Flying Sit Spin – Part 1 (Charyl Brusch)

In this figure skating spin video, spin specialist Charyl Brusch teaches a flying sit spin from the ground up. To start the lesson, Charyl has the skater perform an upright flying spin from a standstill. This approach ensures the skater can work on the correct timing (not a flying waltz jump as a result of taking off too soon or flying salchow from taking off too late) and the necessary jump height without the complicated movements of the tuck or the sit spin after. Watch the skater fix the timing and adjust the arm position and movement based on Charyl’s feedback.

Next Charyl holds the skaters hands and has the skater jump up off two feet without spinning. Initially the focus is on lift and straight legs, but the focus shifts to the tuck and re-straightening of the legs prior to landing. For the tuck, Charyl says, “When you tuck them (legs and feet) don’t tuck them back. Tuck them from your hip.” Once this is mastered, Charyl has the skater do another flying upright spin with a leg tuck. Again, notice the arm movement. She wants the skaters to think of jumping up off the big toe, rather than the little toe. Finally Charyl has the skater try a flying sit from a back crossover.

To end the video, Charyl offers more insights as well as a summary of how she teaches the flying sit. A common error is jumping too soon. Charyl wants the skater to wait before jumping until the hook or that moment when the three turn would have happened in a non-flying spin. A flying sit should not have a three turn at the end of the entrance but the edge should be very strong. Also, the skate actually spins a little on the toe pick. Charyl wants the arms to start back and come through open and even in the air and not to one side or the other. (Some coaches teach flying sits with both arms coming through over the free leg like on a death drop, but Charyl does not.) She also explains that she wants the free leg a little open in the air. (Some coaches teach their skaters to completely close the legs in the air which causes control problems and makes it very hard to speed the spin up after landing.)