Interesting Spin Positions for Beginners

[Isk8NYC]

I just had a mixed group of skaters in a show, ranging in skills from two-two foot spins to beginning scratch spins.

I choreographed a simple arm position - basically a ballet-jump position - that only a few of them remembered to do, lol. (Think: deer in the headlights)

What are some interesting arm/free leg positions for beginning spinners?

[londonicechamp]

Hi Isk8NYC

Well, for me, at the beginning, I have interesting arms position for my scratch spin, as I tend not to cross my arms in tightly enough. Now I still do manage a scratch spin without crossing my arms in tightly sometimes. I always tried to rectify this.

And I like the spin with my right leg crossed behind my left thigh. My coach called it a variation spin, but I think that it can be called something else.

londonicechamp

[Ellyn]

Personally, I tend to do this in the backspin part of a change-foot spin, but it could work for forward or two-foot spin as well.

Pull in the arms in front of the chest

Instead of raising both arms overhead or lowering both in front of the belly, raise one arm and lower the other
Then reverse them

Takes about 6 revolutions to complete, so they might only be able to do the first half.

[kayskate]

A stork position is a good one for beginners: free knee lifted with free foot held close to skating leg. Arms curved in front of the body is another simple variation. Free leg may also be extended to the side.

Kay

[Isk8NYC]

I like the free leg out to the side, but it's often beyond the beginning spinner. They can't master the hip shift needed to keep the free leg up. Any tips?

How about arm positions for two-foot spins? I've had good luck with hands-on-the-hips -- it has a hidden benefit: it forces them to stand up straighter.

[Kat12]

What about a "highland dance" type position (one hand on the hip, one arm curved in the air--if they're able they can even do a sorta-stork with the free leg turned out, opposite to the arm that is in the air), or with one arm wrapped across the chest and the other along the lower back, or one arm curved above the head and the other curved at the waist (think S shape, sorta)? LOL, or hands on the head--might look sorta fun if the elbows are kept turned out...although it might evoke images of being on Cops, I dunno! Perhaps they could do a sort of genie/namaste postion with palms pressed together about chest-height? Or you could do it how I used to do it wrong (not on purpose, my arms just ended up there): one hand on the opposite shoulder, and the other hand on the opposite hip, so they're sort of diagonal across the body. I always wondered too if anyone ever did a spin with arms straight down to the sides, a la Irish dancing or something...

What about tying ribbons or streamers to their wrists (too short to get tangled in, obviously) that would float out as they're spinning?

As far as leg positions....I'm clueless. I can't think of a thing that wouldn't involve a leg out or crossed or something...

[Skittl1321]

For a two foot spin what about the "spanish dancer" position- one arm curved in the air, the other curved in front of the chest. (I'm imaging it with wrist flourishes, which is why the image of someone with castanets comes to mind)

I think I'd tell them to do funny things with their arms and let them experiment. Hands straight up in the air palms touching, "walk like an egyptian", madonna "vogue" position.

You can do ANYTHING.

[Query]

Is wrapping your arms one way around your body, then swinging them around the other way, to create the spin, too beginnerish? When complete beginners ask me how to spin, I show them that, and pretty much everyone can do it. Even I know that using your upper body to create a spin is against the whole spirit of proper skating technique, but it is very easy to do.

[Summerkid710]

I like to try corkscrew spins with the kids in that level range.

[Skate@Delaware]

Any of the ballet arm positions work well with 2-foot spins; and my daughter used to do "crazy arms" where she would basically do snake-arms/wiggly arms between her and her friend (they would see who could spin the longest with the craziest arms). Worked great for 2-foot and scratch. You could also try bringing a playground ball or hula hoop and see who can spin holding it in different positions-that's hilarious, especially for 2-foot spinners! With the ball, then count to 3 then toss it out and the next person to catch it spins (evolving spin class into game time-sorry!)

[londonicechamp]

Hi

I have just experimented with this during my practice today.

Whilst doing the scratch spin, I left my arms open for about 5 to 6 revolutions, and then continue with the rest of the spin for a few revolutions. Seemed fun. :D

londonicechamp

[Skate@Delaware]

Some of the girls at my Sunday rink (where I take lessons) play games like "follow the leader" and you could have your girls do that with spins....if one does "arms" in an interesting position then they copy it. If one doesn't do it, then she is out. Last one standing wins. Game starts again, winner leads. Or you could number each person in the class...randomly call out numbers, he/she leads the spin, they all have to copy. sometimes the group mentality works better, depending on the age (adolescents and older).

[sk8lady]

I took a choreography class at Lake Placid a couple years ago and the coach gave us all a length of toilet paper to experiment with, as though it were a ribbon or a streamer. Sounds weird, I know, but it actually looked really pretty (till it got wet, LOL!), and was a lot of fun to play with.