Hi

I just learnt backspin recently. Went for practice today, seemed to be getting a little bit better, one revolution and a bit (most of the time only one revolution though). Tried lifting the left leg higher, and can hold for a bit longer.

I do know that there is a sweet spot for backspin as well. However, I just do not seem to be able to find it. Does anyone know where it is?

londonicechamp

Same place as a forward spin, just on the other foot.

Hi Clarice

Do you mean that it is on the forward part of the blade, towards the toe, on the left foot?

londonicechamp

If you spin clockwise, yes- the forward part of the blade, towards the toe on the left foot. If you spin counter-clockwise, your backspin should be on your right foot.

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Hi Skittl321

I spin counter-clockwise. Does this mean that my sweet spot for the backspin should be somewhere else?

londonicechamp

When you find yours, maybe you will find mine there along with it. LOL

Seriously, though, my coach once told me to press down with the baby toe (Right foot, counter-clockwise spinner). I usually tend to wind up too far back on the blade and this seems to get me closer to the front and more on an outside edge.

Hi tazsk8s

Are you struggling with your backspin, like me?

londonicechamp

Right now I'm coming back from an injury, so I'm struggling with a lot of things. The backspin is just one of many things that is missing in action at the moment.

The baby toe tip was one of the better ones that seemed to help me the most with finding the sweet spot, though.

Hi tazsk8s

Where is the baby toe? Is it the little toe?

londonicechamp

My coach is always yelling - "Little toe! Little toe!" at me during the backspin. She says that's where to put the weight. My problem is if I stop thinking about "little toe" and start thinking about bringing the arms in, I lose the sweet spot and roll back on the blade.

If you spin counter-clockwise, your backspin should be on the right foot. But the sweet spot is in the same spot on both feet, up towards the front, just before the toe pick.

I have a tendency to lean too far back on my backspin (working so hard to get this) so my coach is encouraging me to think about spinning on my toe-picks. Now, you shouldn't ACTUALLY do that- but thinking about doing it seems to get me off my heels.

He's told me that if I make a TON of snow, it's because I'm on my heel. A good spin shouldn't look like I took a scraper to the ice.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Hi londonicechamp,

yes, that's the one!

Hi Skittl1321

Actually I spin clockwise. I have seen quite a few people in my rink spinning anti-clockwise, and sometimes got confused when I watch those people doing backspins.

I am left handed, with the exception of brushing my teeth, holding chopsticks and writing. However, I feel more comfortable doing jumps and spins in the clockwise direction.

My coach discovered that I am actually much better doing moves on my left hand side.

londonicechamp

Hi Pink Laces

Son on my back spin, I should lean more towards my little toe, on the left hand side?

londonicechamp

Hi Pink Laces

I meant to type so, not son.

Sorry.

londonicechamp

I don't know, but when you find it, please share

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

When you start your backspin, make sure you are really down in the knee before you straighten up. You should go around at least 1 revolution before you rise up (hmmm just like a scratch spin). This helps you center. Be sure you are on that outside edge and you are not blocking your spin with your shoulders, they should be leading the spin (CCW the left shoulder should be slightly pushed back). Also, be sure your free leg is in the right position, if it isn't have your coach pay attention to it because it can block you. I've been working on this for 3 years and have finally started getting good backspins so stick with it!!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

So you are spinning clockwise? That is the same as me. I'm a right handed in most things, but do almost all sports left-handed. My sister, who is a skating coach, calls me an opposite rotator, because I do everything the opposite way she does.


It's not really leaning. You don't want to lean out of your circle/spin. It's more a subtle shift of weight on your skating foot.

Not sure how you are entering your spin. I go in from a LFI 3 turn. I try to get up some speed. Even though it's scary, it makes it easier for me to get some momentum going. Once I get on the back edge of the 3, I start thinking about my left little toe. My weight seems to automatically shift there. However, like I said, if I start thinking about correcting something else like my arms (which sometimes drop and don't pull in right) or closing the H position with my free leg, I lose the spot and roll back some toward the heel. Nothing stops me faster. If I hear scraping, I know I'm too far back.

Out of everything I have learned and been able to accomplish in my short time figure skating since January, this is the one accomplishment I have not been able to complete. I either end up twizzling (which now I can do easily and have inserted it into my program... ) or too far up onto my toe pick or too far back on the blade. I have YET to see circles on the ice from a back spin. Very frustrating!!!

I have finally gotten to the point that I'm getting circles. Having a really really deep entry edge (I get an edge growl on this, one of the few times my blades make THAT noise), and a quick shift onto the back edge seem to be what do it. If I give myself time to linger on the flat I'll end up with the twizzle look too (although, twizzle relatively in place, so I can't harness it into actual twizzles ) - so I really have to pop. Then, don't begin to pull in until you have a nice spin started, pulling in too fast will throw me right back to the flat. It's a hurry up and wait sort of game.

Thankfully I don't fall onto the inside edge like so many kids seem to do. That's a habit I don't want to have to break.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Hehe, me and my inside edge for back spins are best friends!!!

Argh, I have to work on that. Its a confidence issue, I think, when it comes to working on my back spin and getting used to the outside edge. I can do loop jumps!!! Why can't I do this! LOL!

On the rocker.

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Apparently I have an issue with the number 7. We worked on backspins yesterday (nice circles on the ice, slow as molasses) and my coach was counting rotations and I'd fall at 7 everytime. So then she didn't count out loud, and I still fell out of it at 7. (I only fell down once, but I'd always stumble out of the spin, and not be able to kick out)

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Are you letting your body collapse and then you fall out of it? I do that but I haven't made it to 7 very often-usually 4-6 revs. My coach wants MORE SPEED on my backspin, that makes me freak out LOL!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Yes, my body collapses first. I just can't keep the position strong enough.
My coach wants more speed too. And logically I know more speed would mean more revolutions, but I freak out when I have to push hard into it.

But I think she was pretty happy with the 7 revolutions, even if I was never able to make it to 8. Heck, I was pretty happy with that!

I need to be able to pull in tighter. I can get my foot crossed, and down next to the boot, but it's rare that I feel my legs touch. It's just not a comfortable position.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)