Figure skating spins Totally Explained

Everything about Figure Skating Spins totally explained

Spins are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball of the foot. There are many types of spins, identified by the position of the arms, legs, and torso, the foot on which the spin is performed, and the entrance to the spin. A combination spin is a spin with a change of position or foot. Spins are a required element in most figure skating competitions.

Types of spins

There are many types of spins, identified by the foot on which the spin is performed, the entrance to the spin, and the position of the arms, legs, and torso. Spins may be performed on either foot. Figure skaters are rarely able to spin in both directions; most favor one or the other. For skaters who rotate in a counterclockwise direction, a spin on the left foot is called a forward or front spin, while a spin on the right foot is called a back spin. Spins may be entered with a step or a jump. Spins entered with a jump are referred to as Flying spins. There are 3 basic positions, for which many variations exist.

Upright spins

An upright spin is a spin where the skater is in an upright position. There are many variations on it.

A basic two-foot spin is an upright spin in which the skater rotates with both feet on the ice.

A basic one-foot spin is an upright spin in which the skater rotates with one foot on the ice. Spins can be skated on either of the feet.

A attitude spin looks a little bit like a very shallow layback, the skater turns her head and looks to the side, instead of arching and looking up, while the free leg is held in attitude position as for a layback spin. The leg position is the feature of this variation. It is often taught as an introductory position while learning a layback.

"I" spins (or upright front-grab spins) are a collection of spins when the skater pulls the free leg up in front of his or her face in a near-vertical angle (depending on the type of grab).

A shotgun spin is a variation of the upright front-grab spins in which the free leg is held in a horizontal position.

"Y" spins are spins in which the free leg is held with the hand and extended to the side in a near-split position. Michelle Kwan is known for doing this variation consecutively on both feet. The support can be from either or both arms, and the hold can either be on the skate or the ankle.

Photo gallery of Upright Spins

Image:Karel Zelenka Spin - 2007 Europeans.jpg|Scratch spin Image:Amber Corwin.jpg|Corkscrew or crossover spin Image:Angela Nikodinov 2.jpg|Layback spin Image:Catch foot layback.jpg|Catch foot layback spin Image:Haircutter spin.jpg|Haircutter spin Image:Douchine Zoya.jpg|Biellmann spin Image:Jamal Othman Spin - 2006 Skate Canada.jpg|Half-Biellmann spin Image:Mao Asada Spin - 2006 Skate America.jpg|One-handed Biellmann spin Image:Sasha Cohen 2.jpg|I spin Image:Alissa Czisny 2.jpg|Y spin - ankle hold Image:Shawn Sawyer Spin - 2006 Skate Canada.jpg|Y spin - skate hold Image:Shotgun spin.jpg|Shotgun spin Image:Vise & Trent Spin - 2006 Skate Canada.jpg|Side-by-side shotgun spins Image:Jeffrey Buttle 2003 NHK Trophy 2.jpg|An "A" spin

Sit spins

A sit spin is defined as a spin in which the buttocks are not higher than the level of the skating knee. There are many variations on it.

A basic sit spin is a spin in which the skater is in a shoot the duck position where the skating leg bent and the free leg extended forwards.

A broken leg sit spin is a sit spin in which the skaters free leg is turned inwards at the hip.

The corkscrew sit spin is a back sit spin in which the skater crosses the free leg behind the skating foot, rather than extending it to the front.

A flying sit spin is a sit spin entered from a jump; the skater attains the sit spin position in the air.

A pancake spin is a difficulty variation on a sit spin in which the free leg is canted towards the body and upper body is bent over it, forming the illusion of the skater's body as a pancake.

A cannonball spin is a difficulty variation similar to the pancake in which the free skate touches the thigh of the skating leg and arms are held down and touching the skating leg, giving the illusion of a cannonball.

A flying camel spin is a back camel spin from a jump entry.

A Illusion spin has a basic position similar to the camel, but instead of remaining "flat" throughout the duration of the spin the skater's body tilts up and down while the skater is spinning. The up-down cycle should coincide with the rotational speed so that the "low point" is always at the same point on the circle. This causes the spin to create an image that looks like a plate tilted at an angle.

A doughnut spin is a camel spin in which the skater pulls the blade of the skate of the free leg backward with one or both arms while arching the back to create a horizontal circular shape with the body. This is sometimes known as a horizontal Biellmann, and some skaters use this to enter the Biellmann position.

A butterfly spin is a flying spin with a near-horizontal body position and scissoring leg action in the air similar to that of the death drop, but it has a two-foot, twisting takeoff rather than an Axel-like takeoff. Butterflies can also be done as a solo move, without a spin, or in a series.

Photo gallery of Camel Spins

Image:Emily Hughes 2.jpg|Camel spin Image:Donut spin.jpg|Donut spin Image:Ben Ferreira 2.jpg|Butterfly jump Image:VolosharMorozov SP EC2007.JPG|Side by side camel spins

Change of edge

Forward change-edge spins, where the skater spins on the forward outside edge when in a forward spin rather than the normal backward inside edge. This isn't a change of position, but a "difficult variation" which garners supplementary points in the ISU Judging System. This is most commonly seen as a camel on a forward outside edge.

Backward change-edge spins, where the skater goes on the forward inside edge when in a backward spin rather than the normal backward outside edge. This isn't a change of position, but a "difficult variation" which garners supplementary points in the ISU Judging System. This is commonly seen in all of sit, camel, and upright positions.

Pairs and Dance

In pair skating and ice dancing, there are additionally pair spins and dance spins in which the two skaters rotate together around the same axis. These shouldn't be confused with side by side spins in which the skaters do the same spins as singles skaters, but side by side.

Photo gallery of Pair spins

Image:Dominika Piatkowska & Dmitri Khromin Spin - 2006 Skate America.jpg|Pair camel spin Image:Rus-nat-totmianina-marinin6.jpg|Side by side camel spins Image:Pair sit spin.jpg|Pair sit spin Image:Pair sbs sit spin.jpg|Side by side sit spins Image:Rus-na-tot-man.jpg|Pair sit and catch-foot Image:Lubov Iliushechkina & Nodari Maisuradze 2008 Junior Worlds.jpg|Pair sit and catch-foot layback

Photo gallery of Dance spins

Image:Bk dance spin.jpg|Upright dance spin Image:Khokhlova & Novitski 2003 NHK Trophy.jpg|Biellmann and upright Image:Isabelle Delobel & Olivier Schoenfelder OD Spin 2 - 2007 Europeans.jpg|Catchfoot and sit Image:Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat Spin - 2006 Skate America.jpg|Sit and camel Further Information

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