Illusion

[sk8ryellow]

Does anyone have any tips on performing an illusion. I think they look really cool and I would love to put one in my footwork.

[Isk8NYC]

You have to first think of yourself as one of those glass "drinking bird" toys, like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDeiKjI9fMw&feature=related

I'm only half-kidding.

There's a great off-ice demonstration here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIkySIg6bHU&feature=related

Most beginners use a backspin entry to get into an Illusion. You start with the free foot in front, body upright, then swing the skating arm down towards a spot on the ice while the free leg comes through to the back and up into the air. The free arm stays close to the body to help balance over the skating the side. Uprighting the body and using an outside edge pullout ends the illusion.

It looks like you swing from side to side, but you really don't - it's just a balance tilt forward to backward and back on the ice, but you do use the momentum to spin. On the floor, the gymnast has to spin his body.

There's no waist break, so Charlotte spirals are a good on-ice practice drill. (Wear head protection or have a spotter.)

You have to have excellent rhythm and timing to do the spinning version,which is a camel variation. It uses "spotting" in the spin, which skaters don't normally do because it makes us really, really dizzy. I love to watch illusion spins, but we don't see them often in competition because they're really difficult and dangerous, not worth the points they could possibly bring to a program.

[Skittl1321]

Here are two dance videos that walk you through it. The second might be helpful because it comes from a turn, which is sort of the same position as a spin might be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfGty5b2vMU&NR=1&feature=fvwp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcgL3xnDCXE&feature=related


My coach recommended once that I should try this. Based on my backspin, I think she is insane.

[liz_on_ice]

I love to watch illusion spins, but we don't see them often in competition because they're really difficult and dangerous, not worth the points they could possibly bring to a program.

I've seen what looks like a single-revolution illusion done as part of footwork a few times recently. It is pretty spiffy - and might be what the OP meant since she mentioned footwork.

Real multi-rev illusions are to-die gorgeous :bow:

[Isk8NYC]

You don't have to use a backspin entry, it's just a familiar entry. You have spin issues though, right Skittl? Didn't you have to relearn spins in the other direction or am I thinking of someone else?

I will say that it's safe to conclude that you have to be able to do a camel well in order to do an illusion.

[Skittl1321]

You don't have to use a backspin entry, it's just a familiar entry. You have spin issues though, right Skittl? Didn't you have to relearn spins in the other direction or am I thinking of someone else?

I will say that it's safe to conclude that you have to be able to do a camel well in order to do an illusion.

I worked on relearning them in the other direction when it looked like pairs was a possibility, but it's not anymore. My spin issue now is that I drag my toepick on the entry- but my spins are my strong point, which is why she suggested it. Something new to work on so I would stop harping on all the things I can't get perfect. My camel is a bit too arced the wrong way, but I have a decent one for an adult at my level.

[Isk8NYC]

Oh, I didn't know why you relearned spins. Great idea then. YOu can do them off-ice, I'm sure given your dance training.

[kayskate]

Here are two dance videos that walk you through it. The second might be helpful because it comes from a turn, which is sort of the same position as a spin might be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfGty5b2vMU&NR=1&feature=fvwp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcgL3xnDCXE&feature=related



The dance illusions shown in the above vids are both CW. The first is a forward illusion and the second is a backward illusion. Forward and back spin, in skating.
I do forward and backward illusions. The backward one I learned to do at the end of a back camel. The forward is a good entrance or exit from a forward camel.

Practicing off ice should be very helpful, as it is not really effective to do an illusion slowly on the ice as the dancer in the vids demos. The snap must be very quick and no hesitation. Whenever I hesitate, I sit down. The momentum keeps you going through the inverted position. Have your coach work on this w you in your camel spins. The camel spin gives you a good starting position and momentum. IMO, it is much easier to do an isolated illusion once you can do it in a spin.

Kay

[kayskate]

Forward camel w forward illusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgR_SyYYSVI

back illusion from bcamel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpe4ODaP4nI&NR=1
Note the hesitation in this version. It causes the skater to travel.

Isolated back illusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9WaZKbhJA&NR=1

Kay