Confusion: shall I be doing my jumps and spins clockwise or anti-clockwise

[londonicechamp]

Hi

On another skating forum, I have been told that as I do as a normal right handed person would, I shall be jumping to the left and spinning on the left. I thought that that only applies to people who are left handed.

I am now confused. :roll:

Which way should I jump and spin: to the left or to the right? 8O

londonicechamp

[Kat12]

Whichever way works for you. I doubt it usually goes according to "handedness." I plan on trying to learn to spin and jump both ways, though I suspect I'm naturally a clockwise spinner (figures, I'd have to be difficult). My former instructor told me that from watching the way I skate, she thinks I'm right about clockwise spinning, but that I might turn out to be a COUNTERclockwise jumper. Nothing like making things really confusing.

[techskater]

Hi

On another skating forum, I have been told that as I do as a normal right handed person would, I shall be jumping to the left and spinning on the left. I thought that that only applies to people who are left handed.

I am now confused. :roll:

Which way should I jump and spin: to the left or to the right? 8O

londonicechamp

The right way is the one that is most comfortable. I write and eat right handed but all sports are "left handed" - CW jumper and spinner, bat left, throw left, play hockey left, left handed agility handler (run CW courses better with my dogs and use left hand dominantly with calls such as go and like to have the right side as the off hand as much as possible). There is no "right way for handedness".

[Skittl1321]

Hi

On another skating forum, I have been told that as I do as a normal right handed person would, I shall be jumping to the left and spinning on the left. I thought that that only applies to people who are left handed.

I am now confused. :roll:

Which way should I jump and spin: to the left or to the right? 8O

londonicechamp

I don't think handedness has much to do with it at all, though it may help you identify your dominate side.

Just decide whichever is "easier" for you, and decide that is your direction and stick with it. Or, if you want some stress at the beginning, but excellent abilities when you are advanced, learn both directions. (To me, this would be more confusion than it is worth trying to remember which is a flip and which is a toe loop, etc)

A way the coaches I first worked with did it was to stand behind us, and call our name (without telling us what they were doing)- the shoulder you turned over to answer them was your rotational direction.

Other coaches have said things like "which side would you throw a baseball, kick a soccerball, etc" and the hand it comes from is your "side"- if you do all this with your right side, then you are a CCW skater, with your left side, you are CW. That's where the right-hand CCW, left hand CW comes from. But just because you write with your left hand doesn't mean you would kick a soccer ball with your left leg, so coaches try to establish your dominant side.

The name calling worked for me, I went CW... but I'm very right side dominate. My "sidedness" comes from poor dance training, I spent the majority of my life doing almost only CW turns. So I've had to gain strength in my left leg to be my landing leg, because I'm not left side dominant, I just prefer spinning that way. When I originally started I jumped and spun in opposite directions, but a skate director strongly suggested I picked whichever one I preferred and stick with it. (Apparently for loop jumps?) I decided it would be easier to learn to land on the left leg then to rotate CCW.

oops, sorry this was long.

[Isk8NYC]

I have fraternal twin daughters who skate. The left-handed DD skates CCW and the right-handed DD skates CW - totally against the stereotype of "lefty=CW / righty=CCW." Handedness means nothing in skating and I refuse to let my students use it as an excuse to avoid learning 3-turns on their weaker side, lol.

There's a simple test I use for new students. I have them stand facing the wall on the ice. I put my glove on the ice behind them and then move to be in front of them.

Then I tell them to turn around and gently nudge the glove with the toe of one foot. The way they turn and the foot they use tells me their skating direction and stronger foot. If they turn CCW and kick with their right foot, they should concentrate on CCW and vice versa.

Skates have to be fitted and tied properly, and the test doesn't work well on crappy rentals or pond skates. Good equipment is really important.

[londonicechamp]

Hi techskater

I am a bit like you, eat and do everything mostly left handed, though do all my jumps and spins facing the right, as I feel more comfortable that way.

The confusion is coz on another skating forum, I have been told by another member that I am jumping and spinning the wrong way, as most people jump and spin to the left. :)

My coach does know that I am stronger on my left hand side too, as from the moves that she asked me to do, such as F crossovers and backward crossovers, she can tell that I am stronger on the left. :D

londonicechamp

[Mrs Redboots]

Stand still on the ice with both feet. Now, without thinking about it, turn. Which direction did you turn it? That's probably the direction you'll be most comfortable jumping and spinning in.

Incidentally, with the IJS being what it is, it does help to learn to spin in both directions!

[Skittl1321]

The confusion is coz on another skating forum, I have been told by another member that I am jumping and spinning the wrong way, as most people jump and spin to the left. :)


If you are a CW skater you are a "wrong way" skater. It's not because you are doing it "incorrectly"- it's that it's the less common side (though I'm not sure it's really THAT less common.)

It used to be that coaches would not let a skater skate in their prefered direction, everyone had to skate CCW, so CW was wrong. Now, most coaches have skater skate in the direction they prefer, so there is no "wrong" way, but many people still jokingly refer to CW as "wrong".

If you like that direction, you are doing it right.

