changing directions just for forward spins

[treesprite]

I'm getting tired of fighting with my bad ankle/foot. I basically need a cast to consistently be able to step into a spin without having to worry about involuntary edge changes, and having my attention on that problem, keeps me from focusing enough on the rest of my body. (I haven't been doing lessons for a while because of the stupid boots, but am going to start in a couple weeks, then will ask the coach about this, but would like to know first if it is not a stupid idea).

I could do scratch spins both directions when I was a kid, but never tried to do the rest of them that way. I haven't tried that direction since returning to skating, so it might be like starting from ground zero (I normally go clockwise).

I have never tried a counter clockwise back spin, and I don't know if it would work out on this messed up foot. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem. Or maybe it would be a problem, and then I wouldn't be able to do change of feet.

Since I started back to skating, I have not done spins except for scratch spins, because I am having so much trouble with this dang foot. Maybe if I start doing forward spins on the other foot/other direction, my progress with spins will go faster. I was big on spinning when I was young, way more than jumping, so this issue is really causing me skating-related anguish.

Something that might be interesting to hear, are people's ideas for spin combos that involve changing directions while also changing feet, or somehow changing directions without changing feet (in my head it makes me think of a lutz jump, going into opposite direction of the take off edge). I used to do flying sits and camels, so I am familiar with jumps in spins, I just haven't done them for about 30 years.

 

[treesprite]

Regarding the lutz notion, unless I've got my spin edges mixed up, I am thinking the spin would entail doing a clockwise back spin on the left foot, and jumping counter like a lutz jump to a left back inside edge which would be a counter clockwise forward spin. I am wondering what would be easiest as far as the spin positions before and after the jumping.

Of course, I would have to re-learn lutz jumps, which is something I was hoping to avoid. I always hated those things.

 

[gkelly]

I can only do forward upright spins in my bad direction. Not even scratch spins, but either with the free foot next to the knee or ankle or else in attitude position.

Of course, because of hip issues lately that's all I can do in my good direction any more either.

It's easiest for me to change direction by spinning first the good way and then just putting my foot on the ice and pushing and reversing my shoulders/upper body to start spinning on almost the same center, not taking a long entry edge into the new direction.

Higher level skaters who spin both ways usually take a longer entry edge, which means the second direction centers several feet away from the first foot. IJS tech panels are more forgiving about the recentering on spins that change direction.

I'd suggest you play around with forward spins the other way to figure out the balance and centering, then start playing some more with camel or sit or other positions if you can. See what works for you. Get feedback from your coach.

Jumping to change direction, or changing direction on the same foot, are very advanced skills. You'd need to get comfortable with the bad-direction spins first before you start adding difficulty that practically no elite skater has ever attempted. But if you do get comfortable spinning both ways, maybe you could make that kind of skill your specialty.

 

[treesprite]

I can only do forward upright spins in my bad direction. Not even scratch spins, but either with the free foot next to the knee or ankle or else in attitude position.

Of course, because of hip issues lately that's all I can do in my good direction any more either.

It's easiest for me to change direction by spinning first the good way and then just putting my foot on the ice and pushing and reversing my shoulders/upper body to start spinning on almost the same center, not taking a long entry edge into the new direction.

Higher level skaters who spin both ways usually take a longer entry edge, which means the second direction centers several feet away from the first foot. IJS tech panels are more forgiving about the recentering on spins that change direction.

I'd suggest you play around with forward spins the other way to figure out the balance and centering, then start playing some more with camel or sit or other positions if you can. See what works for you. Get feedback from your coach.

Jumping to change direction, or changing direction on the same foot, are very advanced skills. You'd need to get comfortable with the bad-direction spins first before you start adding difficulty that practically no elite skater has ever attempted. But if you do get comfortable spinning both ways, maybe you could make that kind of skill your specialty.

I know what I described sounds very difficult, and most likely I will never be able to do it, but theoretically, it seems like there are probably other people who could do it. I think if I had done other position spins both ways when I was younger, that I would have been able to do that crazy multidirectional transition.

I am kind of ambidextrous. My childhood coach had a struggle with me figuring out my best direction when I started private lessons. She basically ended up making jump in both directions enough times to see which direction I could still do after the other direction was too worn out. When I bowled and played ping pong, I did it with both hands (I have lefty and righty bowling balls). I usually write right-handed, but if I am holding something, I just write left-handed. I can write two different sentences simultaneously, and before my wrist got broken I could tie both sneakers simultaneously. My wishful thinking wants me to be able to do that with spins.

The coach told me tonight that she will be away next week, so I have to wait until the following week to schedule with her. I don't want to ask her skating questions at a time that I'm not paying her.