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Back Camel Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues working with a skater on a variety of spins. In the previous videos the focus was on sit spin and camel spin and layback spin. In this video, Charyl tackles the back camel. She has the skater start at a standstill and she holds on so the skater rides the […] Continue reading →
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Improving a Combination Spin – Part 1 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan begins a spin lesson with a skater working on improving a combination spin. We begin by watching the skater’s combination spin before any changes. Kim then focuses on just the lunge entry into the camel. To get the call for the lunge entry to camel, “You’ve got to get the lunge really […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 7, Camel Spin (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 she explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In Part 2 the class continued working on upright spins, advancing to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations. In […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin Entry (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues working with a skater on spin entries. In the previous video, the focus was on the sit spin. In this video, Charyl is teaching details for the entry to camel spin. After the skater’s first camel spin, Charyl wants to improve the entrance edge and reduce the inside edge […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 6, Sit Spin and Intro to Combos (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 she explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In Part 2 the class continued working on upright spins, advancing to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations. In […] Continue reading →
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Spin Entry Details (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works with a skater on the entry to a sit spin. As Charyl notes this advanced spinner usually has very solid sit spin entries, but on the first attempt here she forces the three turn and the spin travels. To correct it, Charyl simply encourages the skater to “wait […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 5, Happy Sit Spin (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 she explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In Part 2 the class continued working on upright spins, advancing to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations. In […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 3, More Upright Spins and Discussion (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 Kim explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In Part 2 the class continued working on upright spins, advancing to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations. In […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 2, Upright Spins and Building Confidence (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 Kim explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In this video, the class continues to work on upright spins and graduates to forward and backward scratch spins with arm […] Continue reading →
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Big Muscle Backspin – More (Tom Zakrajsek)
In this short video, World and Olympic coach Tom Zakrajsek returns to his discussion of the “big muscle backspin” as a tool for improving jump air position. In a previous video, Tom introduced the concept and shared his ideas about how to make a basic backspin into a more useful jump training tool. In this […] Continue reading →
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Off Ice Spin Class – Part 1, Basics (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan begins a class on off-ice spin training. This video focuses on how to get started with upright forward spins and upright backspins. Kim begins by explaining how to place the foot on the spinboard that she uses (and sells at kimspinergy.com), but offers an important tip regardless of what brand or […] Continue reading →
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Introduction to Beginner Axel – Part 3 (Nick Perna)
International coach and jump specialist Nick Perna continues an axel development class for young skaters at a camp, introducing the early concepts as they relate to waltz jump. A significant percentage of this class is not really ready to work on the axel, but as Nick demonstrates it’s never too soon to teach important concepts […] Continue reading →
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Spin Class – Sit Forward, Cannonball (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan begins a spin class with more advanced spinners, with the focus on the sit forward “cannonball” or “Fratianne” position. She begins the class with a basic forward upright scratch spin, going from spin entry to the skinny-v to the fast scratch position and then returning back to the skinny-v and then […] Continue reading →
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Spin Lesson – Basic Positions With Emphasis on Camel (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch begins a new spin lesson with a skater. This video focuses on “warm-up” spins for this skater which are the basic positions including upright forward and back spins, forward and backward sit spins, and forward camel spin. After a very solid forward upright scratch spin, the skater steps out […] Continue reading →
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IJS Spin Gateways – Opposite Direction – Part 4 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues her presentation on opposite direction spins. In Part 1 she explained the concept of spin gateways in IJS and worked with the class on basic spinning technique, and in Part 2 she taught an exercise that allows skaters to repeatedly perform opposite direction upright spins without stopping. In Part 3 […] Continue reading →
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Advanced Skater Spin Lesson – Part 1 (Charyl Brusch)
In this short video, figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch begins a spin lesson with an advanced skater. All of the spins in this video are relatively basic spins which this skater has already mastered so we don’t get too much feedback from Charyl. But there are a few comments that also apply to many […] Continue reading →
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IJS Spin Gateways – Opposite Direction – Part 2 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues her presentation on opposite direction spins. In Part 1 she explained the concept of spin gateways in IJS and worked with the class on basic spinning technique. In this video, Kim teaches an exercise that allows skaters to repeatedly perform opposite direction spins without stopping. This helps skaters get high […] Continue reading →
