Learn To do a Forward Spiral On Ice! - Arabesque Tutorial

[@user-du8ts5oi3t]

I just binged so many of your videos, I am an ex-dancer really inspired to start skating for some reason. You sound like a great coach!

[@CoachJulia]

Thank you! Skating is a great sport and it is never to late to give it a try. 😁

[@kimmangham6863]

Me, too❤❤❤❤

[@sarizonana]

This is such a beautiful spiral that we barely see anymore, it was common in the 2000s and 90s but we don’t see it anymore

[@mtsanri]

True. Nobody does this in competition anymore and it's a shame. I guess it just doesn't get enough points. It would be nice if at least 1 long spiral was a mandatory element

[@natalielucken9913]

I am approaching 50 years old, and I just started taking lessons 2 years ago. I have always loved skating, and your videos help me to review the moves I learn in class. It's so helpful to see these whenever I am struggling with something new!

[@CoachJulia]

Glad to hear it!

[@kennyhogg5820]

I've seen others do this at my rink but didn't pay it much attention. Figure skating is not really a goal for me. Anyway I was doing a one foot glide and for some reason just decided to just lift my back leg and lean forward a bit, I thought "oh ok, is that move about to happen?" And I realized "yeah I guess so". Probably wasn't all pretty and graceful but I never intended on doing it. Just an unexpected pleasant surprise. Only did it three times. Kind of want to try again when I go back to the rink. I didn't even know what it was called. So looked it up.

[@melissadix2097]

I just re-watched this. I started really working on spirals this week. Your hint of foot behind the hip is so helpful. Thank you

[@CoachJulia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NikitReuter]

Yesterday I tried a spiral on the rink for the first time ( it was also my first time on figure skates) I aced it first try ( according to my friends too lol) I used to do rythmic gymnastics so an arabesque is super easy! Thanks for this vid it really helped me make sure I was doing it right!

[@frightfairy]

I've been struggling so much with my spiral, because of fear and confidence. I have the flexibility and the strength to get my leg up, but half the time I can barely even get half way to how far I can go because I'm so terrified of hitting my toe pick and falling forwards. Its the only time on ice I can say I feel "scared", and it's holding me back from advancing.

[@CoachJulia]

Hey, I am so sorry to hear that this skill has you so scared. Fear is a terrible thing and can really hold you back. Practice the skill with all the correct technique ( strong back and arms, chin lifted, knees straight, toe pointed to the side) but with a lower leg and try to gain confidence that way. The other thing to really think about is getting your hips back behind your toe pick. This one tip will help you reduce falling significantly.

[@frightfairy]

@@CoachJulia Great to get a reply from you! I watch all your videos. I actually had a lesson yesterday and I asked my coach to check my spirals based on this video (despite being terrified). I'd never heard the tip of pushing my hips back and it made all the difference in not feeling like I'd tip up to the toe pick. I really focused on pushing my hips back when I showed her and when she saw my spiral she finally passed it! Thank you.

[@CoachJulia]

@@frightfairy Oh my gosh, such exciting news! Thanks for sharing!

[@victorylove2035]

Now I know all my mistakes 🤓..Thank you coach Julia!!😘😘

[@CoachJulia]

You're so welcome!

[@margaretfox3868]

Hi Coach Julia, I have been watching your videos and am very impressed. You are a coach that explains to detail basic skills and the progression. Many coaches I have had in classes, omitted this. I believe that it is very important to know everything about each skill. I am an adult figure skater that learned basic skills 20 years ago, I am still practicing everything. I only get a few hours per week to practice and do not complete but enjoy perfecting each skill and appreciate you taking the time to post it for us all.

[@CoachJulia]

Oh thank you so much for the positive feedback. I really appreciate it. I always try to think of how I would want to learn if I was just starting, and I am a very detail oriented person. I like to know EXACTLY what I am supposed to be doing with any given move. I am glad to know that my teaching style resonates with others.

[@coriaurora-borealis6669]

Thank you so much coach Julia, your lessons are so well explained and useful! Best regards from Germany.

[@CoachJulia]

Glad you like them!

[@jenniferjames346]

I made those exact same pants and was wearing them skating today!!! 😲 Also made them in the purple and gold metallic fabric too, love them so much.

[@CoachJulia]

So fun! these are my current favorite skating pants.

[@miryeongkim]

This is really helpful for improving my spiral! Chin up Nice soft hands Pointed, turned out toes!

[@theghostology]

I'm doing a beginners skating performance and they're gonna make us do a spiral. I have a fear of failure and pain, so this will be tricky. Hopefully your tips will work for me and my legs cooperate

[@CoachJulia]

You can do it!

[@amyhenningsgard8618]

Lovely teaching!

[@geetho1548]

Another amazing video from you. Grateful as always! Coach, if you got the time, would you make a video for forward stroking.. I've watched the video where you put it with forward swizzle but maybe you can give more details on the posture and how not to walk in the straight direction when doing forward stroking :)

[@CoachJulia]

@@geetho1548 thanks for the suggestions!

