Basic Ice Skating Spins

Ice skater performing in an arena

rbv / Getty Images 
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By
Jo Ann Schneider Farris
A Spiral on Ice Hockey Skates
Jo Ann Schneider Farris
    Jo Ann Schneider Farris was a silver medalist in junior ice dancing at the 1975 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and is the author of two books on skating
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    Updated on 03/01/19

    Here are some of the basic ice skating spins. Many of the spins advanced figure skaters do are variations of the basic figure skating spins listed below.

    01
    of 11

    Scratch Spin

    A Figure Skater Doing a Spin
    Soren Hald / Stone Collecton / Getty Images

    One of the most basic spins figure skaters do is the forward scratch spin. During that spin, the free foot and free leg crosses over the skating leg. Sometimes the skater seems to almost become a blur since a scratch spin can spin so fast.

    02
    of 11

    One Foot Upright Spin

    A girl doing a basic Upright One Foot Spin

    William R. Sallaz / Getty Images

    The basic forward upright one-foot spin is the first one-foot spin new figure skaters learn.

    03
    of 11

    Sit Spin

    A Young Figure Skater Doing a Sit Spin

    JO ANN Schneider Farris

    In a sit spin, the skater bends the skating knee while spinning and sits down during the spin. The free leg points out in front.

    04
    of 11

    Camel Spin

    A camel spin is a figure skating spin that is done with the same body position as the spiral.

    05
    of 11

    Attitude Spin

    Attitude Position illustration
    Illustration by Larisa Gendernalik

    An attitude spin is an upright ice skating spin where the figure skater spins with the free leg in an attitude position.

    06
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    Layback Spin

    Painting of a layback Spin

    Painting by Larisa Gendernalik

    In a layback spin, the skater bends backward while spinning. The free leg is held in the attitude position.

    07
    of 11

    Flying Camel

    Flying Camel illustration
    Illustration by Larisa Gendernalik

    In a flying camel, the skater jumps from the forward camel position, changes feet, and spins on the other leg in a back camel.

    08
    of 11

    Bielmann Spin

    World Junior Figure Skating Champion Caroline Zhang Doing a Bielmann Spin in 2007
    Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images

    The Bielmann spin is a spin where the skater lifts his or her leg way above the head and grabs the figure skate blade while spinning.

    09
    of 11

    Back Spin

    Fumie Suguri of Japan doing a back spin

    Brian Bahr / Getty Images

    A backspin is done on a back outside edge.

    10
    of 11

    Flying Sit Spin

    Jennifer Don Doing a Flying Sit Spin

    Vesperholly / CCA by SA 2.5

    The flying sit spin is similar to a sit spin, but the skater first jumps into the air and then lands in the sit spin position and completes a sit spin.

    11
    of 11

    Death Drop

    Ryan Jahnke Doing a Death Drop

    CCA-SA by 2.5

    A death drop is a figure skating move that is a cross between a jump and a spin but is really considered a flying spin. The skater first jumps up like an Axel and then kicks the take off leg backward. Then, the skater lands in a back sit spin position and does a back sit spin.