Quad (figure skating)

A quad, or quadruple, is a figure skating jump with no less than four revolutions and no more than five revolutions. Most quadruple jumps have exactly four revolutions; the quadruple Axel has 4½ revolutions, although no figure skater to date has completed this jump in competition. The quadruple toe loop and quadruple Salchow are the two most commonly skated in the discipline. Quadruple jumps have become increasingly common among World and Olympic level men's single skaters, to the point that not having one in a program may be considered a handicap.

In singles competition for men:

In singles competition for ladies, only Miki Ando has landed a ratified quadruple jump. In pair skating competition, top skaters are executing either quad throw jumps or quad twist lifts.

A jump harness is often employed in training quads.Max Aaron stated that the smallest error may make the difference in the success of a quad attempt: "The minute your left arm is behind you, or your three-turn is too fast, if your hips don't turn in time, if your foot isn't in the right place, anything will throw you off."Ross Miner stated that the quality of the ice sometimes plays a role but more on the quad salchow than the toe loop. Practicing quads increases the risk of injury and wear and tear on a skater's body.

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