As i am sure this question will show, i dont figure skate. I love watching it though and am going to start taking lessons soon!

But anyway, after watching figure skating in the olympics it occured to me that none of the skaters 'spot' when they spin. As someone who takes dance lessons i find it really difficult to see how they can spin like that and not spot! Do they not get dizzy? Its just that in dance, whatever style, i always spot when im doing any kind of turn, especially when im doing loads in a row as skaters seem to do!

Sorry that this is such a stupid question :s

Skaters spin very fast compared to dancers (you guys have to fight friction... we dont )There really isnt time to spot...and when people do, not only does it slow them down, but it looks funny too...kind of like a twitch.
We do get dizzy but most skaters get used to it and learn to deal with it. Once you've been spinning at those speeds for a while, you almost dont feel it. But I can tell you that when you've been off the ice for a while and then you suddenly start spinning (especially a lay back...at least for me)...well... being dizzy would be an understatement
And its not a stupid question at all

In my experience... If I'm getting dizzy, it means I'm not practicing spins enough! Your brain learns to adjust- it helps that we don't focus our eyes while spinning, which is a key part of spotting.

Some skaters spot- just a little- on their jumps! I noticed one guy spotting and I was all, like, "whooa!"

But then again, maybe it was just his hair. *shrug*

Lala both dances and free skates and she has to adept to whichever she is doing

No an Ice skater who is used to training and always doing spins does not go dizzy if thay did it would mean faults with the next part of their routine

Dancers who do freestyle Disco in the uk spin very fast too but have to spot

Mama DD's xxx

hey hey, spotting and spinning don't go too well together, unless you are doing a slow spin. for example, a backspin with your leg still out (not crossed) or something.
Spinning makes you dizzy, thats why you see skaters skate abit after a spin, doing simple footwork or just crossovers. It takes abit of time after the spin to get back to normal so you can jump or do complicated footwork, but generally, we get used to it quite fast.
also, spotting while spinning fast will give you a terrible neckache (we spin quite fast, much faster than pirouettes) and it will cause your spin to travel badly.

Heya,

It's not a stupid question, infact, i was thinking about asking that myself lol
I'm a dancer too and not spotting while i'm spinning makes me really dizzy (i've tried lol)
Thanks for posting this I understand now lol

Luv flexi danca xXx

Thanks for all the help, i understand now!

Cant wait to start taking classes!!

XXX

I was actually kinda wondering that too, because it really looks like people could really get dizze, so thanks everyone for clearing that up.

I'll also add that only scratch spins make me dizzy, and I recover pretty quickly. If I do too many in a row though, forget about it.

I'd imagine you'd get pretty dizzy on a layback as well, but I'm not up to that yet.

Yup, laybacks can get you dizzy, but for me, its not because i'm spinning fast, but when i straighten up after bending back, all the blood rushes down then i get abit dizzy.
I get quite dizzy after sits and flying camels.. but i guess the faster you spin, the dizzier you can get.

I was wondering about this too! I did see someone spot before, but you're right, it wasn't very fast. Thanks for posting this!

*Tracy*

Sidebar - I was working on fast scratch spins when I heard someone calling me so I spotted in the direction of the voice and not only did the spotting slow me down but it was my COACH and she demanded to know what the heck I was doing spotting. Ooops. I promised her it was just that one time! (I have enough problems converting dance to skating I don't need any more!)

No we don't spot.
Some spins that we do quite fast such as the scratch foot and the back spin or the lay back we do get dizzy but you just get over it, or you don't do a big jump after it.

I think that you doin't get dizzy because you are counting your revs or thinking hard.

Lipinskifan4eva