Combination Jumps – Double Loop in Combination (Page Lipe)

Page Lipe shares her thoughts regarding combination jumps where the second (or third) jump in the combination is a double loop. Combination jumps with double loop tend to be easier for most skaters than combinations with double toe loop. But some skaters, typically those with poor double toe technique, fare better with double loop combinations.

Page explains that she begins working on double loop combinations as soon as a skater starts landing solo double loops. In particular, Page likes 2 ways of initially working the double loop in combination. She like single loop-double loop in combination or the double loop-double three-double loop jump sequence. Both of these “drills” help the skater develop the proper timing and knee bend and rhythm, “and then gradually they understand that they have to let that edge pivot through in order to do the second double loop.”

The demonstrating skater used to have a problem with “telegraphing” the jump which means using a very long setup with lots of waiting. Page has the skater show us an entry she uses to combat this problem. In one of the attempts, the skater loses the free side between the jumps. Page suggests landing and holding the position with the foot in front over the landing side. (This is essentially identical to Audrey Weisiger’s “alignment landing.”)

Page thinks one of the most important things a coach can focus on for double loop combinations is the skater’s head. Page says, “A lot of times I’ll have kids just really focus on keeping their head there (aligned over the landing side), pivoting underneath it.” She cautions against cookie cutter approaches, mainly because all athletes have different bodies and different tendencies and problems.

A major problem area for double loop combos is skaters having a landing knee that’s too stiff. Page wants them to have a “cushy” knee. She has the skater attempt a double flip-double loop, and the skater completes the rotations but falls down. Page shares and important coaching tip before offering a correction to the skater. She says, “I’m always interested in what the skater feels. I’m not the kind of coach that automatically gives instruction. I want to know what they felt.” She continues, “A lot of times kids feel certain things. And you have to go with what they can feel. You can’t pound a feeling into them.” Notice the use of visual video feedback. And notice how the skater was able to make the correction immediately and successfully land the combination.

Page says it can take 2 to 3 years for skaters to get command of all their double-double combination jumps. She also recommends starting them as soon as possible rather than waiting for perfect solo jumps. She also recommends doing as many different combinations as possible as soon as possible to simply start training the rhythm and timing and control.