Spins

There are many different kinds of spins that are available in figure skating. This is because spins in singles skating is open to interpretation and it is up to the skaters creativity to do new spins. There are, however, all together three basic spin positions, ie. upright spin, sit spin and camel spin. All other variation are done based on these three positions. The spins are categorized into forward spins (spins done on the left foot for CCW skaters) and back spins (spins done on the right foot for CCW skaters).

Spins should be fast and centered (not travelling across the ice) with the position held for a considerable duration. To achieve this, lots of practice is needed. Some of the spins like the Bielmann and layback requires flexibility up to a certain extent.



 You should come out of a spin exactly like the landing of a jump.


Upright spin
A spin done on an upright position, also called the spinning position in jump. Spins are usually done on one foot but the crossed foot spin requires both foot on ice.

The initial position for the upright spin is usually with both arms out to the side and freeleg up to the side. When the spin is centered, the various position can then be achieved.

Some upright spins :-
Fast scratch spin - final position is the spinning position for jumps.
Corkscrew spin - similar to the scratch spin but the freeleg lowered to the back instead of the front, spinning leg bent.
Layback - spin with the torso leaned back, freeleg held to the back
Attitude spin - back spin in an attitude position, ie. legs bent and held back horizontal to the ground
Bielmann spin - spin with free leg pulled up above the head from the back
Donut spin - back spin in a horizontal Bielmann position. The position is like a lasso with the loop parallel to the ice.
Egg-beater spin - spin with the freeleg held up to the front. Some sort of a reversed Bielmann.
Crossed foot spin - like a scratch spin, both legs on ice and crossed.
Headless spin - a scratch spin with only the head leaned back


   Irinaslutskaya-bielmann   IrinaSlutskaya-bielmann
Bielmann spins


   JoseeChouinard-layback   layback   MichelleKwan-layback
layback spins


TanjaSzewczenko-spin 
front attitude spin

 
 Midoriito-eggbeater
egg-beater spin


Oksanabaiul-donut
donut spin


Sit spin
Sit spin position is a bent spinning leg and a fully stretched freeleg. The freeleg is turned out and held in front with both thighs almost touching. Some skaters have their freeleg bent and wrapped around the spinning leg, which I feel distorts the figure of the spin.

Some variation of the sit spin :-
Broken leg sit spin - sit spin position with freeleg turned in and held to the side instead of the usual turned out and to the front.
Full sit - sit spin with spinning leg fully bent. Skater will be sitting on the boot of the spinning leg.




Ekaterinagordeeva-sit   Michellekwan-sit



Camel spin
Camel spin is a spin with an arabesque or spiral position. This spin is one of the best looking spin if done properly.

Variation of the camel spin :-
Illusion or windmill - camel spin with torso bobbing up and down. As the torso bobs down the freeleg will rise and vice versa.                                This creates a windmill-like figure.



Flying spins
Flying spins are spins preceeded with a jump. The rotation speed however may not be as fast as the normal spins.

The flying spins are:
Flying sit - jump and land on a sit spin
Axel sit - a flying back sit
Flying camel - jump and land on a back camel
Death drop - flying camel followed immediately by a back sit
Arabians or butterfly - a mere jump attaining the flying position in the air (like a starfish) and land. May or may not be followed                                   by a spin.



Spin Combination
Spin combination means spinning with changes to the spinning foot, eg. forward spin to back spin or changes to the spinning positions or both. Combinations for spins can increase the speed of the spin but can also reduce the speed of the spin.

The spins that may increase the speed of the spin is usually forward spins to backspins. Combinations of basic positions that may increase the speed of the spin are:
camel-sit
sit-upright
back sit-back camel
back camel- upright (usually the donut spin or the Bielmann)

Some common spin combinations :-
camel-sit-scratch (or layback)
camel-sit-back sit-back camel-upright

A forward sit to a forward camel is a spin combination that takes away the speed tremendously. But the spin combination has its own beauty.


*For media clips on the spins please visit Technical Skating, a page managed by Kevin Anderson.




Photo by J. Barry Mittan

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The Axel Paulsen main page


Additional materials : -
Tim's how to do a blurspin Page, by Tim Waxman - Learn how to spin like a fan!


 Direct all comments to me at paulsen@oocities.com

Updated 12-26-96
HL Matthew Lee
paulsen@oocities.com