The half-ass layback position

[Marco]

Neither of those links work

Fixed :)

[smarts1]

A very nice layback position from Mao Asada, one with a great arch in her back and great lean in her sideways position:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbPbbUeQ3Kw&feature=related

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nasdzwx_Ns&feature=related (3:36)

Also unusual because she looks down (Kimmie Meissner did this as well).

This is also a good example of an age-appropriate program for a young teen; much better than the "Baby Carmen" and twinkly "Nutcracker" she did the follow year.

It makes me :( to see a young Mao. She jumped triple axels like they were double axels. Absolutely no preparation for the takeoff and she somehow had the spring to do it. It's really a shame she didn't have a great coaching situation between 2006-2010 because she should be an Olympic champion (and all of this is coming from someone who initially did not like her skating 5 years ago).

[iarispiralllyof]

It makes me :( to see a young Mao. She jumped triple axels like they were double axels. Absolutely no preparation for the takeoff and she somehow had the spring to do it. It's really a shame she didn't have a great coaching situation between 2006-2010 because she should be an Olympic champion (and all of this is coming from someone who initially did not like her skating 5 years ago).

or not. we live in a world where midori ito isn't an olympic champion. potential really means very little if you can't pull it off on a very specific day that happens once every 4 years

[CantALoop]

This skater on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLA0yM74yH0) has an unusual but gorgeous variation on a sideways leaning spin with a free leg that starts very nicely turned out.

[mysticchic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r01lGc9ARkQ Megan Oster had a beauty of one

[Karpenko]

A little bit of trivia: Caroline Zhang was the first lady to get full score for the layback: level 4 and +3 across the board (http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpusa07/sa07_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf).

Here is her 30 rev layback at 2 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7QSZbv7vVA and her most difficult and complicated layback spin ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQhf7WSUsGE&feature=youtu.be&t=13s

That last layback spin... There will never be one that tops it. I just, gah its unbelievable. I really want Caroline to work hard and get her due, the talent in that one spin is just holy potatoes.

[Lavergne100]

I know she never really attained a classic turned-out foot, but this is one time I simply don't care.

This layback is still gorgeous IMO, no matter what Dick says. :P

Lucinda Ruh - 1997 Worlds SP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ec6hn4bEMQ&feature=youtu.be&t=1m58s)

And no woman can match the arch in Lucinda's back.

Here it's practically parallel to the ice. :eek:

Lucinda Ruh - 2000 World Pro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG8tfmkvGDc&feature=youtu.be&t=1m00s)
Lucinda Ruh was the best female spinner EVER in my opinion. The speed and the perfect positions were undervalued.