Mohawk Figure Skating: Master the Turn and Edges

A mohawk in figure skating is a one-foot-to-the-other turn that switches a skater from forward to backward (or backward to forward) while keeping the same edge type — inside to inside, or outside to outside. It builds edge control, clean weight transfer, and lays the groundwork for footwork, transitions, and spin or jump entries.

I teach mohawks early because they show up everywhere — from a skater’s first steps off the wall to the step sequences they’ll skate in competition for years to come. Once a skater owns a solid mohawk, so much of footwork starts to click, because they already understand how to change direction without losing their edge.

What Is a Mohawk Turn and Why Does It Matter?

A mohawk is a turn from one foot to the other that changes the direction a skater is facing — forward to backward, or backward to forward — while staying on the same type of edge through the turn. That’s the defining feature. Unlike a turn that flips you from an inside edge to an outside edge, a mohawk keeps the edge character consistent as the feet switch.

This simple-sounding move builds several skills at once:

• Edge control — the skater has to commit to a true edge before, during, and after the turn
• Weight transfer — moving cleanly from one foot to the other without a hop, skid, or hesitation
• Directional change — learning to go from skating forward to skating backward (and back again) with control
• Rotation management — coordinating hips and shoulders instead of letting them spin independently

Mohawks appear constantly in skating: in step sequences, in connecting footwork between elements, as setups into jumps, and as basic building blocks in choreography. You’ll also hear coaches talk about ‘open’ and ‘closed’ mohawks, which refer to the position of the hips and free leg after the turn is complete. Skaters don’t need to master that distinction on day one, but it’s worth knowing it’s coming.

Inside Mohawk vs. Outside Mohawk: What’s the Difference?

Inside Mohawk (Where Skaters Start)

An inside mohawk goes from an inside edge to an inside edge — for example, a forward right inside edge turning into a backward left inside edge. I teach this version first because the edge relationship is easier for a developing skater to feel and understand.

The basic setup looks like this:

• Controlled forward inside edge with a clear curve
• Free leg extended behind the body, not dragging or floppy
• Soft skating knee holding the edge
• Shoulders and hips organized, facing the direction of the curve
• Free foot drawn in to meet the skating foot at the instep
• Clean transfer onto a backward inside edge

Outside Mohawk (The Advanced Variation)

An outside mohawk moves from an outside edge to an outside edge, and it’s a noticeably harder skill. It demands a more precise lean into the curve, a more deliberate hip opening, and tighter rotational control than the inside version.

The most common failure point I see: the skater loses the outside lean right before or during the turn, and the edge quietly rolls over into an inside edge without them realizing it. What should be an outside mohawk turns into an accidental inside-edge step — technically a different turn than the one they intended to perform.

Understanding the Edges Behind a Mohawk

Every mohawk depends on edges, so skaters need to actually understand what that means, not just hear the word. An inside edge is the edge closest to the other skate; an outside edge is the edge farthest from the other skate. Which edge you’re on is determined by how the blade is leaning relative to the curve you’re tracing — lean one way, you get one edge; lean the other way, you get the other.

Here’s the part that trips skaters up: if the blade flattens out before the foot placement happens, the turn falls apart. A flat blade has no edge quality to transfer, so the mohawk becomes slow, unstable, and disconnected from the flow around it — it looks like a stop-and-step instead of a turn.

Strong edge work going into and out of a mohawk looks like this:

• A clearly curved path on the ice, not a straight line
• Quiet, controlled upper body — no wobbling for balance
• Bent knee and flexed ankle holding the edge
• Weight centered over the blade, not shifted to toe or heel
• No scraping sound — a clean edge doesn’t skid

How to Do a Mohawk: Step-by-Step Technique

Here’s how I break it down with my own skaters, step by step:

1. Establish the approach edge. Get onto a forward inside edge with a flexed knee, balanced over the curve — not leaning back or collapsing in toward the circle. The free leg extends behind, and the entry edge needs to be set and holding before the feet ever come together.
2. Prepare the body. The leading shoulder and hip move into position ahead of the turn. The free hip opens toward the center of the circle. Hips and shoulders need to move together here — not twist independently of each other, which just creates tension and throws off the timing.
3. Bring the free foot to the instep. Draw the free foot in to meet the skating foot at the instep, without colliding with it or drifting out wide. The new foot gets placed on its intended edge at the exact moment the old foot is leaving the ice — not before, not after.
4. Complete the weight transfer. The transfer should be decisive but smooth — no dragging the foot across, no hesitating halfway through. Check the rotation with the shoulder and hip right at the moment of transfer so the turn doesn’t spin out of control.
5. Establish the exit edge. Finish on a clear backward edge that continues the curve — not a flat step or a skid to a stop. The knee stays flexed, and the free leg moves with purpose into whatever comes next.

Body Positioning That Makes or Breaks a Mohawk

Knee and Ankle Action

A soft bend in the knee and ankle absorbs the weight transfer and keeps pressure on the blade throughout the turn. That bend should support the edge — it’s not an excuse to sit back or collapse down toward the ice.

