| If you are a figure skating fan you have no doubt | | | | position in which they started. This jump was first |
| heard these terms used throughout the many | | | | performed by Bruce Mapes in the 1920s, an American |
| competitions you've watched. In some cases you may | | | | professional show skater. This same jump is |
| even recognize them, but in most cases it is up to the | | | | performed in artistic roller skating and is called a |
| narrator or announcer, or whatever they are called, to | | | | Mapes Jump. |
| tell us what moves the skaters are making on the ice. | | | | - Loop-the loop jump is one of the most easily |
| Something I noticed during the 2010 Olympics was that | | | | recognized, most often being done as the second |
| the announcer wasn't necessarily naming every move | | | | jump in a 'combination' jump. With no toe assist, the |
| the skater made. There were, for example, a number | | | | skater simply takes off from a back outside edge, |
| of jumps that occurred that were not even mentioned. | | | | does a full revolution in the air, and then lands |
| It was almost like I was "expected" to know what the | | | | backward on the same edge that was used to launch |
| move was. | | | | the jump. |
| With that in mind, I did some research on the top basic | | | | - Flip-brings to mind somersaults, but is actually much |
| figure skating jumps that every figure skater must | | | | simpler. Gliding backwards on an inside edge, the |
| know. When skaters learn them, they learn them from | | | | skater 'picks' the ice with the toe of the opposite |
| simplest to most difficult, so that is how I will list them. | | | | skate, performs a full revolution in the air, and then |
| Also keep in mind that higher point values are applied | | | | lands on the back outside edge of the same skate |
| to the more difficult jumps and that all of these jumps | | | | with which he or she 'picked' the ice. The toe assist |
| can be performed as a double or triple jump, raising | | | | somewhat resembles a pole vault and the jump is |
| the level of difficulty, except for the waltz jump. | | | | usually entered from an 'outside three turn' done in a |
| - Waltz Jump-the waltz jump is performed by the | | | | straight line or from a 'forward inside mohawk'. |
| skater leaving the ice from the forward foot outside | | | | - Lutz-this jump was first performed by Austrian Alois |
| edge of the skate. Making a half revolution in the air, | | | | Lutz during a competition in 1913. Performed similar to a |
| the skater lands on the back outside skate edge of | | | | flip, the takeoff is from a back outside edge as |
| the opposite foot. | | | | opposed to a back inside edge. Staying on that back |
| - Salchow, pronounced "sal-kow" is named after Ulrich | | | | outside edge while taking off is extremely difficult and |
| Salchow, who first originated this jump in 1909. This | | | | points are deducted for rolling to the back inside edge, |
| jump is performed from the back inside edge of one | | | | in which case it becomes a common flip jump. When |
| skate to the back outside edge of the other with a | | | | this error is made, it is commonly referred to as a |
| half revolution in the air and is usually done from a | | | | "flutz". |
| 'forward outside three turn' or from a 'forward inside | | | | - Axel-First performed in 1882 by Axel Paulsen, the |
| mohawk' move. After the preceding move, the skater | | | | axel jump is launched from a forward outside edge. |
| stops for a split second with a leg extended behind | | | | Making a full one and one-half revolution while airborne, |
| and then swings that leg forward and around in a wide | | | | the skater then lands on the opposite foot from the |
| sweeping arc, leaping into the air simultaneously and | | | | takeoff, on a back outside edge. This jump, when |
| landing backwards on the foot that was used for the | | | | performed as a double (3 full revolutions) or a triple (4.5 |
| sweeping motion. | | | | turns) is truly amazing. |
| - Toe Loop-the toe loop is usually entered from a | | | | I hope this helps you to identify the jumps as they |
| 'forward inside three turn' and is accomplished with a | | | | occur on the ice. Personally, I think it is amazing what |
| toe assist in the form of a 'pick'. After the turn while | | | | these skaters do and find it amazing that their whole |
| the skater is moving backwards on an outside skate | | | | life has been dedicated to perfecting their |
| edge, the skater 'picks the ice' with one foot, does a | | | | performance in arguably the most beautifully |
| half revolution in the air, and then lands on the foot that | | | | performed sporting event in the world. |
| did not 'pick' the ice. The skater should land in the same | | | | |