Figure skating spin specialist Charyl Brusch continues a lesson with an advanced spinner, focusing here on layback variations. (See the earlier parts of this lesson here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part3.) She begins with the standard layback position, and she wants this skater to bend the free leg more and pull it closer to the body in a more classic position. She also reminds the skater how to transition from the basic upright entrance to the layback with a folding motion where the free leg stays where it is and the body moves away. Notice how Charyl has this skater put only the axis arm up in the basic position, as this is a technique that helps reduce excessive dropping of the axis shoulder which is so common in standard layback spin positions.
On the side layback Charyl has the skater keep the free leg straight. She also uses the arms in a way to exaggerate the side body position while still creating a pleasing line. One helpful tip is to avoid turning the free toe inward on the side layback. Charyl wants the skater to move to the side layback in one smooth motion, rather in a step by step set of movements.
Next, Charyl asks for side to square layback, and this transition is often difficult for skaters so most skaters/coaches do the square to layback transition instead. Charyl has the skater try both and the skater is more comfortable with the second. She then has the skater do square to side to haircutter. Charyl offers insights about the haircutter, including the need to get the free foot close to the head while continuing to press the hips forward and keeping the knees close together (side to side). She says, “Let those hips get the pressure and not the middle of your back.”
Because this skater is not flexible enough to do a Biellmann, Charyl explains the need to look for other options and here she tests the skater’s ability to increase the speed of the layback. She does this by having the skater start in the standard position and then bring the arms in quickly while dropping the free foot to a position close to the skating foot (but still behind). The trick is to have more open arms and a very high free leg in the initial standard position, and then dropping more quickly into the second position. Charyl notes that this probably does not meet the requirements for the increase in speed feature, but it’s a great exercise in control. She has the skater try a different arm position and movement.
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