Also singles. The skating where one skater performs alone on the ice. A singles competition consists of two : the and the.

sit spin: A position with the spinning leg bent at the knee and the extended forward

skating foot: Also skating leg. The foot that is on the ice (or the leg that is supporting the body). Compare with and.

skating skills: See

skid spiral: A variation in which the skater holds a position (usually a Y- or I-spiral) and turns from forwards to backwards, or vice versa, using a skidded. This move was invented by Robin Cousins and was notably performed by Sasha Cohen and Evgenia Medvedeva.

slide chasse: In, a series of two s across two s (such as inside and outside). On the second step, the is placed on the ice beside the and then slides off the ice in the direction the skater is skating.

spin: A rotation upon the ice surface, performed on the round part of the blade just behind the. The three basic spins are the, the, and the.

spin combination: Also combination spin. A sequence of two or more positions performed in quick succession, often including a change of and sometimes also a change of direction (clockwise/counter-clockwise)

spiral: An skated with the extended at, or above, hip level. A required for ' and  competitions. A good spiral depends on edge control and speed across the ice, not necessarily leg position.

split: A position in which the legs are parallel to each other and extended in opposite directions on either the horizontal or vertical axis. See Split (gymnastics).

split jump: A jump in the air in which a is achieved, rather than any specific rotation. See: Split jumps.

split twist: A twist lift in which, prior to rotating, the lady performs a split with each leg separated by at least a 45 degree angle from the body axis

SP: The scoring abbreviation for the in a or  competition

spread eagle: An performed with both feet on the ice, the blades turned out with the heels pointing towards each other; can be performed on s (an "inside spread eagle") or s (an "outside spread eagle")

Sotnikova spin: A in which the body is twisted and the  is pulled up over the side of the body rather than over the back. This variation is colloquially named for Adelina Sotnikova.

stag leap: A in which the front leg is bent under the body

stationary lift: A or performed "on the spot", without ice coverage

step: In, a one-foot tracing on the ice

step-out: When a skater either under- or over-rotates a so that he/she does not land cleanly and must put the down prematurely

step sequence: A series of footwork and field moves performed during a program. May be circular, straight line, or serpentine in pattern.

straight-line lift: A in which the lifter moves in a straight line across the ice; may be performed on one foot or two

stroking: A way of moving across the ice and gaining speed by using the s of the blades

Soldatova rule: Colloquial name of the rule stating that a skater must wait out a certain amount of time from international competition when changing the country they represent. The informal name refers to Julia Soldatova.

swizzle: Also fishes, lemons, scissors, sculling. A way of moving across the ice on two feet by pushing the feet outwards from a 90 degree angle and then pulling them together again, forming an oval on the ice

synchronized skating: An ice skating in which groups of figure skaters perform together as one unit

T


T: The scoring abbreviation for the

TES: Abbreviation for

tano jump: An arm position variation during a, where one arm is extended overhead instead of folded at the chest, thus increasing the difficulty of the jump. Made famous by Brian Boitano, hence tano.

technical elements score: A part of the ; based on performance of s

three jump: See

three turn: See

throw jump: An in in which one skater throws the other into the air, where she completes a normal. Throw jumps usually have increased height and power because of the extra help involved.

toe loop jump: A that takes off from a back and lands on the back outside edge of the same foot

toe jump: Also toe-assisted jump. A general term to refer to any that uses a assist; the three toe jumps that count as jump s are the, the, and the

toe pick: The set of teeth at the front of a skate blade that assists a skater in s and s. See also Figure skate blades.

toe step: An in which the skater walks from one to the other

transition: A movement that connects one skating to the next

traveling: A that moves across the ice instead of staying in one spot on the ice

triple jump: A with three full rotations (1080 degrees) in the air; the triple requires the skater to complete 3.5 revolutions (1260 degrees).

two-footed landing: The landing of a where both feet touch the ice (a correct landing is on one foot).

twizzle: A quick multi-rotational turn on one foot while moving forwards or backwards

U


USp: The scoring abbreviation for the

under-rotated: A or that is missing more than a quarter, but less than one-half, of a revolution

unison skating: Two or more skaters performing the same s or s at the same time – the opposite of

upright spin: One of the three basic positions

W
WS: Abbreviation for

Walley jump: A single or double rotation jump taken off from a backward. Named after American skater Nate Walley.

waltz jump: Also three jump. A 180-degree rotation, one of the first jumps skaters learn

warm-up group: See

World Figure Skating Championships: An ISU Championship at the World-level in which skaters compete for the title of World Champion

World Junior Figure Skating Championships: An ISU Championship at the World-level in which skaters who are compete for the title of World Junior Champion

World Juniors: Also Junior Worlds. Informal name for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships

Worlds: Informal name for the World Figure Skating Championships

World Standings: A ranking based on certain international results over the current and preceding two seasons

Y


Y-spin: An position in which the is pulled up into a vertical  towards the side of the body, creating a 'Y' shape

Y-spiral: A position in which the is held up in a vertical  towards the side of the body, creating a 'Y' shape

Yuna spin: A variation in which the body is twisted so it is facing upwards and the is bent. Named after 2010 Olympic champion Yuna Kim who frequently performed the move.

Z
Zayak rule: A colloquial name for the rule that limits the number of times a skater can perform multi-revolution in a program. In its original form, the rule limited female to a maximum of four triple jumps in their  at the Senior level. However, it now applies to both double and triple jumps at any level. The latest amendment, adopted by the in June 2018, states that "of all triple and quadruple jumps only two can be executed twice" and "of the two repetitions only one can be a quadruple jump". The unofficial name of the rule refers to Elaine Zayak, who gained an athletic advantage by performing multiple double and triple  in place of other less valuable technical elements. The rule was enacted after the 1982 world championships in which Zayak had performed the same jump four times, specifically a triple toe loop.

Zagitova rule: A colloquial term for the rule that limits skaters to receiving a 10% bonus for jumps to a maximum of one jump element in the second half of the short program and a maximum of three jump elements in the second half of the free skating program. The rule was adopted by the ISU in 2018 after Olympic champion Alina Zagitova performed all of her jumps in the second half of her free program at the 2018 Winter Olympics to receive maximum bonus points, contributing to her win.