Jump Combinations And Sequences In Figure Skating
Figure skating jumps can look remarkably similar at arena speed. A skater lands one jump, immediately springs into another and appears to create one continuous aerial phrase. In the results, however, that passage may be recorded as a jump combination or a jump sequence, and the distinction affects both its base value and the way judges assess it.
The difference is found in the connection between the jumps. A combination links jumps directly, with the landing of one jump becoming the take-off for the next. A sequence allows turns, steps, hops or other linking movements between listed jumps, creating a looser but still clearly connected jumping passage.
Understanding the terminology makes competition viewing more rewarding. Whether following the Senior or Junior events associated with Torino 2019, watching at the Palavela in Turin or streaming from Australia, spectators can start to recognise why a technically demanding passage receives a particular value and grade of execution.
What The Two Terms Mean
A jump combination is a group of two or three listed jumps performed without a step or turn between them. The skater lands the first jump and uses that landing edge to launch the next jump. The most familiar example is the triple Lutz–triple toe loop, where the toe loop follows directly from the Lutz landing.
The first jump can be followed by a jump that takes off from the landing foot and edge, or by a toe-assisted jump. A combination may include different jump types, such as an Axel followed by a double toe loop, provided the required connection is maintained. The jumps need to flow as one continuous unit rather than appearing as separate elements.
A jump sequence is more flexible. It contains two or more jumps connected by steps, turns, hops or other movements, while still functioning as a recognisable jumping passage. Under the rules used around the Torino 2019 era, a sequence could include several jumps, but its scoring treatment was different from that of a conventional combination. The highest-value listed jump generally formed the main basis of its technical value, with the sequence receiving a separate percentage adjustment.
How A Combination Is Built
The key feature of a combination is directness. After landing the opening jump, the skater cannot insert a three-turn, mohawk, choctaw or clear change of edge before starting the next listed jump. A small hop or a free-leg movement may be part of the landing and preparation, but an obvious step-out or turn breaks the combination.
The second jump often uses the landing leg from the first jump. That is why triple toe loops are common as the final jump: the skater lands a jump backwards on one foot, places the other toe into the ice and takes off. A triple Salchow or triple loop can also appear as the second jump, although each requires a different take-off edge and demands precise control.
A three-jump combination increases the difficulty further. A skater might perform a double or triple jump, add a triple toe loop, then complete a further jump. Maintaining speed, rotation and a clean landing through all three parts is difficult, so a mistake in the first jump can affect the entire element. The final jump is often where the sequence loses height or flow.
How A Sequence Is Scored
A sequence is not simply a combination with extra decoration. Its rules recognise that the skater is linking jumps through varied skating movements rather than performing every jump in immediate succession. The linking steps can show musical timing, edge quality and skating skill, but they also create opportunities for balance errors.
Technical specialists identify the jumps and determine the element’s base value. Judges then award a grade of execution, considering qualities such as speed, height, distance, clean landings, flow and the relationship between the parts. A sequence with strong rhythm and control can look impressive, even when its formal value is lower than a high-level three-jump combination.
The scoring framework has changed across different ISU seasons, so a protocol from Torino 2019 should be read with the rules applying to that event. Modern viewers may see sequence values presented differently in later competitions. The underlying visual distinction remains useful: a direct jump-to-jump connection is a combination, while a passage that incorporates intervening steps or turns is a sequence.
Features That Help Identify The Element
- A combination has jumps linked directly, without a clear step or turn.
- A sequence may include turns, steps, hops and connecting movements.
- A combination usually contains two or three listed jumps.
- The sequence’s technical value is calculated differently from a standard combination.
- A step-out, turn or loss of flow can change how the passage is classified.
Why The Difference Matters In Competition
Skaters and coaches choose elements according to the planned technical content of the short programme or free skating programme. A combination can deliver substantial points because the values of its component jumps are added together. A difficult triple–triple combination is therefore a major scoring weapon in the women’s and men’s events.
A sequence may offer strategic value when a skater wants to connect jumps with musical phrasing or use the available programme structure efficiently. It can show transitions and skating skills while still adding jump content. In a free skate, where the programme has more room for varied elements, this type of passage can help shape the overall architecture of the performance.
The risks are different as well. In a combination, a weak landing on the first jump can make the next take-off impossible or under-rotated. In a sequence, the skater has more freedom to recover through a turn or step, but every extra movement must remain controlled. A messy connection may reduce the grade of execution and undermine the intended technical value.
For spectators in Australia, this is useful when watching an event replay at an inconvenient hour. A skater who appears to land several jumps successfully may still receive a lower score because one jump was downgraded, a rotation was short or the element did not meet the required connection. The scoreboard reflects technical details that may be difficult to see from a lounge room screen.
