Activities Sports & Athletics How to Do a Spread Eagle on Figure Skates Share PINTEREST Email Print Sports & Athletics Skating Lessons Basics History Gear Famous Skaters Inline Skating Baseball Basketball Bicycling Billiards Bodybuilding Bowling Boxing Car Racing Cheerleading Cricket Extreme Sports Football Golf Gymnastics Ice Hockey Martial Arts Professional Wrestling Skateboarding Paintball Soccer Swimming & Diving Table Tennis Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Other Activities Learn More by Jo Ann Schneider Farris Jo Ann Schneider Farris was a silver medalist in junior ice dancing at the 1975 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships and is the author of two books on skating Updated March 17, 2017 01 of 07 Stretch Out at the Rail Step One - Stretch Out at the Rail. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris A spread eagle is a figure skating move where a skater glides on two feet with the toes pointing in opposite directions. The legs are completely straight and spread apart. This step-by-step tutorial gives directions on how to do a spread eagle. Step One - Stretch Out at the Rail While holding onto the rail put the inside of your skates right at the edge of the rail. Straighten both legs.Push your hips completely forward.Hold this open position for at least 20 seconds. 02 of 07 Do a Spread Eagle at the Rail Step Two - Do a Spread Eagle at the Rail. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Move your feet about 10 inches away from the boards and shoot each blade out on outside edges. The feet should point in opposite directions, and the heels of each blade should be in line with each other. 03 of 07 Move the Spread Eagle at the Rail Step Three - Move the Spread Eagle at the Rail. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Use the rail to move yourself sideways in one direction and then in the other direction. Maintain the spread eagle position for as long as possible.Tuck in your rear end. 04 of 07 Glide on One Foot Step Four - Glide on One Foot. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Leave the rail and glide forward on one foot with the free foot extended in front. 05 of 07 Attempt a Spread Eagle Step Five - Attempt a Spread Eagle. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Next, open up your legs and attempt to do a spread eagle. Try to tuck in your rear end and don't look down. 06 of 07 Practice Spread Eagles Step Six - Practice Spread Eagles. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Practice makes perfect! Most ice skaters can't do spread eagles right away, so practicing spread as much as possible will help skaters master spread eagles. Practice spread eagles even if you believe you can't do them! 07 of 07 Have Fun With Spread Eagles Step Seven - Have Fun With Spread Eagles. Copyright © JO ANN Schneider Farris Once you get good at spread eagles, take the time to have fun with them and do variations. Try spread eagles with bent or straight knees.Try spread eagles on inside or outside edges.Use various arm positions while doing spread eagles.Combine jumps, spirals, or other connecting moves with spread eagles. Continue Reading