I've always loved skating,but have never taken lessons or anything.My dad set up a small skating rink in our backyard,and I've been skating on it some.How much can I do myself?So far,I've taught myself how to spin on 2 feet,and skate backwards.I also have a background in ballet.

It is hard to teach yourself to skate as there are many technicalities ...but well done in learning to move forward and backwards

Spins are never taught on two feet ..they are done on one foot

If you are really interested in learning correctly just go along to a local rink to a class I am sure you will enjoy

Mama DD's xxx

I've actually done a lot of research on skating in the past (like just last year) and on the US Figure Skating website,there are spins on 2 feet listed in the curriculum.

I can't take any classes although I'd love to because my parents won't let me (they think I already have a full enough schedule)...And the rink in my area only offers classes in the winter.

Hi! Great job teaching yourself some moves.

A Two foot spin is done in learn to skate classes, but you won't see it in high level competition. It is basically a move to help you learn how to spin on one foot.

I think it is possible for you to teach yourself to skate, but you run the risk of learning incorrect technique. It is absolutely possible to teach yourself beginning moves, but I also recommend looking into going to a local rink if you are really serious about skating

Good Luck!!!

Woah...Competition!??

I'm not thinking about that at all yet!

Maybe if I got to some classes I could think about competition,but for now doing basic stuff at home is fine by me.

Haha, sorry about that whole competition thing, I was just using it as a description

I'm sure its probably similar to roller skating. You can teach yourself to skate recreationally and do basic moves but if you want to learn actual figure skating skills you need to go to a rink for training. Good luck!

Well,for now basics is fine by me.Maybe at some point I'll actually be able to take lessons,but who knows?

Spins are never taught on two feet ..they are done on one foot

Spins are always taught on two feet
first marching in a circle
then two feet spins
then alternating feet while spinning
then one foot spin
that is the progression for CanSkate, under Skate Canada rules.
I teach both CanSkate under Skate Canada, and Learn to Skate with my local city, thats always the progression we use in both.

I've never herd of not learning a spin with two first first....dunno what universe your coming from?????

Hi I am from the UK My nephew teaches in switzerland my son has taught in Norway and is now touring with Ice show and my daughter is a judge OK

Mama DD's xxx

well watch your technique tape yourself while you are doing it have someone observe that knows what they are doing that is has been a skater for a long time and knows the basics.

above all else learning the basics like getting full strokes and how to fall, and proper balancing.

I speedskate so I dont have much to worry about jumping wise but the process is very mechanical if you look at the olympics and watch them skate, almost balletlike precision even into the turns when they cross over

Hi I am from the UK My nephew teaches in switzerland my son has taught in Norway and is now touring with Ice show and my daughter is a judge OK

Mama DD's xxx

Oh get over yourself already! That was rude. Just because someone in your family is involved with skating, doesn't mean you are the authority on skating technicalities. This is from the Skate Journal Glossary. Noticed the highlighted section statement below.

Taken from skatejournal.com . . .
Glossary
Spins

General Information
Spin Direction
Spins are performed either forward or backward. In a forward spin, the skater’s body rotates forward in the direction of the spin. Counterclockwise skaters perform most forward spins on the LBI edge. Advanced skaters may perform camels on the LFO edge. Conversely, backward spins or “back spins” are performed on the RBO edge, and the skater’s body rotates backward in the direction of the spin. Whether the skater performs a forward or backward spin, rotation occurs in the same direction (i.e. counterclockwise skaters spin in a counterclockwise direction). The leg upon which the spin is executed determines whether it is a forward or backward spin.

Center
All spins whether forward or backward should be centered. “Centering” refers to the positioning of a spin on the ice. Ideally, every revolution of the spinning blade will overlay the previous tracings, creating a circular impression in the ice (Figure 1). Perfect centering is not easy to achieve. Most spins “travel”, meaning the blade tracings are off set from each other. Figure 2 shows the tracing of a spin that traveled for a couple of rotations before achieving a center. This spin is reasonably good. The spin in Figure 3 travels around a central axis and would be considered satisfactory. While some minor degree of traveling is permissible, spins that travel across the ice leaving a corkscrew pattern are undesirable (Figure 4).

