In the spread eagle you glide on both feet with the blades turned outward along one curve. Build it in five steps – with hip work and clear milestones.
The spread eagle (German "Mond") is a glide on both feet with the blades turned outward and the heels pointing toward each other. According to Skate Canada it is "a curving, two-footed movement in which the skater skates with one foot on a forward edge and the other on a matching backward edge on the same curve" [1]. The honest answer: it is not a strength element but a hip element – how far you can open the hips decides whether you can glide it at all.
In competition it is a free movement: it may appear inside a step sequence without hurting the distribution of steps [2]. In the choreographic sequence it counts among the possible movements next to spirals and Ina Bauers [2].
Realistically it takes adults several months of mobility training for a clean spread eagle, depending on starting values (experience, not study data). The hip cannot be forced.
Sit on the floor, soles together (butterfly position), and let the knees sink loosely. The hip opens only when it is warm – never bounce or push.
Milestone: the knees sink loosely toward the floor without groin pain.
Stand in a V position, heels together, toes outward. Keep the knees over the feet. If the knees fall inward, the position is still too deep.
Milestone: 10 seconds without knee pain.
Glide on a gentle curve, one foot turned slightly outward, the other following on the matching backward edge. "Half spread eagle" is only a practice name here, not an official term. You learn the edge before opening fully.
To do this, first glide on the outside edge that is familiar to you and shift the weight evenly onto both blades. If one blade breaks away, the curve is too tight or the hip too far open. Then go back to step 2 (practice, not study data).
Milestone: 3 seconds calm.
Open both blades along one common curve, heels pointing toward each other. The Skate Canada definition requires a forward edge on one foot and a matching backward edge on the other [1]. Keep the torso upright, eyes in the glide direction.
The gaze goes in the glide direction, not at the feet. The arms stay spread to the sides, the shoulders loose. If the hip pulls uncomfortably, open less – a half-open calm spread eagle is better than a full one with pain (practice, not study data).
Milestone: 2 seconds of gliding.
Hold the spread eagle over a whole curve. A calm, long curve matters more than speed (practice, not study data).
Milestone: 3 spread eagles in each direction.
The spread eagle loads groin, hip and knees. A review names back and lower limb as the most common injury sites in figure skating and extreme ranges of motion in spine and hip as possible contributors [3]. Another review advises specifically training leg flexibility to prevent back and leg injuries [4].
Never open the hip by force, warm up beforehand and stop if the groin or knees stab. This guide explains and motivates but does not replace supervised training – a coach sees how far your hip really opens.
Combine hip stretching and balance on land: stand in a heel-to-heel position at a wall and go lower in small steps. When that works calmly, you know the position for the ice. And practice the spread eagle one-sided as a half spread eagle first (practice experience, not study data). Film yourself from the front: that shows whether both knees point outward evenly or one side lags behind.
A glide on both feet with the blades turned outward: one foot runs on a forward edge, the other on a matching backward edge on the same curve [1].
As a free movement it may appear inside a step sequence [2]. In the choreographic sequence it counts among the possible movements next to spirals and Ina Bauers [2].
Yes, especially in outward hip rotation. A review names leg flexibility as prevention against common injuries [4]. Build it slowly and regularly.
For adults often several months (experience, not study data). It depends on hip mobility. A coach recognizes how far you can go.
A secure arc and a mohawk are the prerequisite. The Learn to Skate USA curriculum introduces the mohawk from a standstill only in Basic 6 [5] – before you try the spread eagle you should master that level.
Learn the Step Sequence: Turns and Steps Across the Whole Ice Surface