For pair skating a certain amount of preliminary progress in individual skating is necessary. Each skater should be able to do the outside edge forward circles and at least strike out alone on the backward edges. Each should be able to execute the threes on both feet, at least forward. With these fundamental accomplishments it is possible to do very pretty and very interesting pair skating. Figures which seem not at all remarkable when skated alone have added interest and beauty when skated with an equally competent partner. Even the waltz, which is in some respects the most effective of all pair skating numbers, can be done by skaters who have not advanced further than this point.
Practise first, skating forward, one behind the other, right and left hands touching and letting the skater behind swing across the direction of the skater in front. Thus at the start of the stroke, the skater behind will be at the right side of the skater at front and at the end of the stroke will be at the left side. The arms of the skater in front swing behind and from side to side as the partner crosses. It is most important that in this as in almost all pair skating figures, the fingers merely touch; each partner should skate practically an independent circle. There never should be interference with the balance of one partner by the other. Only in the waltz is a firm swing of partners customary and advisable; or in the more difficult change of edge-three.
When some slight familiarity with this figure is attained then stand side by side, the forward skater’s left hand in the partner’s right. Strike out boldly on the right outside edge still touching hands, with intent to make a big circle. After about one-quarter of the circle has been skated let go of hands, continue skating the circle alone for one-half of its distance, which will bring the skater at the back across the circle being skated by the one in front and to the right side of the forward skater. Here, as about three-quarters of the full circle is skated, the forward skater’s right hand will be caught by the partner’s left hand and the figure finished in that position. This is very simple, very graceful and very effective. It should be skated in the form of an eight and each full stroke will then bring the skater back to starting point. It has the advantage of interfering less with the correct balance of the skaters and the correct carriage of the arms than the former figure. The better skater of the two should skate behind. The forward skater should pay very little attention to the partner, all the matching of stroke and the catching of hands being attended to by the partner behind.
| THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIGURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 O.F. I.F. O.B. I.B. PLAIN EIGHTS |  CHANGES |  THREES |  DOUBLE-THREES |
 LOOPS |  BRACKETS |  ROCKERS |  COUNTERS |
| THE ADVANCED SCHOOL-FIGURES | |||
 | |||
“CHARLOTTE” and IRVING BROKAW in pair skating spiral.
The circle eights, forward, hands joined with those of the partner and the stroke swinging the skaters around a great circle where the skater behind gradually crosses the direction of the skater in front, may be followed by same stroke backward. It will facilitate progress if the weaker skater skates the circle eight backward and the more expert of the partners skates it forward. The better skater will thereby be able to aid the poorer skater. Start, for instance, facing each other and with opposite hands touching or clasped. Let the poorer skater, who is attempting to learn the outside edge circle backward, strike out on the right foot aided by a vigorous push from the good skater facing forward. The better skater will do the circle on the left foot forward outside edge while the poorer skater will do it on the right foot backward outside edge. When the beginner is able better to skate on the right foot than the left the foot on which he is most expert should be used in the first trial, so as to give encouragement and confidence. Every figure must be learned on both feet and can be so learned if one persists. Generally it will be found that people ambidextrous in the use of the hands skate equally well with both feet. Strongly right handed people will generally skate better with the left foot and should practise more, therefore, with the right foot.
When reasonable familiarity and security has been obtained skating backward while the partner is skating forward, then both may skate backward, first with hands touching throughout the full circle and then executing the circles by touching hands at the start, skating alone one-half of the backward circle and then joining the opposite hands at the close of the stroke. This is similar to the position recommended for learning the forward outside circles together.
The inside edge backward circles are much more difficult to learn than the outside backward circles. They are best learned when the poorer skater skates inside edge circles backward while the better skater makes the circle on the forward inside edge of the opposite foot and the partners face each other with both hands touching throughout the circle. As proficiency is attained, one hand may be removed and merely the fingers of the partner’s hand touched for assistance in this difficult balance. It will rarely be found, however, that the inside backward edges are required to be skated together. But they are so important in individual skating and so much easier to learn with a partner than alone, that they should be regularly practised when pair skating.
A beautiful variation of the hands-over-the-head circles is that where the first circle is skated on the forward outside edge with both hands touching all through the circle and passing over the forward partner’s head. Then a swing of the partners occurs, a three on one foot is executed by both and the eight is completed by another circle skated backward on the outside edges of the opposite feet. Such a figure is easier than it appears.