Charyl Brusch's “Advanced Spins”

Tips from previous conferences – available on PSA TV

*Note; the focus of this article will be sit spins in the counter clockwise direction.

There are three basic spin positions, upright, sit, and camel. The four most important things I look for in spins are:

• Speed

• Centering

• Control

• Position

I really work on the entrance into each spin because so many times this is where the errors are and once you miss the entrance it’s hard to regain the center on your spin. The most important thing when you’re spinning is your axis. If your body is not lined up over your skating foot you’re going to have a hard time centering that spin. Also, realize what three-turn it is. A three-turn goes in forward and comes out backwards. If you can wait long enough on the entrance of your spin to hit that three-turn you’ll immediately start making concentric circles instead of loops. The moment you start doing a loopy entrance you’re going to start traveling. I don’t think you need a big three-turn. The smaller your three-turn the sooner you’ll start spinning. The longer you wait the more your weight rolls up to that diminishing circle then you will hit the front of that blade and at that point you will start going backwards(on forward spins).

I think it is so important at the beginning, or at any level, to have really good basic spins. A lot of skaters would like to learn all the different levels but they have not learned really good basic spinning techniques and so their spins suffer and they are really not getting the levels they are looking for.

Forward sit spin:

I like the free leg directly behind your skating foot as you hook into the three-turn. You can get a little quicker snap when you bring your free leg and free arm around together which, in turn, will create a faster spin. Press down with your back arched and towards the front of your blade with both hands right over the front of your skating foot. Watch that your shoulders and hips are not hanging out. Get your belly button right over you’re skating knee. Sit change sit: Be careful not to transfer your weight too soon. From the front sit into the back sit, bring the right arm back before you step. Set your foot down on your big toe as you turn. Don’t think of going on an outside edge because it’s going to do it anyhow. Your right arm and your foot should do a ¼ turn at the same time. Less is more, the more you move the more you have to correct. Shoulders and hips need to be lined up over your skating foot with the pressure over the skating foot as well. Do not transfer your weight until you turn.

Flying sit spin:

I use the same theory on the entrance by holding that diminishing curve until you go up to the front of your blade. If you don’t have enough height it will be tough to get a good spin out of it.

Exercise: from a stand still bend your hips, knees, ankles, toes everything should work together. Bring your arms back and jump up as high as you can tuck both knees. Land on your toes with your back up and bend your knees.

On the actual flying sit you want to jump up, left foot tucks, your arms are out in front of you in the air the left foot comes back down and as you’re ready to sit your hands drop down over your skating foot and then you sit, it’s very quick. Also, right as you’re about to jump, make a little hook with your left foot so you’re thinking of jumping off your big toe, it will help you go up straighter. A lot of skaters have trouble with the flow of this spin. Work on coming into the circle just a little bit more right before you take off.

Flying reverse sit:

Same take-off as a flying sit but you switch feet at the top. Jump up tuck your left leg; switch to tuck your right leg and land on the tip of your right toe. This will help to start your foot into small circles a little quicker. Watch you don’t take off too soon. Wait for that forward edge and you’ll pop straight up more. As you land you’ll create that speed right as you hit.

Is this spin more difficult? Actually, it’s easier for some people because they’re better spinners on their right foot than they are on their left foot.

Death drop:

I teach this spin a bit more like a waltz jump because you don’t want your body dropping until you’re in the air. How much height you can generate? Kick your right leg and arms through together. At the top of the air position both arms are forward then your right arm goes back. Land the spin in a back camel position on the tip of your right toe. Your right arm should be back as you land on your big toe then turn into your back foot (left) by using your arm (right) at the same time that you turn. You want to go for that scissor action. The second leg (left) should kick on the way up, not on the way down so when you land you’ll pick up more speed.

Remember for all spins the more patient you are on the entrance the more quality spin you are going to get.

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