Spins
General Information
The direction of spins is described being either
forward or backwards. This terminology is very
misleading since the “Forward” is actually rotating
in a backwards direction on a back inside edge or
flat after the skater turns a forced forward outside
3-Turn or hook.
Figure 2, Spin Travels Slightly Before Centering
The backspin is spin on a back outside, flat, or
inside edge. The normal direction is turning to the
right.
Spins are performed either forward or
backward. In a forward spin, the skater’s body
rotates forward in the direction of the spin.
Counterclockwise skaters perform most forward
spins on the LBI edge. Advanced skaters may
perform camels on the LFO edge.
Conversely, backward spins or “back spins” are
performed on the RBO edge, and the skater’s body
rotates backward in the direction of the spin.
Whether the skater performs a forward or
backward spin, rotation occurs in the same
direction (i.e. counterclockwise skaters spin in a
counterclockwise direction). The leg upon which
the spin is executed determines whether it is a
forward or backward spin.
Centering
All spins whether forward or backward should
be centered. “Centering” refers to the positioning of
a spin on the ice. Ideally, every revolution of the
spinning blade will overlay the previous tracings,
creating a circular impression in the ice (Figure 1).
Perfect centering is not easy to achieve. Most spins
“travel”, meaning the blade tracings are off set from
each other.
Figure 2 shows the tracing of a spin that
traveled for a couple of rotations before achieving a
center. This spin is reasonably good. The spin in
Figure 3 travels around a central axis and would
be considered satisfactory. While some minor
degree of traveling is permissible, spins that travel
across the ice leaving a corkscrew pattern are
undesirable (Figure 4).
Figure 3, Spin Travels Around an Axis
Figure 4, Spin Travels Unacceptably
Two-Foot Spins
Basic Two-Foot Spin
Basic two-foot spins are the first spins taught
to beginning skaters. They are simply forward
spins performed on two feet. These spins are rarely
seen beyond the lowest competitive levels.
Crossed Leg Spin
While only beginners perform basic two-foot
spins, crossed foot spins can be a dazzling part of
an elite skater’s program because they are
particularly difficult to perform well. As the name
implies, the spin is performed on both feet with the
legs crossed.
The body weight must be centered over the
outside edges of the rockers of both blades.
Skaters enter the spin from a forward or backward
one-foot spin crossing the free foot over the skating
foot and placing it on the ice.
Pivots
Pivots resemble spins in that they involve
rotation of the body around a stationary axis. That
axis is defined by the skater placing a toe pick in
Figure 1, Centered Spin
the ice and scribing a circle with the blade of the
other foot around that pivot point.
Pivots are commonly performed as a conclusion
to a spin providing an alternative to the traditional
gliding exit or abrupt halting by placing the toe
pick of the free blade into the ice. A gracefully
performed pivot can also add to the aesthetic
quality of a routine.
The most common pivots which rotate CCW
include: right toe pick stationary with LBI edge, left
toe pick stationary with RFI edge and left toe pick
stationary with RBO edge. The LFO pivot (with
right toe pick) is awkward and rarely seen.
Forward Spins
Preparation
There are two basic preparations used to
initiate forward spins. The most common is a back
crossover. Counterclockwise skaters perform right
over left back crossovers, which travel in the
clockwise direction. Before entering the spin, the
skater glides on a RBI edge and turns his
shoulders counterclockwise.
This is the “wind up” segment of the
preparation. Then the skater steps into the circle
with his left foot, upon which he will perform the
forward spin. During the step the shoulders are
released as the left arm pushes into the spin. The
left knee bends deeply. One full revolution is
generally completed on a bent knee before
snapping up into the spinning position.
While spinning, the skating knee should be
kept slightly relaxed rather than completely
straight, preventing the skater from hitting the toe
pick and losing control of the spin. Depending on
the type of forward spin the skater performs the
timing and details of the body position
incorporated in the preparation may vary slightly.
The second preparation, which is commonly
used for flying spins, is also effective for forward
spins. The counterclockwise skater performs a
RFI3 then steps into the tangent circle with the left
foot.
Of course, there are many different ways a
skater can step into a forward spin. Skaters may
step directly out off the landing edge of a jump into
a spin. Forward spins may also be included in spin
combinations as the skater pushes out of a
backspin transferring his weight from the right foot
to the left.
Common examples include sit spin
combinations where the skater may change
between backward and forward sit spins as well as
concluding a spin combination by stepping form a
backward spin into a fast forward scratch spin.
Backward Spins
Preparation
Backward spins are initiated from a RFI3 turn.
At the apex of the turn, the skater bends deeply in
the knee to center the spin and convert forward
momentum into angular rotation. The knee bend
as well as timing, arm position and coordination of
upper and lower body contribute to centering the
spin. After about one revolution, the skater rises
from the bent knee to lock the spinning position.
