Spiral

A held glide with the free leg extended at or above hip height.

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.

One long edge, the free leg extended behind and lifted, the body reaching forward to counterbalance it. It is a held position with no movement in it, which makes it one of the cheapest things in this guide to show properly.

The leg stays straight. The turnout comes from the hip, so the knee faces down and the boot turns out. The knee does not fold. If it is folding, the height is coming from the wrong place.

What it rests on is a one-foot glide that holds its line without the free foot helping, and what it leads to is the camel spin, which is this position put on a circle. A spiral that wanders is a camel that will not centre.

Derived

Build on

• DragBoth extend the free leg behind, turned out. Ice Skating Australia's spiral lifts it to at least hip height, and its lunge lifts only the blade.
• One-foot glideA spiral is held on an edge, the free leg stretched out behind, turned out, and raised to hip height or higher.

Off the ice

• Balance on one legStanding on one leg with the ankle correcting all the time, as every edge asks.
• Hips and turnoutHow far the legs rotate outward from the hip, for the free leg, mohawks and the spread eagle.
• Holding spin positionsThe sit, camel and layback shapes, held still for longer than a spin lasts.

Leads to

2 elements in the guide are built on this one.

• Camel spinA spin held with the free leg extended behind and the free knee above hip level.
• Choreographic sequenceAt least two different skating movements, such as spirals or spread eagles, joined by steps and turns and built for the music.

From LFO

• Left forward outside edgethe plain edge, with no turn on it
• Left forward outside chasséexits RFI · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside crossoverexits RFI · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside change of edgeexits LFI · same foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside cross rollexits RFO · changes foot, the edge holds, the direction holds, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside three turnexits LBI · same foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside mohawkexits RBO · changes foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside rockerexits LBO · same foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside slip chasséexits RFI · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction holds, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside bracketexits LBI · same foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe continues
• Left forward outside choctawexits RBI · changes foot, the edge changes, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside counterexits LBO · same foot, the edge holds, the direction reverses, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside crossed step behindexits RFO · changes foot, the edge holds, the direction holds, the lobe reverses
• Left forward outside loopexits LFO · same foot, the edge holds, the direction holds, the lobe continues

Clusters from LFO

• Left forward outside double threeLFO → LBI → LFO
• Left forward outside triple threeLFO → LBI → LFO → LBI
• Left forward outside rocker-counterLFO → LBO → LFO
• Left forward outside choctaw-three-rockerLFO → RBI → RFO → RBO
• Left forward outside bracket-counterLFO → LBI → LFI
• Left forward outside counter-mohawkLFO → LBO → RFO
• Left forward outside counter-threeLFO → LBO → LFI
• Left forward outside counter-2½ twizzleLFO → LBO → LFI
• Left forward outside rocker-choctawLFO → LBO → RFI
• Left forward outside rocker-mohawkLFO → LBO → RFO
• Left forward outside three-mohawkLFO → LBI → RFI
• Left forward outside double three-mohawkLFO → LBI → LFO → RBO
• Left forward outside rocker-counter-double twizzleLFO → LBO → LFO → LFO
• Left forward outside 3-turn-change of edge-double twizzleLFO → LBI → LBO → LBO

Appears in

• BIS Skills 3BIS · level 3

Where it sits in one country's grades is on that country's copy of this page: UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand.

• BIS Skills 3, exercise 5: Forward spiralsA serpentine of closed mohawks and crossovers into a forward outside spiral on each foot, held for three seconds.