Figure Skating Jumps

Jumps are part of the routine of advanced ice skaters. These are evaluated by the take off and the number of rotations made in the air. There are two familiar types of figure skating jumps, and these are toe jumps and edge jumps. Edge jumps originate from the edge of the blade, while the toe jumps originate from the toe picks, and are actually edge jumps assisted by the toes of the opposite foot.

There are two edges for ice skate blades; the inside and the outside edge. Before you take off to do a jump, you will need to decide first whether you will use the right or the left foot, going forward or backward, and using the inside or the outside edge. Thus, one jump may be described as right forward inside, left forward outside, depending on how you plan to jump.

The correct positioning of the body prior to a jump has to be maintained, because any mistake in positioning makes a big difference with the jump, and the consequent landing. There is a greater chance for a fall or for a mistake while doing the jump when the starting position is not right.

Figure Skating Jumps

There are various jumps that can be done in figure skating. The first is the Bunny Hop Jump, which is the easiest to do because it is performed without rotating. To do this jump on the right foot, weight is first placed on the right foot, with the right arm to the side and the left arm in front of the skater. The skater then takes off using the left foot and finally lands on the right skate toe pick and the left foot.

The next jump is called Waltz Jump, and is one of the first jumps usually learned by beginning figure skaters. It takes off with a forward outside edge. The skater then does a half revolution jump, and lands on the opposite back outside edge. It is started by doing backward crossovers for impetus, stepping on the left foot, bending then extending both legs for the jump, lifting off from the left toe pick, doing a half revolution, and landing on the right back outside edge.

There is also a jump called Loop Jump, starting with a right back outside edge, doing one revolution, and ending also with a right back outside edge, in contrast with Waltz Jump, which lands on the opposite foot and does only a half revolution. While in the air, the arms are into the chest and the legs crossed in the Loop Jump. You can do a half loop, double, triple, or quadruple loop jumps, depending on your skills as a figure skater.

There are many other figure skating jumps available, such as the Toe Loop Jump, which is essentially a loop jump but with the assistance of the left toe to leap into the air, and the Walley Jump, which takes off from the right back inside edge, features one revolution in a counterclockwise manner, and lands on a right back outside edge of the same foot. Other jumps in figure skating include Toe Walley, Lutz, Salchow, Flip, and Axel Jump. Each of these jumps has the potential to injure, because jumps are intrinsically dangerous to perform. It is a figure skating technique that needs to be perfected and be taught by a professional figure skater. The skater is also required to wear protective gear when in training so as to avoid injury as much as possible.

Figure Skating Jumps
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Drew Mers is an advertising consultant to City Ice Pavilion, a rooftop ice skating rink in Long Island City, Queens, New York.

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Off-Ice Training For Figure Skaters - Why, What, When, and How?

Off-ice training is a much buzzed about topic in the world of figure skating. Many skaters do it, many coaches and trainers teach it, but do people really know how the details of how it should be done, and what it really is? A parent may see an ad for an off-ice class and sign up for it per recommendations of the skater's coach, yet does that parent really know what the skater is doing in that class? After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the proper forms of exercise, how often exercise should be done, who should instruct the exercise, and why off-ice training exercises are important.

WHY should a skater do exercises off-ice?
Figure skating is a sport that puts significant strength and flexibility demands on the body. Athletes in other sports may say that figure skating is not a 'sport', and it is more artistic performance, but they are quite wrong! Skaters are some of the strongest athletes in the world. I can recall a Sports Physical Therapy class I attended in college in which a strength and conditioning coach took us through some difficult training exercises. Out of 45 or so people, I was the only one who could do a one-legged squat! His response was, "Oh, of course, you're the figure skater."

Figure Skating

Some skaters have natural strength, balance, and core strength that will take them through the lower levels of skating quickly, but the majority of skaters need to improve upon each of those attributes in order to progress to higher levels. Once the 'naturally talented' skaters reach a level at which double jumps and difficult spins are required, that natural ability will only take them so far. The core strength and plyometric strength requirements of the sport are significant, and at some point, a skater needs to build strength beyond what he or she naturally has. By completing an off-ice training program at least twice a week, skaters will progress their on-ice skills at a faster pace, and be able to handle the strength demands of jumping, spinning, and longer programs.

Off-Ice Training For Figure Skaters - Why, What, When, and How?

Checking out of a jump involves the contraction of the muscles in the abdominals and the lower back, to resist the rotational force of the jump. Without core stability, a skater will have difficulty maintaining the body over the skate and continue turning past the landing point. Also, to achieve the correct height to perform a jump, a skater requires significant plyometric strength throughout the lower extremity, especially the quads and gluteal muscles. This can only be gained with functional and plyometric strengthening off of the ice. Here are some examples of the attributes a skater needs to succeed in the sport of figure skating....

