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Tips on my sit spin????

I can't seem to do this spin right. I don't go down very low but that's not exactly the problem. The problem is that my legs aren't together and when I try to push the together they don't go anywhere. Also my back doesn't arch when I go down. My speed needs to be greater but I don't know how except going faster on the entry. I would like to go lower but it isn't crusial. I haven't been working in this for very long (3 or 4 weeks) so i have a lot of time to improve. Any tips. I really want this spin to be my best spin

Don't worry about going low at first. That will come later after you have control of the spin. Believe me, *learning* a sit spin is frustrating, but once you learn it (for me, anyways) it's something that you'll keep really easy - and be able to play around with (ex. arm and leg positions) - from then on.

Okay. So imagine you're entering your spin. When you step onto a LFO edge (assuming you're a rightie..?), don't rush it, which was often my issue; take your time. This will actually help you control the spin and gain speed. Trying to throw yourself into it won't get you rotating. And actually, a shorter entrance does *not* make your spin go faster.

Your arms and free leg should work like a puppet; they're attached by strings. Bring your right arm and free (right) leg around at the same time. Notice I said *around*; your leg should be making a half circle. If you cut it off, you will have less power and therefore, possibly less control over the spin in general. While you shouldn't rush, you should get your legs closed right away; I know exactly what you mean when you say that they "don't go together". This means that you've waited too long or have otherwise messed up the beginning of your spin. However impossible it feels to get your legs together - just put your knees together, not you're shins, that's not a proper sit spin - that's actually the key to the sit spin. You won't rotate otherwise. This is why, if you watch other skaters beginning on their sit spin, they just plop over; there's no way to balance yourself with your leg sticking out like that, so plop!

As for your position in the spin... you should reach forward somewhat, but don't "dive" forward (ex. arching your shoulders too far). That will also unbalance you. Try to sit up with a tiny bit of lean, but right now, you aren't working on a pancake or anything (which is different; you'll get to this later on). You don't want to drop your chest; I'm sure you've heard your coach use the term before. That's exactly what will throw your weight around.

And, on that note, believe it or not, I've noticed that the lower you sit, the better your balance in the spin becomes. Like I said, don't worry about it at first, but gradually start getting lower and lower. To count as a sit spin, your legs need to technically be perpendicular (with your thich parallel to the ice) at a 90 degree angle. If you can sit lower than this, great! But 90 degrees is all that's really necessary.

EDIT

Just to comment on European Chick's last paragraph, there, I've seen both (I live in the States) but more of the knee bend. I've only seen a few people (all girls, no boys) try the one foot spin into sit spin, and it seemed pretty new to them; they learned it the knee-bend way first, the one-foot to sit second. I personally learned with the knee bend (with a bit of coming up as you bring your leg around), though I *am* curious as to this other method..?

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