The three major elements of figure skating competitions are jumps, spins, and connecting elements such as foot-work (a series of quick turns and short hops) or long extended positions such as spirals (one foot on the ice; the other extended as high as possible in the air), "Spread Eagles" (both feet on the ice, turned out so that one foot is skating forwards and one backward), and "Ina Bauers" (a sort of spread eagle with a back bend thrown in).
Figure skating jumps are the dare-devilish, exciting aspect of the sport; connecting moves are the dance and artistic elements. Spins are somewhere in between.
Forwards and Backwards Spins
In a forward spin, the skater starts the spin from a forward position, and appears to be turning forward (in reality, at some point at the beginning of the spin, the skater actually turns onto the back inside edge, but this won't be obvious to a non-technical viewer. In addition, depending on the spin, the skater may change from forward to backward edges and back again, as well). The easiest way to tell whether the skater is performing a forward spin is to see which leg is on the ice: If the spinner is counterclockwise on the left leg, it is a forward spin. If the spin is counterclockwise on the right leg, it is a backward spin.
Many spins involve a change of foot: For example, a figure skater may start the spin counter-clockwise on left foot (a forward spin) and then change feet to spin on the right leg (also counter-clockwise, but now in a backward spin). It is also possible -- although much more rare -- for a skater to change not only the foot, but also the direction of the spin. One of the elements of difficulty in judging a spin is how many changes take place.
Flying Spins
Flying spins are started with the skater jumping into the spin. Most typically, a skater who spins and jumps counter-clockwise (the most common spinning direction) would start the jump on the left foot and land, spinning, on the right foot.
In some spins (most commonly, the flying sit spin; see below) the skater can also land on the same foot from which she started the jump entry into the spin. The type of the position the skater assumes after the jump into the spin determines the name of the spin.
Figure Skating Spin Positions
There are four basic spin positions. In the basic upright position, the skater simply spins on one foot in an upright standing position. The skater can spin on either foot, or change feet during the spin. A very fast upright spin performed on the part of the skate blade near to the toe pick is called a "scratch spin."
The sitting position ("sit spin") requires the skater to spin on a bent knee with the free leg extended forward. The skating knee should be bent so much that the skater is almost sitting on the ice. In variations of this spin, the free leg can be bent, extended straight, or held out to the side.
In the "camel spin, the skater assumes a spiral position (similar to an arabesque in ballet). The skater's torso is bent forward and the free leg is held backward and up, preferably higher than the skater's head.
In the "layback" position, the skater spins while doing a backbend. This position is most commonly performed by women; it's rare for men to attempt a layback (and still more rare for them to perform a good one).
Skaters may change positions and feet in a spin as many times as they like: For example, the skater might start with a flying camel (jumping into a backwards rotation spin in the camel position), change or jump to the other foot to perform a sit spin (in the forward direction), and finish with a fast scratch spin. Most of the spins in Olympic competition are combination spins.
Judging Figure Skating Spins
Skaters can combine spins in any way they can think: Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill, for example, performed the so-called "Hamill Camel" where she started the spin with a flying camel, then dropped into a back sit spin, then stood up to finish with a very fast scratch spin,. Denise Biellmann is credited with popularizing the so called Biellmann spin, which is a sort of hybrid of an upright spin and a camel spin: The skater's torso is upright (as it is in an upright spin), but her free leg is straight up and behind her (as it is in a camel). In a Biellmann, the skater reaches back to hold the free leg with one or both hands so that it nearly touches her head.
Spins are judged on complexity, changes of position and feet, and the quality of execution. Quality of execution considerations include the extension of the positions, the speed of the spin, the number of rotations in each position, and whether or not the spin is centered. Being centered means that the skater stays int the same place throughout the spin; an uncentered spin travels across the ice like a poorly spun top. The perfect spin, in contrast, is fully extended, fast, with at least three rotations in each position, and centered on a single point on the ice rink.
For more information on figure skating jumps, spins, basics, and judging, see Figure Skating Resources
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