1) Core strength and stability
Core strength originates from the abdominal and back muscles. These muscles work together to act as a 'control center' for the body's balance and stability. In the sport of figure skating, skaters need exceptionally strong core muscles to maintain balance, check rotation and maintain a tight air position for jumping, control the center of spin rotation, and control the upper body position during footwork, stroking, and crossovers. A skater has to have a strong core to complete double jumps and beyond. Without sufficient core strength, a skater would not maintain consistency of these elements.

2) Balance
Think about how much of skating is done on one foot: almost everything! Some people are blessed with natural balance, but the majority of us need improvement through exercises. There are several factors which affect the sense of balance in our body. First, our vestibular system (the inner ear) helps us sense the body's position while we are moving. Second, the eyes help us detect our surroundings. Third, and most important for skaters, the balance receptors in our feet and lower extremities tell us where our bodies are in relation to the ground.

3) Strength and power
Without muscle strength, a skater would skate very slowly, have small jumps, have shorter and slower spins, and would tire easily in a program and in practice sessions. Strength creates power and can improve endurance, and is the number one necessity for a skater to improve and become consistent. Through exercise, a muscle's fibers become tighter and stronger, and can withstand more repetition for longer durations when asked to contract. Increases in strength can correlate with higher jumps, more stable landings, increased energy output, and increased ability to maintain a number of the spin variations required in the IJS.

4) Flexibility
Spirals, biellmans, donut spins, split jumps, spread eagles.........just to name a few elements that require extraordinary flexibility. Yet it may surprise you which basic elements require a certain muscle length to be performed correctly. Muscle flexibility controls the angle of the knee, hip, and ankle joint on a jump take-off and landing, and a small deficit in muscle length can affect the quality of a jump. Joint position and motion, controlled by the surrounding muscle length, also affects the angle of the joints in the lower extremity during basic stroking, crossovers, spins, and footwork. Each joint in your body needs a balance of flexibility on all sides to move in the proper range of motion. If there is an imbalance of muscle length, a skater may be more prone to injury.

WHAT kind of exercise should a skater be doing?
In the past ten years or so, sports training has progressed from solely using weight machines to using an athlete's body weight as resistance in exercise. Many functional exercises incorporate the use of several muscle groups at one time, instead of exercises focusing on the contraction of a single muscle. How is this more beneficial? In every sport, an athlete moves his or her body in various planes of movement which require several muscles to co-contract at the same time. Each joint requires the strength from several muscles to stabilize it for the action it performs. Functional exercises train the body in these planes of movement to mimic the motions performed in sports. Many sports require a high degree of strength that an athlete may not have naturally; that strength needs to be created through additional training. Figure skating is no exception.....

WHEN should a skater do off-ice training exercises?
Each skater's training routine and requirements are different, depending on the skater's level, schedule, and goals. A national competitor may do off-ice training five days per week, as opposed to a recreational skater's program of one day a week. It is recommended to complete two to four days of off-ice training per week, depending on your level. Even if you choose to complete an off-ice training routine per week, you will show gains in strength, flexibility, and on-ice consistency. You take your training into your own hands, and control your own progress. You can find sample off-ice training periodization schedules through www.usfigureskating.org or in the Sk8Strong Off-ice Training for Figure Skaters Manual.

HOW do I start an off-ice training program?
There are several resources available to guide you through an off-ice training program specific for figure skaters. Sk8Strong has produced DVDs specific to each level of skater, and there are several off-ice training manuals in circulation. It is always recommended to consult with a health professional to evaluate the need for certain exercises and determine if a skater is using proper technique. If you are working with a trainer, make sure that the person has a degree in a health related field, ideally a physical therapy degree. There are also several respectable strength and conditioning certifications available from the NSCA and NASM, such as the 'Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist' and 'Performance Enhancement Specialist' designations. It is important to work with someone qualified, to avoid injury and receive the maximum benefit from your training.

Off-Ice Training For Figure Skaters - Why, What, When, and How?

Lauren Downes, MSPT, is a licensed physical therapist, figure skating professional, and off-ice trainer. As the owner of Sk8Strong Inc. at http://www.sk8strong.com, she has created sport specific strength and conditioning DVDs for figure skaters of all levels, a training manual, and various reports to educate the skating world about proper off-ice training techniques.

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Figure Skating Clothing

What you wear on ice depends on your purpose for getting on ice. Will you be joining a competition or taking a figure skating test? Are you there just for recreational figure skating? How many hours do you expect to spend on practice?

When you are on practice, your comfort and safety top the list of priorities in selecting clothing. Your garments should neither be too loose nor too tight, but just right to give you the freedom to move. Too loose is dangerous, because it forms loops that can get dragged on ice or by others, leading to possible harm. When it is too tight, on the other hand, there is no room for your movements, so you effectively limit your motion.

