I've been working with my coach Denise on camel spins. I love Denise. She can explain anything ten different ways, she can demonstrate anything you need or want, and she's very good at emphasizing proper body alignment from the minute I step onto the ice. Yesterday, we went over camel spins, which has been the bane of my skating existence for a while.
I've always warmed up for the camel spin by doing several forward spirals down the ice. Off the ice, I like to practice the camel and spiral positions as well (see above right). Whether on or off the ice, when I hit the position, I'm putting a lot of pressure towards the middle-to-back of my skate/foot. I'm usually thinking, "Press on the heel, arch and chin up!" Denise agreed that doing forward spirals was a good warmup to stretch out the back and the arms in preparation for the camel spin, but also made me aware that a forward spiral does not put the proper emphasis on the part of the blade that I'll be spinning on once I'm in the camel position.
Instead, practice the camel position from a back spiral on a shallow back inside edge. She explained that that is the part of the blade that I will ultimately be spinning on, so why not get used to the feel early on. I tried a few during our lesson and it was a completely different feeling -- for one thing, I was pressing on the ball of my foot and not the heel. I'll continue to practice the camel position both ways -- forward spirals and back spirals (on a shallow back inside edge) now that I'm more aware of all the elements that go into it. For those of you attempting this, please please make sure to try this at an empty session. It's hard to keep looking back!
Alissa Czisny (see right), the 2007 U.S. Nationals bronze medalist, and her twin sister Amber, will be conducting a Spins and Footwork seminar at the Detroit Skating Club on Saturday, August 23, from 12 to 4 p.m. Alissa is one of my favorite skaters to watch -- her elegance on the ice, gorgeous spirals and beautiful spin positions make her one of the most popular ladies skaters around. (Below is Alissa's long program from the 2007 Nationals.) For the 2008-2009 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, she has been assigned to Skate Canada International.
The four-hour session with Alissa and Amber will cover off ice stretching and warmup, scratch spin basics, back spin basics, centering spins, sit and camel variations, layback spins, two-foot turns, one-foot turns, and putting all the elements together, while adding your own personal style. This sounds fun! The cost for the seminar is $80.00 and limited to 30 skaters who have passed the pre-bronze adult free skating test.
How many times have I been frustrated at a session because I couldn't get my spin centered? Last week, of the 50 spins I tried, I centered less than half. Wouldn't it be great to have the best spin in the world and what would that feel like? Why wonder about this? Let's ask the Queen of Spin and the greatest spinner in the world (ever), Lucinda Ruh.
Lucinda, age 28, is a two-time Swiss national champion and two-time World Professional bronze medalist. She also holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest and fastest spin on ice --115 revolutions. Below is one of my favorite program of hers from 1999 -- Lucinda's short program at the 1999 World Figure Skating Championships where she skates to Lawrence of Arabia. Dick Button's effusiveness is contagious!
Lucinda had to stop skating as an amateur in 1999 due to a fractured back. Afterwards, she traveled the world while touring professionally (with a fractured back). Growing up, Lucinda spoke English, Japanese, Chinese, German, and French, so I'm certain she felt at home whereever she was touring. Lucinda has also branched out to other endeavors close to her heart, such as being the force behind Lucinda Design, a design firm that helps cities, corporations, and families create beautiful and functional skating arenas. I'm used to skaters going into fashion, acting, coaching and modeling (all of which Lucinda also does, by the way), so when I had the opportunity to catch up with her recently, the design company was the first question I had for her.
1. Was Lucinda Design always somewhere in the back of your mind as a company that you wanted to create? Or did it come about by accident?
I have always loved architecture and it has always been my passion. As a child traveling and living all around the world due to my father's work, and of course traveling for competitions, I had always dreamed of making the ice rinks a better place to train and compete in, the airports more inviting, hotels more of an experience, and hence, I am designing an ice rink right now! Plus my architectural sense is infused with culture from around the world, so it truly will be a unique ice rink in a unique setting, which will allow everyone to enjoy the end product. I am truly excited to have an ice rink named after me and be designed by me. It is opening at the end of next year. It is wonderful to be so monumental to giving people the joy of being on the ice, whether it be for the future skating champion or a couple on a date. I hope to design more in the future expanding into other areas of architectural design as well!
2. Of your worldly travels, what are your favorite cities?
My favorite cities in the world are New York City, Dubai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Zurich.
3. How involved are you with skating now? Do you still teach clinics and/or classes?
I will always be involved in skating directly or indirectly as it is a part of who I am and I very much enjoy giving seminars on my spinning secrets. At this moment, however, I am channeling my creative ideas into acting, design, writing and a few more projects underway in terms of books and producing.
