Lucinda Ruh - 1999 Worlds SP - Lawrence of Arabia

[@intldawn]

It's not just the obvious mastery of her spinning technique but the visual effects she creates with her positions and speed. Lambiel did that corkscrew position many years later and now of course we see a lot of skaters try to copy that pancake position. But Lucinda's arms, legs, fluidity and flexibility made those positions truly her own. Same with that wonderful layback spin. The way her entire body is positioned just makes almost hypnotic to watch. She is exceptional

[@jevitigre]

Besides all that she did her spins very fast.

[@troyaturner1979]

​@@jevitigre and centered

[@troyaturner1979]

her spins are still better than anyone in the world of skating today.

[@angiemaniaciskatingfan723]

Her and American, Alissa Czisny.

[@danielkristianson208]

I've NEVER seen such an incredible skater be so UNrecognized and UNrewarded for their incredible work, skill and artistry. She should have been right up there with Ito, Asada, Yamaguchi, Witt, Trenary, Kwan and a host of other renowned skaters. UNFAIR ! UNFAIR !!!!

[@Pitorro_X]

"GOOD FOR YOU, LUCINDA RUH!" 😍

[@Porporinablu]

This was totally underscored. Not only the most beautiful spins I've ever seen (also my favs among hers). This was also a brilliant sp!

[@innerspirit3373]

Undermarked... The most amazing spins I ever saw... Wow! Love her!

[@intldawn]

You're absolutely right. Dick Button is the world's biggest critic of laybacks and spiral positions. I think the reason he doesn't pick Lucinda's apart is because her speed, centering, and arms make up for any deficiency with her leg position. Most skaters who let their legs drop do so out of laziness or lack of skill, but that is certainly not the case here. Her leg hanging down enhances what she's doing. Even Dick Button has to realize when he can't or shouldn't criticize.

[@intldawn]

Best combination spin, EVER. Just phenomenal, the image she creates with her positions and speed. Wonderful.

[@ancamg]

OMG! Both Lucinda and Dick made my day. Lucinda is one of the finest skaters that ever existed. Dick is a legend but, also the best American commentator, and the only really good one!

[@Jontor11]

Lucinda is like a fairytale, that's the feeling I get when I see her spin. She just spins me into another world. Just brilliant! That last combination spin was just amaaazing...

[@skatefan9495]

I don't like the new scoring system but I also didn't like how the old scoring system was used to keep down skaters that the judges just didn't like. She skated a clean SP with a lot of speed and great spins, of course. She should have been marked much higher.

[@Jontor11]

This is like watching a special effect. Lucinda Ruh was fantastic:)

[@wilfredofigueroa66]

I'm speechless. What an incredible spinner. The best in the world.

[@sk8ingcoach1]

Good for you, lucinda ruh

[@edminjatrel]

ahhhhhhhh i been looking for her since the 90s. spins amazing

[@triciamatsuda]

I love her spins, holy crap!!!! She can spin in any shape or form with a great amount of speed, she's one of the best spinners in the history of figure skating!!!!

[@triffus]

My top 5 favourite female figure skaters of all time. She was in a league of her own.

[@Jontor11]

She was so undermarked in this. Her tech should have been above 5.0, and the presentation mark should have been up about 5.6-5.7 at least. Compare this performance to Kwan's, who was sooo overmarked and should have been behind Lucinda. Kwan 4th - Ruh 12th - unbelievable.

[@jdfox1]

She was great...so much energy. I was lucky to see her once after she went pro and she was such a crowd favorite. Unbelievable spin! :)

[@reubenkeyz5131]

Wow. Best spinner ever. She is lovely.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

GOOD FOR YOU, LUCINDA RUH!

[@ShadowChrs]

Incredible!!

[@ChristineTheHippie]

maybe it's genetic. Denise Biellman, Natalie Krieg, Lucindah Ruh, even Stephane Lambiel. Well executed spins are beautiful to watch and you can be creative with them.

[@jimmyseraphin7314]

5.2 and 6.0!!!

[@cjjenkins507]

If she had a coach that knew how to train taller than average athletes I think Lucinda Ruh could have been more legendary than she is. She has such beautiful spins and lines and I even think her edge control is some of the best and most graceful I've seen.

[@mrparke007]

That combination spin at the end was SICK!!! You can't even see her arms in the final back spin. Jesus.

