The second half of the double threes are skated backward. That is, both parts of the lesson of the day start backward. Double threes have the interesting peculiarity of finishing on the same edge and in the same direction as they are started. They are clover leaf in pattern, and should be skated with great care to have the leaves equal in size and accurately placed as to the axis of the two large circles of which they form a part. The placing of all school figures is most important and is the basis of the marking which obtains in European competitions.

Start the figure on the outside edge backward, with a fairly strong thrust from the foot on the ice. The general position is that which has been described for the outside backward circle of three, with a little less turn of the shoulders away from the centre of the circle. Gradually turn the body so that, as the first three is being made almost the right position for the second curve, on the inside edge forward, is obtained. As the first three is performed, the balance foot should be in front of the body, over the print and not far from the skating foot. A slight swing of the balance foot is customary as the first three is performed, but the balance foot must not be permitted to stray from the skating foot, or there will be a tendency to revolve the body from the right position for the second curve.

The balance foot is carried forward of the body during the second curve in the customary position during the inside forward circle and up to the moment when the second three is performed, when it should be brought close to the skating foot and directly over it. There should be considerable bending of the skating knee as this second three is made. The balance foot drops slightly forward of the body after the three is made, as in the usual backward outside edge circle, and the figure is so finished.

The inside backward double threes are started as for the inside backward threes, but with more vigorous thrust and more bending of the skating knee. The balance foot is carried well across the print up to the moment of the first three, when it is brought close to and over the skating foot. After the three is made there should be general straightening of the skating knee and of the body, which will greatly add to the momentum. The second curve of the figure, on the outside forward edge, furnishes one of the places where much power can be added during the execution of a figure. The second three is performed exactly as described in the forward outside three and the figure finished on the inside backward edge.

Many skaters find that the double threes are easier than the single threes, and that a series of threes are easier than a single three, carried out correctly to the starting point. Such skaters should not get the bad habit of doing the more elaborate double or chain threes to the neglect of the fundamental single or double threes. In time ignorance of the right balance for the simpler figures cannot fail to get the skater into trouble.