While backward spins can be performed in
isolation, they most often occur in combination
with a forward spin. To transition from a forward
to backward spin, the skater places the right foot
on the ice and pushes with the left back inside
edge to transfer his weight from the left foot to the
right.
The push resembles a push into a pivot or a
push to initiate a back outside edge. The left foot
should scribe a wide arc, which centers the
backspin.
One-Foot Spins
Basic Upright Spin
Executed either forward or backward, the basic
upright position consists of an erect posture and
free foot held next to the skating foot with the side
of the toe touching the calf of the skating leg. This
position has also been called a “stork spin”
because it resembles a stork standing on one leg.
Basic upright spins introduce beginning
freestyle skaters to the concept of spinning on one
foot. While this is the simplest one-foot spin, it
occurs often in competitive spin combinations,
often serving as a final position before concluding
the spin with a flowing exit edge or pivot.
Scratch Spin
This is the classic spin performed at the end of
many skating programs. The skater enters the spin
standing upright with the free leg extended forward
and toward the free side. In order to increase the
speed of the spin, free leg is pulled in front of the
body curving around the axis of rotation.
The skater pushes the free foot down crossing
over the skating leg. Simultaneously, the arms are
also brought in close to the body then either
pushed down toward the pelvis or lifted above the
head. This generates great speed, and under the
best circumstances creates a blurred effect. This
spin may be performed forward or backward.
Similarly, advanced skaters may perform
backward camels on the RFI edge rather than the
RBO, which is typical of backspins. The skater
completes a RBO3 turn to transition to the RBI
edge.
Headless Spin
A variation on the basic scratch spin, the
headless spin gives an illusion of the skater’s head
disappearing at the peak of the spin. As the spin
increases speed by pushing the free leg down, the
skater brings his arms in toward his chest then
raises them to neck height.
With the arms positioned at the neck, the
skater tilts his head back to look straight upward
as the spin blurs. The head is hidden by the arms
and skater appears to be a "headless" spinning
blur. The spin must be perfectly centered to
maintain balance during this maneuver.
Camel
The camel spin is performed in a spiral position
in which the body is tilted forward and the free leg
raised. Depending on the skater’s limberness; the
body may be flat forming a “T” shape, the torso
may be raised above the plane of the free leg
resulting in swan dive position, or the torso and
free leg may both be elevated creating a gentle
curve.
Countless variations of the basic camel have
been performed including layover camels in which
the body rotates to face upward, catch camels
involving the skater grasping the free leg and
kneeling camels when the skater bends his knee
dipping into a lowered body position. Camels and
their variations can be performed forward or
backward.
Outside Edge Camel
The most advanced technique for performing a
forward camel is to transition to an outside edge
while spinning. Skaters initially learn to do a
forward camel spinning on a LBI edge. However, as
a skater becomes more proficient, he learns to
execute the spin on a LFO edge.
After initiating the spin, the skater completes a
LBI3 resulting in a LFO edge, as shown in Figure
5. By spinning toward the back of the blade, the
spin is forced forward and can achieve great speed.
Outside edge camels generally rotate on a larger
circle than the inside edge variants.
Figure 5, Outside Edge Camel Tracing
Layover Camel
A variation on the basic swan dive position, the
layover is most often performed as a back camel,
though forward versions can be very beautiful and
interesting. To achieve a layover, the skater rotates
his torso upward during the spin. In the most
extreme cases, his face and chest are directed
upward toward the ceiling.
Inverted Camel
A more dramatic position than the layover, the
inverted backward camel requires the skater to
open her hips allowing her free foot to rotate such
that the toe points up. Adding originality to a spin
combination, a skater who has developed
proficiency with the inverted back camel may adopt
an interesting leg position by bending the leg
rather than keeping it outstretched. The inverted
camel is performed exclusively as a backward spin.
The inverted backward camel is an uncommon
move in ice skating, not necessarily because it is
overly difficult but because it is not a required test
element. However, female artistic roller skaters are
required to perform inverted backward camels, and
they are included in almost every advanced
woman’s program. Both Nicole Bobek (USA) and
Josee Chouinard (Canada) perform excellent
inverted backward camels on ice.
Sit Spin
The sit spin is simply a spin performed in a
seated position with the free leg extended in front
of the body and the foot pointed out. The quality of
the spin is determined not only by its speed and
center but also by the body position and depth of
the seated position. In general, a spin with a
straight back and shoulders is superior to one in
which the skater’s body is hunched or rounded.
