Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 Kim explained and demonstrated in detail how to get started spinning off the ice in a repeatable and safe way. In this video, the class continues to work on upright spins and graduates to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations.
Kim starts this video by asking for a basic forward scratch spin starting with 2 revolutions in the “skinny-v” before bringing the foot in, then closing the arms, crossing the arms at the wrists, and bringing the arms in, a sequence Kim refers to as “close it, cross it, squeeze it.” Notice that the free foot goes down on the “squeeze it.” For these skaters new to off-ice spinning, Kim repeats the steps over and over and has them do many repetitions to develop more balance and comfort with the movements. She suggests counting throughout the movements as a way to keep moving through the positions. Kim says, “Try not to pull your foot in from behind and then around. Try to make that circle around.” This around movement of the free leg helps maintain the energy of the spin.
For the backspin, Kim asks for the same timing and movements. Many of the skaters struggle with rocking on the balance board at the start of the back spin, and Kim recommends, “When you pull the (free) foot in, feel like you’re reaching across the kitchen counter. Sew your belly button to your back. Stay forward (with the upper body) as the foot comes in. Stay forward as the arms come in. Go to your arms.” These comments address the common error of pulling back with the upper body, which is especially common when skaters get uncomfortable.
Next Kim returns to the warm up drill for the forward spin which she shared in Part 1. She adds “interesting arms” or arm variations to half of the spins in this warm-up sequence, maintaining regular arms for the other half to help build consistency. After doing this exercise a few times, she returns to forward scratch, this time with interesting arms. To grab for the two arms overhead spin, Kim has the skater grab the left thumb with the right hand (“like you’re milk a cow”) before bringing the arms to the chin and then raising overhead. Kim explains that the arms and hands should stay in front of the body as they ascend over the head.
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