[techskater]

Well know CW skaters:
Sara Hughes (Olympic Champion)
Ashley Wagner
Roselyn Sumners (Olympic Silver Medalist)
Kristine Musademba (JGP this season)
Tim Goebel (the Quad King)

[Kat12]

I think Alissa Czisny is a CW spinner as well.

[PinkLaces]

If you are a CW skater you are a "wrong way" skater. It's not because you are doing it "incorrectly"- it's that it's the less common side (though I'm not sure it's really THAT less common.)

It used to be that coaches would not let a skater skate in their prefered direction, everyone had to skate CCW, so CW was wrong. Now, most coaches have skater skate in the direction they prefer, so there is no "wrong" way, but many people still jokingly refer to CW as "wrong".

If you like that direction, you are doing it right.

I've run into a few coaches that still think CW is wrong and make their skaters do everything CCW. One was a jumping "expert" who said she if she had a skater who was CW she would make them skate CCW, because it's too hard to turn everything for the CW skater. Riled me up a bit, because I am a CW skater.

[vesperholly]

On another skating forum, I have been told that as I do as a normal right handed person would, I shall be jumping to the left and spinning on the left. I thought that that only applies to people who are left handed.
"To the left" usually means CCW, toward your left side, the "right-handed" way. If you are left-handed, typically you skate "to the right", or CW. Rotational preference and handedness have a correlation but it isn't absolute.

A few kids in my LTS classes asked me why we only do jumps and spins one way. It sounded like a silly question until I realized that all preceeding moves are learned turning in both directions, on left and right. :) Perceptive!

[Skate@Delaware]

We have one woman at my rink that is right-handed but jumps & spins in both directions equally well! She isn't sure which direction is her natural direction!

My daughter is right-handed but jumps/spins CW; I'm right-handed and I go CCW. You try hard to bring them up right....;)

[sk8joyful]

Which way should I jump and spin: to the left or to the right? 8O

Whichever direction you feel most natural & comfortable, is prolly your strongest side. - And should this change ;) oh well, so much the better, as this way (like ambidextrous) you can learn spins & jumps in both :bow: (CCW<-left) & (CW->right) directions.

[katz in boots]

I'm left handed for writing, right handed for all except raquet sports. I'm fairly ambidextrous through most life skills. I skate CCW, and it was never a question.

I've seen coaches who impose their direction on students, there is never a question of going the other way.

At our rink we have approximately 1/3 of our skaters are reverse (CW) skaters, which seems a high proportion. Perhaps because coaches are very open finding out the skaters' natural direction.

I've only come across one person who did spins CW and jumps CCW, though she wasn't a very high level skater.

[RachelSk8er]

When I as a kid, I started doing everything CW (I'm left handed). LTS instructors tried to "fix" me (years ago they tired to correct everyone who jumped/spun the wrong way) but were only able to fix my jumps, so I was jumping CCW and spinning CW. Talk about frustrating. I eventually quit freestyle and just did synchro (no jumping or spinning :)) but when we had to start spinning in programs, I had to re-learn to spin and it had to be CCW. Now that I do freestyle again, I do everything "right handed" (which is also in line with other sports, I golf R handed), although some turns come easier on the L than on the R. I can jump in both directions through a flip if I really try/think but can't spin CW any more to save my life. Might start playing around with spins though in anticipation for moving up to gold next year.

We have identical twins at my rink, one is CCW and the other CW. I can't tell them apart by looking at them unless I see them skate!

[vesperholly]

When I as a kid, I started doing everything CW (I'm left handed). LTS instructors tried to "fix" me (years ago they tired to correct everyone who jumped/spun the wrong way) but were only able to fix my jumps, so I was jumping CCW and spinning CW. Talk about frustrating. I eventually quit freestyle and just did synchro (no jumping or spinning :)) but when we had to start spinning in programs, I had to re-learn to spin and it had to be CCW. Now that I do freestyle again, I do everything "right handed" (which is also in line with other sports, I golf R handed), although some turns come easier on the L than on the R. I can jump in both directions through a flip if I really try/think but can't spin CW any more to save my life.
How did I never know this?! Me too!! I can't really jump in both directions anymore, but can still do sit spin, back spin, scratch, back camel, flying camel CW. Used to have a pretty good CW layback but stopped practicing it after I successfully switched it to CCW. 8O

[LilJen]

I think Alissa Czisny is a CW spinner as well.

Yup. Johnny Weir, too.

It's rather inconvenient to be a CW skater, but oh well. Can't really change a natural inclination.

[techskater]

Yah got that right about the inconveniemce, especially if you are on a session with a lot of low level ice dancers who have a hard time getting out of the way!

[Skate@Delaware]

Yup. Johnny Weir, too.

It's rather inconvenient to be a CW skater, but oh well. Can't really change a natural inclination.
I'm the only one in my class who is CCW....so I'm the odd one out!

[singerskates]

I skate "right";that is I spin and jump CCW.

I can however do some elements CW.

Waltz Jump
Toe Loop
Forward Spin (I didn't start spinning CW until I saw Joannie Rochette do it on the end of one of her spins in order to get an extra feature for her spin. So instead of having an USp, I can have a CUSp under CPC.)

