Axel Edge Pressure – Part 2 (Nick Perna)

Figure skating coach and jump specialist Nick Perna continues his discussion of the axel take-off edge. In Part 1, Nick shared the wall kick drill. In this video, he starts with a discussion of the hockey glide or hockey lunge as a tool for developing the axel take-off edge and the associated body position. Notice the desired position on this skill with the shoulders back and turned outside the circle with the one foot leading (the inside foot).

Once a skater gets comfortable with the hockey glide, it can be used to to a waltz jump. As Nick notes, this is a little different than a standard waltz jump as the skater really stays on two feet before swooping up into the air. Nick says, “doing this from a hockey glide up into a waltz jump is a good way to get that feeling of just swooping under it and going up. Because you really can’t jump any other way than to get your hips under you when you’re in that position.”

He continues by explaining that this drill can be very effective with skaters learning an axel or double axel. He also notes that this is a completely valid way of doing an axel and would not be considered a non-axel 2-foot take-off jump. One important hint that Nick shares is nearly hidden in his story about a skater working on a double axel. He said she liked this entry because “it was a new feeling to her.” When a skater needs to change technique, it is often a huge advantage if the change can be dramatic enough that old muscle memory habits aren’t activated. Nick continues by discussing common problems when using the hockey glide take-off for axel. In particular, many skaters want to swing the “free” leg and arm around.

To end the video, Nick offers some theory about the axel and he reiterates the need to press the skating foot forward. He says, “You can get edge pressure by just leaning on the edge. But you can also get edge pressure when you’re behind the foot.” He also reiterates the importance of the active edge and the associated drills.