Spotting the Jumps: A Guide for Figure Skating Fans

Daria Usacheva © Pinterest

Figure skating jumps are a captivating spectacle, but can you tell the difference between an Axel and a Lutz? Let’s break down the six main jump types and how to identify them.

The Axel: The Unique One

• Takeoff: The only jump where skaters take off facing forward.
• Distinguishing Feature: An extra half rotation compared to other jumps. A triple Axel is actually three and a half rotations.

Toe Jumps: Lutz, Flip, and Toeloop

All three toe jumps involve using the toe pick to take off. Here’s how to tell them apart:

• Lutz: Skaters use the outside edge of their blade and take a longer glide backward before takeoff.
• Flip: Similar to the Lutz, but skaters use the inside edge of their blade and a shorter glide.
• Toeloop: This jump uses the left toe pick and is often used as a second jump in combinations.

Edge Jumps: Salchow and Loop

These jumps don’t involve the toe pick.

• Salchow: Skaters take off from the back inside edge and land on the back outside edge. Their legs form a triangular shape during takeoff.
• Loop: Skaters take off from a deep curve with their legs crossed, resembling a sitting position. It’s also known as the “Rittberger” in some countries.

Naming the Jumps

The Axel, Lutz, and Salchow are named after their inventors. The Toeloop and Loop aren’t named after specific skaters.

Left-Handed Variations

Some skaters, often left-handed, perform jumps in the opposite direction (clockwise). For these skaters, the jump names remain the same, but the footwork is reversed.

Now that you know the key differences, you’ll be able to appreciate the artistry and precision of figure skating jumps even more!