Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union (ISU) regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals, and throw jumps. The teams also perform the elements of single skating in unison. Pair skating is difficult because achieving this degree of unison requires similar technique and timing on all elements of the performance, as well as practice and trust between the partners. The aim is to create an impression of "two skating as one". Serious skating accidents are most common in the pair discipline.
In February 1908, pair skating first appeared at the World Championships, with three teams from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia competing in Saint Petersburg. Its Olympic debut was in October 1908, with three teams competing in London, one from Germany and two from the U.K. Pair skating has evolved significantly since its early beginnings. Some elements common in the modern-day sport were not introduced until decades later.
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Pair skaters execute a variety of elements, some of which are unique to the discipline. Each element receives a score according to its base value and grade of execution (GOE), resulting in a combined technical elements score (TES). At competitions, a technical specialist identifies and assigns a level of difficulty to each element. Level 4 is the most difficult. A panel of judges determines GOE, ranging from +3 to -3, based on how well the pair executes the element. The GOE may be weighted according to the element's base value.[1]
Note: Women are referred to as "ladies" in ISU regulations.
Pair lifts are generally overhead, rotational, and require ice coverage, i.e. to travel a distance across the ice. Scores are affected by the type of lift, type of entry, ice coverage and speed across the ice, changes of position, the quality of the lady's position, the man's stability and cleanness of turns (i.e. minimal snow flying), type of dismount, and unique features. Optional features to increase one's score include performing a difficult entry or dismount, a release to one hand, changes of position during the lift, stopping the rotation and/or rotating in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
Lifts without rotation are termed carry lifts. Lifts below the man's shoulders are termed dance lifts and are counted toward the choreography mark, as are stationary lifts, lifts performed "on the spot", without ice coverage.
Lifts are categorized by the grip and position used to initially lift the lady over the man's head. For example, in a hip lift, the man lifts the lady with his hand on her hip, and a press lift uses a hand-to-hand grip. The most difficult type of lift is considered to be the Axel lasso lift, in which the lady rotates a full turn while she is lifted by the man in a hand-to-hand grip.
A twist lift, an element found only in pair skating, is a move that begins with the man assisting the lady in an Axel or toe-assisted jump where she rotates and is caught mid-air by the man, who then places her down back on the ice. In some twists, the lady performs a split before rotating. This raises the grade of execution if each leg is separated by at least a 45° angle from the body axis. A pair may also achieve a higher score with a difficult entrance, delayed rotation, or if the lady holds her arms over her head.
Double and triple twist lifts are commonly seen at the elite level; the first quad twist was performed by Marina Cherkasova and Sergei Shakrai at the 1977 European Championships.
A throw jump, an element unique to pair skating, is a move in which the man assists the lady into the air and she lands on her own. Throw jumps can be done with any of the jump takeoffs, done as doubles, triples, or quadruples for elite pair teams. The toe loop and salchow are considered the easiest jumps while the loop and flip are more difficult; the most difficult throw jump is the axel. The score is affected by the quality of execution, including the speed going into the element and distance and height of the throw. The man should continue skating in a smooth manner, without stopping or lunging forward too much from the exertion. Difficult entries, such as from a spiral, may increase the score.
The most difficult throw jump that has been completed in competition is the throw triple axel jump. It was first performed by Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr at the 2006 U.S. Championships. They were also the first to perform it in international competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics.[2]
A death spiral, an element unique to pair skating, is a move in which the man performs a pivot while swinging the lady around on a deep edge in a position almost horizontal to the ice. The outside edge death spirals are considered more difficult than the inside edge variants, with the forward outside death spiral the most difficult of all. An unusual entry such as a shoot-the-duck or catch-foot position, change of hand hold during the element and/or maintaining a catch-foot position may raise the score.
A pair spin is a spin in which the two spin around a common axis while holding each other. The additional balance obtained by holding onto a partner allows pair skaters to obtain spin positions that would be difficult or impossible for a singles skater to achieve. Rotational speed, centering, and quality and difficulty of positions affect the score. Pairs may employ atypical entries or rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
Pair skaters also perform single skating elements in unison such as side-by-side (SBS) jumps and spins. Keeping in line with "two skating as one", the quality of a SBS element is not evaluated by an average of each skater's completion. Instead, skaters should begin a side-by-side element together, maintain unison and close proximity to each other throughout, and finish together.
In side-by-side jumps, pairs must perform the same jump in unison and closely together. If one partner underrotates a jump, both jumps are marked as the lower of the two. For example, if one partner underrotates a double axel by more than a quarter, both jumps will be evaluated as a single axel attempt. Due to having to maintain identical timing and technique, skaters who are able to perform a jump separately may struggle when performing the jump with a partner.
