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Case Study: Turtle Spin – Follow Up (Kim Ryan)
This short video by figure skating spin specialist Kim Ryan is a follow-up to the lesson she gave a skater on a sit spin that transitions from a regular forward sit spin (sit front) to what the skater calls a turtle spin (also called a clam), which is a forward sit spin in a sit back position […] Continue reading →
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Case Study: Turtle Spin (Kim Ryan)
Figure skating spin specialist Kim Ryan gives a lesson on a sit spin that transitions from a regular forward sit spin (sit front) to what the skater calls a turtle spin (also called a clam), which is a forward sit spin in a sit back position with the free leg tucked behind and the body compressed forward […] Continue reading →
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Advanced Layback, Haircutter, Biellmann Spin Lesson (Kim Ryan)
Figure skating spin specialist Kim Ryan works with a long-time student on her layback spins. There are some nice tips in this video, but one of the main benefits you’ll get from watching this video is to see the outstanding demonstrations. The positions this skater achieves are worth modeling. They begin with a standard layback spin. […] Continue reading →
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Shoulder Flexibility for Some Catch Foot Spins (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire shares some helpful information related to testing for shoulder flexibility for Biellmann spins, haircutters, and donut spins. It’s a little hard to see in the video what Bobbe is talking about when she says “see if they can pop the elbow through.” But the idea is simply to catch the […] Continue reading →
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Pancake Sit Spin Lesson (Kim Ryan)
Figure skating spin specialist Kim Ryan works with a skater on her pancake spin. We join this lesson in progress after initial work on entry and the basic sit spin. The skater performs a pancake where she stands up almost all the way between the basic sit and the pancake. Kim wants the skater to keep […] Continue reading →
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Layback Spin Lesson & Starting Biellmann Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives one of her skaters a layhback spin lesson, which includes the skater’s first attempts at a Beillmann spin. Throughout the video, Charyl shares tips and tricks for laybacks, side laybacks, the haircutter variation, and the Beillmann. In the layback, notice the focus on the free leg and hip position. Charyl […] Continue reading →
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Teaching Methods and Learning Methods (Bobbe Shire)
In this video, figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire discusses teaching and learning methods in the context of skaters trying jumps within spins. In particular, Bobbe has her demonstrators attempt forward sit, jump into back sit. Notice that initially she provides no instruction so the skaters need to try to figure it out themselves. After […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin: The Tuck – Part 2 (Robert Tebby)
World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby continues teaching a class the flying sit spin. In Part 1 he focused entirely on “the fly” or the jump. In this part he talks mostly about the tuck and the rest of the spin. He begins by noting that a flying sit spin does not spin much in […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin: The Fly – Part 1 (Robert Tebby)
World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby teaches a class the first part of a flying sit spin. He begins by explaining that the element happens just the like the name implies. He says, “You have to fly first, you have to sit second, and you have to spin third.” To teach the fly, Robert wants […] Continue reading →
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Back Camel, Jump to Forward Sit Spin (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire teaches 3 skaters the back camel, jump to forward sit spin. None of the skaters had attempted this before this lesson so you get to see the typical learning process. Bobbe calls the jump between the spins a “hitch kick” (back camel, hitch kick to forward sit). She begins […] Continue reading →
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Death Drop (Robert Tebby)
World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby teaches a class the death drop flying spin entrance. As Robert notes, a good death drop briefly gives the illusion that the skater is in danger of falling on her/his head. In reality, the dynamics of the movements associated with the death drop make it a very safe element, […] Continue reading →
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Mushroom Spin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
In this short video, spin specialist Charyl Brusch offers some insights and tips for the sit spin variation commonly known as the mushroom or “sit back.” This video is basically a continuation of the Charyl’s pancake video. She notes that you can do a mushroom from a front sit or a back sit spin. She […] Continue reading →
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Jumps Within Spins (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire explains how she teaches the camel spin jump into flying sit spin combination. A jump within a spin can add an IJS level to a spin and Bobbe shares her favorite way of taking advantage of this rule. For the camel into flying sit, she tells her skaters “the […] Continue reading →
