What are levels of difficulty on spins and step sequences?

Question

Accepted Answer

Spins, step sequences and similar elements are given a level of difficulty. There are five levels, from Base to Level 4. A higher level raises the element's Base Value.

Features: a level comes from the number of features attempted. In Single Skating, Level 1 needs 1 feature, Level 2 needs 2, Level 3 needs 3 and Level 4 needs 4. The technical panel identifies the features and the level.
Step sequence features in the 2026/27 list include: variety of difficult turns and steps (minimum variety at Level 1, simple variety at Level 2, variety at Level 3, complexity at Level 4), rotations in both directions, use of body movements for at least one third of the pattern, and two combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet. A step sequence needs at least 2 difficult turns and steps on clean edges to reach Level Basic. If the variety requirement is not met, the level cannot be higher than Basic.
Spin features include difficult variations, change of foot by jump, a jump within a spin, difficult entrances and exits, a clear change of edge, both directions in a spin, a clear increase of speed, at least 8 revolutions without a change of position, foot or edge, and windmills (3 in a row). In any spin, only two difficult variations count toward level features.
What is a spin: in singles and pairs a spin needs at least three revolutions, and the minimum number of revolutions in a position is two without interruption. A spin with no basic position of 2 revolutions receives no level.
A step sequence is not required to follow a particular pattern; the small-pattern reduction was deleted from the step sequence guideline for 2026/27, so judges evaluate the quality of the element.

Sources: ISU Communication 2788 (Season 2026/27), https://isa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2788-SP-Levels-and-GOE-2026-Updated-MAY-19-1779351385-9626.pdf (national federation copy of the ISU communication); Skate Canada, https://info.skatecanada.ca/index.php/en-ca/rules-of-sport/52-marking-of-skate-canada-competitions.html; ISU Technical Panel Handbook, Single Skating 2026-2027; ISU Handbook for Referees and Judges 2026-27