How to Learn Backward Crossovers in Figure Skating

Backward crossovers become easier when you can travel backwards comfortably, follow a circle and shift weight between your feet without rushing. Practise the underlying backward edges and half-swizzle pumps first, then combine them into a controlled crossover with your coach. Do not force a fast crossing step before you can see where you are going and stop safely.

What is a backward crossover?

A backward crossover is a repeated skating step used to build and maintain speed around a curve while travelling backwards. The feet pass across one another as weight transfers between blades. The movement is not simply stepping one foot behind the other while your body remains upright and stationary.

An inside edge and outside edge are the two sides of a figure-skate blade's skating surface. Controlling those edges lets the skate trace a curve instead of sliding sideways. A half-swizzle pump is a curved push made with one foot while the other guides the direction; it is a useful foundation before attempting a full crossover.

The Learn to Skate USA Basic Skills curriculum introduces backward half-swizzle pumps before backward crossovers. The YMCA of Northern Colorado's published Basic Skills sequence similarly lists backward pumps and one-foot glides before the later crossover skill.

What should you know before starting?

You do not need advanced jumps or spins, but a few fundamentals make the practice safer:

• A reliable backward glide in a clear area.
• Awareness of other skaters behind and beside you.
• A controlled backward stop suitable for your level.
• Comfortable backward half-swizzle pumps in both directions.
• Enough balance to move weight from one skating foot to the other.

If any of those feel uncertain, revisit them with an instructor. Learn to Skate USA's curriculum places backward stops, glides and pumps within its foundation sequence. Your rink's programme may teach the skills in a slightly different order.

A coach can also help you choose a safe part of the rink. Practising backwards around a busy public-session circle is not the same as using a clear lesson space.

A step-by-step learning progression

This is a practice framework, not a substitute for a demonstration from a qualified instructor.

1. Find the circle. With both feet on the ice, follow a wide, comfortable curve while travelling backwards. Keep your head up and check the direction of travel.
2. Use half-swizzle pumps. Let the outside foot make a controlled push while the inside foot continues along the curve. Try several slow pumps before changing direction.
3. Practise a stable glide. Notice where your weight sits over the skating foot. A brief controlled glide matters more than travelling quickly.
4. Learn the crossing action with a coach. At low speed, allow the feet to pass across one another while transferring weight smoothly. Do not twist your knees to force the shape.
5. Finish each push deliberately. Return to a stable curved glide instead of immediately throwing the next foot across.
6. Repeat in the other direction. A clockwise crossover and an anticlockwise crossover may feel quite different.

If you cannot maintain a curve, make the circle larger and return to the pump exercise. The U.S. Figure Skating curriculum expects work in both directions, not just a preferred side.

Why do your feet seem to get tangled?

Often the crossing action is happening before a stable weight transfer. You may also be trying to make the steps too large or moving faster than your balance allows.

Instead of forcing your feet farther across, practise one controlled pump and glide. Ask your coach to watch the timing of your weight shift. Your upper body should help you stay oriented to the circle, not yank the skates around.

Do not practise repeated backward crossings while staring at your feet. You need awareness of your path and nearby skaters.

Should you lift your foot or slide it across?

Different coaching progressions use different drills. A beginning crossover may be taught with a clear step to help a skater understand the crossing pattern; another approach may emphasise the continuous push and glide. Those are teaching choices, not proof that every variation is correct at every stage.

What matters is the intended level and quality of the movement. The Learn to Skate USA Basic Skills progression names the skill and its direction but does not prescribe one internet tutorial as the universal way to learn it. Ask your coach which exercise is appropriate for the test or programme you are following.

Avoid trying to imitate a fast, polished competition crossover before you have learnt its underlying mechanics.

Why are backward crossovers harder on one side?

You may have a stronger direction, a less confident backward edge or difficulty coordinating the crossing foot. The solution is not necessarily more speed.

Try comparing the foundations rather than only the complete crossover:

These are self-observation prompts, not diagnoses. If a blade unexpectedly catches or slips even on basic glides, ask your coach and skate technician whether equipment condition could be contributing.

Our inside and outside edge guide explains what those edges mean. The adult backward-skating guide provides earlier exercises if backwards travel itself is still uncomfortable.

How should you practise without reinforcing mistakes?

Choose a small, specific goal: perhaps maintaining a curved glide after the first crossing, or feeling more secure in the less familiar direction. Work on it for a manageable part of your session, then return to a familiar exercise.

A short practice log can help distinguish "I did a crossover once" from "I can repeat it with control." Skate Canada's CanSkate programme organises fundamentals around balance, control and agility, supporting the general idea of tracking the component skills as well as the final movement. It is a Canadian programme, not an Australian test standard.

If your coach gives you a correction, write down that particular cue. Trying to fix shoulders, knees, free foot and speed all at once can make it harder to notice improvement.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not cross the feet merely to make a visible X shape. A good crossover depends on a usable curve, controlled pressure and a stable exit. Avoid practising only your stronger direction, bending at the waist to stare at the ice, or assuming that increasing speed will solve a balance problem.

If you feel ankle pain or cramping, stop and review the cause rather than repeating the same movement through pain. It may be technique, boot fit, fatigue or something else that needs assessment.

Browse the skill progression hub and how to learn three-turns for related edge and turning work. Three-turns are a separate skill; you do not have to master them before every backward crossover drill.

Key takeaways

• Build backward glides, stops and half-swizzle pumps before full crossovers.
• Focus on controlled curves and weight transfer rather than crossing the feet quickly.
• Work in both directions and use a coach to check the actual skating edges.
• Reduce speed when the steps become tangled or the blade starts scraping.
• Treat a reliable, safe exit as progress even before the movement looks polished.