Coach Kate Charbonneau continues a series of videos explaining and demonstrating how skaters can and should warm up off the ice for an upcoming on-ice session. (See part 1 here and see part 2 here.) This video focuses off-ice jumps as the latter part of the warm-up. Kate begins by explaining her overall approach, with younger skaters doing a variety of rotations from two feet followed by off-ice waltz jumps and axels. For older skaters she has them do a full pack of single and double jumps and finish with 5 double axels.
Kate explains, “The hardest thing about off-ice jumps is learning how to pivot properly and get that same drop-to-up motion that you get on the ice.” That’s why it’s important to start with simple rotational jumping movements off two feet. Kate demonstrates how to perform a good “air turn” with a preparation twist and arm swing and knee action. She has younger skaters start with a full circle of quarter turn two foot jumps, just “staying on that rotating (axis) side” before jumping 4 quarter turns in the opposite direction. Younger skaters then repeat this process with half turns and full turns, and Kate demonstrates 4 full turns in sequence, alternating rotational direction on each jump.
Next Kate explains and demonstrates a couple options for entry into an off-ice waltz jump or axel. The first has the skater doing two quarter turn hops in the direction of jump rotation before stepping up into the jump. The skater steps forward and hops a quarter turn on the non-axis foot, then steps down with a quarter turn onto the axis foot going backward, which then hops a quarter turn placing the skater sideways to the direction of travel, and then the forward step for the waltz jump/axel. The second entry Kate describes as a three-quarter rotation. From sideways the skater steps forward and jumps a waltz jump to backward and then pivots another quarter turn on the floor before stepping for another preparation turn or the jump itself.
For the step into the actual jump (waltz jump/axel), Kate recommends stepping down initially onto the heel of the take-off foot while keeping the non-axis shoulder in front (axis shoulder held back). She teaches skaters to rock to the toe of the take-off foot “and shoot that axis side out on the line with that skater’s axis eyebrow.” She demonstrates this with both waltz jump and axel.
For off-ice salchow, Kate steps forward and hops to backward to simulate the forward outside three turn on the ice. She then hops to forward as the free leg goes around to simulate the pivot before stepping up into the jump. Kate uses the same concept for the toe loop, and she demonstrates how this looks for either the forward inside three turn entry or the forward outside drop three turn entry. For the loop, Kate uses either a stationary two foot take-off or a one-foot rotating entry that consists of two half turn hops on the take-off foot in essentially the take-off position with the free foot in front and across. Kate then demonstrates off-ice flip from both the mohawk and forward outside three turn entry, and notice the placement of the picking foot right underneath the axis hip. She then demonstrates a single off-ice lutz without explanation. On all landings, Kate recommends hopping to “protect the (landing) knee” and as a way to simulate the flow of landing.
Kate finishes this video with a discussion of the full 5-minute warm up she has demonstrated in this video series. She also notes that skater that skate multiple sessions during the day may only need a thorough warm-up before the first session, with perhaps simple jogging or jump rope or rotational jumps prior to later sessions just to get the body warm. Kate recommends jumping rope as a way to build quickness and timing, and younger skaters should use it to develop coordination while older skaters can effectively use it as a warm-up tool.
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