What Spectators Should Watch For
Start by watching the landing of the first jump. Does the skater immediately place a toe pick or use the landing edge to launch another jump? If so, the passage is probably a combination. Does the skater visibly turn, change direction or add a series of steps before jumping again? That suggests a sequence.
The second clue is the rhythm. A combination has a compact, spring-loaded quality: landing, preparation and take-off happen in quick succession. A sequence often has a more varied rhythm, with the skater travelling through turns or steps before another jump appears. The movement may be choreographic, but it still needs to preserve the identity of a linked jumping element.
Do not rely only on the number of jumps you can count. A skater can perform multiple jumps in a passage and still have the judges treat it as a sequence. Conversely, a combination may contain two jumps that happen so quickly they seem like one aerial action. Slow-motion replays are especially helpful for spotting a toe assist, a change of edge or an intervening turn.
Viewing Cues During A Live Or Broadcast Event
- Look at the landing foot and the next take-off rather than watching only the height.
- Check whether a turn or step occurs between the jumps.
- Notice whether speed and flow continue through the whole element.
- Compare the protocol sheet with the broadcast graphic after the performance.
- Treat a visibly completed jump as separate from its technical classification.
Common Examples Across The Disciplines
In women’s skating, a triple Lutz–triple toe loop has long been a recognisable combination. The Lutz requires a long back outside edge and a toe-assisted take-off, while the toe loop after it uses the landing leg and the opposite toe pick. Because the first jump demands a strong outside edge, an incorrect edge can affect the element’s value or notation.
Men’s programmes often feature difficult combinations such as a quad toe loop–triple toe loop or a quad Salchow–triple toe loop. The height and speed can be spectacular, but the second jump must still be properly rotated and landed. A skater cannot make the element a valid high-value combination simply by placing two jumps close together.
Pairs skating uses a different technical vocabulary because partners perform throws and lifts as well as side-by-side jumps. The distinction between a side-by-side jump combination and a jump sequence still depends on how the jumps are connected. In ice dance, ordinary singles-style jump content is restricted, so viewers should not apply the same expectations to that discipline.
At a major event such as the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, these differences appear across several programmes and disciplines. The contrast between a compact combination and a flowing sequence can help viewers appreciate how each skater builds a performance around the rules, the music and their own strengths.
Reading Protocols And Event Information
A protocol sheet is the most reliable way to confirm what happened. Abbreviations identify the jump types, while numbers indicate the planned or completed rotations. A notation such as “3Lz+3T” signals a triple Lutz–triple toe loop combination. A sequence may be marked with a sequence designation or appear as an element whose value reflects the applicable sequence rule.
The protocol also separates base value from grade of execution. A skater may receive a strong grade for a beautifully controlled combination, while another receives a reduction after a shaky landing even if both attempted the same jumps. Under-rotation, edge calls, falls and other errors can change the final result substantially.
Event schedules, competitor profiles and result pages add useful context. At Torino 2019, fans could follow the Senior and Junior competitions, practice sessions, gala information and arena details alongside the results. For Australian viewers, checking the official schedule is particularly important because Turin sessions occur many hours behind Australian Eastern Time, and live coverage may be listed differently by broadcaster or streaming service.
The Palavela setting also matters to the live experience. An audience in the arena sees speed, height and travel across the ice in a way that a television camera may compress. Someone watching from Melbourne’s O’Brien Icehouse, Sydney’s Ice Zoo or a home in regional Queensland may need replay footage and protocols to catch the small edge and connection details that officials assess in real time.
| Feature | Jump Combination | Jump Sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Jumps follow directly with no clear intervening step or turn | Jumps are connected through steps, turns, hops or other movements |
| Typical content | Two or three listed jumps | Two or more jumps, with more flexible linking |
| Common example | Triple Lutz–triple toe loop | A listed jump followed by turns and another jump |
| Scoring approach | Values of the included jumps are combined | Scoring follows the sequence rules for the relevant season |
| Main visual clue | Immediate landing-to-take-off action | Noticeable skating movement between jumps |
| Main risk | A poor landing can prevent the next jump | Extra movement can reduce flow or expose balance errors |
Knowing this distinction also makes commentary easier to follow. When a commentator mentions a “combo,” they usually mean a combination with direct jump connections. When they describe a “sequence,” they are referring to an element in which linking movements are part of the design, not merely a collection of jumps placed near one another.
For Australian fans, the terminology can turn an overnight Grand Prix broadcast into a more informed viewing experience. Whether the programme is watched live before the morning commute, replayed over a weekend arvo or discussed with a local skating club, the protocol begins to tell a clearer story about risk, execution and strategy.
Explore the Torino 2019 event coverage to revisit the schedules, results, competitors, practice information and gala details surrounding the Grand Prix Final. With the difference between combinations and sequences in mind, each jump passage becomes easier to recognise—and every mark on the results sheet carries more meaning.