Death spiral (figure skating)

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Figure skating element
Death-Spiral Figure-Skating.png
Element nameDeath spiral
Scoring abbreviation Ds
Disciplines Pair skating

The death spiral is a figure skating term used to describe a spin involving two partners in the discipline of pair skating, in which one partner lowers the other partner while the partner getting close to the ice arches backward on one foot. [1] [2] It was created by German professional skater Charlotte Oelschlägel and her husband Curt Newmann in the 1920s. [3] Suzanne Morrow and Wallace Diestelmeyer from Canada were the first pair team to perform the death spiral one-handed (the man holding the woman in position with one hand), at the 1948 Olympic Games. [4] In the 1960s, Soviet pair team Liudmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov created three death spirals: "the backward-inside, forward-inside and forward-outside death spirals, which they originally named the Cosmic Spiral, Life Spiral and Love Spiral, respectively". [5] The International Skating Union (ISU), the governing body that oversees figure skating, allows for variations of arm holds and pivot positions. Senior pair skating teams must perform different types of death spirals in their short programs and free skating programs. [2]

Contents

Forward inside death spiral Siudek & Siudek Death Spiral - 2006 Skate America.jpg
Forward inside death spiral
Backward outside death spiral Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0111-0030, Romy Kermer, Rolf Oesterreich.jpg
Backward outside death spiral
Backward inside death spiral McLaughlin Brubaker Death Spiral.jpg
Backward inside death spiral
Forward outside death spiral 2011 WFSC 4d 379 Yuko Kavaguti Alexander Smirnov.JPG
Forward outside death spiral
Woman in shoot-the-duck position during entry to backward inside death spiral Rus-nat-tt-mm3.jpg
Woman in shoot-the-duck position during entry to backward inside death spiral
Woman in catch-foot position during backward outside death spiral WC 2010 Tong Jian and Pang Qing (death spiral).jpg
Woman in catch-foot position during backward outside death spiral

Types

There are four types of death spirals: the forward inside death spiral, the backward outside death spiral, the backward inside death spiral, and the forward outside death spiral. [6] The forward inside death spiral is accomplished when the man skates on a backward outside edge and the woman skates on a forward inside edge. He performs a pivot while holding her hand with the same fully extended arm as his skating foot, while she leans sideways and circles around him while her arms are also fully extended. [7] According to Skate Canada, the forward inside death spiral is the easiest death spiral. [1]

The backward outside spiral is executed when both partners skate on a backward outside edge. The man must hold the woman's hand with the same arm as his fully extended skating foot while performing a pivot, and she leans backward as she circles around him while her arm is fully extended. [8] According to Skate Canada, the backward outside death spiral is the most difficult death spiral. [1] For both forward inside and backward outside death spirals, the man can skate in any position, edge, or direction, but he must remain in the prescribed pivot position and his partner must circle around him on the prescribed edge. [8]

The backward inside death spiral is executed when the woman leans towards the ice while her arm is fully extended and she circles around the man on a "firm backward inside edge". [7] The forward outside death spiral is performed like the backward inside death spiral; the only difference is that the woman circles around her partner on a "firm forward outside edge". [7]

Execution

While the woman performs "the actual death spiral", [9] both she and her partner must complete at least one revolution, with the man's knees "clearly bent and in full pivot position". [9] Judges begin to count revolutions when both partners "are in the actual low death spiral position". [10] Revolutions begin when the toe the man uses to anchor onto the ice is stationary, which is necessary due to centripetal acceleration experienced during the revolutions, and ends when the woman either rises to exit the death spiral or when the man's pivot ends. [11] [12]

Pair skating teams must execute the prescribed types of death spirals only. [13] Death spirals are worth more points when the man stays in a low pivot position and when the lower part of his buttocks is not higher than the upper part of the knee of his pivot foot. At the same time, the woman must skate on a clean edge, with her head and body as close to the ice surface as possible, without her head touching the ice, or without using her free hand or any part of her body to assist herself. Her body weight is supported by her partner's hold and by the force of the spiraling edge. [14] One skate of the woman must remain on the ice. Throughout inside death spirals, her head and lowest buttock or hip must not be higher than her skating knee. Throughout outside death spirals, her head must not be higher than her skating knee, and her body-line between her head and the knee of her skating knee must have a shallow or flat arch. Her skate must remain on the ice for the duration of the death spiral; if she loses the edge and uses her boot or knee instead of her skate, the death spiral is considered ended and may be judged as a fall. [6] [14]

