Jumps
Figure skating jumps are a major element of competitive figure skating. Different jumps are identified by the take-off edge and the number of revolutions completed. There are six kinds of jumps currently counted
as jump elements in International Skating Union (ISU) regulations. There are also a number of other jumps which are usually performed only as single jumps or are used as transitional movements or highlights in step sequences.
Salchow
The salchow is an edge jump which starts with the skater going fowards and stepping into a mohawk to a right back outside edge. Without pausing, the skater continues the momentum established by the mohawk by stepping onto a shallow left forward outside edge. The right shoulder should be firmly back and the left shoulder in front during and after the step. There should be a strong check following a three turn onto a left back inside edge.
The right shoulder should stay firmly back during and after the three turn. The skater brings the free leg
around, up, and through in a scooping motion from the back inside edge to lift the jump into the air. By the time the blade leaves the ice the skater is actually facing forwards. Some skaters like to substitute a mohawk for the three turn, although it is recommended a beginner use the three turn approach.
Toe Loop
The toe loop begins with a skater moving forwards with both feet on the ice and apart. The skater does a right forward inside three turn with a check at the end of it. The skater reaches back with the left free leg and jabs the toe pick into the ice, thus pole vaulting off the toe pick and into the air.
Loop Jump
The loop starts with both feet on the ice about a foot apart on a right back outside and left back inside edge. The weight is squarely over the right hip. The skater begins the jump by bending the knees and falling onto a deep right back outside edge. The left leg drifts across the right as the edge deepens. As the edge is about to turn into a three turn the skater jumps off the right leg straight up into the air. It should feel like you're popping straight up.
Flip
The flip jump starts on a left forward inside edge with the right leg off the ice and in front of the body. The left shoulder is in front and the right shoulder is in back. The skater pushes forwards off the right toe. As the left foot passes the right foot it switches from an inside edge to an outside edge. The motion is like a skate boarder standing on his
skate board with his left leg and pushing forwards with the right leg. The skater uses the momentum from the toe pick push to do a left forward outside three turn to a left back inside edge. The skater reaches back with the right
leg and jabs the toe pick into the ice, thus pole vaulting into the air.
Lutz
The lutz jump is similar to the flip jump in that it is a toe jump which takes off from the left foot. The difference is in the
setup and the take off edge. The jumps starts with a long glide on a very shallow left back outside edge. The skater reaches back with the right leg with the left shoulder across and the right shoulder back. The skater jabs the toe
pick into the ice and pole vaults into the air. In theory the take off happened on a left back outside edge as opposed to the inside edge the flip takes off from.
Axel
The axel is the only major jump where the skater takes off while going forwards. The setup begins by gliding on a right back outside edge. The skater steps onto a left forward outside edge kicking the right leg up and through lifting into the air. Up to this point the axel is identical to the waltz jump. After leaving the ground the skater pulls the arms and legs in which forces the jump to rotate a little less than one turn. The jump itself is one and a half rotations. The first half
rotation should take place while the skater is in an open position.
Combinations
Combinations are defined as two or more jumps in which the take-off edge of the second (or third) jump is the same as the landing edge of the first jump.
Sequences
Jumps that are not directly linked from landing to take-off edge are considered sequences.
Spins
Are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single
point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates
on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball
of the foot. There are many types of spins, identified by the position of
the arms, legs, and torso, the foot on which the spin is performed, and the
entrance to the spin. A combination spin is a spin with a change of
position or foot. Spins are a required element in most figure skating
competitions.
Figure skating jumps are a major element of competitive figure skating. Different jumps are identified by the take-off edge and the number of revolutions completed. There are six kinds of jumps currently counted
as jump elements in International Skating Union (ISU) regulations. There are also a number of other jumps which are usually performed only as single jumps or are used as transitional movements or highlights in step sequences.
Salchow
The salchow is an edge jump which starts with the skater going fowards and stepping into a mohawk to a right back outside edge. Without pausing, the skater continues the momentum established by the mohawk by stepping onto a shallow left forward outside edge. The right shoulder should be firmly back and the left shoulder in front during and after the step. There should be a strong check following a three turn onto a left back inside edge.
The right shoulder should stay firmly back during and after the three turn. The skater brings the free leg
around, up, and through in a scooping motion from the back inside edge to lift the jump into the air. By the time the blade leaves the ice the skater is actually facing forwards. Some skaters like to substitute a mohawk for the three turn, although it is recommended a beginner use the three turn approach.
Toe Loop
The toe loop begins with a skater moving forwards with both feet on the ice and apart. The skater does a right forward inside three turn with a check at the end of it. The skater reaches back with the left free leg and jabs the toe pick into the ice, thus pole vaulting off the toe pick and into the air.
Loop Jump
The loop starts with both feet on the ice about a foot apart on a right back outside and left back inside edge. The weight is squarely over the right hip. The skater begins the jump by bending the knees and falling onto a deep right back outside edge. The left leg drifts across the right as the edge deepens. As the edge is about to turn into a three turn the skater jumps off the right leg straight up into the air. It should feel like you're popping straight up.
Flip
The flip jump starts on a left forward inside edge with the right leg off the ice and in front of the body. The left shoulder is in front and the right shoulder is in back. The skater pushes forwards off the right toe. As the left foot passes the right foot it switches from an inside edge to an outside edge. The motion is like a skate boarder standing on his
skate board with his left leg and pushing forwards with the right leg. The skater uses the momentum from the toe pick push to do a left forward outside three turn to a left back inside edge. The skater reaches back with the right
leg and jabs the toe pick into the ice, thus pole vaulting into the air.
Lutz
The lutz jump is similar to the flip jump in that it is a toe jump which takes off from the left foot. The difference is in the
setup and the take off edge. The jumps starts with a long glide on a very shallow left back outside edge. The skater reaches back with the right leg with the left shoulder across and the right shoulder back. The skater jabs the toe
pick into the ice and pole vaults into the air. In theory the take off happened on a left back outside edge as opposed to the inside edge the flip takes off from.
Axel
The axel is the only major jump where the skater takes off while going forwards. The setup begins by gliding on a right back outside edge. The skater steps onto a left forward outside edge kicking the right leg up and through lifting into the air. Up to this point the axel is identical to the waltz jump. After leaving the ground the skater pulls the arms and legs in which forces the jump to rotate a little less than one turn. The jump itself is one and a half rotations. The first half
rotation should take place while the skater is in an open position.
Combinations
Combinations are defined as two or more jumps in which the take-off edge of the second (or third) jump is the same as the landing edge of the first jump.
Sequences
Jumps that are not directly linked from landing to take-off edge are considered sequences.
Spins
Are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single
point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates
on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball
of the foot. There are many types of spins, identified by the position of
the arms, legs, and torso, the foot on which the spin is performed, and the
entrance to the spin. A combination spin is a spin with a change of
position or foot. Spins are a required element in most figure skating
competitions.