Toe Loop Jump

The Toe loop jump is taken off from the backward outside edge of the skating foot and from the toe of the free foot, with one revolution (360) and landed on the backward outside edge of the take-off foot. The Toe loop jump is taken off from the right backward outside edge. The run-in of the Toe loop can be made by simple cross over forward right followed by a step to right backward take-off edge, about 10 feet length we extend the free leg backwards and keep the left arm and shoulder  forward, the right arm backward. Immediately before the take-off on the Toe loop jump we change the position of  the arms so that at the moment of push-off, the arms and shoulders are in position for the Toe Loop jump.

Before the push-off on the Toe Loop jump, the skating leg bends strongly at the knee (without leaning forward with the body). At the push-off, the free leg hits the ice with the toe at the place of the intended tracing, slightly outside and rather with the inside part of the toe point, the leg stiffened at the knee. At the same time the Toe loop jump tracing leg makes a strong push-off by straightening at the knee and after leaving the ice swings in the direction of the flight, slightly outside of the circle. After performing the Toe loop jump with one revolution in the air we land on the right backward outside edge. At the landing of the Toe Loop jump the free leg is held sideways, bent slightly at the knee. On the landing curve the Toe Loop jump extends outside the tracing helping to check the rotation together with the arm which are held in a open position.

The toe loop jump is one of the easiest jumps in figure skating.

The Toe Loop jump is written by Karin Doherty, World and Olympic figure skating coach.

Waltz Jump

The Waltz Jump belongs to the group of easiest jumps in figure skating, but it has all features necessary for a powerful jump. The Waltz jump is taken- off from the forward outside edge, with one half revolution (180) and landed on the backward outside edge of the other foot. If we call the Axel jump as the king of the jumps in figure skating, then we must call the Waltz jump as the crown prince of the jumps. The take-off phase must be executed with a powerful swing of the arms and of off the free leg. To perform even an easy Waltz jump as a really powerful jump, a good physical efficiency of the skater with strong take-off power is essential.

For the run-in steps we can use crossing over steps backward outside to the right in normal carriage, right arm and shoulder backward. In the right backward outside run-in edge, we turn the arm and shoulder and bring the free leg backward close to the skating foot, the strike curve must follow the main direction of the Waltz jump. From a strongly bent tracing knee there follows a later phase of the Waltz jump. All those movements must be so timed and co- ordinate as to be all concluded at the same moment. During the flight the skater executes half a revolution (180), less the angles of deviation of the take-off and landing curve from the min direction of travel.

The landing of a Waltz jump you be made softly on a well bend knee, rocking down softly over the toe on to the front part of the skate, with arms in an open position and free leg extended backward, slightly outside , thus  helping to check the rotation. The landing curve should have the same radius as the main curve.

The Waltz jump is written by Karin Doherty, World and Olympic figure skating coach.

 

Axel jump in figure skating

Axel jump in figure skating

The Axel jump in figure skating is a very difficult jump and actually has an additional half turn more compare to all other jumps in figure skating.

The take-off for the Axel jump in figure skating is from the forward outside edge of the skating foot with one and a half revolution (540°) landed on the backward outside edge of the free foot.

We can declare that the first performance of this Axel jump by Mr. Axel Paulsen on speed skating blades represented a revolution in the conception of the figure skating of this time. At this time only jumps with one revolution (360°) were performed. As times change other jumps with more revolutions-double, triple and now quads are in a figure skating competitors repertoire. Only time will tell us where the human limits are, will it be possible to have a jump in figure skating that has 5 revolutions? We shall see.

Nevertheless, it is the simple Axel jump in figure skating which remains the king of the jumps because of its power and speed.

How to perform the Axel jump by Karin Doherty.

Describing the Axel jump take-off on the left foot. There are several run-ins, we shall describe the simplest run-in the backward outside. By means of crossover backward to the right gather sufficient speed and stay on the right backward outside edge with the left arm and shoulder backward, right forward, the free leg extended backward. Then we strike the left forward take-off curve in the main direction of travel. During the take-off for the Axel jump the take-off curve we increase the bend of the knee and bring the arms as far backward as possible in the open position, also the free leg is held backward and slightly lifted.

This position of the arms and the free leg before the take-off for the Axel jump is very important as it permits full swing of the arms and of the free leg along the longest possible path thus using them to the most for assisting the take-off, it should not be longer than 3 to 6 feet depending on the speed. The push off for the Axel jump is so timed that all the movement, the swing of the arms and of the free leg upwards and straightening of the skating leg at the knee are concluded at the same time. The landing of the Axel jump is performed on the right backward outside edge. The landing leg bends strongly at the knee and the free leg is extended backward. During the Axel jump the head must be erect.

The Axel jump in figure skating takes about one year or more to practice before finally successfully landing it. At the beginners level of the single Axel I do recommend of skating with the MK Professional skating blade.