Figure Skating Spins: Intermediate Spins (Sheila Thelen and Nick Perna)

2 responses to “Figure Skating Spins: Intermediate Spins (Sheila Thelen and Nick Perna)”

1. Nancy

   September 6, 2011

   Thanks Sheila and Nick! I appreciate all of your info!!

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2. Rebecca Anton

   September 6, 2011

   Interesting to hear your take on the sit spin position. In particular, I’m surprised at the assertion that you can’t go down too far. Some 25+ years ago, I was taught (or maybe permitted) to go all the way down and essentially sit on the rear of my skating ankle, with the skating leg fully folded and the free leg perfectly straight and turned out, its blade almost grazing the ice. As an adult I began to reconsider this position for 2 reasons–1) is it truly attractive, since it tends to produce a bend in the back and 2) is this good for the skating knee, since I’ve read so many warnings about avoiding bending the knee past 90 degrees. I’ve also admired some fine looking fast spins where the whole free leg is perfectly locked and parallel to the ice (the position many aim for before crouching into a cannonball). I gather you’re worried that this borderline position may be denied full sit credit. Personally, I find it a lot more challenging that my former all-the-way down habit. Nowadays I aim for something in between, with a straight back and locked free knee.

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