Compulsory figures

Compulsory figures were a former aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which its name (in English) derives. The original focus of the sport was the carving of specific figures into the ice, and for many years after free skating was added to competitions, the marks for the compulsory figures still contributed 60% of the total score.

Equipment for Compulsory Figures

Somewhat paradoxically, compulsory figures require a blade that is less sharp than for freestyle skating in order to produce more precise tracings of edges and turns. A shallower hollow along the bottom of the blade prevents accidental "flats" caused by touchdown of the other edge. Blades for compulsory figures also have smaller toe picks that are placed higher on the front of the blade so that the picks do not drag accidentally on the ice. When figures were a regular part of skating competitions, many skaters recycled their old free skating boots and blades into skates for figures by having the bottom toe pick ground off.

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A device called a scribe -- essentially, a large compass -- is commonly used as an aid for learning and practicing figures. It can be used to lay out the initial shape of a figure and to check the shape and size of circles already skated, and as a straightedge to check the alignment of the turns. However, scribes are not permitted in competition, nor may skaters rely on markings on the ice or rink boards (such as hockey circles or lines) to align their figures.

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