No it isn't a comfortable position, but staying tighter in your core will help. When I go into my backspins, I'm doing it on the line (still...always on the line LOL!) so I'm taking off onto a LFI edge, when I switch feet, I push off again and deepen my knee bend-this creates more "power" and all that. Major freak for me I'm still afraid of falling over onto my head hahaha!

I think as time goes by you will become more adjusted and adapted to it and be able to hold it longer. You've progressed so much anyway so hang in there! I wish I had that many revolutions (although my coach would always want just a little bit more).

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

No, no, no - it's the CCW rotators who are OPPOSITE of us. And btw, we'd be the only ones in our right minds on the ice since we are "lefties"

Are you leading with the correct side? Do you have the string through your body pulling you straight up over the spinning side? These are all things to consider to improve backspins.

I did not at first, which was very frustrating! I used to fight being on that edge/side and used to block it with my shoulder (my left shoulder was rotated in front of me instead of leading behind).

Now that I've gotten used to the backspin, it's coming together, I'm leading with the left shoulder, getting upright in my body (i.e. string pulling me up), and free leg is more and more in the correct position. I tend to fall out when I get tired, lazy, or feel off-balanced (usually when I'm pre-migraine).

I'm the only one in my group class that jumps/spins CCW! For once, I'm the true "oddball"!!!!

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

Girl!!! You are doing 7 revolutions in a back spin!!! :: jealous ::

You need to post some video on facebook of it. How long did it take you to get the backspin? Just curious. I know this is something I am going to struggle with for awhile.

Oh, on a high note, I got my toe loop down nicely now. Its the first jump in my program!!! I can do the flip, but it still sucks. I get height, just terrible body positioning.

I posted a video of my backspins here. They weren't quite as good as I was doing on Wednesday I don't think... but having a coach critiquing each one helps.

Any comments? I notice I really really lean into the entry- which is why I lost one of them. That helps me gain the teeny bit of momentum I have.

I also can see that what I think of as "tight" position isn't even close!

And now I can see why my coach sometimes mocks me and tells me he doesn't know how I manage to balance on a blade moving so slowly...

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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)

I think they are really good, very nicely controlled. You didn't lose that one from leaning into the entry too much - you broke at the waist, and that's what did you in. My only suggestion would be to bring your elbows down as your arms come in.

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That's what I meant by lean, not lean into my edges- but lean DOWN. In some of them (that one especially) it almost looks like I'm thinking about going into a camel my upper body is so low...

I'll have to ask my coach about the arms. She might have a "plan"- because she's been stressing strong, parallel to the ice, arms.

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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)

It's a good start! To get more control, think of tucking your butt under you as you step into the entrance edge, then press the ball of the blade into the ice, keeping your knee bent even once you start the spin. The tucked butt will keep you from breaking at the waist and the pressing and knee bend will give you something to pull in from, so the spin will be faster.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Hi Skittl1321

I have been looking at your backspin at youtube. Well, they are really centred and they are great.

Read on this forum that it takes someone 3 years to master the backspin. I have only just started, so there is still a long way for me to go yet!!!!!

Another question I now have is: how do you go into your backspin? My coach taught me to go into my backspin, by using inside 3 turns on the right leg, basically like a S shape. They help, but still not more than 1 revolution. My coach said that I keep on putting my left foot down after 1 revolution, coz my leaning on the body weight is probably wrong. Anybody knows how I can get past this problem.

Thanks guys.

Any off ice exercise that I can do at home, that helps with my backspins?

londonicechamp

You can work on your back edges, that will help but that is on ice. Keep working at it, you will eventually get it.

I enter mine the same way Skittl1321 does, inside edge to inside edge and spin. But do it the way your coach suggests as they know you better.

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

Try your backspin on a line on the ice. Assuming you do it CCW on your right foot, start in a T position on the line with your right foot in front, bend your knees & ankles, look a little to your left and make a very small, round circle with your right inside edge, pressing into the ice with the ball of your blade. Don't start the spin until you have actually come back to the line (and in order to do that, you'll probably have to wait until you think you've actually crossed the line). Once you start the spin, think of your entire body as a single unit, like you're in a full body cast. Otherwise, you may unconsciously twist your torso so that your right shoulder starts coming around. That shoulder needs to stay anchored back so that your weight stays over the spinning foot. It can also help to think of both hands pressing down onto a table as you go into the spin.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

For more speed, you would need to get more "snap" with the right leg as you turn over to the BO edge and start to spin.

THis is my "advanced" entry. I've been working on a backspin for 2 years. I spent quite a bit of time just standing on the line and doing a single inside edge until I got back to the line.

And before that, just a 2-foot spin and picking up my other foot.

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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 guys

Just wondering how long it takes you guys to master a backspin (I am not looking at 5 or 6 revolutions, but hoping to get at least 3 revolutions). Just wondering if there is anybody who mastered the backspin as soon as they learnt it. I am finding this spin most of the time frustrating lol.

Is 2 or 3 years generally the amount of time that a person takes to master their backspin.

