How do they do that?

I just finished watching the women's division, National Figure Skating Championship competition which determined who goes on to the Olympics.  Keep your eyes on a young lady named Grady. I always marvel at these graceful souls who can make twirls and spins look so effortless.  I know they have practiced for years and years.  I can't help wondering what the early years must have been like when a coach somewhere said "OK, now I want you to skate real fast, leap up into the air, spine around three times and land gracefully on one skate blade." Yeah, right.  I'm certainly glad I'm not a judge at this event because I still can't tell a triple lutz from a triple toe jump. I watch what looks like a perfect jump to me (she didn't fall down) and listen as the comentators say that it was a little too slow or she didn't do the full three spin rotation ot the last half spin was on the ice not in the air.  I'm glad they know what they're looking for.  The part that always amazes me the most is the spins.  How can a skater start spinning and speed up while squating down then standing up on one leg while lifting the other leg up over her head and holding it there with one or both hands. I'm sure that even in my most flexible youth I could never lift my leg up over my head like that while standing still on firm ground, let alone while spinning on ice.  Ah well, it's beautiful to watch and I will just enjoy it. Let the judges do the judging.