From: paulw@netcom.com (Paul L. Williams)
Subject: Re: spins
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 92 07:25:27 GMT
Organization: Pen^2 -- Pen-squared Computing

In article <brown.712119309@quorum.com> brown@quorum.com (Robert E. Brown) writes:
>I haven't seen too many people spin on their toes -- most people I've seen
>doing two foot spins place most of their weight on the heel of their right
>foot and the toe of their left, if spinning counterclockwise.  Things 
>really get exciting when quad skaters start spinning on just one foot --
>tricks include heel spins and "broken ankle" spins, both very interesting to
>watch when done well.

I have been working on spins for several years now.  As you mentioned, 
most people begin with the heal-toe spin.  The heal-toe spin took me 
about a year before I could realiably execute it on most every attempt.  
Next, I began working on the toe spin.  I mistakingly thought that since 
I had one spin mastered (the heal-toe spin), the toe spin would require 
much less time to learn... WRONG!!!  I discovered that:

  1.  I simply did not have the strength to bear my entire weight on
      my toe wheels.  Actually, it's worse than just handling your
      weight.  During the course of a spin, you are continually having
      to make corrections in order to maintain your balance.  And these
      corrections have to work against your weight and the centrifugal
      forces of the spin.

      Therefore, I had to postpone working on the toe spin for several
      months while I built up the appropriate leg muscles.  I did this
      by doing more and more toe skating (i.e. just skating forward on
      the toe wheels, until you legs give out, rest a while, then repeat).

  2.  I don't know why, but the skills I gained in mastering one type of 
      spin do not seem to help me learn a different type of spin.  Well,
      there is some carry over in skills, but it was much less than I had 
      anticipated.

  3.  Fortunately, there is one "skill" that I DID NOT have to re-master.
      When I first began working on spins, after I would make twenty or
      thirty repeated attempts during a session, I would be both dizzy
      and sick.  However, after a while my body got used to world
      spinning wildly about, and it never bothered me again.

Well, after I gained sufficient leg strength, it took me about another
year before I could reliably execute a toe spin.  And then there were 
all the variations on the toe spin; beginnig the spin from a stand-still,
coming into the spin while skating forward and coming into the spin
while skating backward.

IMHO, the toe spin is one of the most beautiful spins of all.  You can 
attain a very graceful looking vertical body position, standing very tall 
on the toes.  By keeping the toe wheels of the two skates close together,
you reduce the rolling friction to a minimum thereby making the spin very 
fast and long-lived (though it takes some time to learn how to maintain 
your balance with your toes in close proximity). 
       
The next spin I worked on was the heel-heel spin.  Again, this spin 
took me about a year to master.  The leg strength was not an issue on
this spin, but the balance is really odd.  (Try walking on your toes, 
then try walking on your heels and you will see what I mean.)

Presently I am working on a sit spin (i.e. begin a normal toe spin,
then bend your knees until your rear-end is sitting on your heals,
then return to the upright position).  I've been working on this spin
for about 3 months, and I suppose this one will take about a year to 
master.

In the future I hope to begin some one foot-spins, maybe even a 
one-foot sit spin (I only know one person that can do this).

If anyone is working on spins, either as a beginner or as an advanced
skater, I'd love to exchange some email with you (paul@netcom.com).  
I have some tips that I've picked up after years of trial and error 
that I would be happy to share.  Maybe you have some tips too???

BTW, you don't have to be a young person and a great athlete to get
into spins.  I am 45 years old and when I began I was far from what 
you'd call athletic.

Happy spins!
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Paul L. Williams                                     paulw@netcom.com
Pen^2 -- Pen-Squared Computing                       71042.665@compuserve.com
Mountain View, CA