Back to the spirals—backward. Do four or five strong cross­overs in a counterclockwise direction and hold the push onto the ROB edge. After a few counts in this plain stroke position, move the free leg, foot, arm, and shoulder backward in a close passing movement, at the same time moving your skating arm and shoulder forward and turning the head outside the circle over the free shoulder. Your hips, which started straight across the line of the skate (with strong forward pressure on the whole free side) should remain in this same position, even though every other part of the body changes. To do this, tighten the buttocks muscles as you move your free leg back and feel as though your free foot, extended and turned out, is pointing toward the outside of the circle behind you. If you curl this free foot back in toward the center of the circle, you will find yourself going into a skid. Be sure to keep your weight on your skating shoulder throughout, with a definite lowering after you have changed into the second position. Raising your skating shoulder and leaning the upper body out of the circle will have the same ill effect of producing an uncontrolled inward spiraling or sideways skid.

Turn and practice this the other way on the LOB (Illus. 15) until you can do both spirals with real speed and lean. If you are young and hope to be a good jumper, this is most important for you, for a majority of jumps land on the OB edge in second po­sition.

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