What is figure skating? Figure skating stared hundreds of years ago. It became popular when the king of England decided to try it in the 1600’s. It was call figure skating because of the designs  the skates made on the ice. In competitions this is what you would be judge on. Then that got taken out and they started to perform jumps.
		Spirals: Spirals are long graceful moves across the ice. To make a perfect spiral the skate  puts their leg behind there head. When you spiral your body must be parallel to the ice.
		Pair Skating: Pair skating is the most difficult and dangerous type of skating. Skaters must do the same jumps and spins at the same time there partner does. A spin that must always be preformed is the death spin[shown on the left]. The death spin is the most dangerous with the guy spinning the girl at high speeds in a circle.
		Jumping: Jumping was invented by the British.Jumping is a more difficult aspect then spinning. When you jump you rotate in the air. These jumps are known as the Axel, Toe Loop, Sow cow and flip. The only jump you don’t rotate in the air is the split jump. The easiest jump is the waltz.
		Spinning: Spinning was invented by the French before figure skating became poular.Some of the best skaters can spin at high speeds with out moving an inch across the ice.When you spin you spin on the outside edge of the skate. The hardest spin is the Lay back.