Short program (figure skating)
The short program of figure skating is the first of two segments of competitions, skated before the free skating program. It lasts, for both senior and junior singles and pair skaters, 2 minutes and 40 seconds. In synchronized skating, for both juniors and seniors, the short program lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Vocal music with lyrics is allowed for all disciplines since the 2014–2015 season. The short program for single skaters and for pair skaters consists of seven required elements, and there are six required elements for synchronized skaters.
Nathan Chen during his short program at the 2018 Skate America.
Yu-Na Kim performs a Bielmann spin during her short program at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships
Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker perform a death spiral in their short program at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
Team Golden Blades perform a circle rotating element during their short program at the qualifiers for the 2010 Finnish Synchronized Skating Championships
Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic disciplines are men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance; the four individual disciplines are also combined into a team event, which was first included in the Winter Olympics in 2014. The non-Olympic disciplines include synchronized skating, Theater on Ice, and four skating. From intermediate through senior-level competition, skaters generally perform two programs, which, depending on the discipline, may include spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals, and other elements or moves.
Figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (2019)
"Central Park, Winter: the Skating Pond", 1862 lithograph
Close-up of a figure skating blade, showing the toe picks, the hollow (groove) on the bottom of the blade, and screw attachment
Blade sharpening