Figure Skating Terms/Spins

• Turn Definitions
• Spin Definitions
• Jump Definitions

Spins come in two basic types, forwards and backwards. Forward CCW spins use a LBI spinning edge while a backwards CCW spin is on a RBO edge. The first thing you want to look for is the direction of the spin (some folks spin and jump CW instead of CCW) followed by which foot is in contact with the ice. Body position is the next indicator of the type of spin performed. Following are some basic spin positions:

• Upright
  Usually just referred to as a "back" or "forward" spin, the skater is standing upright with the hands clasped against their body in front (or over the head, wrapped around their waist, etc.) with the free leg crossed closely in front of the skating foot. In a "headless" upright spin the head is tilted way back during the spin.

.AVI file of Paul Wylie performing an upright spin. 850KB, LEFT-click and enter user name "skate" with password "12345" to download.

• Layback
  An upright spin, but the back is arched as close to parallel to the ice as possible and the free leg is turned out from the body at the hip with the free foot also parallel to the ice. A variation of the layback is the "Biellmann" spin, where the free leg is pulled up behind and above the head.

.AVI file of Nicole Bobek performing a layback spin. 2.4MB, LEFT-click and enter user name "skate" with password "12345" to download.

• Sit
  Just at the name implies, the skater is squatting on one leg with the free leg either extended directly in front or bent and turned across the skating foot.

• Camel
  The body is parallel to the ice (an arabesque position), from the toe of the free leg to the head. There are many different variations of a camel spin, including the "donut-on-a-stick" where the free leg is pulled around to the top of the skater's head.

.AVI file of Todd Eldredge performing a combination spin which includes a camel, sit, change foot, and final upright blur backspin. 882KB, LEFT-click and enter user name "skate" with password "12345" to download.

• Flying Camel
  Instead of turning into a camel spin, the skater completes a partial jump in the air and lands in the camel position to begin spinning.

• Flying Sit Spin
  Instead of turning into a sit spin, a sit spin position is taken in the air during a jump and landed in a forward sit spin (or a flying reverse sit spin, which is a change of leg position so you're on a RBO edge).

• Flying Camel Sit Spin
  Also known as a "death drop" or "flying open Axel sit spin", it consists of a jump that goes horizontal to the ice, stomach down, and landing in a basic back sit spin.

• Butterfly
  This would be classified more as an entrance to a spin. In any case, the move takes off from two feet, body position horizontal to the ice, and lands in a back spin position.

.AVI file of Elvis Stojko performing multiple butterflies. 2.1MB, LEFT-click and enter user name "skate" with password "12345" to download.