Figure skating

Figure skating is an ice skating sporting event where individuals, mixed couples, or groups perform spins, jumps, and other "moves" on the ice, often to music. There are international competitions for figure skating, such as the World Championships, and figure skating is also an official event in the Winter Olympics. In languages other than English, figure skating is usually referred to by a name that translates as "artistic skating".

Spins

There are also several types of spins, identified by the position of the arms, legs, and angle of the back. Spins are done on the round part of the blade, just behind the toe pick. (Contrary to popular thought, spins are NOT done on the toe picks -- they're mainly for jumps!)

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Spins may be performed on either foot. For skaters who rotate in a counterclockwise direction, a spin on the left foot is called a forward spin, while a spin on the right foot is called a back spin.

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• Upright spin (or corkscrew spin), in which a skater maintains a vertical position, often with the free leg crossed in front of the skating leg. A fast spin in this position is known as a scratch spin.
• Camel spin (also known as a parallel spin), in which the skater assumes an "airplane" position with the free leg extended behind at hip level, parallel to the ice surface.
• Sit spin, in which the knee of the skating leg bent very low, and the free leg stretched out in front, parallel to the ice.
• Crossfoot spins, an upright spin in which the free leg is crossed behind the skating foot.
• Layback spins, in which the skater bends backward gracefully and positions arms artistically.
• Biellmann spins, where the skater pulls free leg from behind her (or very rarely him), over the head. She (or he) usually holds onto the blade of the skate. (Obviously, this requires extreme flexibility.) Named after Denise Biellmann, 1981 ladies' world champion from Switzerland.
• Doughnut spins, a variation of a back camel spin where the skater pulls the blade of the skate of the free leg backward with one or both arms while arching the back to create a horizontal circular shape with the body.
• Other spins where the skater extends the free leg in front or to the side in a split or near-split position.

Flying spins are spins that are initiated with a jump. These include the flying camel, flying sit spin, death drop, and butterfly spin.

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