Figure Skating

During practice, you should also make sure that your clothing is able to keep you warm. You might want to try a layered approach, meaning, prefer many thin ones rather than one piece of thick clothing, because the former permits adjustment to the cold. Rather than the sparkly tights used in competitions, try on jogging pants or sweat suits for practice, because these are way more comfortable. If available, nylon windsuits are also nice choices, because they are lightweight, they can keep you warm, are loose enough to allow movement, and they tend to keep water away from your skin. To further keep you warm, always wear hand gloves and socks in practice. These are ideal for the cold, and gloves also assist you when you get up the ice in the event of a fall.

Figure Skating Clothing

If, however, you are joining a competition, your clothing should be different. It needs to be a little bit more special, because it is one way by which you can capture the audiences and the judges attention. Your comfort gets ranked lower in your priorities. The U.S. Figure Skating Association has set standards for clothing during competitions, and these are the following: 1) modest, dignified clothing, which is appropriate for the competition, 2) full-length trousers for men, 3) clothing with a neckline and sleeves for men, 4) skirts or pants for women that cover the entire hips, 5) prohibition of wearing unitards and bare midriffs, 5) avoidance of excessive decoration like beads and sequins, and if they are used, care should be ensured such that they do not fall off. It does not really matter where you want your figure skating clothing made.

What is more important is that these standards are well understood and followed, to avoid disqualifications and any other untoward event. In selecting the fabric, you might want those which are stretchable, to allow you more room for movement, without tearing your clothing out. Finally, always remember that you are being judged by what you do on ice, rather than what you wear. Thus you can always keep it simple, neat, modest, tidy, and appropriate for your age and what you are going to do.

What you wear is dictated by what you do on the ice. First make certain that it is appropriate for the event, and then take into consideration your comfort while performing.

Figure Skating Clothing

Drew Mers is an advertising consultant to City Ice Pavilion, a rooftop ice skating rink in Long Island City, Queens, New York.

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Figure Skating Dresses - What, or What Not, to Wear

Nothing brings out the little girl in us females more than the thought of a new figure skating dress. Yet, at the same time, nothing can scream more "bling-overkill" than a skating dress. There was a whole lot of girly girl squealing happening in my neck of the woods recently. I just picked up my new dress for my 2011-2012 interpretive program! In this article, I'll present (and we can share) some thoughts on figure skating attire as it pertains to adult figure skating. I don't want to start by sounding sexist or discriminating, but by-and-large this really is a girl-issue. Skating guys seem happy to be in any kind of combination of black pants and a basic shirt, so long as they can move in it. This attitude seems to reflect the male approach to clothing in general, or maybe, it's just the particular males that I live with. Guys can also recycle figure skating costumes for greater lengths of time, providing they don't grow. For example, most keep pants from year to year, but will have a new shirt made, if need be.

Costuming is probably the number one subject that my non-skating friends comment on, as well as frequent topic of conversation on skating internet forums. In general, the dresses/outfits I'm seeing at world and grand-prix events are a lot more conservative than 10-15 years ago. Of course, ice dance is always notorious for over the top excess, but again, even the ice dancers seem to be opting for more conservative designs- a sign of the economic times perhaps?

Figure Skating

As adult figure skaters, I feel that we have a few unique issues when it comes to finding appropriate attire. The most obvious is size and shape. We come in a lot more of them: apples, pears, sticks and triangles, just to name a few. I have found that "off the rack" dresses seem to be made using the proportions of younger, less curvy, bodies. Often, the skirts end up being way too short. Or worse, badly placed in a way that accentuates your wider features. Sometimes, the styles are just plain wrong, for anyone over the age of 10. Frilly and sparkly is cute on a 7-year old, not so much on a 47-year-old. If one is well-endowed on top, then halter-style or spaghetti straps present important structural deficiencies.

Figure Skating Dresses - What, or What Not, to Wear

Many times, adults are reluctant to wear something skimpy due to feeling really uncomfortable and exposed. This goes beyond just feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed over the weight you may have put on over the past few years. It is a question of practicality too. In many northern climates, the air temperature in the area is chilly, if not down-right cold. The temperature of the rink where I train was 4° Celsius (39° F) this morning. I've taken skating tests there when it has been that cold and even the judge told us to go ahead and put on as warm a sweater as we could find. All those cute little backless and sleeveless dresses were buried in layers of fleece and wool that day!

When it comes to skating attire, what works (or doesn't) for you? Send me a picture of you in your favorite outfit and I will post it on my blog for all of us to enjoy. And a special shout out to you gentlemen: we want to see you too!

Next: My new dress (with photo!) and more advice about what to wear on the when you are a lady of (as the French would say) "a certain age".

Figure Skating Dresses - What, or What Not, to Wear

If you are an adult participating in figure skating at any level... recreational, competitive or would like to figure skate and want to know more, come and join us at International Adult Figure Skating. There is a new blog entry every Tuesday as well as interesting videos and links to products and services of interest to adult figure skaters. Check out my special offer on how to prepare for a skating competition.

http://internationaladulticeskaters.com/

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