Glossary of Figure Skating Fan Terms
Glossary of Figure Skating Fan Terms
Glossary of some common (and not-so-common) colloquial terms used by skaters and skating fans. This guide will not cover official technical terms. For technical skating terms, please see our Glossary of Common Figure Skating Terms.
LAST UPDATED: Jan 29, 2022
BACKLOAD (v.)
Definition: To perform jumps in the second half of singles programs in order to receive a 10% base value bonus on them. (Restrictions on backloading bonuses were introduced in the 2018-19 season; only 1 jump in the SP and 3 jumps in the FS receive a bonus if performed in the second half.)
Origin: Unknown. Commonly used by skating fans.
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FLUTZ (n., v.)
Definition: 1) A lutz jump that takes off from the inside edge (like for a flip) instead of the outside edge. 2) To take off from the wrong edge on a lutz.
Origin: A play on words. Very common term among skaters and skating fans.
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LIP (n., v.)
Definition: 1) A flip jump that takes off from the outside edge (like for a lutz) instead of the inside edge. 2) To take off from the wrong edge on a flip.
Origin: A play on words. Very common term among skaters and skating fans.
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PLATINUM (MEDAL) (n.)
Definition: A silver medal awarded to a skater which, in the eyes of the skater or fans, should be gold. This term can be used seriously or ironically.
Origin: Evgeni Plushenko’s website listed his silver medal from the 2010 Winter Olympics as “platinum” soon after the competition. This was later removed.
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POP (n., v.)
Definition: 1) A jump with fewer rotations than planned. 2) To do fewer rotations on a jump than planned.
Origin: Unknown. Very common term among skaters and skating fans.
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POTATO (n., v.), POTATO MEDAL (n.)
Definition: 1) 4th place at a competition. 2) To finish 4th at a competition.
Origin: 4th place in Czech is called the “potato medal”. On Czech skater Michal Brezina’s old website, an article referring to how he always placed 4th at competitions was translated into English as “Can Brezina break his potato’s damnation?”
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RIPPON (JUMP) (n.)
Definition: A variation where a skater holds both arms above their head while jumping.
Origin: US skater Adam Rippon, who popularized this variation. A common term among skaters and skating fans.
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TANO (JUMP) (n.)
Definition: A variation where a skater holds one arm above their head while jumping. Pairs women can also do a tano variation on twist lifts.
Origin: US skater Brian Boitano, who popularized this variation. A common term among skaters and skating fans.
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WARHORSE (n.)
Definition: A heavily overused piece of music. Common examples include Phantom of the Opera, Carmen, Turandot, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Scheherazade, Swan Lake, etc.
Origin: Unknown. Commonly used by skating fans.
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WAXEL (n.)
Definition: An axel jump where the skater slips off the takeoff edge, usually resulting in an awkward fall or pop.
Origin: Unknown. Common term among skaters and skating fans.
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ZAYAK (v.)
Definition: To break a jump layout rule and get a jump invalidated.
Origin: Elaine Zayak, a skater who used to perform several triple toeloops in her free programs until the ISU made a rule to limit the number of same triple jumps in a program. “Zayaking” now refers to breaking any jump layout rule and getting a jump invalidated. A very common term used by skaters and skating fans.