Similarly, a straight free leg is more desirable
than if the free leg were curled around the skating
leg. A deeply seated spin requiring a fully bent
skating leg is preferred to a spin in which the
skater appears to be squatting over the ice. Skaters
demonstrate mastery of the sit spin by performing
both forward and backward spins with equally
attractive positions on a deeply bent knee. Like the
camel, there are many variations of the sit spin.
Biellmann Spin
Limber skaters perform variations of the
layback that involve catching the free foot and
lifting it toward the head or over the head. The lift
may be accomplished with one hand or both. When
the free leg is lifted above the head with both
hands creating a vertical split position the spin is
known as a “Biellmann”, popularized by the 1981
Ladies’ World champion from Switzerland, Denise
Biellmann.
Sideways Leaning Spin
Broken Leg Sit Spin
A common variation of the sit spin is the
broken leg sit spin. As its name implies, the
skater’s free leg is bent and held to the side. This
gives the leg a “broken” appearance in contrast to
the straight extended free leg position achieved in
ideal conventional sit spins.
In the broken leg variant, the body generally
leans toward the free side. This position resembles
a fusion between a layback and a sit spin. Broken
leg sit spins are rarely performed backward.
Cannonball Sit Spin
In the cannonball variation, the skater leans
forward to hold the free leg and rest his head on
the free knee. This spin may be performed forward
or backward.
Layback
Layback spins are upright spins in which the
skater arches her back such that her chest faces
upward. While this move was traditional
considered a feminine element, it is now being
incorporated into men’s programs. Ideally, the
shoulders are parallel to the ice rather than tilted
to one side.
While tilting sideways in the layback may be
considered a fault, a spin which intentionally leans
to the side can be an interesting addition to a
limber skater’s program. The free leg is held to the
side and the body arches above it with the arms
usually stretched over the head, creating a sharp
curve from the fingertips to the pointed toe of the
free foot. An uncommon spin, it is usually
performed forward and may be included in an
innovative combination with a traditional layback.
Attitude Spin
The attitude spin combines the leg position of a
layback with an upright posture. The arms may be
positioned creatively or simply held to form a “V”
above the shoulders.
Corkscrew Spin
The corkscrew is an upright spin, performed
forward or backward. The skater places the free
foot behind the knee of the skating leg. The skating
knee bends slightly. By extending one arm over the
head and crossing the other over the chest, the
skater’s body appears to twist like a corkscrew as
it rotates.
Illusions
The free leg is held back and to the side with
the foot turned out and parallel to the ice. The free
leg position is a common source of error in the
layback. A dangling bent free leg with the knee
pointing downward toward the ice is considered
undesirable. Arm positions are limitless.
Illusions are generally performed from a
backward spin, but have been also executed
forward. As a backward spin, the skater swings the
free leg forward and up then reaches down toward
the ice with the hand on the skating side as the
free leg swings to the back and upward.
Few skaters execute backward spins in a
layback position. However, some perform
variations on the upright backspin in which the
free leg passes behind the skating leg and the
skater bends at the knee. In rare cases, this
position can be exaggerated to achieve a sitting
spin.
This combination of movements creates an
illusion of the skater rotating like a pinwheel
around her hips. A single illusion provides a
dramatic finale to a spin combination. When
performed in a series, sequential illusions resemble
a windmill rotating about its axis.
In the best illusions, the skater appears to
invert completely as the free leg swings upward
and the torso drops down to the skating leg. Much
of the drama of the illusion is lost when skaters
perform sequential illusions that do not achieve
this exaggerated position. Instead, the skater
seems to bob up and down like a rotating teetertotter.
Miscellaneous Variations
Countless unnamed spins exist which are
invented creative limber skaters and their coaches.
As these spins gain recognition, they are often
named after the first skater credited with
performing the spin in competition. A well-known
example is the Biellmann spin, popularized by the
1981 World Ladies’ Champion, Denise Biellmann
of Switzerland.
The Beilmann spin has become a staple
element in ladies skating and has also been
performed by male skaters. The move requires a
very limber back and legs as well as superior
spinning ability.
Traveling Spins
Usually skaters avoid traveling while spinning.
Good spins are supposed to be centered. However,
there are a couple of exceptions. These moves
resemble spins because the skater rotates while
traveling across the ice, but the fact that traveling
is intentionally achieved separates these elements
from traditional spins.
Traveling spins may also be classified as
footwork since the traveling motion is achieved
through a series of turns, as shown in Figure 6.
Notice the difference between the forward traveling
spin tracing in Figure 6 and the tracing of a
forward spin that travels unintentionally, as shown
in Figure 4.
Figure 6, Traveling Forward Spin Tracing
Traveling Camel
True to its name, the traveling camel looks like
a basic forward camel spin that moves in a wide
arc across the ice. Rather than rotating on the LBI
edge to create a centered camel spin, the skater
performs sequential three turns while maintaining
a camel position. The turns are as follows: LFO3,
LBI3, LFO3, LBI3, etc.
