What Were Special Figures?

Special Figures - A Part of Figure Skating History:

Special figures were a part of figure skating in the late 19th Century and in the early 20th Century.

Complicated Designs:

Very complicated and elaborate patterns invented by the skater were drawn on the ice with the skater's blades. Some designs that were created included rosettes, stars, and crosses. Each special figure was really a work of art. The skaters that competed in special figures usually also took the time to draw their designs on paper.

An Olympic Event:

Special figures were included as one of the figure skating events in the 1908 Summer Olympics that took place in London. Actually, the only year special figures took place in the Olympics was in 1908. Nikolai Panin of Russia won the event and was Russia's first Olympic Champion.

Different Than Compulsory Figures:

Compulsory figures in figure skating are based on figure eight patterns and are done in circles. Special figures did not follow figure eight patterns, but did include some of the turns done in compulsory figures. Special figures were phased out as compulosry figures became more popular among ice skaters.

Included Shapes:

Special figures included shapes that were known as beaks, spectacles, and cross-cuts.

Required Balance:

Special figures required much balance. Some of the designs skated were done on two feet while others were skated on one blade. The skater skated on straight lines and curves and turned from forward to backward and backward to forward.

Required Clean Ice:

The ice that special figures were skated on had to be clean and almost looked like glass.

Special Figure Size:

The special figure designed were sometimes large and sometimes small. They were usually smaller than compulsory figure eight patterns.