Safety measures for skaters during high-speed lifts

The Palavela arena in Turin hosted the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final from 5 to 8 December 2019, bringing senior and junior teams together for demanding competition across pairs and ice dance. Lifts formed a visible part of many programmes, yet their apparent simplicity concealed considerable physical and technical risk.

High-speed lifts combine rotation, elevation, balance and a precise landing. The moving skater must trust the base partner completely, while both athletes need strength, timing and the ability to react when something feels different. A fraction of a second can determine whether a lift is controlled, a difficult fall is safely absorbed or an avoidable injury occurs.

Effective safety measures therefore combine disciplined training, strong communication, careful ice preparation, medical readiness and clear authority to stop a movement. The aim is not to remove excitement from the lift, but to build enough control that athletes can perform at speed without treating fearlessness as a substitute for preparation.

Why high-speed lifts change the risk

A lift performed at moderate height has very different demands from one taken rapidly to full extension. As the moving skater rises, momentum increases, and the base partner must resist both gravitational force and the skater’s changing centre of mass. Speed also reduces the time available to correct a misplaced grip, uneven take-off or unstable body position.

The moving athlete faces a separate set of hazards. A poorly aligned wrist or hand can rotate under load, while an excessive arch can place unnecessary strain on the lower back and hips. On release, the skater must prepare for the blade to meet the ice at the correct angle. If speed, height and rotation exceed what the pair can control, even a technically strong athlete may land outside a stable base.

Conditions around the lift matter as much as technique. Ice chips, a scraped surface or an unfamiliar arena can alter traction, and changes in temperature or humidity can affect clothing, equipment and muscle readiness. A crowded practice area also increases distraction, especially when music is playing and skaters are waiting for their turn.

Training the team as carefully as the movement

Progression should be the foundation of every lift. The pair can practise the entry, grip, elevation, rotation and landing separately before combining them. Height and speed should increase only after the movement can be repeated consistently, while new choreography can be introduced at a controlled pace. This reduces the temptation to “test” a difficult element during a busy practice session.

Communication must be specific enough for use under pressure. A general instruction to “lift higher” offers little help when the skater is rising quickly; a cue about hand placement, knee position or the intended release point is more useful. Partners should also agree on what happens if a grip slips, the entry feels unstable or the base partner loses balance. A trained spotter can provide additional support, but spotter duties must be clearly assigned.

Conditioning and recovery are equally important. Lifters need shoulder and core strength, ankle stability, flexibility and the endurance to maintain posture through repeated attempts. Athletes also need permission to report fatigue without feeling they have let the team down. A session plan that allows for warm-ups, rest intervals and technical reviews is more productive than one that drives tired skaters to repeat an element until it becomes unsafe.

Preparing the ice and managing practice

Before training begins, the coaching team should inspect the landing area, identify any surface damage and confirm where spotters will stand. Blades, bindings and removable protective equipment should be checked for secure fit. Skaters need a clear run-up and enough space to exit after a failed attempt, with loose items kept away from the ice.

The official practice schedule helps athletes and coaches balance discipline-specific preparation with recovery and warm-up time. It also allows teams to decide when a high-speed repetition is appropriate and when an element should remain at learning speed. Visiting coaches should observe the session before joining their skaters, particularly when arena access, ice direction or warm-up routines differ from those used at home.

On competition days, practice becomes part of a wider safety system. The coaching team should confirm when the ice is available, share arrival times with athletes and establish a method for reporting injuries or concerns. Warm-up space must remain predictable, and an athlete who arrives with altered equipment, illness or significant fatigue should speak with the coach before attempting a full-speed lift.

Medical response, judging and learning after incidents

Medical arrangements need to be understood before the first session. The coaching team should know who provides first aid, where treatment can be provided and how an emergency would be communicated to venue staff. An athlete showing signs of concussion, severe pain, loss of coordination or unusual difficulty standing should be removed from the ice and assessed rather than encouraged to continue.

Judges and technical officials evaluate what happens on the ice, but they are not responsible for medical decisions. Their role is to apply the rules consistently and report unsafe behaviour that requires attention. Skating personnel must understand the distinction: a competition can be paused for an injury, equipment problem or other legitimate concern, regardless of the time remaining in the schedule.

Incidents should also prompt a review rather than blame. Coaches can examine whether the lift was progressed too quickly, whether communication broke down, whether fatigue was ignored or whether the surface created an unexpected hazard. An honest review helps the pair adjust and gives other teams useful information. Medical details should remain confidential, while relevant safety lessons can be shared with coaches and event officials.

A practical safety checklist for clubs

Australian figure skating often depends on a network of member clubs, volunteer committees and contracted coaches. Population spread means many talented skaters travel from regional centres or interstate for quality ice time and specialist coaching. Venues such as Adelaide IceArenA and Perth Ice Arena illustrate the range of large indoor arenas available, although access, ice time and coaching availability differ considerably between metropolitan and regional clubs.

Club culture also shapes the safety message. Australian coaches often encourage athletes to “have a go”, a phrase that can be encouraging when paired with firm limits. For lifting work, “no lift, no heroics” should complement that encouragement. Clubs should maintain appropriate public liability and participant insurance, understand their state work health and safety responsibilities and make sure volunteers know who has authority to stop a session or arrange medical assistance.

• Progress every lift through grip, entry, elevation, rotation and landing before adding maximum speed.
• Assign one qualified coach to approve progression, use agreed partner cues and brief spotters on their roles.
• Inspect the ice and warm-up area, check equipment and record any fatigue, pain or illness before training.
• Review difficult falls and near misses without assigning blame, then adjust technique, conditioning or session workload.
• Keep emergency contacts, insurance details, medical escalation procedures and athlete medical information current and accessible.

These measures should be written into the club’s training plan rather than left to memory on a busy competition day. A short pre-session briefing can confirm the elements being attempted, the maximum height or speed permitted, the spotter’s position and the response to any concern. Coaches should also record meaningful information so that another coach or partner can continue the same safety process.

Make the next practice safer by nominating a lift lead, checking the ice and medical arrangements, agreeing on clear stop signals and progressing each element only as far as the team can control. The same discipline belongs at every level, from a first junior competition to an elite event in Turin.