Yes, my coach often says that I do not 'snap' quick enough. My coach is actually saying that I should be doing an inside-inside edge. I think it is similar to what skittl1321 is trying to say to me.

londonicechamp

I don't teach the backspin with the 3-turn entrance right away. I just found that there were some control issues that need to be taught before you introduce that concept. I myself always use the RFI 3-turn entrance unless I'm demonstrating something.

If the skater has a good forward spin, you can start with a change-foot so they get the feel of being in a backspin. Very few can keep up the momentum needed to continue the backspin; you rarely get more than two revolutions from a beginning backspinner. The trick is to twist away/back and pigeon-toe push onto the BO edge. It takes coordination and speed, usually beyond a lower-level skater.

The second level is to have the skater stand on their backspin foot and place the free toe in the ice behind or to the side. They check to the spinning side, then turn their entire body around to pick up the free foot in front. It's an awesome drill to teach the position - it's hard to not end up with your free foot in front, lol. The only difficulty is that many skaters tend to break at the waist, so you have to remind them to stay upright and keep their skating knee bent for a revolution. Still, this is far and away the most productive way to teach backspins.

Before teaching the 3-turn entrance, I start by drawing a corkscrew on the ice around and leading into the center of a hockey dot. (The hockey guys think it's funny to find, too!)

The skater has to "trace" that corkscrew with the inside edge of their blade. Free foot trails in the air, toe pointed. Arms/shoulders are cross-checked - meaning the opposite arm/shoulder leads into the corkscrew, the skating-side arm/shoulder stays behind the free hip. (This alone takes a long time to master, but it pays off very quickly.)

When the skater gets to a point where they can hold it to the center, I add the "snap." All they have to do is stay down on their knee, and bring the body around to "catch up" with the free foot/hip. I use this as an intro to the 3-turn entrance. The strength built up by the checked corkscrew makes snapping into the 3-turn very simple.

I also add off-ice practices such as using a spinner or plastic plate or just socks in an open kitchen. It's the "snap" you're looking for.

On-ice, gliding on a BO edge and running through the backspin positions over and over really help make the skater comfortable on the edge. I sometimes add a "hold until you stop on the toepick" drill. That takes incredible control because of the curve.

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Hi

I usually wear tracking pants, and padded shorts underneath for my ice skating lesson and practice.

Will it make a difference to my backspin, if I wear a tight?

londonicechamp

Try wearing tights, but remember the skater wears the clothing/skates, not the other way around.

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I think finally after years of trying I had something which actually wanted to stay spinning. Normally I do 1 or 2 revs and the backspin just grinds to a halt. Today there was at least 3 revs on most occasions and it felt like a spin. don't know what I did differently, but I think I finally got to finding where the sweet spot is and how to hold the core strong, stand up straight and all those other things.
A long way still to go because I'm not tight enough in the spin and I need more of an entry edge before the inside 3. But it's a start and I'm quite happy to take it.
Why this spin is so difficult is beyond me, but hopefully it's making some progress.

I also had a hard time with this until I got several things clicking:
-tighter core (which meant working out my core harder)
-staying down in the knee longer and not "whipping" around too early
-not blocking with my shoulders
-more power going into it, because otherwise I had no momentum

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

Hi

I am now on ISI freestyle level 4. I am learning the backspin. My coach said that there is a new improvement since I have got my blades sharpened recently. However, I still cannot find where the sweet spot is. I did some research on the internet, which tells me that if I manage to find the sweet spot, then I can spin for ages on the backspin. My coach encourages me to practise on my backspin, so that I can progress onto axel etc. I am now learning the loop, but with not too much difficulty, as I am a left hander (though I do most things right handed).

The thing that I do not understand is why I can do easily anywhere between 20 to 40 plus revolutions on the cross leg position in my forward one foot (scratch)spin, whilst barely get past the 1 rotation on the backspin.

My coach has me trying to do the backspin from a right foot inside three turn position. I did some research, and it said that there is another way to do the backspin, which is: do the scratch spin, then put foot down on the ice, then do the backspin (though this method is rarely used). Maybe this will work for me.

Another thing I want to know about backspin is: does it make a difference, in other words, does it matter whether my boots lace is tight enough or not.

londonicechamp

You might want to work on the backspin from a left back inside pivot (right toe in the ice while drawing a small CCW circle with your left blade, then lift the left foot to start spinning on the spot right behind the right toepick). That will help you learn the transition from the forward spin on the left foot to the backspin on the right foot. It will also eliminate any issue you may be having due to a poor RFI entrance edge.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Are you jumping lefty and spinning righty?

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- Ashley

Don't you know when we CCW skaters skate right, you CW skaters are left behind.

Thought I'd polk a little fun.

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"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

http://eastcastlemusic.tripod.com

Singerskates Sports Music Editing

Been working on this thing for about 4 years now. First I was too far back on the blade and twizzling. Now I definitely am getting closer to the toe but still end up kicking up a lot of snow and stopping dead. I wonder, is it possible to lean too far over on the edge?

I did actually have this pretty good a few months ago when I was having weekly lessons, I could get 10 revs ! But not now.

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Katz

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