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Death Drop

By , About.com Guide

Ryan Jahnke Does a Death Drop

Ryan Jahnke Does a Death Drop

Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License - Photo by Vesperholly
Definition: A death drop is a figure skating move that is a cross between a jump and a spin, but is really considered a flying spin. The skater first jumps up like an Axel and then kicks the take off leg backwards. Then, the skater lands in a back sit spin position and does a back sit spin.

Also Known As: Flying Open Axel Sit Spin
Examples:
The difference between a death drop and a regular flying sit spin is the position of the skater in the air. Also, a skater takes off from one foot and lands on the other. In the death drop, the position is horizontal to the ice and the skater's body faces towards the ice for a short second. In a regular flying sit spin, the skater just does a traditional sit spin position in the air and lands on the take off foot. The positions in the air and the spins are really very different.

1988 Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Brian Boitano, did a spectacular death drop.

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