The man must be in a centered position and use a fully extended arm. Any kind of position, if the pair team's hold lasts for at least one revolution, can be counted. [15] Variations of pivot positions, either backward or forward, are allowed, as long as his buttocks are not higher than the knee of his anchored foot. Arm holds are also allowed. If the man's holding arm is not fully extended for one revolution, or if he does not reach the pivot position or cannot remain there for an entire revolution, the team receives no points for the death spiral. The death spiral is considered ended at the moment the man changes the position of the pivot. [6] Pair skaters earn a higher level of difficulty, and thus more points, for difficult entries immediately before the death spiral and exits. [16] Entry into a death spiral starts "at the beginning of the entry curve when one partner is on one foot on the edge of the death spiral and the other partner is also on one foot or in a position such as spread eagle, shoot the duck etc." [10] The exit begins when the man begins to bend his holding arm at the elbow and when the woman's position is vertical. [10] Both partners must execute positions "that affect the main body core and balance" [10] when performing difficult entries and exits. Difficult entry positions must be performed while both partners are executing the entry curve and either the man or the woman are moving from a difficult entry position to the death spiral, with no delay. Difficult exit positions can include commencing a lift immediately after the death spiral or performing a jump. [10]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figure skating</span> Ice sport performed on figure skates

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figure skating spins</span> Element in competitve figure skating

Spins are an element in figure skating in which the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. They are performed by all disciplines of the sport, single skating, pair skating, and ice dance, and are a required element in most figure skating competitions. As The New York Times says, "While jumps look like sport, spins look more like art. While jumps provide the suspense, spins provide the scenery, but there is so much more to the scenery than most viewers have time or means to grasp". According to world champion and figure skating commentator Scott Hamilton, spins are often used "as breathing points or transitions to bigger things"

The Salchow jump is an edge jump in figure skating. It was named after its inventor, Ulrich Salchow, in 1909. The Salchow is accomplished with a takeoff from the back inside edge of one foot and a landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. It is "usually the first jump that skaters learn to double, and the first or second to triple". Timing is critical because both the takeoff and landing must be on the backward edge. A Salchow is deemed cheated if the skate blade starts to turn forward before the takeoff, or if it has not turned completely backward when the skater lands back on the ice.

The toe loop jump is the simplest jump in the sport of figure skating. It was invented in the 1920s by American professional figure skater Bruce Mapes. The toe loop is accomplished with a forward approach on the inside edge of the blade; the skater then switches to a backward-facing position before their takeoff, which is accomplished from the skater's right back outside edge and left toepick. The jump is exited from the back outside edge of the same foot. It is often added to more difficult jumps during combinations and is the most common second jump performed in combinations. It is also the most commonly attempted jump.

A spiral is an element in figure skating where the skater glides on one foot while raising the free leg above hip level. It is akin to the arabesque in ballet.

A twizzle is "a multirotational, one-foot turn that moves across the ice" in the sport of figure skating. First performed by David Grant in 1990 the International Skating Union (ISU) defines a twizzle as "a traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations which is quickly rotated with a continuous (uninterrupted) action". It is most often performed in ice dance, although single skaters and pair skaters also perform the element. Twizzles have been called "the quads of ice dance" because like quadruple jumps in other disciplines, twizzles are risky and technically demanding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pair skating</span> Discipline of figure skating

Pair skating is a figure skating discipline defined by the International Skating Union (ISU) as "the skating of two persons in unison who perform their movements in such harmony with each other as to give the impression of genuine Pair Skating as compared with independent Single Skating". The ISU also states that a pairs team consists of "one Woman and one Man". Pair skating, along with men's and women's single skating, has been an Olympic discipline since figure skating, the oldest Winter Olympic sport, was introduced at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The ISU World Figure Skating Championships introduced pair skating in 1908.