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Outside Edge Camel Spin – Part 2 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues her spin class presentation on the forward outside edge camel spin. You can see Part 1 here. Here she describes a drill she has the skaters do on the hockey circle. It involves a forward outside spiral where the skater deepens the edge and makes a smaller circle. Notice the […] Continue reading →
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Pancake Spin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch offers some insights and tips for the sit spin variation commonly known as the pancake. She begins by helping the skater get into the position while providing support. Notice the detail of grabbing the blade and how to use the thigh for leverage. Charyl wants the elbows down in the pancake […] Continue reading →
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Strategy for Maximizing IJS Spin Points (Bobbe Shire)
In this video, figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire offers many insights for maximizing IJS points for spins. This is a long video with lots of ideas. The specific rules and point values may have changed by the time you are reading this and watching this video. The video was recorded in December 2013 but […] Continue reading →
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Sit Spin Variation – Cannonball, Bullet, Fratianne (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch shares some fantastic tips for doing the sit spin variation with the leg in front and the body forward and down. This sit spin is known by many names including the bullet spin, the cannonball spin, and the Fratianne spin (after Linda Fratianne who did the spin in the late 1970’s), […] Continue reading →
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Outside Edge Camel Spin – Part 1 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan teaches a spin class how to do a forward outside edge camel spin. Kim begins by acknowledging that there are many ways to achieve the goal, but she likes to start with the camel “base position” which she prefers “square.” She explains the basic process as: start in a strong base […] Continue reading →
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Back Camel Spin – Part 3 – Running Three Turn Entry (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire continues her description of the back camel. In Part 1, she talked at length about the back camel spin entrance and in Part 2 she discussed the back camel position in detail. In this video, she talks about the running three-turn entrance to the back camel. According to Bobbe, […] Continue reading →
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Back Camel Spin – Part 2 (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire continues her description of the back camel. In Part 1, she talked at length about the back camel spin entrance. In this video, she begins by working on the back camel position at the boards. Bobbe says, “A back camel needs a twist that a forward camel doesn’t need.” […] Continue reading →
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Back Sit Spin With A Core Change (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch teaches a back sit with a body core change. Beginning at a standstill on two feet, Charyl has the skater work on the position which requires a strong forward body lean, placing the chest on the thighs. The trick is to place the arms in a position that provides leverage to […] Continue reading →
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Back Camel Entrance – Figure Skating Spins (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire explains how she teaches the back camel entrance. Right from the start, Bobbe notes that she does not like the common two foot entrance where the skater drags the free foot into the spin, even though it works well. (If a skater already has that entrance and it works […] Continue reading →
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Cross-Foot Spins: Learning a Cross Foot Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how she introduces the cross-foot spin. As she describes, the cross foot spin is a spin on two feet with the feet crossed. Just like any two foot spin, one foot is spinning forward and one is spinning backward. One approach to introducing the spin is to have the skater […] Continue reading →
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Bounces and Illusions More Details – Part 2 (Bobbe Shire)
Spin specialist Bobbe Shire continues her discussion of bounces and illusions. She introduced these spins in Part 1 and offers more details here, focused primarily on common problems. First Bobbe discusses the common error she calls “jack knifing” where the skater’s timing is off and the body and leg both drop at the same time. […] Continue reading →
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Bounce Spin – Not an Illusion Spin (Bobbe Shire)
Spin specialist Bobbe Shire explains how she teaches what she calls “bounces.” She notes that this falls under the “windmill spin” family in IJS language. But she also notes that bounces are not the same as an illusion spin. She explains the difference between bounces and an illusion. An illusion is performed from a backspin […] Continue reading →
