World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger works with a class of high level skaters on improving their step into double axel. The drills shared here can help skaters improve single axel (and triple!) as well. The purpose of this exercise is to help skaters learn to control their hips and overall alignment when stepping from the back outside preparation edge to the forward outside take-off edge. Perfecting this step helps skaters maintain flow and ensure proper alignment for maximum power generation and edge pressure.
The basic exercise is a back outside pivot entry (but not actually doing the full pivot with the toe pick set in the ice) followed by a back outside three turn and then the step onto the forward outside edge with a “stutter step” hop push into the axel. Audrey says, “The goal is for you not to disturb the hips.” She explains this in a bit more detail and demonstrates the hip “flip” with minimal extra movement. For this exercise to be effective, the skater must do the partial back pivot with proper alignment from the skate to the top of the head. Some skaters will struggle with the back outside three turn with the foot held behind and inside the circle, but this free foot position is helpful for getting the necessary overall lean back into the circle on the preparation edge.
To clarify the pivot, Audrey says, “When I say pivot, you’re pivoting and spiraling in but don’t come to a complete stationary pivot otherwise you won’t do the three (turn).” Ideally the exercise continues on the same curve, from the back edge on the pivot, the exit of the three turn, and the forward take-off edge. The goal is not to pitch forward and outside the circle at any point during the exercise. Audrey also notes, “When you step forward on your axel you want your head behind your take-off foot.”
Audrey has the class do the exercise first with the single axel, then with the double axel. After doing this exercise, Audrey switches briefly to double axel double axel. The key points are to land the first jump with the head to the axis side, then put the hands together and look “where you’re going to jump to” (on the second jump), and stay on the same curve.
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