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Camel Sit Lesson (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a lesson with a skater, focusing on the camel sit position change. Prior to this, Charyl worked on this skater’s camel spin and sit spin independently. On the first attempt for the camel sit, Charyl observes that the rotational speed actually slows down rather than accelerates. She has […] Continue reading →
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All About Eulers – Part 1 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau begins a presentation on the Euler. Historically, the Euler has been called a “half loop” in the USA and elsewhere, but with it’s renewed significance as a result of it’s value in jump combinations in competitive IJS events, the formal name Euler is being used more and more. An Euler is an […] Continue reading →
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IJS Spin Gateways – Opposite Direction – Part 1 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan teaches a class opposite direction spins. She begins by explaining the new concept of spin gateways in IJS and notes that opposite direction is a gateway. [Editor’s note: We do not in general have videos detailing IJS rules at iCoachSkating, as the rules are constantly changing. This video was recorded in […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin Lesson (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a basic camel spin lesson. The skater already has some experience with the camel spin, and the issues covered are very common for skaters trying to master this foundational spin. This skater drags the free foot on the ice during the camel entry. Charyl does not like this, […] Continue reading →
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Basic Upright and Sit Spin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works through some basic spins with a skater. After the first forward upright spin Charyl tells the skater, “You’re sticking your booty out just a little bit.” This is a fairly common error, where a skater will arch the low back and tilt the hips forward, especially the moment […] Continue reading →
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Spins With Very Young Boys (Charyl Brusch)
In this very short video, figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch has a very young male skater demonstrate some spins for the camera. This video is valuable from a coaching perspective, as Charyl shows an honesty that many coaches shy away from. She openly laughs after the skater falls, although the laugh is genuine because […] Continue reading →
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Beginner Backspin Tips (Sheila Thelen)
Figure skating specialist coach Sheila Thelen teaches a class of beginner skaters to improve their upright backspins. This video is part 2 of a Champion Cords class Sheila gave at a seminar, but the focus here is strictly the backspin itself. Sheila begins by explaining and showing the skaters where to balance on the blade […] Continue reading →
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Helpful Spin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
In this very short video, figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a lesson with tips on the bullet sit spin (also called cannonball or Fratianne) and overhead arms in upright spins. (See Part 1 of this lesson here.) To improve the bullet spin position, Charyl has the skater reach further toward the ankles, put […] Continue reading →
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Basic Upright Spins (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a lesson on forward and backward upright spins. On the forward upright scratch spin, this skater has unusual arm positions and movement so Charyl makes her aware of it. Some skaters use their arms for balance when initially learning to spin and they develop bad habits that “look […] Continue reading →
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Big Muscle Backspin (Tom Zakrajsek)
World and Olympic coach Tom Zakrajsek discusses the importance of a “big muscle backspin” as a tool for improving jump air position. This is essentially a regular backspin with details that make it more valuable as a jump training tool. Tom explains, “The idea of the big muscle backspin is that skaters have to pull […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin Lesson – Camel Catch Foot (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues her lesson working with a skater on a relatively new camel spin. See the initial part of this camel spin lesson here. In this video, the initial focus is on the camel catch foot, but throughout the lesson Charyl corrects the issue with the skater’s left arm on […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin Lesson – Fixing Common Errors (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works with a skater on a relatively new camel spin. After watching an initial camel attempt, Charyl has this skater do a forward spiral down the ice to work the camel position. She mentions the skater’s awkward-looking fingers (shows the claw), but mainly she’s concerned that the skater can […] Continue reading →
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How to Practice Spinning (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan explains how to practice spinning, including how much to practice. Kim recommends training spins 15 minutes during every 45 minute to 1 hour on-ice practice. The 15 minutes should be focused and continuous, and not just a bunch of random spins throughout the practice that totals 15 minutes. For skaters that […] Continue reading →
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Improving Beginner Skills – Part 5 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a general lesson with a beginner level skater, using program elements as a roadmap for the lesson. Part 1 focused on footwork and spins, and Part 2 focused on some jumps. Part 3 focused on spin entries, back power three turns, and the flip jump and Part 4 was about the […] Continue reading →
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Layback Spin – Part 3 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a group class on layback spins. In Part 1 the focus was on proper upright spin entrance and spin centering. In Part 2 Kim started teaching the straight leg layback, and she continues with that in this video. She reviews the entire process, starting with “inviting the audience in” and […] Continue reading →
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Camel, Layback, and Sit Spin Lesson (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a spin lesson, covering camel spin, introduction to layback, and combination spins with camel and layback (and sit spin). This is a continuation of this lesson. Starting with camel, Charyl focuses on keeping the skating side arm in front longer during the entrance. She then focuses on the […] Continue reading →
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Various Sit Spin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a sit spin lesson covering the pancake, bullet (or shotgun), basic sit, and back sit (from sit change sit). They begin with the pancake and Charyl wants the skater to maintain a stronger back position when moving into the final position, and this skater does a great job […] Continue reading →
