Spin specialist Kim Ryan continues a class on off-ice spin training. In Part 1 she 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 Part 3, the focus remained the same as Part 2 with additional insights and a clear process for developing skill. In Part 4, Kim taught the class how to do an eggbeater off the ice. In this video, she introduces the off ice sit spin.
For the forward sit spin, Kim has the class start with what she refers to as a “happy sit” which is a sit spin that only goes about halfway down. This is a great way to learn to bend the spinning leg while maintaining balance, and it also allows the skater to focus on the entry in more detail. Kim encourages the skaters to keep the free foot pointed down as the free leg comes around, and she wants the free leg to touch the skating leg (“feel like you’re pinching a glove between your legs”). Also notice the specific hand placement and connection (“superglue”). Kim wants the skaters to focus on the entry, do three revolutions in the happy sit position and then come straight up (“up through the middle”) while continuing to spin. She uses the phrase “start forward, go forward, stay forward” to remind the skaters of the necessary movements and positions, especially with the upper body.
The skaters in this class struggle a bit with bringing the free leg around while keeping it straight. Kim explains this is often caused by leading with the free heel (open free hip) rather than keeping the free foot or toe pointed down (closed free hip). She says, “You can get your legs shut quicker by keeping the toe down.” Here she also reminds the class to keep the upper body forward when starting as skaters have a tendency to pull up or pull back with the upper body. Kim wants the class to keep the free leg straight, and it helps to straighten it right away after the push before bringing it around in a wide arc. She says, “You can push and just stretch that foot out (straight) and learn to hold it behind you (straight) and bring it around.” She then demonstrates how starting with the free foot to the side for the push is helpful to prevent the free from bending immediately after the push. She wants the stretch behind to feel the same as it does on a sit spin entry on the ice.
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