Short program (figure skating)

In synchronized skating, for both juniors and seniors, the short program lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds.

[3] The short program was added to single skating in 1973, which created a three-part competition until compulsory figures were eliminated in 1990.

[7] In synchronized skating, for both juniors and seniors, the short program lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds, "but may be less".

[9][10][note 1] Pair skating, which has never included a compulsory phase like the other figure skating disciplines, did not require a short program until the early 1960s, when the ISU "instituted a short program of required moves" as the first part of pair competitions.

Both partners of pair skating and ice dancing teams must demonstrate the criteria equally.

Unity, connections between and within elements, choreography reflecting the skaters' musical phrase and form, multidimensional movements and use of space, and pattern and ice coverage are considered when judges evaluate skaters' composition, which the ISU defines as "the intentional, developed and/or original arrangement of the repertoire of all types of movements into a meaningful whole according to the principles of proportion, unity, space, pattern, and musical structure".

[14] When evaluating skaters' presentation, which is defined as "the demonstration of engagement, commitment and involvement based on an understanding of the music and composition",[15] judges must take into account skaters' expressiveness and projection the variety and contrast of their energy and movements, their musical sensitivity and timing, and for pair skaters and ice dancers, unison, oneness and awareness of space.

The following must be considered when judging skaters' skating skills, which is defined as "the ability of the Skater to execute the skating repertoire of steps, turns, and skating movement, with blade and body control":[15] variety of edges, steps, turns, movements and directions; clarity of edges, steps, turns, movements and body control; balance and glide; power and speed; and flow.

[16][17][18] Russian skater Kamila Valieva holds the highest single women's short program score of 90.45, which she earned at the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.

[20][note 2] The short program for senior single skaters consists of seven required elements.

No previous rotation can be done before the skater takes off for the flying spin and the "required eight revolutions can be executed in any variation of the landing position".

[26] Junior men can only perform the prescribed camel or sit position and the spin must have only one change of foot, which can be done in either the form of a jump with no fewer than six revolutions on each foot in the basic position they have chosen or in the form of a step-over.

[27] Both junior and senior pair skaters have seven required elements, but with three groups of variations depending on the season.

For example, seniors during the 2022–2023 season had to perform the following: any lasso lift take-off; either a double or triple twist lift; either a double or triple throw jump; either a double or triple solo jump; a solo spin combination with just one change of foot; a backward-inside death spiral; and a step sequence using the entire ice surface.

[29] The sequence of the elements is optional and their short programs must be skated in harmony with the music they choose.