The Document formerly known as "Skating Jumps for Dummies"
Last updated on February 27, 2006 by Julie Bixby
I wrote this guide because I, a non-skater, was tired of not being able to identify which jump the skaters were doing without the TV commentators' help. The skaters put a lot of time and effort into being able to perform these athletic feats, and to most lay people (non-skaters) the jumps all look alike (although hopefully, if they've been watching long enough, they can at least identify an Axel ). When skaters explain jumps, they use terms such as CCW and LBO, technical terms that do nothing to improve the non-skater's ability to recognize a jump. Fortunately, help has arrived-- me! :-)
I'm a "layperson" too, which means I use a minimum of jargon (OK, I had to use CCW--but it's for a very important reason!) and rely more on description of what it *looks* like the person is doing, because that's all the non-skater has to go on-- what the jump *looks* like from the couch/arena seat. I've also included some examples of skaters whom I think (IMHO) do something particularly well or best exemplify what I'm talking about. If you truly want the technical description, you need to pack your bags now and hightail it to http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/faq/technical.shtml ).
First some fundamentals about jumps in general, then a recognition guide to each particular jump. (HINT: Since I *do* use the term CCW in this guide, read the next paragraph to find out what it means-- otherwise, proceed at your own risk! :-)
In order to understand jumps, you have to realize that there are three (3) parts to each jump. There is the preparation/take-off, then the rotation of the jump itself, and of course the landing. The preparation/take-off is what distinguishes each jump from each other and is discussed in much greater detail below in the jump recognition guide. The rotation is the skater actually spinning in the air, which may be clockwise (turn to the right) or counterclockwise (turn to the left). Most skaters are the latter, abbreviated CCW. A select few--such as Sarah Hughes, Todd Eldridge, and Johnny Weir--are clockwise (CW) skaters (sort of like being right vs. left handed). Incidentally, whichever way a skater rotates in a jump is also the way they rotate in their spins. But I digress...
To be a valid jump, it must be landed on one foot, cleanly. CCW skaters land jumps on the right foot; CW skaters, on the left. A clean landing means that the skater has landed on balance, going backwards, and is in control of the situation. Points can be added or subtracted from the base value of a jump depending upon how well or how poorly it was performed. Clearly there will be a deduction for such things as a two-footed landing or a hand down on the ice. Skaters might also "pop" a jump--Scott Hamilton refers to this as "Nope, it ain't gonna happen." Popping a jump means the skater opens up and does not complete the number of rotations they had planned on doing. It's obvious that the skater *meant* to do a triple (or double), but in the air things don't go right and so the skater lands the jump early, usually completing just a single. They get points for the lesser jump, but naturally not nearly as much as had they successfully done the more difficult one. Obviously, falling down on the landing is the worst ending for a jump and in the new scoring system results in a 1 point deduction for the fall.
A jump “cheat”: a cheated jump is when the skater completes the intended revolutions, but part of that revolution is done while the skate is on the ice, not while the skater is in the air. The skater lands and completes the rotation during landing. If ¾ of the turn was completed in the air, the skater gets credit for the jump. If less than ¾ was completed (meaning more than ¼ was completed on the ice), the skater does not get credit.
“Leg wrap”: the vast majority of the time skaters cross their legs at the ankles during a jump. It is when the legs are crossed higher than the ankles, thereby leaving one leg to stick out, that is called a “leg wrap”. It is obviously less aerodynamic than crossing at the ankles.
You may wonder why I have capitalized some jump names but not others. That's because the Axel, Lutz, and Salchow are named after people: Axel Paulsen, Alois Lutz, and Ulrich Salchow. The Axel used to be called the "Axel Paulsen," which was obviously shortened at some point. The toe loop, flip, and loop are named after their technique and are not capitalized.
Another important item to know about jumps is the so-called "Zayak Rule," named for American skater Elaine Zayak, who was 1982 World Champion. She became known for landing many triple jumps in her long program-- problem was, it was the *same* triple--the toe loop--done several times over. This was too repetitious, the skating world felt, and gave the program a lack of balance (just take a look at many of today's exhibition programs, which are populated mostly with triple toe loops and double Axels). So a rule was formed that basically says the skater can only perform each jump as a triple (or quad) once, and if they want to repeat it, it must be done in combination. This is why in men's eligible/amateur long programs (free skate) you regularly see the men doing a triple Axel/ triple toe loop combination near the beginning of the program, then a stand-alone triple Axel elsewhere a little later (or a quad/triple early on, then a stand-alone quad shortly thereafter). If the men do each triple once, plus a triple/triple, that makes 8 triples. As the ladies do not do the triple Axel normally, nor do triple/triple regularly, they usually do no more than 6 or 7 triples per free skate (each jump once sans the Axel, plus 1 or 2 in combination).