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Improving Beginner Skills – Part 3 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a general lesson with a beginner level skater, using program elements as a roadmap for the lesson. Part 1 focused on footwork and spins, and Part 2 focused on some jumps. In this video, Kate has the skater run through the program to identify weak points to address with further coaching. […] Continue reading →
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Layback Spin – Part 1 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan begins a group class on layback spins. Not surprisingly, the focus in this video is entirely on proper entrance and spin centering, so Kim only teaches details of the forward upright spin here. She begins with a discussion of centering which she calls “centeration.” Centering a spin is incredibly important for […] Continue reading →
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Sit Spin Challenges (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a lesson with a young skater. In the previous part of this lesson, the focus was on the forward upright scratch spin, while this video focuses on the forward sit spin. As discussed in the previous video, this skater struggles with stepping back into the circle and this […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin – Part 3 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues her detailed explanation of how she teaches camel spins. In Part 1, Kim discussed details of the setup and initial entry edge, with emphasis on hand positions intended to properly open the shoulders and generate edge pressure for rotational energy. In Part 2, she focused on the actual camel spin […] Continue reading →
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Beginner Forward Upright Scratch Spin (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works with a skater on improving a forward upright scratch spin. Charyl addresses several important points throughout the video, including entrance step direction, head position during the spin, free foot movement, and overall alignment during the spin. This skater is clearly confused by the concept of “stepping where you […] Continue reading →
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Improving Beginner Skills – Part 1 (Kate Charbonneau)
Coach Kate Charbonneau begins a general lesson with a beginner level skater, using program elements as a roadmap for the lesson. Kate has the skater do some of the footwork and skating skills from her program, and not surprisingly Kate asks for more ankle bend. Notice the description of pressing into the tongue of the […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin – Part 2 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues her detailed explanation of how she teaches camel spins. In Part 1, Kim discussed details of the setup and initial entry edge, with emphasis on hand positions intended to properly open the shoulders and generate edge pressure for rotational energy. In this video, she focuses on the actual camel spin […] Continue reading →
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Beginner Backspin Tips (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works with a young skater on the beginner backspin. This short video is a continuation of a beginner spin video focused on basic forward upright scratch spin, sit spin, and camel spin (see Part 1 here). The skater already knows the back pivot entrance to the upright backspin and […] Continue reading →
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Camel Spin – Part 1 (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan shares her method of teaching camel spins. She begins by acknowledging there are many ways to do a camel spin entry, such as leading with the skating side arm or leading the non-skating side arm. Neither of these is wrong, but Kim explains she wants both hands in front on a […] Continue reading →
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Basic Beginner Spins (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch works with a young skater on basic spins, including the basic forward upright scratch spin, sit spin, and camel spin. Charyl notes that, “It took forever to get this one to spin, but it’s coming together.” For the upright spin, the focus is on posture and keeping the free […] Continue reading →
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Step-By-Step Process for Centering Spins (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan gives a class a lecture and demonstration on centering spins, focusing on the basics of performing an upright front scratch spin. Kim uses a step-by-step process to help skaters learn and center spins, and there are specific reasons for each part of the process. [Editor’s note: This may be a frustrating […] Continue reading →
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Introducing Back Sit and Back Camel (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a spin lesson (see Part 1 here and Part 2 here) and Part 3 here) by introducing a back camel and back sit spin. In the previous parts of the lesson, this skater worked on the basic sit spin, mushroom and camel positions, and upright attitude and hair […] Continue reading →
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Attitude and Hair Cutter Spins (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a spin lesson (see Part 1 here and Part 2 here) with emphasis on an upright attitude position as well as the hair cutter position. In the previous parts of the lesson, this skater worked on the basic sit spin as well as mushroom and camel positions. This […] Continue reading →
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Spin Tips for Mushroom and Camel (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a spin lesson (see Part 1 here) with emphasis on a sit back position or mushroom and the basic camel spin. In the previous part of the lesson, this skater worked on the basic sit spin. The sit back variation or mushroom is new to this skater, so […] Continue reading →
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Important Universal Spin Tip (Charyl Brusch)
Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch gives a spin lesson, focusing on upright scratch spin and sit spin. For very calm and gentle skaters, coaches often struggle to get strong pushes and aggressive edges. The primary solution is to keep asking for it, and to do exercises that train more aggressiveness in general. The main […] Continue reading →
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Sit Spin Basics (Kim Ryan)
Spin specialist Kim Ryan teaches a sit spin class at a seminar. The skaters in the class can all do a sit spin, but many need help getting the position lower so it’s a “real” sit spin. After watching the class make some initial attempts, Kim begins by focusing on improving the skaters’ functional strength […] Continue reading →
