|
THE IJS and spiral sequences
written by Tim Grafton January 2008,
updated August 2010
Important Information
 |
This information does not take into
account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You
should consider the appropriateness of this information in relation to
your own situation before acting on it. |
|
The information displayed here is
for the purpose of sharing coaching knowledge, I do not promote
myself as a 'coach's coach' in fact I'm just an average coach. |
2010 - the ISU changed the rules so that
spiral sequences no longer have levels, they will all be awarded a
fixed mark and be evaluated on GOE only, provided of course they meet
minimum requirements. See ISU comm 1619 for details.
Hint for spiral sequences (pre June 2010) :
There are few variations, almost every sequence is
the same, the fan spiral
that we saw in 2007/2008 season so often is now rare as the ISU decided in
communication 1445 in May 2007 not to award a level feature to this position
any more unless there was significant twisting or change on body weight,
for example the skater leans back quite a lot, have a look at
Mao Asada's fan spiral from the link below for a good example and yes she
received a level feature for it.
|
From 2009/2010 communication
1557 came into effect, a new clarification included says that a second
difficult variation must be significantly different from the first, so
for example doing a Beilman spiral forward is a level feature, followed by a
change of foot and a backward Beilman, this second Beilman spiral
would no longer be considered a level feature because it is not
significantly different.
Other high level spirals from the 20097/2008
season, ISU events
| Skater |
Event |
Level |
Points |
Link (uses youtube.com) |
Notes |
| Yu-Na-Kim |
ISU Grand Prix final SP |
4 |
4.40 |
click here |
Forward Classic spiral, change of
edge, Bielman then turn backwards and do a mount spiral |
| Caroline Zhang |
ISU Grand Prix final SP 2007 |
4 |
4.80 |
Click here |
The split position can only be used once in
a sequence and Carolines first (classic spiral) had a split, so
the safest option for her was to make the final (3rd) position a Beilman.
all 3 positions would be considered level features and if there were a
level 5 then this spiral sequence might qualify. |
| Kimmie Meissner |
ISU Grand Prix final SP |
4 |
4.00 |
|
Forward Classic spiral, change of
edge, Bielman then turn backwards and do another Beilman,
after comm 1557 this would be a level 3 as the second Beilman would not
have counted. |
| Mao Asada |
ISU Grand Prix final SP |
4 |
4.80 |
click here |
Backward fan spiral with a lean back,
this may have been considered a difficult variation because of the lean back of
the body or it could have been the split position which is also a level
feature, then a forward Beilman with a change of edge and then a
Kerrigan position, the Beilman and the change of edge were awarded
level features and that is why this is a level 4 |
| Alissa Czisny |
2008 SP |
4 |
4.40 |
click here |
Backward outside classic spiral with a full
split (level feature) then a then a change of edge and drops the torso
into a Charlotte spiral, then a backward Beilman. |
| Fumie Suguri |
ISU Cup of China SP |
4 |
4.00 |
click here |
Forward Classic spiral, change of
edge, Biellman then turn backwards and do a mount spiral |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
The judges scores can be found on the isu web site, isu.org, then
select single and pair skating / ice dance, then click the
Search The Single & Pair Skating/Ice Dance Calendar then
you have to search for the results of the ISU events. Once you
have the judges scores and levels for all performances, then just go
on youtube.com and search for the skater and event, many of them are
on there. You can then see the levels given by the technical
specialist (type of judge) for all spirals and spins.
May 2008 - ISU Communication 1494
A new level feature has been added - hold a
spiral for 6 seconds or more without any changes and that is now a level
feature.
Other hints :
| Each spiral position must be held for a minimum
of 3 seconds, so in training it is best for the skater to count 1
and 2 and 3 and 4 to ensure that there is a good chance the spiral
position is held for the minimum of 3 seconds in competition. |
| The spirals must be on an edge, spirals in
a straight line are not counted, to ensure that there is no doubt in
the judges mind, make the edges fairly deep, this will also avoid
going onto short straight lines (often called "Flats") if you have a
wobble of the edge. |
| The change of edge and/or change of position must
be un-assisted, in other words you cannot move your arm to help with
the change, during the change the free leg must not drop below the
hip. The change of edge must be completed in 1 metre or
less, this is new in communication 1494 released May 2008.
In communication 1557 if there are any wobbles or flats after the change
of edge then a level feature may not be awarded for it and if the
following spiral (after the edge is re-established) is less than 3 seconds
then the entire spiral sequence may be called level 1 or worse still no
level. |
| If a change of edge spiral is attempted,
after the change of edge the spiral is
in a different position so this counts as the second position assuming the
spiral before the change of edge was the first spiral in the sequence.
If there is also a change of position in the spiral this must occur after
the change of edge. Pulling your leg up into a catch hold or Beilman from the classic (leg behind), position is not a change of
position. |
| There are heaps of other spiral rules in
communication 1445, 1459, 1494 and 1557, read them. |
|