Two-Foot Spins
Basic Two Foot Spin
Basic two-foot spins are the first spins taught to beginning skaters. They are simply forward spins performed on two feet. These spins are rarely seen beyond the lowest competitive levels.
Crossed Leg Spin
While only beginners perform basic two-foot spins, crossed foot spins can be a dazzling part of an elite skater’s program because they are particularly difficult to perform well. As the name implies, the spin is performed on both feet with the legs crossed. The body weight must be centered over the outside edges of the rockers of both blades. Skaters enter the spin from a forward or backward one-foot spin crossing the free foot over the skating foot and placing it on the ice.
Pivots
Pivots resemble spins in that they involve rotation of the body around a stationary axis. That axis is defined by the skater placing a toe pick in the ice and scribing a circle with the blade of the other foot around that pivot point. Pivots are commonly performed as a conclusion to a spin providing an alternative to the traditional gliding exit or abrupt halting by placing the toe pick of the free blade into the ice. A gracefully performed pivot can also add to the aesthetic quality of a routine.

The most common pivots which rotate CCW include: right toe pick stationary with LBI edge, left toe pick stationary with RFI edge and left toe pick stationary with RBO edge. The LFO pivot (with right toe pick) is awkward and rarely seen.
Forward Spins
Preparation
There are two basic preparations used to initiate forward spins. The most common is back crossovers. Counterclockwise skaters perform right over left back crossovers, which travel in the clockwise direction. Before entering the spin, the skater glides on a RBI edge and turns his shoulders counterclockwise. This is the “wind up” segment of the preparation. Then the skater steps into the circle with his left foot, upon which he will perform the forward spin. During the step the shoulders are released as the left arm pushes into the spin. The left knee bends deeply. One full revolution is generally completed on a bent knee before snapping up into the spinning position. While spinning, the skating knee should be kept slightly relaxed rather than completely straight, preventing the skater from hitting the toe pick and losing control of the spin. Depending on the type of forward spin the skater performs the timing and details of the body position incorporated in the preparation may vary slightly.

The second preparation, which is commonly used for flying spins is also effective for forward spins. The counterclockwise skater performs a RFI3 then steps into the tangent circle with the left foot. Of course, there are many different ways a skater can step into a forward spin. Skaters may step directly out off the landing edge of a jump into a spin. Forward spins may also be included in spin combinations as the skater pushes out of a backspin transferring his weight from the right foot to the left. Common examples include sit spin combinations where the skater may change between backward and forward sit spins as well as concluding a spin combination by stepping form a backward spin into a fast forward scratch spin.

Backward Spins
Preparation
Backward spins are initiated from a RFI3 turn. At the apex of the turn, the skater bends deeply in the knee to center the spin and convert forward momentum into angular rotation. The knee bend as well as timing, arm position and coordination of upper and lower body contribute to centering the spin. After about one revolution, the skater rises from the bent knee to lock the spinning position.

While backward spins can be performed in isolation, they most often occur in combination with a forward spin. To transition from a forward to backward spin, the skater places the right foot on the ice and pushes with the left back inside edge to transfer his weight from the left foot to the right. The push resembles a push into a pivot or a push to initiate a back outside edge. The left foot should scribe a wide arc, which centers the backspin.

Hmm well I guess there are 2 foot spins now aren't there? Its there in black and white.

Hope that helps you SunshineFace.

OK you asked who I was so I told you I also skated myself many many years ago and still can there is no need to be RUDE

Also that is your sylabus and not ours and just a waste of space copying the whole thing we get the gist of what happens in your country [every one has there own way of teaching]

I still say you cannot teach yourself properly and as others say you need a manual and someone to watch ..But still NO WORRY as long as they enjoy whatever they are doing

I know that we all do
Will you be watching the Four nations and the Worlds I will

Mama DD's xxx

tumblebug karma for you....

Mama DD's xxx, you have obiusly never tought beginners how to skate, so don't tell people how to do something, if you dont' know how to do it yourself.