4. When you start and are in one of your signature spins, what is going through your mind?
Spinning was an extraordinary experience and moment of trance for me and my mind. I did it like meditation. I just let it happen and let my mind watch over my body. I never had thought much about how I did it until I started teaching...I was like, "Wow, I do have a very special way of doing it that no one was teaching... Now I have to put it into words!" It was very interesting for me to analyze it and yet at the same time, it scared me that now I wouldn't be able to spin anymore because the mind got in the way :) But luckily, I still could spin. :)
5. Where and when will we get to see you perform again?
You won't be seeing me strapping my skates on and performing like you used to quite yet. I have had a very tough five years behind me so I am excited for my future. So you will hopefully be seeing me soon in your movie theater and on your TV screen. Currently, I am acting as one of the main roles on a new dramedy -- a one hour TV show. We are in production now and I am hoping that it will air nationwide and worldwide this year, so please check my website for further information and show times, which will be coming soon. It's so exciting and I am loving it. I have some movie scripts that I am reading as well. I love to act and have always been acting since I was a child, yet skating took over my life and I didn't have the chance to further it. I had always said that I was an artist first, then an athlete, and I think my skating definitely showed that by me telling a story each time I skated. I am also looking into the world of fashion since I designed every one of my skating costumes from the age of four and truly have a passion for it.
6. Since you are pursuing acting will full energy, which actor do you admire?
8. You have collaborated with many artists, such as Gloria Gaynor, Aretha Franklin, and Seal, to present skating in different and interesting ways. Was there a celebrity that you were truly star-struck by?
You know, I am so thankful to have skated LIVE with the most incredible artists and to have met them personally and continue to do so. Yet, I am as star-struck by a special fan, or a person telling me their personal story, or the Chinese policeman who fed all the children who survived from the devastating earthquake, as I am of meeting a superstar in their own right. I feel everyone on this planet is here to bring something special to this world and I am star-struck by all of them in their own special way. Everyone is a superstar and at this time in the world, we need everyone to tap into their inner stardom to bring light, peace and goodness in this world.
9. If you could have three people over for dinner (fictional or not, dead or alive), who would they be?
I would have five people. :) I would invite for dinner Jackie Chan, Charlie Chaplin (because he can make you laugh and cry at the same time), Albert Einstein, Picasso and Sonia Henie, and end with a Wii game to top it off!!
10. What is your favorite meal?
My favorite food is something that my mom and I make together. It's the best home-made dressing drizzled over a ginormous fantabulous salad with the freshest and most interesting ingredients in it. It has an ethnic bite of every country I have been to mixed inside of it...mmm...I think I will go make one right now. :) Anyone want to join?? :) Oh and red seedless watermelon with salt...mmm...my favorite! :)
For a day at the rink, must-haves include the cutest double-runner blade skates for your little one and the obligatory reindeer sweater. [New York magazine]
Is your rink listed among the top 10 in the U.S.? [Budget Travel]
Brian Boitano confirms he does not pad his posterior, it's all muscle. [Entertainment Weekly]
The 2008 U.S. Championships will be held January 20-27 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The list of competitors is now available. [USFSA]
Who doesn't need extra help centering spins? [Boot and Blade]
Three-time U.S. ladies champion (1987, 1989-1990), 1990 World champion and 1988 Olympian (came in 4th) Jill Trenary is profiled in the December 2007 issue of Skating magazine (article not available online). Jill has been married for 13 years to ice dancing legend Christopher Dean and the couple has two sons, Jack, 9 and Sam, 7. Jack has been diagnosed with having symptoms related to autism and Jill devotes most of her time to being a full time mother for her two boys. She is starting to be more involved with mentoring and coaching young skaters and will be going to the U.S. Championships in St. Paul, MN where she'll present medals. Christopher has been super busy himself putting together Dancing on Ice - The Tour with former ice dance partner Jayne Torvill.
Get your TiVo ready -- Kimmie Meissner will be a guest on the Tim McCarver Show the week of January 12. [TimMcCarver]
Hey - I got my old job back! Didier Gailhaguet, heavily involved in the pairs judging scandal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is again president of the French skating federation. [ESPN]
(If you have a favorite skating news source or blog that should appear in this space, please drop me a line or give details via the comments page.)
I've been working with my coach Denise on camel spins. I love Denise. She can explain anything ten different ways, she can demonstrate anything you need or want, and she's very good at emphasizing proper body alignment from the minute I step onto the ice. Yesterday, we went over camel spins, which has been the bane of my skating existence for a while. 