Side-by-side spins are evaluated on unison and timing, difficulty and quality of positions, closeness, centering, and rotational speed. Pairs sometimes shout auditory cues to their partner in order to maintain and adjust their timing.
Pairs also perform step sequences, spiral sequences and other moves in the field. Part of the step sequence is usually performed in unison but pairs may also include a mirror portion, dance lifts, etc. They are evaluated on variety and difficulty of turns, edge quality, speed, ice coverage, timing, and unison.
Spiral sequences do not have to be performed in identical positions. Speed, ice coverage, depth of edge (lean) and quality of positions determine the score.
Moves in the field include spread eagles, spirals, ina bauers, cantilevers, dance lifts and others. Pairs may create variations and combinations of these moves.
The program components score (PCS), also known as presentation, is composed of:[3]
1) Skating skills (SS): Defined as "edge control and flow over the ice surface demonstrated by a command of the skating vocabulary (edges, steps, turns, etc), the clarity of technique, and the use of effortless power to accelerate and vary speed", it includes:
2) Transitions (TR): Defined as "varied and/or intricate footwork, positions, movements, and holds that link all elements", including the entrances and exits of technical elements. The criteria include:
3) Performance/execution (PE) includes:
4) Choreography (CH) includes the following criteria:
5) Interpretation (IN) includes:
Some pair skating maneuvers are banned from Olympic-eligible skating due to their high risk of serious injury to the skaters. Illegal elements warrant deductions in both the 6.0 and ISU Judging System. These moves are only performed in exhibitions or professional competition.
Other illegal maneuvers include:
Pair skaters may struggle to find a good match, in terms of skills, strength, style, height differential, and drive, in their native country. Some look abroad and agree to represent another country,[5] e.g. Aliona Savchenko (Ukraine to Germany), Tatiana Volosozhar (Ukraine to Russia), Yuko Kavaguti (Japan to Russia), Mervin Tran (Canada to Japan), Ondřej Hotárek (Czech Republic to Italy). Skaters may represent a country of which they are not yet a citizen in most competitions, except the Olympics which require citizenship. If a skater has previously represented another country, International Skating Union rules bar the skater from 24 months of international competition from the date of his or her last major event for the previous country, or 12 months from a minor event. To ease the difficulty of finding a partner, the period may be 12 months from a major event for pair skaters (and ice dancers) but only if the skater is released by his or her previous skating federation.
In 1996, the International Skating Union imposed age requirements. In order to compete at Worlds, Europeans, Four Continents or the Olympics, skaters must be 15 before July 1 of the preceding year, or 14 for other senior international competitions. To be eligible for junior-level events, a pair skater must be 13 by July 1 but cannot have turned 19 (females) or 21 (males).[6]
Skaters may lose their Olympic eligibility if they perform in an unsanctioned show or competition.
Competitive pair skaters generally do not wear helmets or other protective gear while executing risky elements on blades that are only 4mm (3/16 inch) thick. There is a risk of head injuries, most commonly as a result of falls from lifts.[7] Irina Rodnina competed at the 1972 World Championships, despite being hospitalized a day before the start of the competition with a concussion and an intracranial hematoma.[8] Tatiana Totmianina had a scary fall at the 2004 Skate America and sustained a concussion but was not seriously injured.[9] J. Paul Binnebose suffered a nearly fatal head injury when he fell while lifting his partner; he was partly paralysed and did not return to competition.[10]
Partners may also slash each other if they drift too close particularly during side-by-side camel spins. Several female pair skaters have suffered head/face injuries during this element, including Elena Berezhnaya,[11] Jessica Dubé,[12][13] and Galina Efremenko (Maniachenko).[14] Such accidents may also happen on other elements, e.g. Caydee Denney accidentally sliced open Jeremy Barrett's calf while practicing side-by-side jumps, requiring 42 stitches.[15] Meagan Duhamel sliced Craig Buntin's hand likewise on side-by-side jumps.[16]
Twist lifts may also result in injury to both partners. Sometimes the female may elbow her partner on the descent from a twist; these accidents are not uncommon in practice and sometimes occur in competition, e.g. Duhamel breaking Eric Radford's nose at the 2011 Worlds.[17][18] In some cases, this may prevent the man from catching his partner, e.g. Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison at the 2009 World Team Trophy.[19] The height and force of throw jumps may also cause injuries to the lady, particularly during quad throws.
Practice collisions between different pairs may occur. A pair has right of way when their music is playing during practice. As changing course is more difficult for a couple, a pair skating as a unit has right of way over those practicing separately.
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