Double threes make a very pretty tracing on the ice and are especially useful in determining if the skater has learned the correct carriage for the various turns comprising them. Unless that correct balance has been learned, the correct execution of the double threes is impossible. There is an agreeable swing to the double threes which is lacking in some of the other school figures. They form what one might call a finished figure of themselves, both as to the tracing on the ice and the position of the skater after the figure has been performed. They leave the skater in a naturally correct and agreeable pose for the following half of the figure.

The double threes have this peculiar difference from other school figures—they are very much easier forward than backward. But the carriage of the balance foot is much easier in the backward than in the forward half of the figures. To-day we have the forward half of the double threes—that is, starting on each foot forward, first outside and then inside edge. The completed figure makes a trefoil, or clover leaf, as will be seen from the diagram, one of the prettiest of the school figures.

Start the double three on the outside forward edge with not too vigorous thrust from the foot on the ice, since a certain amount of power can and should be gained by the correct turns which will be made during the progress of the figure. Too strong a thrust will tend to make the skater spin on the first three. It is better to start practise of the double threes somewhat slowly, learn where the greatest difficulty lies, and then practise overcoming that difficulty by independent skating of the most difficult portion of the figure.

The general directions for the start of the threes forward on the outside edge apply to the start of the double threes. After the first three has been made, which will bring the skater on to the inside edge backward, the balance foot should be carried fairly high at first and gradually brought close to the skating foot, so that when the skater is ready to make the second three the balance foot is close to the skating foot. During the inside edge backward the shoulders and the body should be slowly turned away from the centre of the circle toward the second three.

At the moment of the second three the skating knee should be bent rather strongly and the body turned, without perceptible jerk, into the right position for the finish of the figure, which is on the outside edge forward again. The balance foot is allowed to remain slightly behind as the second three is performed and, when the third portion of the curve of the completed figure is about one-half skated, should be brought forward into the usual position for the end of the outside forward circle.

The inside edge double threes forward are started as for the inside forward threes, but with more bending of the skating knee and with less inward turn of the body toward the circle. When the first three has been executed and the skater is then on the outside backward edge, the balance foot should be carried fairly close to the skating foot and the body should lean strongly backward. At the moment of the second three the balance foot should be brought close to the skating foot and directly over it.

When the second three has been executed, the balance foot may be allowed to linger a little behind the skating foot and be carried in that position to the finish of the third curve, or it may be brought forward into the customary position for the finish of the inside forward circle. Both positions are used by the best experts of Europe.