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How to Spin Fast – Figure Skating Spin Speed (Bobbe Shire)
Spin specialist Bobbe Shire answers the age-old question about “how to spin fast.” This is one of the most common questions we receive here at iCoachSkating.com, especially by adult skaters and young coaches. Right off the bat, Bobbe notes that spin speed is generated by pushing strongly into the spin and having a good “hook.” […] Continue reading →
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Flying Back Sit Spin from Forward Inside Edge (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a lesson on the flying back sit spin from a forward inside edge take-off to a skater who has never attempted one. This spin entry has only recently become somewhat popular as a result of the rule changes associated with IJS. Traditionally it was not popular because it […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Spins – Sit Spin Differences and Clam (Bobbe Shire)
Spin specialist Bobbe Shire talks about the sit spin and the sit spin variation she calls the clam (sit back on forward foot). On the clam she likes to have the skaters turn their heads to the side because it helps keep the skaters head flat and the hips lower and it elongates the “line” […] Continue reading →
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Flying Reverse Sit Spin, Also Known as the Axel Sit (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a lesson on the flying reverse sit spin to a skater who has never attempted one. The flying reverse sit spin is sometimes called an axel sit spin. It is characterized by taking off into a forward flying sit spin and then quickly switching feet and landing in […] Continue reading →
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Corkscrew Spin, Spaghetti Spin – Figure Skating Spins (Bobbe Shire)
Spin specialist Bobbe Shire talks about the corkscrew spin, which she likes to call the spaghetti spin. This is somewhat similar to the crossfoot spin but unlike the crossfoot, the skater is only spinning on one foot in the corkscrew. Most really good corkscrew spins are done in the sit position with the free leg […] Continue reading →
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Crossfoot Spin – Figure Skating Spins – Part 2 (Bobbe Shire)
In this figure skating video, spin specialist Bobbe Shire continues her explanation of how she teaches a crossfoot spin. In the first video (Part 1), Bobbe explained why the crossfoot spin is important and how she prefers to develop it. In this video, she shows how to get into the spin from a back entrance. […] Continue reading →
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Crossfoot Spin – Figure Skating Spins – Part 1 (Bobbe Shire)
Figure skating spin specialist Bobbe Shire explains how she teaches a crossfoot spin. This spin is generally misunderstood by skaters and coaches and few coaches know how to teach this spin properly. A crossfoot spin is a spin on two feet on two outside edges. (A regular two foot spin is typically performed on two […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin – Part 2 (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues her discussion of the flying sit spin. In this video, she works with another skater and shares additional insights to help those teaching and learning this advanced figure skating spin. Here we get to see Charyl “give a lesson” and she talks with us as observers about what […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin – Part 1 (Charyl Brusch)
In this figure skating spin video, spin specialist Charyl Brusch teaches a flying sit spin from the ground up. To start the lesson, Charyl has the skater perform an upright flying spin from a standstill. This approach ensures the skater can work on the correct timing (not a flying waltz jump as a result of […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Off-ice Training: Flying Spins (Kori Ade)
This video is a continuation of a multi-part off-ice jump class by Kori Ade. In Part 1, Kori had the class do heel clicks and air turn variations. In Part 2, Kori has the class do exercises for rhythm, quickness, and balance. In this video, Kori does exercises designed to improve flying spins. The first exercise […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Flying Spin – The Butterfly (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how she teaches a butterfly. This discussion contains further details from Charyl on this spin as she already discussed the butterfly here. The butterfly is often confused with an Arabian. Charyl explains the difference and notes that almost no figure skaters actually do an Arabian. [Editor’s note: This is just […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Flying Spin – Death Drop Details (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch answers a broad array of questions regarding the death drop flying spin. This video is a continuation of Charyl’s previous video on introducing the death drop. The death drop has become one of the most popular flying spins in recent years thanks to the changes in the rules brought on by […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Spin – Broken Leg Sit Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how she teaches a broken leg sit spin. This sit spin has gained new popularity recently with the recent rule changes that give credit for a “sit side difficult variation.” The broken leg sit spin has historically been a spin that some skaters can do well and others […] Continue reading →
