Olympic coach Tom Zakrajsek teaches an axel class at the Grassroots to Champions Supercamp held in Faribault, MN in July/August 2013.  This video is the fifth in a multi-part series by Tom sharing the information he covered in his classes at camp.  In the first video of the axel class, he discussed warming up properly and shared details of the forward take-off edge.  In the second video of the axel class, Tom focused on the standstill axel and he shared more details of the forward take-off edge, including very important timing information.  In the third how to do an axel video, Tom talked more about the movements of the forward take-off edge and he shared a drill he calls the pogo stick exercise.  In the fourth axel jump video, Tom discussed the process of learning a new jump and shares a few additional insights about arms and positions and posture.  In the fifth axel jump video, Tom shares the concept of the “3 ups” in every jump.

All parts of this series:
Axel Class – Part 1
Axel Class – Part 2
Axel Class – Part 3
Axel Class – Part 4
Axel Class – Part 5
Axel Class – Part 6
Axel Class – Part 7

In this video, Tom talks about more details of the axel take-off.  In particular he talks about the arms and the head position and movement.  He begins by discussing what he calls the “L and the reverse L” which is a way for skaters to feel they keep their right arm and leg aligned through the take-off.  Tom also wants the skater’s head to go to the right, although he brings up a good point that the head really continues facing the jump direction while the body starts to rotate to the left.  Many skaters explain this feeling as turning the head to the right and many coaches like Tom have had success telling their skaters to do this.  It’s a very effective way to minimize jumping “into the circle” as Tom explains.

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