Shoulders and Hips

The shoulders and hips need to work together while still maintaining the counter-rotation the turn requires. My go-to cue: keep your body aligned with the curve you’re tracing. Don’t let the shoulders open up early and ‘cheat’ the rotation before the feet have actually done their job.

Head and Eyes

The head stays upright, stacked naturally over good posture. Looking in the direction of travel helps with orientation, but skaters shouldn’t whip their head around to try to force the turn. The rotation should come from coordinated edge work, hip and shoulder positioning, and foot placement — not from snapping the head to generate momentum.

The Free Leg

The free leg extends with purpose before the turn and stays controlled afterward. A loose, swinging free leg either pulls the skater off their edge or makes the whole step look rushed and sloppy, even if the feet technically did the right thing.

Common Mistakes Skaters Make on Mohawks (and How to Fix Them)

I see the same handful of errors over and over, across all ages and levels:

• Rushing the turn. The skater steps before the curve is actually set. Fix: hold the entry edge longer, keep the knee bent, and wait for the free foot to find correct placement before transferring.
• Flat entry edge. The blade loses its curve before the transfer happens. Fix: practice one-foot inside-edge glides on their own, and use a bigger circle before adding speed.
• Incorrect foot placement. The free foot lands too far away or ends up on the wrong edge. Fix: isolate the foot-draw as its own drill without completing the full turn, then layer the weight transfer back in.
• Uncontrolled upper-body rotation. The shoulders swing ahead of the feet. Fix: slow the entry down, coordinate hip and shoulder movement with foot placement, and check the rotation right as the new foot lands.
• Losing the outside lean (outside mohawk specific). The edge rolls over into an accidental inside edge. Fix: maintain the lean into the circle and correct the foot position relative to the curve, rather than the curve relative to the foot.
• Weak exit. A flat blade on the way out kills speed and rotation. Fix: bend the new knee immediately, establish the exit edge right away, and carry the curve into whatever move comes next.

How Skaters Progress From First Mohawk to Advanced Footwork

Mohawks develop in stages, and skipping ahead usually just builds bad habits that need to be unlearned later.

Stage	What skaters work on
Beginner	One-foot edge glides, forward inside-edge approaches, stationary foot-placement drills, slow inside mohawks on a shallow curve, practicing forward-to-backward and backward-to-forward on both sides
Intermediate	Inside mohawks on a full circle in both directions, mohawk-to-mohawk combinations, linking mohawks with crossovers and stroking, controlled speed changes while holding the edge
Advanced	Outside mohawks, open and closed variations, mohawks built into step sequences, mohawk entries into spins or jump setups, combining mohawks with three-turns, counters, brackets, and choctaws

A skater is ready to move up when they can repeat the variation on both sides with a stable entry edge, accurate foot placement, a controlled transfer, and a clean, recognizable exit edge. Not just once — consistently.

Practice Tips That Actually Build a Clean Mohawk

Here’s what I actually have my skaters do on the ice to build this cleanly:

• Use a traced circle or a cone as a visual guide for the curve, especially early on
• Start on a large circle and shrink it gradually as control improves
• Hold the entry edge for a count before drawing the feet together
• Isolate the foot-draw as its own standalone drill, separate from the full turn
• Deliberately slow the turn down so the skater can feel the entry edge, the transfer, and the exit as three distinct parts
• Always repeat both directions — left and right — so one side doesn’t quietly become the ‘good side’
• Only chain two or three mohawks together once each individual one is clean
• Use video review or coach feedback to confirm the blade actually held its intended edge the whole way through

I’d rather see ten clean, deliberate reps than fifty rushed ones. Quality reps are what build a mohawk that holds up under pressure — in a test, in a program, in a competitive step sequence. This kind of patient, detail-first approach is a core part of how I’ve built my coaching philosophy over the years working with skaters throughout the Bay Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a mohawk different from a three-turn?
A mohawk changes feet and keeps the same edge type — inside to inside. A three-turn stays on the same foot the whole time and switches from an inside edge to an outside edge (or vice versa).

Can a skater do a mohawk equally well on both feet?
That’s the goal, yes. One side is almost always easier at first, but deliberately practicing the weaker side builds better edge awareness and more versatile transitions overall.

When should a skater learn the outside mohawk?
After they have consistent inside-mohawk technique and reliable one-foot outside-edge control. They need to be able to hold the curve, keep the lean, and place the free foot accurately before speed gets added to the mix.

Why does my mohawk feel stuck or slow?
Usually it’s a shallow entry edge, not enough knee bend, late foot placement, hesitation during the weight transfer, or a flat exit edge. Slow the whole turn down and exaggerate the entry curve to isolate exactly where it’s breaking down.

How do mohawks connect into footwork sequences?
They link forward and backward skating, connect crossovers into other turns, and set up transitions into jumps, spins, or choreographic steps — all while preserving the flow of the program.

Mohawks aren’t flashy, and skaters won’t get applause for a clean one. But I’ve watched enough skaters grow up on the ice to know that the ones who take the time to really own their mohawks end up with footwork that looks effortless years later. Stay patient with the fundamentals — the payoff shows up down the road, element by element.