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Physics

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    $\begingroup$ It's worth noting that you can't analyse the physics of combination (flip and twist) dives correctly without taking account of how the diver changes their whole inertial tensor, so you may be running into trouble from trying to use too simple a model of the body. See, for instance, C. Frohlich, Am. J. Phys. 47, 7. The result is that the question might be quite involved. (That reference can be found in the AAPT publication "Selected Reprints: Physics of Sports" which is fun to have on the shelf.) $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 20:13
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    $\begingroup$ The skater is skating a curve (so body at an angle then straightens), kicks a leg and arms out, then brings the leg and arms in to increase the rate of rotation. SEe video youtube.com/watch?v=Kk6pV0SzlMY at about 2:10 $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 20:27
  • $\begingroup$ DIY? umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/hlhpri/media/… $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 20:46
  • $\begingroup$ I won't answer as a physicist because as @dmckee says it's probably highly involved but I'll answer as a skater and say that a torque doesn't feel like a mystery at all to me: I positively can't begin a spin without the toe pick and have a definite, strong physical sensation of an off-center force. It's almost as though "spin" and "dig in toe" (metaphorically speaking, you don't actually need much dig at all) feel like the same command from my brain. I'm certainly not the most accomplished at this manoeuvre because it's certainly not my favorite thing to do: I can't spot well .... $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 23:17
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    $\begingroup$ ... and thus end up feeling really ill after any spin, particularly now I'm 54, but I really don't think there is any other way you can get the torque needed. On second thoughts, a sideways skid is very effective for stopping and something that I do feel very comfortable with and I think its very like beginning a spin, other than being alot more forceful. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 23:17