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Arine Ushakova and Sergei Karev fall during their free skate at the 2008 European Championships. (Getty Images)

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, special to icenetwork.com

(05/02/2008) - Falling is a part of figure skating. The very best ice skaters fall down. When figure skaters begin to learn a new jump, spin, or lift, they fall hundreds of times, but it is hoped a fall will not occur during a competition performance. If a skater falls in competition, points are deducted.

Famous figure skaters fall down

At the 2008 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Mao Asada won the ladies event even though she had a terrible fall at the beginning of her free program. Although points were deducted, she did so well in other areas that she won the event.

Most ice skating falls are harmless, but sometimes, a fall can be serious. Olympians Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov were not able to compete at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships because of a serious fall that had occurred in an ice dance lift during the warm-up at Skate Canada in 2007. Gregory was not able to recover in time from the injury that resulted from that fall.

Serious ice skating falls

Ice dancing falls can be dangerous, but pair skating falls can be more serious. At the 2006 Olympic Games, Dan Zhang fell as the team attempted a throw quadruple Salchow. The crowd gasped. She doubled over in pain, and it seemed that the team's Olympics were finished. Instead, she recovered; the team returned to the ice and completed their program. The pair won the Olympic silver medal.

Zhang's story is a happy one, but in the late 1990s, Paul Binnebose, a pair skater, was seriously injured from a fall. He was practicing a lift with his partner when he fell backward and hit his head on the ice. That injury nearly cost him his life. He did not compete again but did continue in the sport as a coach.

Pair skating at one time was more graceful than athletic. It did require some risks, but it was not considered as dangerous as it is today. Skaters were rarely thrown through the air or held upside down. Things were not done at the high speed required for today's athletic moves. Even though pair skating was safer at that time than it is now, falls did occur, as they do in all branches of figure skating.

Skating means falling

If you are a skater, you must understand that if you are going to skate, you are going to fall. That's a fact. Practicing falling over and over again is the only way to learn how to fall safely. It may help to practice falling when you are off the ice. Then, practice falling on the ice from a standstill, then while moving slowly, and then while moving more quickly. Wearing gloves may help. If you anticipate a fall, do not lean backward, but try to move your body and head forward. Relax. Do not stiffen up. And allow your body to go limp.

Falling tips

Beginning ice skaters can practice falling from a dip position. To do a dip, first glide forward on two feet and squat down as far as possible. Fall to the side and lean a bit forward. Do not lean back, or you may hit your head. Put your hands in your lap and not on the ice. If you leave your hands on the ice, another skater could skate over your fingers!

Skaters don't cry

All figure skaters should remember that falling down is part of our sport. In addition, the skater should return to the ice as soon as possible and do the move on which the fall occurred. The skater should remember to get up from a fall as soon as possible. Remaining sitting or lying on the ice poses a danger to both the skater and to others. It is important to get up quickly.

Happy Skating!

For more information on the fundamentals of figure skating, visit the U.S. Figure Skating's Basic Skills Program.