Ina Bauer (element)
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An Ina Bauer is a moves in the field element in figure skating in which a skater skates on two parallel blades - on the inside edge of the straight trailing leg and on either the inside or outside edge of the bent leading leg. Many skaters bend backwards, down towards the ice, while performing the move, although this is not required. The most flexible skaters can bend over almost completely backward. When performed this way, the move is called a layback Ina Bauer, after the layback position.[1] The move is named for Ina Bauer, who invented it.
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[edit] Technique
The Ina Bauer can be performed on the inside edge or the outside edge. It is an extended fourth position in ballet in terms of where the feet are placed. However, the front leg is bent and the back leg is kept straight. It can be entered into through an inside-edge spread eagle. The outside edge Ina Bauer is considered more difficult than an inside edge. The Ina Bauer, like the spread eagle, is commonly used as an entrance into jumps, adding to the difficulty level of the jump under Code of Points.
The back position is not mandatory, although most skaters will at least bend a little. The most flexible skaters can bend their backs until their head is nearly upside down.
The Ina Bauer is also a position for the lifting partner in ice dancing lifts.[2]
Ina Bauers can be performed in competition by both men and women. The most famous skater to make it a signature move is Shizuka Arakawa.
[edit] In Japan
Shizuka Arakawa of Japan is famous for her flexible take on the Ina Bauer, during which she bends her back backwards until her head is upside down. This move was highlighted in Arakawa's winning free skating program at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where she performed an outside edge Ina Bauer, then performed a three jump combination. Because of this publicity, the term "ina bauer" has been transliterated phonetically into the Japanese word イナバウアー and has taken on a new meaning. It is a "vogue" word that has come to mean anything having to do with bending over backwards, due to the fact that the term was repeated so often that many people mistakenly thought that "ina bauer" referred to the back position[3], not the skating involved (the back position is more exactly called the layback position, making the move combined with Arakawa's back position a "layback Ina Bauer"[1]). In Japan, it is also known as the "Arakawa way" or the "Arakawa type" (荒川のように), after Shizuka Arakawa.
The term has become so popular in Japan that Asahi Breweries has attempted to trade mark it.[4] However, that attempt was blocked because it is a proper name and Bauer refused to give the rights[5].
[edit] Gallery
 Front view |
 Side view |
 Back view |
 An ice dancing lift with the lifting partner in an Ina Bauer position |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Wessling, Susan (December 2007). "Shizuka Arakawa: Living the Dream" (in English). International Figure Skating 13 (6): 50–51. Boston, MA: Madavor Media. ISSN 1070-9568.
- ^ ISU Communication No.1391PDF (631 KiB)
- ^ The Arakawa Effect | Sports | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
- ^ Asahi's Ina Bauer patent hopes dry up | The Japan Times Online
- ^ Asahi's Ina Bauer patent hopes dry up | The Japan Times Online
[edit] External links
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