Camel spin
Encyclopedia
A camel spin, also known in Europe as a parallel spin, is one of the three basic figure skating spins
, along with the sit spin
and upright spin
. The basic camel spin position is defined as one in which the free leg is extended backwards with the knee held above hip level.
, who first performed it successfully in competition in 1935. Like the layback spin
, also invented by Colledge, the camel was originally considered a move for women only.
The origin of the spin's name is disputed. Most authorities believe that the name originated when a skater performed the spin with her upper body and free leg drooping down, giving the illusion of a hunched camel. According to figure skating coach Gustave Lussi
, the spin was invented not by Cecilia Colledge but by an Australian skater named Campbell, thus explaining that "Campbell spin" became afflicted into "camel spin".
The Grafström spin may predate the invention of the "regular" camel spin. Although it is named after Gillis Grafström
, its best practitioner is said to be Czechoslovakia
n skater Otto Gold, who won the silver medal at the 1930 European Figure Skating Championships
.
Dick Button
is credited with inventing the flying camel spin in the 1940s. It was originally known as the Button camel.
The "illusion spin" was accidentally invented by Jacqueline du Bief
when she lost control on the entrance to a camel spin.
Several female pair skaters
have suffered head/face injuries after their partners accidentally drifted too close during side-by-side camel spins – Elena Berezhnaya, Jessica Dubé
and Galina Maniachenko.
Figure skating spins
Spins are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball of the foot...
, along with the sit spin
Sit spin
The sit spin is one of the three basic figure skating spin positions. It is defined by a squatting position in which the skater's buttocks are below the knee of the skating leg. This forms an angle of less than 90 degrees between the thigh and the calf of the skating leg...
and upright spin
Upright spin
The Upright spin is one of the three basic figure skating spin positions. It is defined as a spin position with an extended skating leg which is not a camel position...
. The basic camel spin position is defined as one in which the free leg is extended backwards with the knee held above hip level.
History
Most sources credit the invention of the camel spin to British skater Cecilia ColledgeCecilia Colledge
Magdelena Cecilia Colledge was a British figure skater. She was the 1936 Olympic silver medalist, the 1937 World Champion, the 1938-1939 European Champion, and a six-time British national champion....
, who first performed it successfully in competition in 1935. Like the layback spin
Layback spin
A layback spin is an upright figure skating spin in which the head and shoulders are dropped backwards and the back arched downwards toward the ice. A common variation has the free leg lifted toward the back, typically in an attitude position, with the arms held above the body...
, also invented by Colledge, the camel was originally considered a move for women only.
The origin of the spin's name is disputed. Most authorities believe that the name originated when a skater performed the spin with her upper body and free leg drooping down, giving the illusion of a hunched camel. According to figure skating coach Gustave Lussi
Gustave Lussi
Gustave François Lussi was a figure skating coach. His students include many champions, such as Dick Button, Donald Jackson, Ronald Robertson, Ronald Ludington, Barbara Ann Scott, David Jenkins, Hayes Jenkins, Dorothy Hamill , John Misha Petkevich, and John Curry.-Biography:Lussi was born in...
, the spin was invented not by Cecilia Colledge but by an Australian skater named Campbell, thus explaining that "Campbell spin" became afflicted into "camel spin".
The Grafström spin may predate the invention of the "regular" camel spin. Although it is named after Gillis Grafström
Gillis Grafström
Gillis Emanuel Grafström was a Swedish figure skater. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He won three successive Olympic gold medals in Men's Figure Skating as well as Olympic silver medal in same event in 1932, and three World Championships...
, its best practitioner is said to be Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n skater Otto Gold, who won the silver medal at the 1930 European Figure Skating Championships
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
.
Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
is credited with inventing the flying camel spin in the 1940s. It was originally known as the Button camel.
The "illusion spin" was accidentally invented by Jacqueline du Bief
Jacqueline du Bief
Jacqueline du Bief is a French figure skater who competed in single skating and pair skating. As a single skater, she is the 1952 World Champion, the 1952 Olympic bronze medalist, the 1950-1952 European silver medalist, and the 1947-1952 French national champion.As a pair skater, she competed with...
when she lost control on the entrance to a camel spin.
