| Single
Skating Terms
Jumps
Waltz Jump: Generally the first rotational
jump that skaters learn. The skater takes off from a forward
outside edge, completes 1/2 revolution in the air, and lands
on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.
Salchow Jump: A jump in which
the skater takes off from the back inside edge of the skating
foot, rotates one rotation in the air and lands on the back
outside edge of the opposite foot. Named after its originator,
Ulrich Salchow.
Variations: double Salchow, triple Salchow,
quadruple Salchow, one foot Salchow.
Neat fact: The 1965 World Champion and 1964
World and Olympic bronze medallist Petra Burka became the first
woman to complete a triple jump in competition - the triple
Salchow - performed at the 1962 Canadian Championships in Toronto,
Ontario.
Toe Loop Jump: A toe jump
in which the skater takes off from the back outside edge of
the skating foot with assistance of the toe of the free foot
and turns one rotation in the air, landing on the back outside
edge of the take-off foot.
Variations: double toe loop, triple toe loop,
quadruple toe loop.
Neat fact: Canadian Kurt Browning was the first
skater to complete a quadruple toe loop in competition at the
1988 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Loop Jump: A jump in which
the skater takes off from the back outside edge of the skating
foot, turns one rotation in the air and lands on the back outside
edge of the take-off foot.
Variations: double loop, triple loop, 1/2 loop
(a one rotation jump in which the skater lands on the back inside
edge of the opposite foot from take-off)
Flip Jump: A toe jump in which
the skater takes off from the back inside edge of the skating
foot with assistance from the toe of the free foot, turns one
rotation in the air and lands on the back outside edge of the
original free foot.
Variations: double flip, triple flip.
Lutz Jump: A toe jump in which
the skater takes off from the back outside edge of the skating
foot with assistance of the free foot toe, rotates in the reverse
direction one rotation in the air and lands on the back outside
edge of the opposite foot.
Variations: double Lutz, triple Lutz.
Neat fact: 1962 - Donald Jackson completes
first-ever triple Lutz in competition.
Axel Paulsen: The skater takes
off from the forward outside edge of the skate, completes 11/2
revolutions in the air and lands on the back outside edge of
the opposite foot. Named after its originator.
Variations: double Axel, triple Axel, inside
Axel, one-foot Axel.
Neat fact: Canada's Vern Taylor became the
first skater to land a triple Axel in competition at the 1978
World Championships in Ottawa.
Spins
There are three main categories of spins:
the upright spin
the camel spin
the sit spin
There are many variations within each of these
categories.
Upright Spin: A spin where
a skater's body stays more or less vertical to the ice. This
category includes one-foot spins, backspins, cross foot spins,
and the layback spin. The layback spin is a spin primarily performed
by female skaters (though more men are performing this difficult
spin today) where the back is arched and the free leg is drawn
up slightly.
Variations include the Bielman position (the
skater catches the blade of the free foot in their hands and
pulls the free-leg up over their head) and sideways leaning
spin in which the skater arches to one side while maintaining
an upright position.
Sit Spin: As the name indicates
a sit spin is classified as any spin in which the skater's body
is located close to the ice and the skating knee is bent to
allow the skater to appear to be 'sitting'.
Variations include flying sit, flying change
sit, sit change sit spin and more.
Camel Spin: A spin position
in which the skater's body is horizontal to the ice except for
the leg on which they are spinning.
Variations on this spin include a flying camel
(change foot in air prior to start of spin) and death-drop (a
dramatic flying entry). To increase the difficulty of a camel
spin skaters will often perform a forward camel spin on an outside
edge, or a back camel on an inside edge. Arm and leg position
variations also increase the difficulty of spins and can be
very effective from an aesthetic standpoint.
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