Or backward to forward edges.
Would the judges consider it a "legal" change of edge? Rockers, counters & three turns as changes of edge, if legal, it could make spiral sequences much more interesting, as traveling camel spins are quite possible and using this type of tecnique slowly or the Robin Cousins slide skid spiral of the early eighty's used change of edge.
It's certainly not illegal to use those turns between spirals in a spiral sequence, but the technical specialist wouldn't count them toward the change of edge feature.
There's a different feature that would apply:
Unsupported change of free leg position or direction of skating maintaining the spiral (3 seconds hold before and after the change) [emphasis added]
The tricky part is that the free leg can't drop below hip level during the change and the positions before and after the change of direction would both need to be held for 3 seconds for the skater to get credit for that feature. That's a lot more difficult than changing from forward inside to forward outside edge in spiral position and holding both for 3 seconds, but if anyone can do it well enough to meet those requirements they would earn that feature and appropriate GOE.
If the judging system rewarded originalty, instead of conformity, we might see spiral sequences with more interesting differences.
The fact that only 3 spiral positions count as of this year limits the options for skaters who are trying to earn level 4, along with the fact that they need to use both feet, both edges, and both forward and backward directions (required in the short program, and it's also a feature) and they need to have at least one unsupported position.
Skaters are, of course, welcome to do other spiral-related skills that don't easily fit into the requirements for a level 4 sequence if they prefer to aim for a lower level hoping for higher GOE. Or if they can do something impressive on a flat instead of an edge or that they can't hold each position for 3 seconds and would therefore "waste" positions in an official spiral sequence, they're welcome to use those skills as transition moves.
At lower level US competitions sometimes I see other spiral variations from girls at the juvenile and intermediate levels -- they don't have spiral sequences as elements in their programs, but most of them do include some spirals as transition moves and occasionally they'll do something that adds difficulty and/or interest in a way that wouldn't easily fit a spiral sequence, such as a skid spiral or forward spiral, lower free leg, rocker, lift leg to back spiral. Or traveling camel into a combo spin. Elite level ladies can do those things in addition to official spiral sequences, and so can men who don't do official spiral sequences.