Some other items of interest before we get to the recognition guide: A jump *combination* is two jumps linked immediately in succession without a change of edge or change of skating foot. A two-jump combination is a required element of the amateur/eligible singles short program. For example, the ladies regularly do "triple Lutz/ double toe loop" for their combo-- it's two jumps in immediate succession (back-to-back). The top men perform "triple Axel/ triple toe loop," or sometimes "quadruple toe loop/ triple toe loop." However, a combination can consist of more than just two jumps, such as “single Axel/ single loop/ half loop/double Salchow.” Under the new scoring system, both ladies and men are allowed to perform one 3-jump combination (i.e., quad-triple-double or triple-triple-double) in their free (long) program. A pairs throw is an assisted jump for the lady. Jumps are illegal in ice dancing.
Whereas a jump *series* is a succession of jumps that are linked in a row *with* changes of edge or foot. A standard example of a jump series is a jump combination gone bad--the first jump is landed shakily, and before the skater can take-off for the second jump, they make a turn on the ice. By turning on the ice, they've changed edges, and so do not get full credit for a combination. Paris skaters sometimes perform a series such as “double Axel, couple of steps, double toe loop” in their (long) free skate.
Finally, you may have heard from the ABC commentators that jumps are worth 10% more in point value if they are performed after the halfway mark of a skater’s (long) free program. This applies to pairs as well as singles. No doubt this is to encourage a “well-balanced” program, scattering jumps throughout rather than just the first 2 or 2.5 mintues.
And now, the moment you've been waiting for...
The Axel is the easiest jump for the skating fan to recognize, because it is the only jump with a forward take-off. What's a forward take-off? Well, you may have noticed that skaters spend much of their time gliding backwards into jumps, and they land gliding backwards. But with the Axel, the skater must step nearly 180 degrees around to face a forward line of direction to launch themself into the jump. Because they still must land gliding backwards, Axel jumps are really 1.5 rotations for a "single," 2.5 for a double, and 3.5 for a triple. This extra half rotation is what makes the triple Axel so difficult and exciting to watch. All of the top male eligible/amateur skaters do triple Axels in both their short and long programs. Men and women eligible/ amateurs are required to do a double Axel in their short program (the men may make it a triple if they wish). To my knowledge, Tara Lipinski never performed a double Axel as a professional skater (her technique was criticized while an amateur). Only five women have ever completed a triple Axel in competition: the first was 1989 World Champion Midori Ito of Japan; the most recent was Kimmie Meissner at the 2005 U.S. Championships. The first throw triple Axel ever completed in competition was done by Rena Inoue and John Baldwin at the 2006 U.S. Championships.
NOTE: ABC commentator Dick Button usually describes this jump as taking off from the "always dangerous" forward edge; he should know--he was the first skater to land a double Axel in competition.
The toe loop is usually the easiest multi-rotation jump for skaters to perform--as such, it is the jump performed most often in routines (aside from a double Axel). It's also the easiest jump to explain: whichever foot the skater uses to toe-pick with is the direction they turn--i.e., if they toe pick with the left foot, they turn left (counterclockwise). For clockwise skaters who turn right, they toe-pick with the right. (Toe-pick = the rough part of the front of the skate blade--the toe picks into the ice like a pick axe. See also the movie "The Cutting Edge" for a demonstration).
Because they are relatively easy, toe loops are frequently done as the second jump of a jump combination, and top eligible/amateur pairs regularly include side-by-side triple toe loops. The male skaters--notably Evgeny Plushenko--perform quadruple toe loops ("quads") in their (long) free programs. Curiously, although they are fairly easy, toe loops are not that often does as a pairs throw.
There is also a jump called the toe walley. I found out about this jump listening to Peter Caruthers do color commentary. Technically, a toe loop takes off from the outside edge of the skate; the toe walley, from the inside. To the layperson, they're indistinguishable. However, if you see a skater take a step right before their "toe loop" toe-pick it is *possible* you've just seen a toe walley. Since the two jumps are credited as being equal in the eyes of judges (worth the same points), you really don't need to worry about toe loop vs. toe walley. I only make mention of it because Peter Caruthers made me :-).
NOTE: the first “quad” ever performed in competition was a toe loop by Canadian Kurt Browning at the 1988 World Championships.
A flip is toe-picking with one foot but rotating in the opposite direction. For the CCW skaters, that means toe-picking with the *right* foot, but still turning left. Flips have gained popularity in ladies’ eligible/amateur short programs, due to the requirement of a solo jump being performed “out of connecting steps.” But like their toe-pick cousin the toe loop, flips are not regularly done as a pairs throw.
There can be confusion between a toe loop and flip--sometimes the skater will look like they're setting up the flip, but at the last second will switch feet and toe-pick for the toe loop. Most of the quad toe loops you see performed are done in this fashion. The skater skates forwards, does a 180-degree rotation to go backwards, then changes feet right before the toe-pick for the quad toe-loop. With a flip, there is no change of feet; it’s turn backwards and toe-pick.
