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Basic Skating Skills and Figure Skating


Loop Jump
   
Description
  The Loop jump is an edge jump. Although the definition of a loop jump is taking off from a back outside edge, the hooking motion of the skate causes the takeoff edge to be slightly pre-rotated when the skate leaves the ice. The skater lands on the same foot on the back outside edge.
   
Transition/Connecting Steps

Many skaters commonly use CCW back crosovers to setup a RBO entry edge. The skater must take care not to allow the free leg to trail.

The jump can also be entered from a individual RFI mohawk turn or performed after a more complicated footwork series of steps and turns.


Entry
 

For beginners a loop jump is sometimes enter from from an inside three turn. This helps the beginning skater get momentum to rotate.

For advenced skaters a loop is usually entered directly from backward crossovers.

The free foot must be held off the ice on the entry edge so the jump is clearly executed from one foot without the free leg trailing.
   
Takeoff
  A loop is an edge jump that takes off from an outside edge from one foot.
   A trailing free leg is a major error.


Rotation in the Air

Skaters who rotate in the Counter-Clockwise (CCW) direction extend the left free leg in front. The lift of the free leg must not be accompanied by the free leg swinging in an arc. The skater has a sensation of the performing a back upright spin on the right outside edge before landing on the RBO edge.

Skaters who rotate in the Clockwise (CW) direction extend the right free leg in front. The lift of the free leg must not be accompamied by the free leg swinging in an arc. The skater has a sensation of the performing a back upright spin on the left outside edge prior before landing on the back outside edge of the right foot.


Landing
 

A Counter-Clockwise (CCW) skater lands backward on their right foot.

The Clockwise (CW) skater lands backward on their left foot.

In the Loop jump the skater should land on a backward curve that is a continuation of the takeoff curve with a flexed landing knee, stretched free leg, and erect core body (head up, level shoulders, and straight back).

The landing should have no noticable loss of flow (speed) and the curve should be held long enough to establish that the skater has complete control of the landing.
   
Exit Edge/Curve

No noticable loss of flow on the landing.

Entry curve into jump continues through the curve of the exit edge.

The free leg should fully extend after landing.


Common Errors
 
  • Hooking takeoff edge without achieving a strong thrust from the knee of the skating foot.
  • Poor body alignment on take off.  The ankle of the skating foot may turn under causing the side of the boot to contact the ice and slide out from under the skater causing a fall.
  • Pre-rotation of the shoulders and arms prior to taking off.
  • The free leg trails on the ice prior to the execution of the jump.
  • Not jumping high enough to accomplish the full rotation in the air. A major loss of power occurs when the knee of the free leg lack an explosive thrust, never achieving fully extension.
  • Not checking the landing. If the arms are not checked, the skater's body will continue to rotate after landing resulting in a whipping action producing an uncontrolled edge lacking a smooth gliding exit curve.
  • Landing heavily on toe pick causing an immediate loss of flow out of the jump. The free leg may be extended very high after landing putting more weight on the toe pick and causing additional loss of speed.
  • Hooked landing, usually accompanied by quickly stepping forward, changing edge, and/or bending at waist.