Ice Skating Spins Video: Sit Spin-Back Sit Spin (Bobbe Shire)

Bobbe Shire talks about the theory and practice of change foot spins, and focuses on sit-change-sit.  This is an awesome video with tons of great information.  The mechanics of change foot spins are misunderstood by a huge percentage of coaches and skaters.  You can see this at nearly every rink and competition where skaters change feet by putting the free foot down right next to the skating foot without changing positions at all or getting any kind of “push.”

Bobbe starts this video by sharing an observation that is utterly brilliant.  She says “Any time you change position…or any time you change feet, everything you need for the hook, you need again.  You need a new axis…and you definitely need a new George as the old one is dying out and you need to stay down in the knee and open for one full turn.”

Aside:  Admittedly it can be difficult to create a new hook when changing from some positions to others without changing feet but it’s a good goal and if you use Bobbe’s approach, your spinners can really excel!  More on this in upcoming videos.

Bobbe’s explanation of the need to re-create the hook to get more “fat George” is really valuable.  Most coaches describe it as “pushing into” the second spin but that often causes loss of axis and center.  Although “pushing into” the spin is a valid description, it’s less accurate than “re-creating the hook” which skaters often find easier to understand and apply.

To recreate the hook on a sit-change-sit (and all forward to back spins), Bobbe says: 1. Take the free shoulder and arm back (you need the twist) 2. Keep the free leg up and start the free leg pushing (starts creating width between feet) so it starts moving away from the spin center (Bobbe: “pulling away”) 3. Push for half a circle before putting the other skate down (still in twist) directly in the center of the original spin 4. When toe/knee/belly button are lined up, the new free foot comes off the ice at 9 o’clock 5. Wait a moment and turn the new skating hip under the free hip Bobbe then shows how she has her skaters learn this using an open upright spin.  She goes through the drill in detail and has one of her skaters demonstrate it.  If it’s done right, you get the back spin right on top of the forward spin.

Another way to explain it is increasing the diameter of the spin on the ice which the skater pushes against.  By not stepping down right away the skater is forced to create more “fat George” by pressing down and controlling the edge on the wider diameter spin circles that the skate makes on the ice.  Once the circle is wide enough the skater can easily step down in the center of the old spin.

Leave Bobbe a comment for her willingness to share this great information.

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