What is a death spiral in figure skating?
I · Intermediate · Pairs and ice dance · 7 of 8In a throw jump, the man throws the woman into the air and she lands unaided on a backward outside edge. In a death spiral, the man pivots and holds her hand as she circles around him, head close to the ice but never touching it. The pairs short program has seven required elements.
How it works
- Throw jump: thrown by the man; landed by the woman alone.
- Solo jumps: if partners rotate differently, the jump is called at the lesser rotation.
- Death spiral: at least one revolution, the man in a full pivot with knees bent.
- Woman's head: close to the ice, not touching it; no hand on the ice.
- One skate on the ice: the woman's, throughout the death spiral.
- Pair spin combination: both partners change foot and position; at least eight revolutions.
- Short program 2026-27: hip lift, twist, throw, solo jump, pair spin, forward inside death spiral, step sequence.
- Free skating: death spiral of a different type from the short program (seniors).
The glossary has the throw jump, the death spiral, the pair spin, the solo jump (pairs), the pair free skating program and the unison.
Tricky cases
The woman's head touches the ice in a death spiral. What happens?
It is a breach of the requirement; she must not touch the ice with her head or a hand.
Partners land a side-by-side jump with different rotations. How is it called?
As the jump with fewer rotations.
Must partners do the same moves all the time?
No. They may separate at times, but must give an impression of unison.
Which death spiral is in the 2026-27 short program?
The forward inside death spiral.
Why the rule exists
Pairs is meant to look like two people skating as one, not two soloists. Strict death spiral rules keep it a skill of edge and balance, not of dragging a partner.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Senior short program 2026-27 | Forward inside death spiral | ISU 620 (2) |
| Junior short program 2026-27 | Double or triple loop throw | ISU 620 (3) |
| Free skating | Up to two different throws | ISU 621 |
From the rule book
ISU, Sports Rules: Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance (as of 12 June 2026), rules 619, 620 and 621. Checked 14 October 2026. Official documents: the ISU Sports Rules and the season's ISU Communications.