Cantilever

figure skating

A cantilever is a figure skating move. It is considered a field move because it is not a jump, a spin, or a spiral.

Shawn Sawyer performs a cantilever.

A cantilever is performed by a skater traveling on a deep lean across the ice, either in a spread eagle or a Besti squat position. The skater then bends backwards, so their back is parallel to the ice, while remaining on the deep lean. The hands can be draped across the ice or not. This is a very dramatic move on the ice.

The move was invented by Werner Groebli, better known as "Mr. Frick", a long-time show skater with the Ice Follies. It was brought back and popularized by Ilia Klimkin of Russia, who performed it a lot in competition over many years.

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