[@Natty_bearVA]

Hi Coach Julia! These videos are very helpful to me as I started figure skating early 2024! Although I have never been very good with flexibility, are there any specific excercises I can do at home to improve my flexibility so I have enough power to lift my foot up as high as you do? That would be really helpful!

[@coldservings]

My instructor just introduced these in class. It's not, technically, part of the Adult program in the Learn to Skate USA curriculum, but since i do plan to go on to Free Skate, it's one of several things I should know. One of the things she said was that there are very few techniques on the ice where you should lock the knee of your skating leg and that this was one of them. It helps to keep your weight where it should be, near the back of the blade.

[@skv1991]

Beautiful move, looks so cool 👍

[@CoachJulia]

Thank you!

[@HelloKitty0000000]

Thank you Julia! Your videos are so helpful

[@CoachJulia]

Glad you like them!

[@stefaniaponitz5738]

Wow so beautiful on that outside edge :D at the end. Soft fingers, going to think about that one and toes/feet to the side. I've been stretching a lot so I can get the spiral that little bit above that 90-degree angle. Oh that's going to be hilarious to film with a selfie stick lol

[@CoachJulia]

Thank you very much!

[@tshireletsomokgotho85]

this helped me so much thank you

[@CoachJulia]

I'm so glad!

[@himeraji]

WoW this is so cool, I did these stretches when I practiced classic dance 😆 I stopped to start figure skating but I guess there are still similar exercises haha ! It is never really over 🎶

[@CoachJulia]

Lol, nope, the stretching never ends. 😆

[@ignaciomartinez6245]

Summary for when I'm on the ice: Stretch First just go forward with leg behind the hip (not behind other leg) and foot pointing outside Spiral: leg >90 degrees. Hip behind toepick. Strengthen back, shoulders, arms. Chin up, soft hands, toe out and pointed to the side

[@rosol_polski]

Thank You so much Julia! Very, very helpful video. 💙💙

[@somethingelse6774]

I've been having a hard time with stretching and stuff and for some reason my coach decided not to tell me how to stretch 😐 Edit: Just stretched and I heard like a million pops. I feel so much better and I feel confident in doing this now

[@CoachJulia]

Great job! Keep the stretching going!

[@TapangaSimmons-x5m]

Hi coach Julia! Quick question, is your standing knee straight or so do you still keep a slight bend? Love your videos!!

[@CoachJulia]

As straight as possible!

[@darktwilightwolf09]

I have trouble keeping my skating leg straight. My knee is always super bent because I feel like I have more control and I can get my free leg higher. I have no problem with bending when I’m working on my spirals off ice though. I’m so used to having my knees bent for most other skills so it feels really awkward skating on a straight leg. Any advice??

[@CoachJulia]

It’s definitely important to get those knees straight, as it is not considered a spiral if your knees are bent. I would suggest starting back at one foot glides, with a focus on straightening the knee. Then work back up to extended one foot glides, focusing on those straight knees , and once you can do that with confidence, try doing your spirals again.

[@darktwilightwolf09]

Coach Julia ok thanks so much! I will try those exercises this week!

[@kraken54]

I've been needing this i keep slipping which is why ot seems like i cant lift my leg up so im hoping this will help

[@annaguettabi3974]

Hello, thank you! Can you please explain what “pushing down” means when you push off to glide forward?

[@meteorcube]

Could you explain what does "hip square" to the wall mean exactly here? Because hip could mean so many things, the ball-and-socket joint is a hip joint, the whole bottom below the waist can be referred to as hip for some people/culture. And square also seems to have different meanings when coaches say so in skating?

[@hellstoastt]

when a coach says that, they usually mean keep your waist in line with your body. it means to keep your hips in control and don't have them turned out. another useful term is "check", you'll hear it a LOT. it means to control or stop rotation. she has a whole video on it, you should check it out!

[@hanna_maria]

2 years ago I tripped over my toepick doing a spiral (while holding the blade up with my hand) and smashed both knees first into the ice. I wasn't wearing my knee pads (because I was being stupid..) and damaged them really bad. They still hurt randomly from time to time and I'm now absolutely terrified of spirals. Any idea how I can get rid of that fear? Also I'm never ever skating without my pads again. I've learned that lesson.. :(

[@Benji-nt4wk]

I love your videos!

[@CoachJulia]

Thank you!!

[@angelafan8886]

Can you recommend some variation for forward and backward spiral respectively.

[@angelafan8886]

Also can you make a video for change edge spiral ?

[@CoachJulia]

I will certainly try and get you some fun variations soon!

[@adbellevie]

I have zero flexibility and am almost 40. I’ve tried yoga, etc. but nothing seems to really help. I’ve been skating now for 9 months and am trying to pass Freestyle 1 but my leg won’t come high enough behind me. I can get it about 60-degrees but not a full 90 or above. Any more tips? I’m probably the least flexible skater ever!

[@yusufmahomed7331]

Hi coach Julia my ice rink is really full can I still do a lot of figure skating

[@CoachJulia]

Yes you can! I used to practice on very busy public sessions with sometimes hundreds of people. just do the best you can.

[@evabarri6324]

Spirals to me are like standing on ice...so easy!

[@CoachJulia]

That is awesome, good for you!

