Spins are a required element in most figure skating competitions, and they exist in all four Olympic disciplines.
There are three basic spin positions in figure skating: the sit position, the camel position, and the upright position. There are many different variations in these positions. Such as, the pike position, the broken leg position, the doughnut position, the layback position, and the A-frame position.
During a spin, the skater rotates on the round part of the blade, called the front rocker, just behind the toe pick. Spins may be performed singly or in a sequence combining different types of spins.
Spins may be performed on either foot. Like jumping, skaters mostly rotate in the counterclockwise direction, but there are some skaters who rotate in the clockwise direction. Some skaters are able to rotate in both directions. 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.
The three basic spins are -
The camel spin, the sit spin and the upright spin. All of these spins have difficult variations; such as, the catch-foot camel variation, the pancake sitspin variation, the layback upright variation and several other variations.
Spins can be entered on the ice or through a jump. Spins that are entered through a jump are calling flying spins. Flying spins include the flying camel, flying sit spin, death drop, and butterfly spin. Flying spins may go from a forward spin to a back spin. A flying spin can also be performed as part of a spin sequence.
In pair skating, spins may be performed side by side with both partners doing the same spin or combination spin at the same time. Additionally, in pairs and in ice dancing, there are pair and dance spins, during which both skaters rotate around the same axis while holding onto each other.
