Trevor Laak provides a computer analysis of 3 different triple lutz jumps. The skaters performing the jumps are Ryan Bradley, Brandon Mroz, and Max Aaron who were on a practice session at the 2013 Grassroots to Champions Supercamp in July/August of 2013.
Probably more than any other jump, there’s a huge variation in ways to accomplish a triple lutz. This video highlights some of the possibilities and talks about efficiency. Very few generalizations can be made about the lutz but one that stands out is the need for an “active edge” as described by Nick Perna in his lutz videos on this website. Trevor shows the active edges of all three jump take-offs. All three jumps were basically the same height (airtimes of either 0.61 or 0.63). Another generalization is that the shoulders and arms must be neutral or slightly pre-rotated when the toe pick enters the ice as described by Michelle Leigh on this website.
This video has lots of observations and insights that contradict common teaching methods. Full speed versions and uninterrupted slow-motion versions of the jumps are included at the end of the video. After watching the video, please leave a comment below.
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Audrey Weisiger Wonderful analysis! Thanks Trevor.
Trevor Thanks Audrey.
David You mention about the shoulders rotating on the takeoff , but the arms pass through to start that. They hit the "statue of liberty" position with the back arm . Another method is to star the rotatoin with the rotation of the picking leg just before picking. Brian Orser has analyzed Yuna Kim's lutz saying that she starts the rotation from the picking foot and the rotation continues up the leg like a coil. Would be really helpfull if you can get more information about the methods and a step by step analysis of the take off movements. Keep up the good work : )
Trevor Hey David, the "turning" of the picking foot MAY be how some of the rotation is started, but I suspect the rotation of the picking leg is part of the natural internal hip rotation needed for the skater to stay on an outside edge. It's really hard to only internally rotate one hip. Thinking of the physics of what's happening, it's unlikely that the turning of the picking leg is creating any significant rotational force. Most of the rotational energy seems to be coming from shoulder movement and the fact that the free side (upper and lower body) is moving quickly past the toe pick (take-off side). The evidence for this is very strong considering how some of the jumps in the video above are performed without turning the picking leg during the final take-off movement. I've spoken with Tom Zakrasek (coach for all three skaters in the video above) and he may be willing to share more thoughts on this soon. Thanks.
Sue Tweddell Brilliant analysis
andrew hayes wonderful analysis
Isabel de Navarre Thanks from Germany for these great pictures :-)