Figure skating spins

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Maria Butyrskaya performing a layback spin

Spins are an element in figure skating. There are many types of spins, identified by the position of the arms, legs, and angle of the back. The skater rotates on the round part of the blade, called the ball of the foot, just behind the toe pick. Spins may be performed singly or in a sequence combining different types of spins.

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.

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.

Flying spins are spins that are initiated with a jump. These include the flying camel, flying sit spin, flying layback, death drop, and butterfly spin. Usually, they go from a forward spin, to a back spin.

Spins are a required element in most figure skating competitions.

1 Types of spins
2 Photo gallery of spins

[edit] Types of spins

[edit] Basic upright spins

The two-foot spin is a basic spin in which the skater rotates with both feet on the ice.

The scratch spin is a basic upright spin. The skater maintains a vertical position, typically with the free leg crossed in front of the skating leg. The arms and free leg begin in an open position, extended straight out and high. They are pulled in gradually, which accelerates the spin, and the leg is pushed down so that the feet are crossed at the ankles. This spin is performed on a very tight backward inside edge.

The back scratch is similar to the forward scratch spin, only performed on the opposite foot and on a tight backward outside edge. This is usually learned soon after the scratch spin is mastered, and is the basic air position for jumping.

A crossfoot spin is a back upright spin in which the free leg is crossed behind the skating foot, or the front foot on a back upright is lowered and the spin becomes a two-footed spin.

[edit] Major basic position spins

A sit spin is performed by assuming a "shoot the duck" position with the skating leg bent and the free leg extended forwards. Skaters may land a jump in a sit spin; this is the flying sit spin. When a skater has her/his leg turned inwards at the hip with the leg bent, it is called broken leg sit.

A camel spin (also known as a parallel or arabesque spin) is performed by assuming an arabesque position (or spiral position) with the free leg extended behind at hip level, parallel to the ice surface. A jump that lands in a back camel is called a flying camel.

The layback spin is a variation of an upright spin, usually performed by women, in which the back is arched and head dropped back, the free leg in an attitude position, and the arms often stretched to the ceiling. A common variation of this spin is the catch foot layback or haircutter, in which the skater grabs the free blade and pulls it toward their head while in the layback position.

[edit] Major position variations

A 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.

The Attitude spin is a variation of a layback spin. In this spin, the upper body remains upright, 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 a introductory position while learning a layback.

A doughnut spin is a variation of the camel spin where 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.

The Biellmann spin position

A Biellmann spin is performed by pulling the free leg from behind up and over the head. The blade of the skate may be held with either one or both hands. This requires extreme flexibility in the shoulders, back, hips, and legs. It was popularized by and named after 1981 World Champion Denise Biellmann.

"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). Rudy Galindo performed a version of this spin in which he grabbed the free leg in front with both hands, but held the leg lower, and this is sometimes called a "shotgun" spin.

"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.

The 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.

[edit] Jump entrances

A death drop (formally known as a flying open Axel sit spin) is a flying spin performed by jumping up with a forward Axel jump takeoff, kicking the same takeoff leg backwards, and landing in a back sit position. One of the major differences between a death drop and a regular flying sit spin is the position the skater attains in the air, which is almost horizontal to the ice in the death drop. Brian Boitano was known for his death drop.

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.

[edit] 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 is not 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 is not 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.