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ProfessorGAC

(76,706 posts)

3. They Call It Spotting

Reply to rurallib (Original post)

Mon Feb 9, 2026, 05:53 PM

Feb 9

If you notice, as they spin their head stays still as long as possible, focusing their eyes on one stationary spot, then they move the head faster to catch up, but for a shorter time.
They don't get disoriented by a constantly moving background and the quick stop after they turned the head allows inertia to get the blood back where it belongs.
Ballet dancers have been doing this for a century or more.
Also, people who can't do that, or those for whom it doesn't work, get dizzy and their performance never achieves their potential. We never see those folks on TV.

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Highlight:

OK - how do the figure skaters do all those spins without barfing? [View all] rurallib Feb 9 OP

I understand your question. bucolic_frolic Feb 9 #1

Good question, I almost barf while watching the spins...they still look cool... wcmagumba Feb 9 #2

That is about what happened. I watched this woman and thought rurallib Feb 9 #4

They Call It Spotting ProfessorGAC Feb 9 #3

Thanks! Gawd that must take a lot of training to do that. rurallib Feb 9 #5

Some people are just naturally resistant to the spin EYESORE 9001 Feb 9 #6

I was wondering if there were people who were kind of immune from the spin response rurallib Feb 9 #7

Are you familiar with the Rock-O-Plane? EYESORE 9001 Feb 9 #8

that was one that would make me barf just looking at it rurallib Feb 9 #9

I guess me & good ol' Ralphie Wiggums got something in common EYESORE 9001 Feb 10 #12

This one time? on the Rock-O-Plane? EYESORE 9001 Feb 10 #13

I got stuck in one of those. johnnyfins Feb 9 #10

Plus, the scariness like for the gymnasts losing bearings in flips. UTUSN Feb 10 #11