The inside forward, outside backward three is the easiest for the amateur to learn. The inside backward, outside forward three is the most difficult to learn and extremely difficult to place accurately. It should be practised persistently until mastered thoroughly.
The inside backward, outside forward three is started as for the inside circle backward, but the shoulder over the skating foot is turned strongly away from the centre of the circle. As the three turn is made the balance of the body should be strongly backward and the turn executed on the back or heel of the skate. This is the three where the balance foot may either be swung around in front of the body or allowed to remain behind the body as the turn is made. The illustration shows the latter method of making this three.
THREE. Right outside edge, backward, three, inside forward. (ROBTIF)
THREE. After the three, right outside backward, three, inside, forward. (ROBTIF)
All threes should be placed most carefully at the correct position at the top of the indented eight. Imagine two circles with a dent inward at the top of each circle and you have the right design for threes. In competitions or in serious practise of the threes for progress in skating school figures they are skated in pairs, starting first forward and then backward. For instance, right outside forward, three; left inside backward, three.
The carriage of the balance foot is most important in assisting in the execution of full, round curves after the threes. In every case the balance foot should be carried well outside the print after the three has been made; this will tend to enlarge the portion of the circle following the three. The arms should be carried low for all three turns, otherwise they will have a tendency to swing the skater out of the true curve and into a spiral.
THE FIRST KNOWN SKATING ILLUSTRATION
