Spins

[sonora]

http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/current/content/ruhspinning.htm

[manleywoman]

Interesting article...thanks. i for one think spins are totally undermarked at all levels of competitions. I see way too many kids/adults who can jump jump jump, but can't spin well at all. Then those who fall on a jump but have amazing spins don't place higher than the pure jumpers. Drives me crazy.

[Alexeiskate]

I love watching good spinners, especially a fast camel spin with good position.

It was interesting watching the different men practice groups at Worlds. The Japanese and Chinese men were in the same group and all they did was jump, jump, jump. The Canadians and Swiss were in their own group and demonstrated amazing spins that wowed the crowd every time.

[Likethewind]

bravo Alexandra Stevenson. Everyone should read this. If spinning is easier than jumping then why don't more people spin well?!!!!! The answer is it ISN'T! I sure wish the judges read the rule book and gave spins their PROPER value, thus making spinning as important as revolving airborne which isn't skating anyway.

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks so much for the article. It was really interesting. Jumps have the WOW factor but spins can leave you mesmerised.

A totally agree about spins being underrated as part of the technical mark. They only seem to get marked as part of the presentation mark. I found during Plushenko's LP at the Olympics his spins were really lacking in revolutions (normally his spins are quite good) but did not seem to be deducted on it where Goebel and Honda did better spins. I think the emphasis is on jumps too much. On the other hand the Chinese men do not have great spinning ability and have been held down in world standings because of their spins, even though their jumps are great.

I do think recently that skaters generally have worked on spins and the quality of spinning by the guys in particular has improved. I like skaters like Lambriel and Jeanette because of their interesting spins.

[Likethewind]

RIght ON! Aussie WIlly. Lambiel and Jeanette were very intersesting to watch. I predict Lambiel will make the top group IF he can get his jumps under control. The skating and spins are just too good and the judges know it! I am sure the skaters are paying more attention to spins and footwork now. I think Honda was placed so high in the short in spite of jump troubles because of his footwork being so fast and confident.

[Alexeiskate]

Originally posted by Aussie Willy
On the other hand the Chinese men do not have great spinning ability and have been held down in world standings because of their spins, even though their jumps are great.


I think the Chinese men have been held down because of their jumping inconsistencies and lack of musicality/choreography more so than because of their relatively weak spinning abilitites. Li actually has a good, fast camel and might have placed above Honda if he didn't pop some triples at Worlds this year.

I agree that Lambiel is very exciting to watch. Here's a Swiss guy that cannot only spin, which we kind of expected from the Swiss anyway ;) , but he can also jumps and expresses the music well. His qualifying at Worlds was sensational. Too bad he couldn't hold it together in the short and long.

At Worlds I would rank the good spinners in the following order: Lambiel, Buttle, Sahndu, and Vahktung.

[Aussie Willy]

Alexeiskate - I agree with you about Li. I do like his spins and his positions in the back camel are very good. And I agree also with what you say about the Chinese men's lack of musical interpretation. But that has gotten better. I was disappointed for Li at Worlds and wished he hadn't popped those triples because I would love to see him medal at worlds. He really had some great choreography for that Star Wars program.

But I feel it is their spins have really let them down, even more so that those other aspects of their skating because great spins will really enhance the presentation. And that is where they have lost the marks - in presentation. Anthony Lui is a case in point. He probably has the best speed of all the men and great jumps, but he has had to work really hard on his spins because they have let him down in the past and they still are not up to the standard of his jumps. Even he has acknowledged that himself.

When it comes to marking spins, the judges do seem to take it off the presentation mark rather than the technical mark.

[Aussie Willy]

Just wanted to add to this thread another name - Neil Wilson. I was watching his LP from Europeans last night and his spins were amazing. Really clean positions and very fast.