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Figure skating is the third most popular television spectator sport after football and baseball, yet many fans do not know the meaning of basic terminology. In ice figure skating there are three kinds of items: spins, jumps and footwork. This is a brief overview of spinning.
Each spin has several attributes which define which spin it is. These attributes are: foot, direction the skate is travelling in, direction of rotation, and position. A spin may also be a edge spin, or a pivot spin. Several of these attributes are interconnected.
For example, the most basic of attributes is direction of rotation. This is either counter-clockwise (CCW) or clockwise (CW). Most skaters spin counter-clockwise. One notable exception is Todd Eldredge, who normally spins clockwise. Additionally, Michelle Kwan is famous for having learned to spin in both directions. This is a very difficult skill which very few skaters take the time to learn. The direction of spin determines which foot the spin is performed on. The CCW spinner performs the back spin on the right foot; the CW spinner performs the forward spin on the right foot.
“Forward” and “back” denotes the direction the foot appears to be going, but it is really a misnomer. Most spins performed are “pivot” spins. The skate pivots, or should pivot around a relatively small point on the ice. Technically, there is no edge to this spin. The skater is directly over his or her skate, there is no lean to either side. When the skater finishes the spin, the tracing from the blade should be no more than about two inches in diameter and should all be in one place. Some spins, however, are performed on a particular edge rather than on a pivot. These spins should have a tracing about four to six inches in diameter and the foot will have a notable direction of travel and a lean to one edge.
Spins can be performed in many different variations of position. There are three basic positions: the upright, the sit (or Jackson Haines) and the camel. In an upright spin, the skater is standing up. The knees are bent only enough to make the spin happen and even if the free leg (the one the skater is not standing on) is held high, the upper body is not bent over, it remains straight up and down. In a sit spin, the skaters skating leg is bent so that the level of the buttocks is below the skating leg’s knee. Very often, a skater will be unable to obtain an extremely low position in the sit spin and will execute what is called derogatorily “a squat spin.” In a camel spin, the free leg is held high and stretched out behind the skater. The upper part of the body is parallel to the ice.
To be good quality, the spin should be fast, not wobble and should have good speed entering and exiting. Moreover, the positions should be extended with backs straight, and toes turned out and point. The limbs should make graceful lines, being straight when appropriate and bent as indicated by the particular position. As always, the skater should be in control.
Spinning is often taken for granted by the judges, but good spinning is a much better indicator of a strong skater than good jumping. Next time you watch skating, think about who is the better spinner and you’ll know who is truly the better skater.
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