Axel Attempts

Okay, here's a video of some axel attempts. They are not great, but it's the only video I have, and I'd like to have some feedback and perhaps some suggestions for improvement.
I've been working on axels since September 2008 and they have given me a really hard time. It took me weeks just to jump properly over the topic. (I have some kind of phobia of my topics. It has probably to do with my late start in skating and some nasty falls when I got my first proper skates with proper topics. But it has improved a lot.) For months I was really scared of this jump. Fortunately, I've become much more confortable with it lately, (I don't always end up sprawled on the ice), and I really want to learn it now.
I just don't seem to be able to get more than 1 full rotation. I somehow just don't keep my arms in. Any suggestions?

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• axel
• practice
• problem
• attempt
• figure
• skating

[SonsiLi]

try to jump higher, not so far ;)

[s0671253]

that's exactly what my coach keeps telling me ;)

[PGoomba]

Hi. I've just posted a video reply to this. I'm having similar problems with my jumps (especially axels). They've improved recently (the vid was done about 5 months ago) but still need much work. I think yours just need to be tighter. Keep the arms in and the body straight. Your rotating over the right side so everything should be over the right side. That's what my coach tells me anyway. lol. It makes sense though.

[s0671253]

You'r right, I need to figure out how to get into rotation faster. Perhaps this is a problem adult figure skaters often have. It looks as though you started quite late as well, didn't you?

Generally, you are right with the right side. However, I have a tendency to lean out of the jumping circle towards the right and that messes up my jump. So my coach tells me to stay left. In the end it will probably be: stay left and then rotate around your right side;-)

[s0671253]

yesterday in training I tried to think about gina's explanation of jumping out of the circle, which she gives in her axel help video, and I actually managed to get my legs crossed in the air. thanks gina!

[AshleyAndJulia]

you should try it from a stand still when youre just begining, its much, much easier

[Yprkia]

i feel you are still not so used to getting into a backspin position in the air. i know how it is, it feels so weird and scary in the beginning and it improves in time. the exercises that darknessoftheworld mentions are the most useful and essential ones and i agree with her/him. gina's explanations are also very useful and correct most of the time. how are your off ice attempts?

[PGoomba]

I've been skating for nearly 4 years now. I've just not been able to afford very regular lessons so progress is sometimes slow. Quite amazing the number of different problems people can have just doing one thing. Obviously your coach has seen much more of you so yeah, go with what they say, lol

[darknessoftheworld]

You are really tall - your waltz jumps must be pretty powerful! Speaking of which, you need to think of the axel as a waltz jump combined with a loop. As Laura said, you need to get used to snapping into the backspin position. What helped me is jumping the axel off ice, but also doing lots of waltz jump-loop and waltz-jump backspin combinations. Also, always stay over your right side while you are in air - that is the key to landing axel. How long have you been practicing it for? Good luck!

[Emma7639]

you definitely have the height and the power, you just need to snap into backspin position a little sooner, you're waiting a bit too long. good luck!