In this lesson, spin specialist Kim Ryan works with a lower level skater who is struggling to get down all the way on a sit spin. This is a very common problem at this level, and Kim addresses it first by testing the skater’s leg strength and balance with a simple forward dip. The goal with this dip is to get down all the way on two feet, while improving core and upper body tension which Kim creates with the hand connection. The idea is to get down on two feet, briefly switch to one foot, and then return to two feet before standing back up. This reduces the strength needed for the sit position (briefly) as the skater doesn’t have to go down or up on one leg.
After the two foot to one foot dip, Kim gives this skater an exercise at the wall for leg strengthening (and balance). This exercise is a simple one foot squat hanging on to the wall for support, for 5 repetitions on each leg. Kim even lets the skater use the wall to help get back up. As she explains, this exercise done daily (even when not skating) will quickly create the needed leg strength, so after a short while the skater won’t need to hang on to the wall at all (except lightly for balance). Notice the final comment regarding forward body lean during this exercise.
Then it’s time to do a sit spin. Kim explains the whole process, and as a final comment asks the skater to “pinch your rib cage to your thigh.” This creates the necessary forward body position for this skater to balance the sit position while spinning all the way down. This front-to-back balance is often the final key to helping skaters get all the way down in a sit spin, even if they still lack the strength to get back up on one leg. Not only giving a skater permission to lean forward, but actually asking for it can help skaters quickly move past intermediate sit positions during development.
Sorry, this content is for members only.Click here to get access.
Already a member? Login below… |
Add to "My Favorites" (Beta testing)