[@zunumae]

*When you're not tall enough to reach the wall* My rink has a barrier wall but my leg can't reach the edge, what should I do?

[@CoachJulia]

Perhaps there is something else at your rink, or at home that you can use to stretch? A Table? Dresser? Nightstand? Sometimes it just takes some creativity.

[@mebbactivities3116]

Hi Miss Julia

[@animeeditss__]

I have to learn the spiral in the next level 😅. But i dont think ill be able to do it because my back isent felxible to bend like that 😭

[@CoachJulia]

I have just put on my list to film a back strength and flexibility video for you!

[@yusufmahomed7331]

Please can you do a lunge next pleaaaaaaaaaSe

[@CoachJulia]

Hey! I’ve already got you covered! Here is a link to my Lunge tutorial... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH66f6CCityljbc

[@NataschaX]

I've been struggling to do the spiral (or pretty much anything on one leg, like one foot glide) in a straight line. When I glide on right foot, I turn to the left and vice versa. Do you know what might be the reason? I have a few theories: 1) The blades are slightly missaligned. 2) As a beginner, my technique is bad. Maybe bad position of hips? But I feel like I'm keeping them pretty straight. 3) The most probable one - I have flat feet and slightly X-shaped legs. Unfortunately, I really don't have anyone who could help me and check what it really is, since my lessons have been cancelled since forever :( What do you think it might be? Is there any other reason this might be happening?

[@hellstoastt]

there's this guy who's always at my rink for weekend sessions and i learned a lot from him. the #1 thing he taught me, this will be super important when doing anything, SHOULDERS. your shoulders will guide you. try to keep your shoulders level and keep them forwards, don't turn them or drop them. hope this helps!!

[@SassySkater]

Hi. I pronate on the inside of my ankles. Meaning my ankles lean inward. This causes me to skate on the inside edge which pulls you that direction. Arch supports helps me hold my glide on the flat edge easier. If you have flat feet and "knock knees" i would guess that's what you're doing as well. If arch supports dont work, you might be able to have your blade moved to help you center over top of it instead of centered on the inside edge. Good luck!

[@NataschaX]

@@SassySkater I have tried to put my medical insoles to my quad skates, where I have similar problem (haven't seen ice in ages, public skating sessions are still closed...) and it helped maybe a teeny tiny bit. I think your advice is good, but my insoles kind of suck - they are not very supportive. Which is quite surprising from a an actual medical device... I guess I will have to get new ones.

[@SassySkater]

@@NataschaX i hear yah. I skated for the 4th time with my arch supports today. They work beautifully for the left leg, but not my right. I still need more support on the right. Im considering having the blade moved. And as a very last resort, they can even sharpen the blade at an angle so that even though the skate is leaning, the blade is still on its flat edge. Like they just skim off one edge of the blade a little shorter. Hope you find what works for you! Many blessings!

[@NataschaX]

@@SassySkater I knew the blade can be moved to compensate, but never heard about the sharpening. Skiming off the edge seems a bit barbaric :D Though I can imagine it would probably work well...

[@somethingelse6774]

I am sitting in my bathtub watching this video...I think Imma go down to the rink now haha

[@CoachJulia]

Enjoy your practice time!

[@michellemroz3765]

nice

[@CoachJulia]

Thanks!

[@rinzindorjee31]

Is work like yoga strategies???

[@CoachJulia]

I am not actually very familiar with yoga specifics so couldn't say how similar it is. I had wanted to get into yoga last year but - PANDEMIC!! 😩

[@SassySkater]

Yoga will definitely help you on the ice. It will improve your balance, flexibility, and endurance. I incorporate many forms of off-ice training. Ballet, yoga, strength training, inline roller skating, jumping rope, and swimming. I was impressed that just one 30 minute session of balance and strengthening exercises made a noticeable difference in my spiral. Keep up the great work. Also, a "30 min a day for 30 days" yoga challenge will change your whole life. 2nd week was hard. But after the 4th week...I was a completely different person...mind, body, and soul! Namaste!

[@xq_chu]

Great tutorial! It’s a little scary for me to stretch on the ice.

[@CoachJulia]

You can do it!

[@squisheneezer]

So I’ve been doing it wrong because I have my leg extended straight behind me rather than slightly diagonal with the hip

[@CoachJulia]

I hope this tip helped with improvement! 😁

[@JerryLaw]

Haha I just been trying to do this today without watching this video. Well let’s just say it’s not Instagram worthy just yet 😂

[@CoachJulia]

Keep practicing and you will get instagram worthy sometime soon!

[@Yanik2002]

I JUST LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS IN CLASS, HOW DO YOU ALWAYS KNOW???????

[@CoachJulia]

😂 Oh my gosh no way! I guess I have some kind of coach’s intuition or something. Lol.

[@Yanik2002]

@@CoachJulia Maybe your my real coach in disguise🤔

[@daytonwomersley6417]

Me watching this video knowing I can barely skate properly but still being delusional anyway 😂

[@CoachJulia]

Lol. To funny. But maybe it will be something to work towards.

[@Rananarblx]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤ 😮😮😮😮😮😮🎉🎉🎉🎉😂 😅