Get the Edge; How to execute a loop jump

Colleen Wolfe
Com 380
Dr. Bishop
February 1, 2005

Get the Edge

Growing up in the suburb of Horsham, Pennsylvania allowed me to be involved in many activities; softball, track, figure skating, karate, and even ballet. Of course these were not all pursued at the same time, but many overlapped each other giving me a broad knowledge of various sports and interests. Although each involvement has its own unique fundamentals, I find that figure skating has the most terms that are often confused with one another.

Between footwork, spins, and jumps, skating has a name for everything—which most of the time makes no sense to the average spectator. Flying camel spins, flip jumps, and illusions? Surprisingly all three of these maneuvers look nothing like they sound. But for now, for basics, we will discuss the loop jump and how it is correctly presented.

First off, there are two categories of jumps, toe jumps and edge jumps. Pretty self-explanatory, the toe jumps are those from which a skater takes off from the toepick (the jagged tip of the blade on a skate) and edge jumps are executed by jumping from the flat part of the blade. A figure skating blade has two edges, one on the inside and one on the outside, and a skater jumps from one of these two depending on which jump is being performed.

A loop jump is classified as an edge jump, an outside edge jump to be more specific. Many times skaters choose to use this jump as a combination jump. “Triple lutz double loop,” is an example of a combination jump and may heard while watching a skater perform. To complete this jump a skater must enter from a backward right outside edge; basically just skating backwards putting most of the body weight on the left side of the right foot while the left foot leads on an inside edge. The body must be straight, hips and shoulders lined up, and the left arm extended in front making a straight line with the right arm extending back. If the set up of a jump is accurate, then the jump will most likely be clean. Prior to takeoff, the skater must bend their knees and slightly twist their arms to the right before the right arm snaps in front to join the left as they are pulled close to the body. As the arms are pulled in, the skater simultaneously springs into the air, rotating to the left and crossing the left skate over the right (this allows for maximum rotation). When the skater touches down, the right foot should be the first and only foot to make contact with the ice. The right knee must be bent or a serious injury could occur, and the left foot uncrosses itself and extends directly backwards. A skater’s arms make a straight line stretching left to right, and this position is held for strong for about three seconds.

This may seem like too many steps to carry out in such little time, but it is really only three simple motions; the setup, takeoff, and landing. These three stages flow together making jumps look clean and simple. Maneuvers like the loop jump may come to a viewer as fairly uncomplicated, but in reality they take months and years of intense training. Not only must a competitive skater practice at least once everyday, but they need also to follow a nutrition program, take ballet classes, and strength train numerous times a week. The training is hard and rough on the body, but it is w