In 2013, I made a goal to get 15 revs in my scratch spin. It's one goal that I didn't really meet. I think I did it once. But after I started working on more different types of spins, I didn't pay much attention to my scratch spin. Whenever I would try it, it would travel a mile, and then I'd try again, and still not having success, I'd move on to sit spins and camels.
But lately something has clicked. I think it's holding the entry edge longer, which is a lesson I've learned from sits and camels. I think I may have also just gained control over the free leg and position, to where I can control it without losing my balance over my sweet spot on my spinning leg. Anyhow, I achieved 15+ revs on my second try yesterday without much problem at all.
One of the reasons I've been working on my scratch spin lately is to try to make progress on a layback spin. No one has ever told me this, but I'm pretty sure that if you can't center a scratch spin, you'll have no hope of centering a layback, since it's a more difficult upright spin.
I have high hopes for a good layback, since I've always had a pretty flexible back, but most of my attempts so far have been flat out ugly. I haven't been able to get the mechanics right. We've hardly ever worked on it lesson, so I don't work on it much. But a friend of mine has a beautiful layback, and she says she got it by playing around and figuring it out for herself. This gave me motivation to do the same. The following video has two spins. The first is more or less what my laybacks have looked like for a while, and the second is one where I tried to fix the free leg position. I think it is an improvement and I could feel what the difference was, but I didn't get to replicate it, as I was starting to feel like I was getting in the way with my camera. I now have a better idea of what to work on and hope to make more improvements soon.
I've hardly ever worked on layback, either. But I won't be able to move on to the silver level without a camel or a layback or both, so it's time to get working. One tip I've heard from a coach about the layback is to imagine you are wrapping your free leg around a tree (or a pole) behind you, that imagine seems to help me.
ReplyDeleteWell, you'll need a camel spin for the silver test, but you could compete up without it. You made me wonder-is layback on any of the FS tests? One issue with my free leg position is that I think I have to break some ballet rules in order to get my leg where it's supposed to be for skating and those are hard habits for me to break!
DeleteYay for your scratch spin! For the layback, there are two main things you can think about: 1) push your hips forward (like Steve Urkel in "Family Matters"), and 2) pretend like you are kicking yourself with your free leg. Once you get those two things down, then work on the laying back part! :)
ReplyDeleteHmm, kicking myself where?!?
DeleteThe Steve Urkel character always drove me nuts, but maybe that extreme image will help me reaaaaallly push my hips forward!
Kicking yourself in the rear. :) no joke.
ReplyDelete