Skating technique: spins - Two Foot Spin

spins - part 1.

I was surprised that the spins were taking me longer to learn then the jumps (that is single jumps... small jumps). I spin CCW (counter clockwise) so I'll describe that.

Two foot forward spin for beginners, this is not gonna give too many rotations around as it has no push from the feet and the only wind up is from the upper body (core, shoulders and arms).
1. start, with feet shoulder width apart on the flat of the blade.
2. wind up the upper body towards right, that's both arms toward right keeping around a 90 degrees between them, right shoulder back, core but also  the right hip and foot towards back/ right and bend the knee, press the feet into the ice.
3. unwind towards left with a swinging motion using the arms, core and bring the hip around to square
4. balance, straighten the knees with the arms hold out to the side, press the feet into the ice, keep the body square, head up, lift from the core, shoulders down.
5. spin, after felling balanced bring in the arms like holding a beach ball, then pull them in front of the body across the chest. As a beginner I was instructed to hold the feet in a pigeon toe position but that never worked for me. Instead I had the left foot on the ball of the foot and right foot towards the back of the heal of the blade on a inside edge (I guess you do pigeon the right foot so the foot and hip doesn't get left behind). Try off ice to find these points where you press into the ice. Press into the ice, keep the bode square, head up, lifted from the core, shoulders down, elbows up.

Two foot forward spin from pivot: (I'll describe the 3-turn entrance and the wind up from back crossovers when I get to the one foot spin)
1. start: from a left forward pivot using both the upper body to wind up and the free foot to push around
2. spin: when you bring the feet together, bring your arms forward like holding a beach ball, square the hips, engage your core, lift your upper body up but not the shoulders, while pressing the feet into the ice (left foot on the ball, right foot on the heel of the blade) and... you'll spin toward the left!
3. exit: bend the knees and with the left leg push around onto a right back outside edge, left arm lateral-forward at 10 o'clock, right arm to the side.

I learned the two foot spin in group classes a while ago and I don't remember exactly what my struggles were. I think they were the exact ones my beginner friends have. And that is how to get enough momentum to start the spin and how to balance so you don't stop the spin. For passing the test you need 6 rotations...  I do remember it took me a long time to get those 6 rotations. And I remember that when I passed I wasn't comfortable with the spin. It finally made sense and get comfortable after I've got the one foot spin...

Tips:
- The pivot has to be controlled. That means it should be centered. Don't push to hard into it. That's counter intuitive... right? You want to push hard so you have enough speed to go around 6 times. But if the push is to much for you to control and is not centered you won't balance and it will make you stop... Do keep the weight on the toe pick. Don't pump repeatedly into the pivot, that will make you keep shifting the weigh and de-center you. Don't make the pivot too wide, just hips apart is enough. Bring the foot that goes around closer to the foot that has the pick in, smoothly. If you bring it in too fast or from to far away it will de-center you. Don't release the toe pick too soon, just when you are ready to start spinning.
- The upper body and arms release after wind up has to be controlled. Again don't push too hard. Do engage the core and stop the rotation when the shoulders are square with the hips. And hold arms balanced and tense in front of your body (like holding a ball).
- Find the balance points on your blades. I spin on the inside edge of the ball of the left foot and the inside edge of the right foot. The right foot is pushed forward so the hip doesn't lag behind (coaches say pigeon toe...). Do press into ice!. Again, this sounds counter intuitive to me, wouldn't that friction stop the movement? But pressing allows you to stay on the balancing points, wobbling on the blade would  create more friction and stop the movement...
- Keep your body tense and strong, so you keep the balance. That is keep the upper body engaged, both core and shoulders and arms (don't lift the shoulders, coaches say to press the hands down to help). Also the pressing into ice helps keeping the body tense. In ballet that is lift your body up from the rib cage up, while pressing the feet down (try it off ice).
- I recently red that in order to get more rotations you should try push down lower with a quick pull up to spin and try to get 1-2 revs before pulling your arms in. So, when you start spinning, your arms should be stretched out to the sides parallel to the ice, stay like that for 2-3 revolutions and then slowly pull in. I would think holding the arms to the side longer will help the centering and puling them in will increase the momentum and being that you are centered just that should give you few good rotations...