World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby follows up his thorough discussion of single axel development (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) by discussing some aspects of the process he uses to move from a single axel to the double axel. He begins by noting that when adding another rotation to any jump, “We’re trying to eliminate imperfections, inefficiencies, and trying to get better.” This comment implies it is not about learning new technique but refining the single axel take-off and working on the necessary air position and landing movements.
He then repeats from an earlier video that he uses single axel double loop as an important exercise for double axel development as it trains the idea of getting to the axis side and staying there in the air. He also suggests using single axel backspin from a standstill (just to reduce speed for the backspin) while many other coaches use single axel twizzle from moving. Robert also likes using his “zombie waltz jump” into a double loop as a way to build confidence and an understanding that the double axel is not that difficult. He describes the thought process as the following, “If I can get through the first half revolution of the take-off, all that remains is a double loop. And I can do a double loop, and a double loop is easy.”
Next Robert reviews his slightly forward upper body position on the entry edge that he introduced in the single axel development videos (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). He says, “We want to see a letter V from your knee to your hip to your shoulder.” He explains this helps with balance and alignment. Robert says, “You don’t really want to be behind your (take-off) foot because that’s encouraging your free leg (kick-through) to be too big.” A kick-through that is too big means it takes longer to get into an efficient rotational position or could even result in “big, sloppy, slow rotation.”
Robert demonstrates the moment where the body has full extension as the skating foot leaves the ice at a half turn. He calls this moment “high heels” as a memorable way to explain the skating foot (pressing through the toe pick for lift) and free foot (behind and coming through as a result of the hips turning) movements. He says, “We want the free leg to remain behind. We’re hitting the toe (take-off foot) and doing a quarter turn on the toe. So as our left hip (skating or non-axis hip) turns it brings the right hip (axis hip) forward slightly and at that point it’s a little bit like ‘knees apart’ and the next motion is knees together and the jumping heel (left, non-axis) will be in the air, and so will your right one (axis heel).” He demonstrates the movements to quarter turn and half turn to get to the “high heels” position. Notice the knees together at the half turn (which happens in the air) and the axis leg bent at roughly 90 degrees (with the heel up).
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