I use one to practice turns. I've done a couple of slow backspins on it but I don't find that the feel transfers to the ice the same. However for turns it is great. One of the older coaches at the rink said that's what she used to use one for when she did figures and since I was having trouble with back 3's, I borrowed one and used it in front of a mirror. I can see my body alignment and how a move of an arm or hip can make my turn actually turn. That was a tremendous help on the ice, and falling on the carpet was so much easier than falling on the ice trying to do a bracket.

I also had an chance at the rink gym to use a couple of them and practice a 3 turn pattern. It looks weird but it make sense. You put them about a step apart. ie, step on the first spinner, do RFO 3 turn step off left, step on the next one, do RBO, step off, do RFO. The step in between simulates the skating step, if you don't check your turns, you know it at the third spinner because you're not even near it!

Mirrors of course are essential and humiliating in a good way.

Here you go:
http://www.rainbosports.com/shop/sit...29E5C623BF8A3C

I have the cheaper plastic one (the last one pictured on that site). I wouldn't really recommend it to improve spins. I have fun playing around on it, but it just makes me dizzy more than anything else.

i dont like them, i'm always afraid i'm going to hurt myself on them. my friend brought his to off ice class, we actually didnt even use them for spins we used them for jump take offs. i dont really think they help

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Ha! I was just doing this on my living room floor (carpet is not helpful, I miss the hardword floors!)

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I got a tip to use an Everlast twist board. It's much cheaper than the "real" spinners ($10). It's really meant to stand on both feet & twist. I'm not sure if it really helps me, since I'm not that great at spinning. But since I've used it I've been less dizzy on the ice. It's also helping me get my leg crossed over for a scratch spin. Now if only I can do that ON the ice...

I've got their gold metal pro spinner. GOOD stuff, especially given the ridiculously long summer breaks here. Very hard to use for spins though as in to really SPIN, but, I was getting 2-3 revolutions on my backspin on that trainer (never having done a backspin on ice), then I tried it on ice. Within an hour I was up to 6 revolutions, within 3 hours to 9, reasonably centered even.
Also really really helps for the 3-turns. I hadn't done a back 3 turn except on the spinner and I went onto the ice and just did one, and then some more.

It does far less for the forward spins than it does for the backspins and 3-turns though. And I haven't noticed any benefit at all for the forward camel spin. Basically I'd say it's worth it though if ice time is an issue.

Also interesting to film yourself on a spinner. Makes you see what your errors are. Like at first I thought I was just dropping my right shoulder, turned out I only drop it after I raise my right hip too high. Alternatively, that I'm not dropping my left shoulder but instead my right hip actually, then over-compensating by leaning to the left.

that's interesting. maybe I'll get mine out of the back of the closet again and try that out. I can't postpone learning the backspin any longer.