Upright spin

Three or more revolutions on one back inside edge with the skating leg straight.

Also called scratch spin, one-foot spin, upright or corkscrew. Other names.

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

The skating leg stays straight, or close to it, and everything else gathers in over the blade. A spin is not a very tight circle. The blade stays on one small patch of ice and the body turns about a line through it, and how far from that line you hold your arms and free leg is what sets the speed.

Watch the entrance in the diagram. The held part shows less. You arrive on a curve that is still carrying you across the ice, and the circle tightens until the blade sits directly under the line you are turning about. That is the moment the spin starts, and getting there is what a beginner spends longest on.

Then the arms come in and it quickens sharply. Under three revolutions the ISU does not count it as a spin at all.

Derived

Build on

• Backward one-foot glideIce Skating Australia's two-foot spin exits on a back outside edge, and its first one-foot spin carries the free foot at the side of the knee, as this glide does.
• Two-foot spinBoth feet on the ice, turning on the spot. The first spin every learn-to-skate programme teaches.

Off the ice

• Spotting and rotationTurning quickly without dizziness, and seeing straight again when the turning stops.

Leads to

6 elements in the guide are built on this one.

• Back spinAn upright spin on a back edge with the free leg crossed over the skating leg, left on a back outside edge.
• Camel spinA spin held with the free leg extended behind and the free knee above hip level.
• Change of foot spinA spin that transfers from one foot to the other without leaving its centre, holding at least three revolutions on each.
• Choreographic spinThree or more turns in any position, scored by the judges on how it fits the music, with no level called.
• Combination spinOne spin passing through more than one basic position, each held for at least two revolutions.
• Sit spinA spin held with the skating thigh at least parallel to the ice and the free leg forward.

From LBI

• Left backward inside edgethe plain edge, with no turn on it
• Left backward inside push backexits RBO · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe continues
• Left backward inside step wideexits RBI · changes foot, the edge holds, the direction holds, the lobe reverses
• Left backward inside change of edgeexits LBO · same foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe reverses
• Left backward inside three turnexits LFO · same foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe continues
• Left backward inside rockerexits LFI · same foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left backward inside bracketexits LFO · same foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe continues
• Left backward inside loopexits LBI · same foot, the edge holds, the direction holds, the lobe continues
• Left backward inside choctawexits RFO · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left backward inside counterexits LFI · same foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left backward inside mohawkexits RFI · changes foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe continues

Clusters from LBI

• Left backward inside double threeLBI → LFO → LBI
• Left backward inside counter-mohawkLBI → LFI → RBI
• Left backward inside rocker-mohawkLBI → LFI → RBI
• Left backward inside rocker-choctawLBI → LFI → RBO
• Left backward inside counter-2½ twizzleLBI → LFI → LBO
• Left backward inside bracket-cross rollLBI → LFO → RFO
• Left backward inside bracket-counterLBI → LFO → LBO
• Left backward inside counter-threeLBI → LFI → LBO
• Left backward inside rocker-counterLBI → LFI → LBI
• Left backward inside three-mohawkLBI → LFO → RBO
• Left backward inside choctaw-three-rockerLBI → RFO → RBI → RFI
• Left backward inside double three-mohawkLBI → LFO → LBI → RFI
• Left backward inside rocker-counter-double twizzleLBI → LFI → LBI → LBI
• Left backward inside 3-turn-change of edge-double twizzleLBI → LFO → LFI → LFI
• Left backward inside triple threeLBI → LFO → LBI → LFO

Appears in