The following is a glossary of figure skating terms, sorted alphabetically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single skating</span> Discipline of figure skating

Single skating is a discipline of figure skating in which male and female skaters compete individually. Men's singles and women's singles are governed by the International Skating Union (ISU). Figure skating is the oldest winter sport contested at the Olympics, with men's and women's single skating appearing as two of the four figure skating events at the London Games in 1908.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figure skating lifts</span> Figure skating technique

Figure skating lifts are required elements in two disciplines of figure skating, pair skating and ice dance. There are five groups of lifts in pair skating, categorized in order of increasing level of difficulty. Judges look for the following when evaluating pair lifts: speed of entry and exit; control of the woman's free leg when she is exiting out of the lift, with the goal of keeping the leg high and sweeping; the position of the woman in the air; the man's footwork; quick and easy changes of position; and the maintenance of flow throughout the lift. Twist lifts are "the most thrilling and exciting component in pair skating". They can also be the most difficult movement to perform correctly. They require more strength and coordination than many other pair elements, and are usually the first or second element in a program. According to the International Skating Union (ISU), "the Woman must be caught in the air at the waist by the Man prior to landing and be assisted to a smooth landing on the ice on a backward outside edge on one foot" during a twist lift. A pair lift and twist lift is required in the short program of pair skating; a well-balanced free skating program in pair skating must include lifts.

British Ice Skating is the national governing body of ice skating within the United Kingdom. Formed in 1879, it is responsible for overseeing all disciplines of ice skating: figure skating ; synchronised skating; and speed skating.

A step sequence is a required element in all four disciplines of figure skating, men's single skating, women's single skating, pair skating, and ice dance. Step sequences have been defined as "steps and turns in a pattern on the ice". Skaters earn the most points in step sequences by performing steps and movements with "flair and personality", by turning in both directions, by using one foot and then the other, and by including up and down movements.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Competition elements in ice dance</span>

Ice dance, a discipline of figure skating, has required elements that make up a well-balanced rhythm dance program and free dance program, which must be performed during competitions. They include: the dance lift, the dance spin, the step sequence, turn sequences, and choreographic elements. The elements must be performed in specific ways, as described by published communications by the International Skating Union (ISU), unless otherwise specified. The ISU has also provided a list of illegal movements.

A choreographic sequence is a required element for figure skating in all international competitions. It is required in the free skating programs of senior and junior single skaters and in the free skating programs of senior pair skaters. It is also required during ice dancers' rhythm dances and free dances. Judges do not evaluate individual elements in a choreographic sequence; rather, they note that it was accomplished. Skaters must fulfill certain requirements to fulfill the highest points possible during choreographic sequences. There are six types of choreographic elements in ice dance: the Choreographic lift, the Choreographic spinning movement, the Choreographic assisted jump movement, the Choreographic twizzling movement, the Choreographic sliding movement, and the Choreographic character step sequence.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Skating Glossary". Skate Canada. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 S&P/ID 2022, p. 120
  3. ↑ Kestnbaum, Ellyn (2003). Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press. p. 103. ISBN   0819566411.
  4. ↑ "Canadian Pair Break Figure Skating's Mould with 'Death Spiral'". Olympic.com. 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  5. ↑ "Protopopovs Leave Impressive Legacy in Lake Placid". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. Associated Press. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Tech Panel, p. 28
  7. 1 2 3 S&P/ID 2022, p. 118
  8. 1 2 S&P/ID 2022, p. 117–118
  9. 1 2 S&P/ID 2022, p. 114
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Tech Panel, p. 29
  11. ↑ Tech Panel, p. 30
  12. ↑ Normani, Franco. "The Physics Of Figure Skating". Real-world-physics-problems.com. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  13. ↑ S&P/ID 2022, p. 117
  14. 1 2 S&P/ID 2022, pp. 114-115
  15. ↑ S&P/ID 2022, p. 115
  16. ↑ "Communication No. 2168: Single & Pair Skating". Lausanne, Switzerland: International Skating Union. 23 May 2018. p. 11. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2022.

Works cited

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