NOTE: the flip is the jump that has probably caused the most grief at the
Olympics, stymieing Brian Orser in Calgary 1988, Kurt
Browning and Nancy Kerrigan in Lilihammar 1994, and
Michelle Kwan in Salt Lake City 2002.
Even Scott Hamilton “popped” it in
The most difficult toe-pick jump to perform is the Lutz. It’s very similar to the flip jump--toe-pick with one foot, rotate the opposite way--with one caveat: the skater tilts or leans the gliding boot onto an emphasized outside edge *immediately* before the other foot's toe-pick. This outward lean is what makes the Lutz more difficult than the flip (which is done on an inside edge). Michael Weiss is renown for having "textbook" technique on his Lutz jump, and 2004 World Champion Shizuka Arakawa does a great “true” Lutz.
The Lutz is not as easy to recognize as it has been in the past. Skaters now regularly do footwork into the Lutz jump, meaning there is seldom an extended glide going into it anymore, so the key is to look for that tilt of the gliding boot just before the toe-pick.
A hazard of attempting the Lutz is accomplishing a "flutz" instead. A flutz is a flubbed/fudged/flipped Lutz. That is, the skater prepares to Lutz on the outside edge, but in that split-second before take-off, the edge regains its upward stance, leaning inside, and thus what is really accomplished is a flip jump instead. Female skaters tend to be more prone to this flaw than the men--particularly now that school figures are no longer required. Watch Sasha Cohen closely--she regularly flutzes.
NOTE: a “’Tano Lutz” is a triple Lutz with an arm over the head, a trademark skill of Brian Boitano. The overhead arm makes the jump harder than normal due to the aerodynamics.
Next to the Axel, the loop is probably the easiest jump for laypersons to identify because of the way it happens. Unlike the toe loop, flip, and Lutz, the loop jump (and the Salchow below) does *not* have a toe-pick assist. And although it's easy to confuse the names of toe loop and loop, you probably won't confuse the jumps themselves, because the take-offs are so dissimilar. With the toe loop, it's toe-pick and rotate. With the loop, it's cross one leg over the other and rotate--big difference :-). CCW skaters cross their left leg in front; CW skaters, their right. Yuka Sato has a great triple loop, and some skaters, such as Irina Sluteskya, often perform a double loop as the second half of their jump combination instead of the ubiquitous double toe loop. Tara Lipinski included a triple loop/triple loop combination in her Olympic long program. Sarah Hughes performed triple Salchow/triple loop and triple toe loop/triple loop in her Olympic long program. Loops are regularly done as a pairs throw—most notably by the Chinese champions Xueue Shen and Hungbo Xao.
A jump related to the loop is the half loop. The name is somewhat of a misnomer, because the jump is a full 360-degree rotation. However, what separates it from the standard loop jump is that it is landed on the "wrong" foot; i.e., whereas a CCW skater lands a loop on their right foot, they would land a half loop on their left foot. The reason a skater would want to land on the "wrong" or opposite foot would be to set up the take-off of the next jump. Evgeny Plushenko performed a triple Axel/half loop/triple flip in his 2002 Olympic free skate. As a CCW skater, his Axel is landed on the right foot. But he needs the right foot free to toe-pick for the flip, so, to switch feet, a half loop jump is done to land on his left foot. However, because a half loop is landed on the "wrong" foot, you will not see it performed as a stand-alone jump (unless, of course, someone flubs doing a proper loop and lands unintentionally on the wrong foot).
I've saved the description of the Salchow for last because often I can only identify a Salchow by ruling out all of the other jumps first--if it wasn't an Axel, toe-pick jump or cross-the-leg loop, then it must be a Salchow. A Salchow is an edge jump like the loop, but sometimes the take-off is so subtle--particularly with Brian Boitano and Todd Eldridge--that the skater is suddenly airborne and you're left wondering how they got there. However, with some skaters it's easier to tell that they've done a little "brushing" or "scooping" motion with their leg, which clues you in to this jump's take-off. Look for a right leg "scoop" for the CCW jumpers, left leg for the CW crowd.
There's an interesting anecdote about this jump. Salchows are commonly done in a pairs throw. When Kristi Yamaguchi gave up pairs skating to skate singles, the jump that gave her the most trouble as a solo skater was the Salchow. In fact, Kristi gave up doing them entirely in her professional career, even though it's considered a relatively easy jump. Fan speculation is that Kristi couldn't adapt to doing the jump without the throw assist. Only Kristi knows for sure.
NOTE: Tim Goebel landed the first quadruple Salchow in a competition in 1998 (making him the first American to land a quad of any type). The first quad ever performed by a woman in competition was a quad Salchow done by Miki Ando of Japan at the 2002 Junior Grand Prix Final.
Well, that wraps it up. Feedback is welcome at julie@bixby.org. Happy viewing!