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Recognizing the Edges

Figure skating is defined in terms of “edges”. The bottom of a figure skating blade is ground into the shape of a hollow circle, and the “points” of the circle are what actually touch the ice. These “points” are called edges, and each skate blade has 2 of them — the “inside edge”, and the “outside edge”. On the skater’s left foot, the right side of the blade would be the “inside edge” (the inside of the legs).

Picture showing blade Edges

There are 8 ways to skate, described by a combination of the foot, direction of movement, and blade edge. They are as follows:

Code Description
LBO Skating on the Left foot, Backwards, on the Outside edge
LBI Skating on the Left foot, Backwards, on the Inside edge
RBO Skating on the Right foot, Backwards, on theOutside edge
RBI Skating on the Right foot, Backwards, on the Inside edge
LFO Skating on the Left foot, Forwards, on the Outside edge
LFI Skating on the Left foot, Forwards, on the Inside edge
RFO Skating on the Right foot, Forwards, on the Outside edge
RFI Skating on the Right foot, Forwards, on the Inside edge

Most skating elements can be described as a combination of edges using the above terminology.

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