Camel Spin For Adult Figure Skaters (Trevor Laak)

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Trevor Laak discusses the camel spin, particularly as it relates to adult skaters.  Trevor covers three important issues for camel spin.  The first is the lack of a long and controlled entrance edge.  Trevor discusses the two standard entrances and gives a tip for opposite hand lead.  The rotational energy from the spin needs to come from the edge and not from twisting in the upper body.

The second issue is the tendency to open the shoulders and pull the body up when trying to balance n the camel position.  Trevor recommends doing a lot of spirals to build awareness and comfort with the proper camel position.  He also wants his skaters to initially learn to spin with the shoulders flat to the ice.

Finally, the last issue related to camel can also be addressed by practicing spirals.  The hips must shift back to allow the body to balance properly.  Many adult skaters become so tense they cannot release the hips back.  Releasing tension in spirals and camels takes practice and an awareness of the proper positions and balance points.  Note that instead of releasing the hips back to balance, another way to think about it is to push the skating foot forward.  This concept seems to work better for some skaters.

This video was originally shot as part of a promotion for adult skaters, but the information is of course appropriate for young skaters as well.


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24 responses to “Camel Spin For Adult Figure Skaters (Trevor Laak)”

  1. Bryan S

    Thanks Trevor. Terrific video. As an adult skater, I really struggle with camel spin, so this video was made for me. Sad to hear it’s the last in the adult skater series, though. More! Encore!

    Reply
  2. Colette S

    This is great. I agree with Bryan above, you should continue the adult series.

    Reply
  3. srswift

    Love these basic/ grassroots hints that key into very specific and helpful points. I would love to see more!!

    Reply
  4. Chris Conte

    Great comments about different upper body technique on the hook! Love it! Chris

    Reply
  5. Debi

    More for adult skaters!

    Reply
  6. Nancy

    Thanks Trevor! I appreciate your points on the camel. This will help me with both my adults and my younger students!

    Reply
  7. Amy

    Great information~ thank you Trevor!

    Reply
  8. Adult Skater

    Thank you so much for discussing issues related to adult skaters. it is really hard to find a video where coaches actually talk about adults. sometimes it even feel natural to say” the kid” rather than an adult. Thanks again. Very helpful video

    Reply
  9. alibabe

    hi, please more videos for adult skaters. adults respond to quite different teaching styles than the kids, and i would love to see some more adult based videos on website . the fear factor for adults is a major factor when teaching adults and as a newly qualified coach i would love help here on helping adults to get over the fear. is still skate myself as a 45yr old adult and the brain certainly works differently from when i was a kid!

    Reply
  10. Laura

    Another vote for the series to continue. I really think the difference is that kids can imitate amazingly well but adults can’t. Adults learn fast when they are explained the importance of edges and other forces that will make things happen … they need to understand the mechanics of jumps and spins.

    Reply
  11. junglejim

    Please continue these adult videos because they are very helpful to adult skaters who are generally more cautious than younger skaters, especially if you have ever broken any bones on the ice. I’m actually encouraged now to try this by myself and work on it but I wouldn’t think of attempting it if I had not seen this video. Great job ! Thank you.

    Reply
  12. Terese

    I would also like to see the adult series continue. I’d like to see how to approach the sit-spin as an adult skater (preferably one that has learned skating as a +30-year-old adult).

    Reply
  13. Amaria82

    Why when I go into the camel I lose the position? sometimes I can do two turn sometimes only one perhaps I wrong how to go into the spin :/

    Reply
  14. Monique

    Please more for adult skaters! This video helped me tremendously to improve the camel entrance.

    Reply
  15. Skate Guy

    Yes, more for adult skaters please.

    Reply
  16. Diane Rudnick

    Hi, I’m a 54 adult bronze skater (got to Preliminary as a child age 11). Working on reacquiring camel spin, backspin, single jumps, single jump combos. I get great on ice instruction and I video my own skating for my adult skating blog as much as possible to see my errors and my progress … video never lies! There are plenty of people out there wiling to criticize my skating, but not enough offering great exercises, tips and instruction for adults who actually know what they are talking about. I just signed up for this today and I have so much I have learned today to go out and put into practice. Thanks and please continue to post adult skating videos. Also .. is it ok to mention iCoachSkating.com on my blog? I presume I cannot link to videos, but if I learn something from you – I want to give your site the proper credit. waltzjump.com

    Reply
  17. Trevor

    Yes, Diane please feel free to link to the site and even to the pages with the videos. Non-members won’t be able to see the video but can view the text comments. I’ll do a bunch more adult videos soon. (Promise!)

    Reply
  18. Anna

    Great video ! You should definitely continue the adult series.

    Reply
  19. deborah

    Would love to have more adult specific videos!!

    Reply
  20. dorothy

    This was very helpful! great breakdown of technique

    Reply
  21. Amanda

    Thank you Trevor, for this video and the entire site! As an adult skater, this site is heaven. I’ve only been a member for 24 hours, but I’ve already watched hours of video. And today – at only my 3rd time on the ice since I was 18 (I’m 35 now) – I heard cues from this and other videos in my head as I practiced, and they helped me land my flip, lutz, and loop, and combo jumps, and to improve my camel spin. That feat would absolutely NOT have been possible without the instruction I found here! Your work is invaluable, I’m telling every skater I know about this site!

    Reply
  22. Trevor

    Thanks Amanda. Congrats on the “new” elements and welcome back to skating!

    Reply
  23. JasmineHumphreys

    I can relate to a lot of the issues you covered in the video. I would really love to have an adult series created for basic and advanced skills.

    Reply
  24. Trevor

    Hi Jasmine. We are working on plans to increase the amount of content on the website for adult skaters. Look for our announcement this fall (2017).

    Reply

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