I can spin upto 15, 16 revs CCW in an USp but as soon as I change to the CW direction, I can only eek out 2 to 4 revs.

As far as doing Mohawks, I perfer to do mine RFI over LFI. Same with 3 turns; LFO and RFI over RFO and LFI.

[luckykid]

I think my dominant side is CCW. I jump CCW more naturally (I think so) but having the right foot last to leave the ice makes it easier for me to jump. And I jump nicer CW.

I prefer LFO3 and RFI3 too. It seems more natural. But I can do RFO3 and LFI3 better.

[dance2sk8]

I think Alissa Czisny is a CW spinner as well.

She's CW spinner and jumper. 8-)

[dance2sk8]

I can spin both ways. My first natural way to spin was CW. But my coach taught me CCW. I spin really well that direction now and I jump that direction naturally. But, we are working on my other spinning direction as well... Its not as strong, but still fun to play with.

[liz_on_ice]

Hi

On another skating forum, I have been told that as I do as a normal right handed person would, I shall be jumping to the left and spinning on the left. I thought that that only applies to people who are left handed.

I am now confused. :roll:

Which way should I jump and spin: to the left or to the right? 8O

londonicechamp

When you were a little kid and you would spin around and around on the grass till you got dizzy and fell down - do you remember which direction you turned in? Go that way :D

[kayskate]

I teach beginners basic two foot spins and pivots in both directions. Everybody should be able to do basic turns in both directions as the test require them . One I got in trouble at a rink where I worked several yrs ago for having students spin both directions. Skate director yelled at me in front of my class. It was really embarrassing and definitely her mistake and not mine. I tell the students they will discover their spin direction w practice working in both. A more comfortable direction will become evident w time.

Kay

[dbny]

I teach beginners basic two foot spins and pivots in both directions. Everybody should be able to do basic turns in both directions as the test require them . One I got in trouble at a rink where I worked several yrs ago for having students spin both directions. Skate director yelled at me in front of my class. It was really embarrassing and definitely her mistake and not mine. I tell the students they will discover their spin direction w practice working in both. A more comfortable direction will become evident w time.

Kay

ITA. I've had students who started with one direction and could not get beyond a problem (like always breaking at the waist) change directions and have no problem at all.

[herniated]

I was one of those kids back in the 70's where everyone learned to jump and spin CCW. Needless to say I sucked at it and wound up quitting. Later on when I was in my late teens and skated a bit again was it discovered by another coach that I did well with CW! I am left handed btw.

I'm going to try all the tips though on my son to see what is his natural direction.

[herniated]

Lmao, :lol:my kid just blew the theroy! I had him stand with his back to me and put a ball behind him. Then I told him to turn around and kick the ball. He turned over his right shoulder (CW) and kicked the damn ball with his right foot (CCW). LOL. :frus:

Then I had him do it two more times and he still kicked with his right but turned over his left shoulder (CCW). He is right handed btw but he bats lefty when playing baseball. Only time will tell I guess.:giveup:

[londonicechamp]

Hi guys

Something interesting that I discovered last week. My coach just taught me the loop jump, and I seemed to have got the feel immediately. Does that have something to do with that I am left handed? 8-)

londonicechamp

[Clarice]

Hi guys

Something interesting that I discovered last week. My coach just taught me the loop jump, and I seemed to have got the feel immediately. Does that have something to do with that I am left handed? 8-)

londonicechamp

No, I don't see why handedness would have anything to do with getting a jump quickly or not. However... which direction do you rotate that loop jump? Chances are, that's the direction you should be spinning. There have been some skaters who spin one direction and jump the other, but that's very rare. Because a jump is essentially a spin in the air, it makes sense to rotate jumps and spins the same way.

[Isk8NYC]

Lmao, :lol:my kid just blew the theroy! I had him stand with his back to me and put a ball behind him. Then I told him to turn around and kick the ball. He turned over his right shoulder (CW) and kicked the damn ball with his right foot (CCW). LOL. :frus:

Then I had him do it two more times and he still kicked with his right but turned over his left shoulder (CCW). He is right handed btw but he bats lefty when playing baseball. Only time will tell I guess.:giveup:
I have a southpaw DD who bats righty most of the time. (She's a switch-hitter when she wants to be.) She skates CCW.

When you do "test" with something on the ice, you have be careful when setting it up so that you don't skew the outcome. Don't touch the skater, or pass closely to get in front of them. Even talking to them from the side will cause them to turn towards you instead of the glove/ball. If you touch a right shoulder and nudge it forward, they'll turn CCW, lol.

Sounds like he's a CCW though, because of the foot he chose to stand on. Just make sure the skates are evenly tied and aligned or that would mess up the outcome too. Have him try a two-foot spin in each direction and see which way is easier.

FWIW, I taught myself to spin CW as a teenager. It took a long time to switch, but I spin really well CCW. I can still spin CW, but I don't practice it enough to be effective.

[londonicechamp]

Hi Clarice

I think that the loop jump is a rotation on the left.

londonicechamp