Any exercises I can do for figure skating spirals?

Question

I'm already pretty flexible, and on the floor I can get my leg way higher than waist level. Not super high like Sasha Cohen or anything but I can see my foot over my head when I look in the mirror. I can also hold the spiral pose on the floor for at least 10 seconds. My problem is once I'm on the ice, I can just get my leg a little over hip level and I struggle to keep it there as I glide. I know it's definitely harder on the ice since you're also thinking of your edges and arching your back (which I already do on the floor). Is there any exercise I can do to improve leg strength, and I guess core strength also, so I can hold my leg higher on skates. Thanks!

Answer 1

Try Yoga! That is great for flexibility, balance and strength. I got a DVD and it helped heaps! Also I invested a few pounds in a resistance band and practiced gradually stretching my leg a bit more each time (or a scarf would do the same job).  It definately works if you do this a few times a day. I am pretty lucky as my boyfriend is my coach and we also live together so he helps me off ice loads too. Just keep at it and it will come! Hope this helps

Answer 2

Off-ice training for spiral

Use a ballet barre by placing one leg on the barre. Keep both legs straight and the knees locked with your hips (squarre) turned out. Lean forward and try to touch your forehead to the knee that is on the barre. Afterwards, turn sligtly away from the barre, keeping one leg elevated, and try touching your forehead to the knee of the standing leg. Do it for both sides.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I will say that you don't have to be super strong to do a good spiral. Try leaning forward more to off set your legs weight and remember your skate has a little weight to it to. the more you do the better and stronger they will get and also try throwing your leg up on them.

Answer 4

I am so lucky to have my dad as one of my coaches.  He created a great way of helping me with my spirals.  The only way you'll ever get a good spiral is just to keep practicing the position and the body will build up the strength.  What my dad did for me is have me lean against a wall and made me do the spiral pose.  He would hold my spiral foot and slowly after awhile start to let go of it, finger by finger.  That would leave me to hold it up all by myself, but slowly and gradually.  Because my body was fighting with the slowly ending support of my dad's hand on my foot, I grew even more muscle.  However there is something called the MaxiFlex (http://www.rainbosports.com/shop/site/pr...  If you attach it to your door it will help you get a Sasha Cohen spiral while improving your leg strength.

Answer 5

Work on doing exercises to stregthen your leg muscles.  Also, work on doing backbends and other stretches for your back since making your back more flexible may help too.  Some good leg exercises would be holding your leg up in a spiral position off ice with a light ankle weight on your leg, squats, lunges, and jumping rope.  For core stength, do a variation of core exercises like cruches, v-ups, and those sorts of exercises.

Answer 6

I had the same problem, but my coach said to hold on to the wall and hold the spiral pose. Then hold the pose with no wall. Then put on my skates, with the gaurds on, and hold it. It really worked for me.

I hope this helps! :)

Answer 7

Just have your dad or mom take your leg and pull up until you are in pain. Then really work as hard as you can to master balance so you can do a spiral easy. I can tell you thats what Sasha Cohen did the edges! (I mean, I know that she used to be a gymnist and all until she almost collided head on with a short beam in a back hand spring sequence, but she did do the edge thing!)