Skating with the stars

The tradition of having flower sweepers at major skating events has evolved over many years. Benjamin Wright, who has been a figure-skating historian, judge, and referee for decades, can remember having people help clean up the ice for the past 30 or 40 years. "The skaters themselves used to pick up the few items thrown on the ice years ago," he says. "But as more and more flowers were thrown, the skaters needed help gathering everything up." The contest organizers began asking a few people to help out. Formal tryouts and matching costumes for sweepers have been around for the past five or 10 years.

Skating organizations try to discourage the audience from throwing anything on the ice, says Dale Mitch, former curator of the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo. Even a stray flower petal can stick to the ice and trip up the next skater.

Now, all flowers must be wrapped in cellophane or a similar covering to try to prevent such mishaps. Stuffed animals have become more popular, along with bags of candy. As long as people throw items to skaters, flower sweepers will have their work cut out for them.

Is there a bad side to being a flower sweeper? "We don't get to brag about it," Jeremy says. For security reasons, sweepers were instructed not to talk about their jobs, and to keep especially silent about the top-secret opening and closing ceremonies, in which they are also involved.

But while Jeremy, Holly, and the other sweepers couldn't say anything before the winter Olympics began, they will be noticed during the competitions, and they'll have something very special to tell their friends about after the Games are over.

The Olympics aren't the only competition in which flower sweepers are needed. You might find opportunities to be involved in a figure-skating contest in your area. But you'll probably have to prove your ability first.

The sweepers for the Winter Olympics had to pass the standard United States Figure Skating Association preliminary-level skills test. Here are the moves they had to demonstrate:

Forward Crossovers: While skating forward on a curve, one foot crosses in front of the other as you stroke from foot to foot. Crossovers are used to turn and to prepare for jumps and spins. Skaters must be able to do crossovers while turning in either direction.

Backward Crossovers: While skating backward on a curve, one foot crosses in front of the other. You must be able to do backward crossovers while turning in either direction and while alternating from one direction to the other.

Power Threes: "Three turns" are named for the numeral three that skaters carve into the ice with their blades when performing these turns. Three turns help you change direction from forward to backward (or backward to forward) as you skate.

There are eight variations on the three turn, depending on the foot used, the edge of the blade used (inside or outside), and the skater's direction. A "power three" is a backward three turn that uses the skate's outside edge.

For the power three, you skate backward in a curve on one foot. Then you rock your weight from the back to the front of the skate while turning your skate (and yourself) around. Now you're facing forward. Finish the turn with another curve.

Spirals: These sound like spins, but a spiral is actually a glide on one foot. The other leg is held up behind the skater. A spiral can be going straight or turning, backward or forward. For the preliminary skating test, you must be able to glide on either foot, on both the inside and outside edges of the skate.

• Learn more about figure skating at the US Figure Skating Association website: www.usfsa.org.

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