Several female pair skaters
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
have suffered head/face injuries after their partners accidentally drifted too close during side-by-side camel spins – Elena Berezhnaya, Jessica Dubé
Jessica Dubé
Jessica Dubé is a Canadian figure skater who is best known for her pairs career with Bryce Davison. They are the three-time Canadian national champion, the 2008 World bronze medalist and the 2009 Four Continents silver medalist. They represented Canada at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics...
and Galina Maniachenko.
Variations
- Flying camel spin – formerly known as a ButtonDick ButtonRichard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
camel, initiated with a jump from a forward outside edge to a back camel spin.
- Layover – performed by upturning the torso and free leg so that the skater's torso and free foot are pointing toward the ceiling, rather than toward the ice. This spin is frequently seen in artistic roller skatingArtistic roller skatingArtistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating but where constestants run on roller skates instead of ice skates. Within artistic roller skating there are several disciplines:* figures...
, where it is called a "layback spin" (but is distinct from the layback spinLayback spinA layback spin is an upright figure skating spin in which the head and shoulders are dropped backwards and the back arched downwards toward the ice. A common variation has the free leg lifted toward the back, typically in an attitude position, with the arms held above the body...
performed on ice).- Bent-leg layover – similar to a layover, except with a bent free leg. Josée ChouinardJosée ChouinardJosée Chouinard is a Canadian figure skater.She competed at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics, finishing in ninth position on both occasions. She became well known for wearing elegant black gloves while on the ice....
and Kim Yu-Na are among the best-known practitioners of this spin variation. Both have used it as one of their signature moves. This spin has been called the "Yuna camel"..
- Bent-leg layover – similar to a layover, except with a bent free leg. Josée Chouinard
- Catch-foot camel – performed by the skater grasping the free leg's blade with either hand. The skater's torso remains pointed toward the ice, and the free leg is held upward. A catch-foot camels with free leg extended upwards is sometimes called a one-hand Biellman or a half-Biellmann -- named for Swiss skater Denise BiellmannDenise BiellmannDenise Biellmann is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion. She won the Swiss Championships three times.-Amateur career:...
, who popularized the move in the 1970s and '80s.- Doughnut or donut spin – a catch-foot camel, but the skater's head is pulled toward the free leg's foot so that the skater's head, torso, and free leg form a toricTorusIn geometry, a torus is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle...
shape parallel to the ice. Oksana BaiulOksana BaiulOksana Serhiyivna Baiul is a Ukrainian professional figure skater. She is the 1994 Olympic Champion in Ladies' Singles and 1993 World Champion.-Early and personal life:...
, Yukari NakanoYukari Nakanois a former competitive figure skater for Japan.She is the 2007 Asian Winter Games champion, the 2006 Four Continents silver medalist, 2003 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2005-2006 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and a three-time Japanese bronze medalist.She is one of the five ladies...
frequently perform this spin.
- Doughnut or donut spin – a catch-foot camel, but the skater's head is pulled toward the free leg's foot so that the skater's head, torso, and free leg form a toric
- GrafströmGillis GrafströmGillis Emanuel Grafström was a Swedish figure skater. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He won three successive Olympic gold medals in Men's Figure Skating as well as Olympic silver medal in same event in 1932, and three World Championships...
spin – camel with a bent skating leg, with the free foot still in the arabesque position.
- HamillDorothy HamillDorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...
camel– not a true camel per se, but rather a transition from a backwards camel to a backwards sit spin by bending the skating leg and dropping the torso and free leg simultaneously.
- Illusion spin – performed by the skater keeping their head, torso, and free leg in a straight line, and rhythmically bobbing above and below the position of a standard camel spin. Tiffany ChinTiffany ChinTiffany Chin is an American figure skater who grew up in San Diego, California. She dominated the junior circuit in ice skating prior to her Olympic career, winning the US Junior National title as well as the World Junior title...
performed this spin frequently as an amateur.