National level coach Debbie Warne-Jacobsen continues a series of videos offering insights and exercises to improve toe loop technique for double and triple toe loop development. In Part 1 Debbie started with single toe drills with a guard in the axis hand, and in Part 2 the focus shifted to the double toe. In this video, Debbie works on landing exercises to ensure alignment and improved axis for the jump.
This video begins with Debbie asking the skater for “toe land in alignment drills to pirouette land in alignment” which describes exactly what the drill is. The “land in alignment” is a two-foot alignment position where the skater has the feet in line with each other and the upper body is twisted against the rotation with the shoulders in line with the feet. This “land in alignment” position is also aligned vertically so the shoulders are over the axis hip which is over the axis foot.
Debbie says, “Everything we’re doing now is aimed at the axis.” She notes that this skater will “go out to the left (non-axis side) or too far back” which are the most common axis issues for skaters working on triples. As the skater does the exercise, Debbie offers more insights and clarifies details. Notice the use of a skate-guard to give the skater something to focus on to build awareness and provide something specific for the arms and hands to do during the drill. Due to the nature of the drill, a skater must prepare in the air for this landing but Debbie cautions against breaking at the waist too soon (while still in the air).
The “land in alignment” concept is appropriate for all jumps, not just toe loop and Debbie has the skater do the drill using the single salchow instead of the single toe loop. The skater shows the drill both with and without holding on to the guard with both hands in the final position (although Debbie appears to be asking for landing the salchow holding on with both hands and remain holding on throughout the remainder of the drill.)