To achieve the traveling effect, the LBI3 is
performed on the heel of the blade. The skater
must lift the forward portion his blade completely
off the ice in order to turn on the heel. Dropping
back to the ice, the skater pushes forward on the
blade to glide into the next LFO3 turn. Alternating
LFO3 and LBI3 turns are performed to maintain
the traveling camel.
Traveling camels may be performed alone or
initiated from a series of stars (described below).
An effective traveling camel culminates in a
centered camel, flying camel or butterfly. In some
cases, a traveling camel may emerge from a
centered camel.
Stars
Stars are a series of toe-assisted three turns
performed in a camel position that travel in a wide
arc, almost linearly, across the ice. As the skater
performs a LFO3, his torso dips downward and his
free leg extends above the plane of the body. As he
begins to pivot forward in the next turn, the toe
pick of free foot touches the ice assisting in a LBI3
turn and propelling the skater forward. After
pushing, the free leg swings upward again for the
next LFO3 turn. The torso remains lowered
throughout the series of turns to simulate a camel
posture.
After completing several stars, the skater may
omit the toe push and continue to cover the ice in
a traveling camel. Other options include, centering
a forward camel, jumping into a flying camel,
performing a butterfly or Arabian cartwheel.
Traveling Backward Camel
The traveling backward camel is also a
common move in artistic roller skating, though
some ice skaters use it as a novel entrance to a
centered backward camel. Like the basic traveling
forward camel, the travel is achieved through a
series of three-turns performed in a camel position,
similar to the forward traveling spin tracing
illustrated in Figure 6. For the counterclockwise
skater the turns are RFI3, RBO3 and RFI3 into a
backward camel. A longer sequence of turns may
be used to exaggerate the traveling effect.
Upright turns may also be performed leading
into a backward camel or other backward spin
variation.
Hillary Spin
A Hillary Spin is a series of upright three-turns
leading into a basic backspin. For a
counterclockwise skater, the sequence includes
RFI3, RBO3, RFI3, RBO3, etc. The number of turns
in the sequence may vary as desired but must
conclude with a RFI3 initiating a backspin.
Usually, the turning pattern forms a large circle in
the center of the rink before pulling a backward
scratch spin.
Miscellaneous Traveling Spins
By performing the sequential three turns in an
attractive upright position, skaters can become
accustomed to the rhythm of a traveling spin. This
exercise also results in mastery of an upright
traveling spin variation, which can culminate in an
attitude, layback or scratch spin.
Forward sit spins can also intentionally travel
across the ice by performing the same series of
three turns in a seated position. Similarly, skaters
can achieve a traveling seated maneuver on both
feet by squatting and executing a series of twofooted turns rocking from the front to heel of both
blades. These moves are very unusual and are
generally seen in professional or exhibition
routines.
Spin Combinations
Spin combinations may be performed on one
foot or involve a change of foot. One-foot
combinations require only a change of position
while change foot combinations require the skater
to change feet while spinning. Variations of
position are infinite. The difficulty of one foot and
change foot combinations involves maintaining or
increasing speed during the transitions.
A solid combination also requires the skater to
hold each position for several revolutions such that
control over the position is demonstrated. Weak
combinations are characterized by loss of speed
and flow throughout the transitions and the skater
barely achieving a position before switching to the
next.
Certain combinations such as a back sit spin
to a back camel (no change of foot) are difficult to
complete because little opportunity exists to gain
speed in the transition. The forward camel to
forward sit spin (or scratch spin) are the first
combinations most skaters learn because
generating speed in the transition occurs readily as
the body converts from an open position to a more
tightly closed position around the rotational axis.
Spin combinations are generally named based
on their components. Examples of combinations
that involve a change of feet include the following:
sit-change-sit (also known as a forward sit spinchange-back sit spin), camel-change-camel, and
camel-change-sit.
Abbreviated names imply the first spin is
performed forward and the change involves a
change of feet to a backward spin. Combinations
that do not require a change of feet are named
similarly as follows: forward camel-layback, back
camel-back sit spin, forward camel-sit spin-scratch
spin. The word “change” is omitted.
Other spin combinations require a jump to
change feet. These will be discussed as part of the
Flying Spin section.
Hamill Came
A notable exception to this basic nomenclature
system is a spin combination popularized by 1976
Olympic gold medalist, Dorothy Hamill. Her wellrecognized spin combination is called a “Hamill
Camel”.
The Hamill Camel is usually initiated from a flying
camel. After maintaining the back camel position
for several revolutions, the skater bends slowly in
knee without sacrificing the camel posture. Before
the free leg can touch the ice, or after a slight tap,
the skater flips over into a back sit spin.