Basic skills are the same all over the world, this girl is only trying to learn how to skate, not to become a world champion in her back yard.....
so lay off the attitude, tumblebug showed you the whole section on spins, so that maybe you could understand how a spin is learnt.....
:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

Also that is your sylabus and not ours and just a waste of space copying the whole thing we get the gist of what happens in your country [every one has there own way of teaching]

umm that wasent a waste of space, its interesting to see, the facts about certain elements.
and umm sylabus or not, at world stadards all the skaters are ranked by the same book.....
so pttfffff

Excuse me I have already told you I skate myself and do know how to teach and did not need the whole script which is so different to ours and also the Russian way of teaching

Yes when they get to worlds they would look silly doing two foot Spins .....as you call them

Have you been to worlds etc ...I have so can speak from experience [my son being on the world team for many years ]

Mama DD's xxx

OK you asked who I was so I told you I also skated myself many many years ago and still can there is no need to be RUDE

I never asked who you were.

Also that is your sylabus and not ours and just a waste of space copying the whole thing we get the gist of what happens in your country [every one has there own way of teaching]

That isn't my sylabus. Its a skating journal I researched online. I've never skated a day in my life, much less taught it. The standards for skating are universal. If you are so wordly about it, you would know that.

I know that we all do
Will you be watching the Four nations and the Worlds I will

No. I could give a crap less. Maybe if it was gymnastics or cheer. In comparison, you wouldn't teach someone how to do a back handspring before a backbend or handstand. That's the same in Russia, Germany, Australia, USA, etc. Same with skating.
Sylabi may slightly vary between different rinks/gyms/studios but the basics are all the same. It takes strong fundamentals and good foundation to excel at any sport. Look at compulsories when they existed or 'figures' in skating. They were the same for everyone no matter what country or program you came from.

Going OFF TOPIC again
I Will agree about figures but even they were taught slightly different in certain countries and all the FIELDS MOVE [edges] work has now come from that

Just one thing I would never try to talk and try to tell people how to do something I cannot do Myself

I do not have to Google the web etc for my answers I do know as i have been there, done that, so really can speak even in different countries and all basics are similar leading to the same goal ...but are different

I can talk about excelling at the top in Ice Skating having been there to see it

I do not profess to know anything about cheer leading[my grand daughter did it for a time]or gymnastics so would not comment

Mama DD's xxx

OK guys So I think we all need to take a breather. I know that the programs in Canada and the US are pretty different from each other. I'm not sure where everyone is from, but we have to take into consideration that each coach/skater/program has different beliefs, techniques, even names for the different moves. So let's not attack everyone.

I know so many coaches/skaters who would much prefer to teach/learn a one foot spin right away, while others want to take things slower and just do two foot spins, so its all a matter of preference.

Just one thing I would never try to talk and try to tell people how to do something I cannot do Myself

I'm not trying to teach anyone how to do anything.

The issue I am addressing is this one right here.

Spins are never taught on two feet ..they are done on one foot

You said never. Never. Which is definately not true as you can see in black and white. Whether I googled it (which is an exellent resource for information) or I asked Michelle Kwan. It is what it is.

As sk8star said in different countries things are taught differently and also call things differently which we in the skating world understand ...but if not involved would not
I am not going to say more except what I said is corerect as far as i am concerened

Mama DD's xxx

^ I agree that different instructors or countries may teach things differently.

For you to jump in and say that they are never taught on two feet is not correct. It may be correct to say that you personally do not teach them on two feet or a particular instructor you have worked with would never teach them on two feet. To call someone wrong and say they are never taught on two feet as a general rule is not correct in any way.

groovygran,
u prolly like 1000 years old, and skated when the highest jump was an axel, wow your son or w.e skated, did u coach him to that level? umm no it was his coach.
you must definatly would not teach a 3 year old to spin on one foot.....
holy ****....
this is getting so stupid....

Anyway,
SunshineFace, thats cool that you have a mini rink in your own house! and how did you manage to teach yourself all that so fast? good for you. there are lots of things you can experiment with that aren't too dangerous.
mmm try doing crossovers? i think the sticky with websites has a good site teaching you how to do it. you can try crossovers forwards and backwards.
the best thing is to get used to skating and being stable so that you wont have to keep worrying about balance when you try the other moves.

good luck!

OK - So this thread went WAAY off topic which is why I haven't posted back in awhile.

Tumblebug - Thanks.That was interesting.

^ Jump - I've been dancing for awhile,and so with teaching myself to spin,it was kind of like doing a multiple rotation turn in ballet.And skating backwards was just trial and error.

Maybe this page can help you:
home.swipnet.se . . .

It says how to make the jumps and the spins. Take a look at the page, it has photos and a little description of how to do. It could be a help for you.