International coach and jump specialist Jeremy Allen offers additional insights regarding the lutz jump. This is a continuation of his presentations on beginning lutz and 3 helpful lutz drills. Jeremy begins this video by discussing options for the lutz entrance once a skater is comfortable with the outside edge take-off. The first option he shows is a forward inside mohawk followed by a cross in front and inside to outside edge pull. Jeremy explains the cross-in-front can be performed with the axis arm either in front or behind. The benefit of having it in front is it can be pulled back during the inside edge which helps many skaters with timing and rhythm. But the benefit of having it behind after the cross-in-front is that it is already back and prepped for the jumping movement (slightly simpler). Jeremy shows some very clear demonstrations of the arm movements with respect to the steps through the moment of picking in.
Another suggested entrance is a forward inside mohawk with a cross in front step down directly onto the outside take-off edge (without the inside pull from the previous exercise). This is a somewhat popular entrance, especially as some coaches try to camouflage take-off edge issues. But this is a valid entrance that works for many skaters, particularly those who are already comfortable with the outside edge and don’t need additional rhythmical movements. Jeremy recommends trying various entrances and finding what works best for the skater in question.
In response to the question, “How do you reach for a lutz?” Jeremy says, “It depends.” Above all he wants the free foot to remain very low to the ice during the reach. He demonstrates the edge-change problem associated with a high reach, noting that it’s a timing issue. It just takes too long for a high reach to come back down to tap that the edge typically changes to the inside before the tap happens. Jeremy also recommends a relaxed picking leg during the reach rather than being “tense.” It can be either straight or slightly bent, but should feel natural and look right.
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