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Singles Figure skating on ice is singles on roller skates. Remember Tara Lapinski’s gold medal ice skating performance at the Olympics? Do that on roller skates and you are doing singles. But, singles on roller is much more difficult than ice due to the weight of the skates. Singles free skating, also known as freestyle, is comprised of 3 elements: jumps, spins, and footwork. Skaters need to blend these elements with music to create a performance that embraces both sport and art*. This is known as the routine or program. There are many different jumps in roller skating. Most jumps begin from a backwards skating direction. Jumps can be completed with single, double, and triple rotations. Very few roller skaters attempt quadruple jumps. Jumps can be done in isolation or in combination, a series of jumps completed together. Spins can be completed in upright, sit, and camel positions. In order to receive credit for the spin, the skater must perform at least 3 revolutions. Unlike ice, our camel spins are typically performed after a traveling camel. Roller skaters can also complete heel camels (spun on the back 2 wheels of the skate), broken ankles (completed back spinning on the inside or outside 2 wheels of the skate), and inverts (spun by leaning backwards with the body facing the ceiling). Requirements for a skater’s routine are based upon the age and level of the skater. Judges search for speed and height in jumps, velocity and variety of positions in spins, body control during the routine, and originality in the footwork segments.* Definitions: Footwork: A series of turns and body positions coordinated with the music Spirals: Also know as arabesques; camel spins are completed in the spiral position Cannonball: Crouching down on both skates with your bottom touching the tops of your boots Shoot-the-Duck: After completing a cannonball, extend one leg out in front of your skating foot while continuing to roll on the skating foot. Sit spins are completed in this shoot-the-duck position |