[@jimmyseraphin7314]

artisticly phénoménal

[@JeremiVW]

I don't think any of the ladies in today's scene can compare to her spinning.. Amazing!!

[@pueraeternus111]

One of the greatest figure skaters in history -- Lucinda Ruh! Skating is so boring and dull nowadays.

[@ChristineTheHippie]

I agree. If she could ever get the jumps watch out! I miss her, under the current system her spins would score really high.

[@xxxlilgansta100]

she worked at my rink at one point. but then she never came back so idk... LOL i lov her spins..

[@GRomance0804]

Her spinning is Stunning!!!!!! Stephane Lambiel is the best men's spinner....

[@uetel1120]

A superb spinner, indeed.

[@cheemengsee490]

Best All Time Spinner! A Legend!

[@ancamg]

I loved her skating! And she was way better than Kwan!

[@LAGUNAFLIPSTA]

She's the best!

[@skatefan9495]

Why are her tech marks so low? She would score so well in the new system.

[@yiyukun]

beautiful

[@ancamg]

All her marks should have been over 5.5. And in presentation, 6.0 would have been almost not enough. She was above everybody else in presentation and skating skills.

[@HARRYRABBITvmkname]

She does some GREAT spins!!!!!

[@481095ymg2]

The bird thing was exactly what I was thinking:)

[@wastedartist]

0:35 makes me think of a flower

[@unknownperson2596]

5.4 and 6.0 love her!

[@OctopussInPants10min]

That was definitely an under-marked programme. When situations like these arrive, the performers should take over, instead of letting the critic bureauacracy make all the rules. What the commentators said was right: the spins, when you look at the ones like Ruh just did, are more difficult than jumps. Of course, someone who's never stepped on the ice wouldn't know that, and that's why they're worth nothing...

[@INDIGOBLUE555]

Not a great iceskating fan but...she is unbelievable.

[@gutsfinky]

I do love her layback--the back position is just extraordinary, probably the best I've ever seen--but her free leg IS annoying. I hate low free legs, in gymnastics and figure skating. Shame she never got the same credit for her spins as others did for their difficult jumps, and I'm sure the fact she wasn't from a traditional skating powerhouse like the US or Russia didn't help her scores.

[@skatefan9495]

She was seriously under-marked. Her second mark should have been in the 5.6/5.7 range, at least. And why the super-low marks for tech? All the marks should have been above 5.

[@rosesavoy9035]

5.1 in presentation wtf?????

[@HowDareThey1970]

@gutsfinky there are several variations as to leg position, what do you prefer?

[@GumOnTheWall]

her marks are so low because she invented the new scoring system lucinda ruh is a legend

[@ElaineSamuela]

This is tragic that superb spins can't get a skater onto the podium.

[@nipaipo36100]

5.1 and 5.8

[@ChristineTheHippie]

I think she went pro after 1998/99 not much is heard from her, but she does do great in tours. I know, she was a great skater when she was ON, she had the skills just and talent, which is why she got to this level, but she wasn't disciplined

[@zigzaggyp746]

Lucinda outside of her spins, technically(on the tech mark) wasn't great. A 3toe(that she pitched a little forward on)/2toe combo in the short will get you nowhere and an arguably cheated triple loop(just judging by how she landed as they did not show her feet). I will say that like the old judging system, the new would be just as harsh on Lucinda in both technical and PCS. PCS because we see any skater gets a bump in PCS when they are doing the more difficult jumps regardless of weather or not they deserve/earned high PCS scores. So just in the old system where her second mark suffered because of the low first mark, so to it would under the new. It's just that all her spins would get top level and +3 on GOE. It would bring her higher under the new system but not "medal contention" higher.

[@DeepSeas..]

ZigZaggy P Her presentation is gorgeous though. Definitely one of the best I’ve ever seen. I’d give her at least 5.8 in presentation for this program and 5.3 for her technical mark due to the incredible spins.

[@arielnashirocalderon834]

I got dizzy

[@sayomsskiver]

haha, i think he did have one lol.

[@ChristineTheHippie]

And we've seen great jumpers who neglect spins. Yeah Dick and his free legs, he really obsessed about that doesn't he? LOL. Are you a skater or just a fan?

[@ChariceBillboard]

the commentator is over-acting