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 Part 2 the class continued working on upright spins, advancing to forward and backward scratch spins with arm variations. In this video, the focus remains the same as Part 2 with additional insights and a clear process for developing skill.
Kim begins this video by explaining that it’s important not to over-push when doing off-ice spins. This kind of training forces skaters to automatically engage their core muscles and Kim explains what this means. She says, “Really your core are really tiny muscles that wrap around your spine. To spin well on the (spin)board you’re having to engage those muscles and stay in one spot.” She continues, “When we’re on the ice, we engage mostly our big muscles.” But spinboard training engages the small muscles and really forces a skater to find their balance. She says, “So take it easy. Less is more. Do it simply. Do it good. Find your balance. It’s not about speed. It’s about balance.”
For “interesting arms” it’s especially important to engage the core, so Kim has the class alternate between basic position and interesting arms. She also notes that skaters should hit an initial basic position before moving the arms to the desired interesting position.
Notice that even this far into the class Kim is having the skaters start with just half turns. She has them do a half revolution in basic, then a half rev interesting arms, then full rev basic, and full rev interesting arms. She then continues to 2 revolutions basic, 2 revs interesting arms, and then three revolutions. After this she proceeds to upright back scratch spin, focusing on the process of crossing the feet and getting tight. She again says, “Start forward, go forward, stay forward” to keep the forward balance point on the spinboard.
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