Call it a novelty, a gimmick, but I’ve always been fascinated by the old school freestylers who had mastered the 360 spin. Russ Howell currently holds the world record at 163 360s.
In that context it seems almost asinine that I found it remarkable to pull off 3 spins last night, breaking my previous record of 2. I found that I had to counterintuitively think about moving my upper body before my lower body, otherwise keeping my back aligned and untwisted. The untwisted part seems important to maintain momentum without losing the center.
Motivated by that little step forward, I decided to search online for more tips. I discovered that the champ himself has written extensive instructions on spinning 360s. Here are a few of his many insights:
- feet should be wide apart for balance and power
- don’t bend or twist at the waist
- outstretch your arms, then bring them in
- your arms control your body lean
If the rain lets up today I’ll go out and try again. In the meantime, here’s some video of Russ, in 60s, skating:
