Basic Figure Skating Spins: Centering 1 Foot Spin – Part 1 (Charyl Brusch)

5 responses to “Basic Figure Skating Spins: Centering 1 Foot Spin – Part 1 (Charyl Brusch)”

1. JB

   September 8, 2011

   Most beginner skaters have beginner skates which really have no master toe pick or very small one. So if you’re asking them to drag the toe pick I believe they would have to come up too far on the pick. Would love to see an example using a student who is just at the level to be learning a scratch spin, rather than one that has perhaps already learned how to spin. Its interesting to explore both approaches. Thank you for showing both techniques.

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2. Courtney

   September 8, 2011

   Thanks!

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3. srswift

   September 8, 2011

   I’m really loving the “hands on” approach of guiding the skater into the spin. Many of my beginner spinners are not holding the entrance edge long enough even tho I also draw the diagram. This is very helpful. Also, I like the many tips to correct a traveling spin. I need all the help I can get for trouble shooting. THANKS Charyl!

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4. Trevor Laak

   September 8, 2011

   Courtney, I think most coaches teach beginner skaters to spin while slightly dragging the toe pick. I think there are three primary reasons for this. First, the skater can hit the exact same “spin spot” on the blade every time, which helps with initial learning and consistency. Second, beginner skaters are often afraid and need a way to control the speed. The toe pick drag gives them confidence that they can immediately slow down. Third, the “frictionless” spin spot is really an advanced spinning concept and it’s often hard for even relatively advanced skaters to learn. So I believe dragging the toe pick is Charyl’s way of getting a skater to initially learn to spin more quickly. Some of your other questions will be addressed in future videos by Charyl. Trevor

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5. Courtney Baga

   September 8, 2011

   I guess I’m a little confused. She asks the skater to drag their toe-pick, but then also comments that it’s too scratchy. In my opinion, I consider a scratchy spin erroneous because they’re dragging their toe-pick, and ask my skaters to try to find the rocker on the blade so their spinning is “frictionless.” I teach this to be the same spot they look for on a really good clean three-turn. What advantage is their to dragging the bottom pick in a spin? I basically just don’t think I understand the fundamental technique that Charyl teaches. I felt like if I were the skater in a lesson, I’d have no idea what I was actually being asked to do, though I’m sure that skater has been working with her for awhile and does understand better. Like with Bobbe’s five steps, I knew what positions she was looking for. When Charyl says she wants the V to be the first position she looks for in a scratch spin, how does that relate to the entry edge position and the swing of the free leg? Did I correctly note that she want the belly button over the left foot on the entry, but the free hip back and the shoulders parallel to the edge? Bobbe mentioned the balance advantage of the right arm starting in front, and she also noted that many coaches who teach left arm in front like the added momentum from the swing into the spin- this is how I was taught. However, Charyl seems to keep the left side fairly stable, much like Bobbe. Is that what she was saying?

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