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Layback Spin Development Process – Figure Skating Spins (Kori Ade)
Kori Ade shows the process she uses to develop the layback spin. She begins by having the skater master a simple upright spin that remains open. Kori calls this spin a “prep spin.” This foundational skill is important before proceeding with the layback because it teaches balance and stillness so the skater is under complete […] Continue reading →
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Layover Camel Position Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how to create a layover camel from a standard back camel position (from various entries including flying camel). She explains in detail the transition and movements needed by the skater. She notes, “Ahhh! It’s scary.” The first layover position Charyl shows typically allows the skater to create a lot of […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin Development, Figure Skating Spins – Part 2 (Kori Ade)
Kori Ade continues her demonstration of how she introduces the flying sit spin. In the previous video, Kori used one-foot waltz jumps, one-foot waltz jumps with a tuck and a walk-through exercise into a back shoot-the-duck to prepare the skater for the flying sit. In this video, Kori begins by working on the arm movements. […] Continue reading →
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Flying Sit Spin – Creative Introduction to This Flying Spin (Kori Ade)
Kori Ade shows the process she uses to introduce a flying sit spin to a young skater. This is a creative approach to teaching this element and builds the flying sit up using familiar concepts and easy drills. Notice how Kori keeps this lesson fun. She starts by asking for a basic “boring” sit spin […] Continue reading →
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Back Camel Spin – Developing the Back Camel (Sheila Thelen)
Sheila Thelen provides a process for improving a back camel spin. The back camel spin is a difficult skill to learn for a number of reasons. First, nothing really “swings around” to help create rotational energy for the spin so the skater needs to create all of the spin energy directly from the edge on […] Continue reading →
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Flying Camel Landing Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues her explanation of how she teaches a flying camel. In her introduction to the flying camel, she worked directly with a skater on the basics of learning the spin. In the second video covering flying camel improvements, she discussed how to build the flying camel with more speed and energy. […] Continue reading →
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Flying Camel Key Positions (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues her explanation of how she teaches a flying camel. In her introduction to the flying camel, she worked directly with a skater on the basics of learning the spin. In the second video covering flying camel improvements, she discussed how to build the flying camel with more speed and energy. […] Continue reading →
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Flying Camel Improvements (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues her explanation of how she teaches a flying camel. In the previous video in this series, she worked directly with a skater on the basics of learning the spin. In this video, Charyl continues her explanation of how she builds the flying camel with more speed and energy. She starts this video by adding the […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Advanced Spins Tips – Introducing A Death Drop (Kori Ade)
Kori Ade demonstrates how she initially teaches a death drop. Kori starts with a flying camel and wants the skater to keep her chin up as a pre-requisite for starting death drop. Kori says, “So I describe a death drop as the offspring of a flying camel and a butterfly. I tell the kid, if a […] Continue reading →
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Figure Skating Spins Tip – Back To Front Change Foot Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how to change feet in a spin, from a backspin to a regular “front” spin. Charyl shows how to do this without changing centers or traveling. The basic concept is to switch to the backward outside edge of the backspin to a forward inside edge prior to the push/step. The skater then […] Continue reading →
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Death Drop Figure Skating Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives an excellent presentation on the death drop. When introducing the death drop, Charyl starts with a drill she calls the “kick turn.” Notice the drawing on the ice to encourage the skater to ride a deepening edge rather than jump early. Charyl describes the drill in detail including where to start with […] Continue reading →
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Flying Camel Spin Video Tip (Charyl Brusch)
Spin specialist Charyl Brusch explains how she teaches a flying camel. She always has the skater start on the wall in a T-position. The wall drill she shows is a pretty common way of introducing the flying camel but Charyl notes that the skater absolutely must stay on an outside edge and then pivot on the toe […] Continue reading →
