Counter Turns: Taming the Trickiest Turn on Ice

Hello, skaters aiming for the top level! Today, we are tackling one of the most technically demanding turns — the Counter Turn.

Many confuse Counters with Rockers or Three-turns, but their mechanics are unique. A Counter is a turn where you change direction and lobe, but you maintain the same edge. The difficulty lies in the fact that the rotation happens counter to the natural flow of the entry edge.

Without solid Counter turns, it's impossible to perform a high-level step sequence or pass senior Moves in the Field tests.

The Foundation: Control and the "Check" Counters do not forgive sloppy technique. Success depends on two main factors:

Deep Knee Action: The rhythm "Down — Up — Down" is critical.

Strong Body Check: Because you rotate against the curve, momentum will try to throw you off balance. You must instantly stop the rotation ("check") immediately after the turn.

Breaking Down the 4 Types:

Forward Outside Counter: Requires strong body counter-rotation before the turn. Your free shoulder must be leading.

Forward Inside Counter: Don't fall into the circle. Keep your body stacked directly over the skating foot.

Backward Outside Counter: Trust in your edge. Enter on a solid backward curve. The turn happens via a sharp opening of the free hip against the direction.

Backward Inside Counter: Requires perfect balance. Before entry, you must be fully "closed," then sharply shift weight and reverse the shoulders.

Troubleshooting:

Changed edge? You did a Three-turn, not a Counter. Keep your ankle strong.

Scraping sound? Find the balance on the "rocker" of the blade; don't rely on the toe pick.

Watch the video closely. Counters require patience and hundreds of repetitions. Good luck!