Flip Jump for Beginners (Page Lipe)

In this figure skating lesson, Page Lipe explains and demonstrates how she teaches a flip jump to a beginner skater. She typically starts by teaching a half-flip from a mohawk. Notice that Page wants a full stretch but the pick doesn’t enter the ice until it’s almost directly under her. In other words, the legs scissor before the pick enters the ice. She notes that this allows the skater to start moving upward with the non-picking leg and use the toe pick to “assist” the jump into the air. She says, “You pick in on the way up out of your knee. You don’t want to pick on the way down and then try to jump.” She notes that using the correct timing makes the jump “lighter.”

By introducing the half-flip this way, Page recognizes that this is not the same exact movement that will be required to do a flip jump. She says, “A half flip is more about learning some timing and learning what the edge is. It’s not quite the same as a flip jump.” Notice the difference between her half flip demonstrations and her flip jump demonstrations.

In part of her discussion, Page explains the similarities to loop jump, particularly the turning of the hips (rather than the shoulders) and the pivot on the toe pick. When building the flip jump from the half-flip, this pivot typically gets stronger.

Page reiterates that she tried not to “over teach” by giving too much instruction too soon. She likes to show skaters what they are trying (often having more advanced skaters demonstrate) and then let them try it. Then she begins the process of correcting errors and fixing problems or potential problems. She explains it as, “I try to model the behavior and then keep correcting as they do it because I want them to do it more by feel than by verbal instruction.”

She talks about picking in under the skating hip. And then she has them simply complete the rotation (or continue the rotation) by hopping on their toe pick. She calls this “hopping it through.” This is a great intermediate step and really builds strength, balance, alignment and trust and courage. For arms, Page recommends passing something from one hand to the other as it’s more of a “game” than a frame or other structured arm positioning.

After they have control of the arms, Page focuses on head positioning and movement. This is a major theme of all presenting coaches at iCoachSkating.com. Page adds another great tip to this discussion by noting that she pins a flower to the skater right shoulder (landing side) and has the skater look at it throughout the take-off.

Page also talks about a few other details such as alternate entrances (yes she uses them) and the process of refining the single flip even as a skater progresses through doubles and triples.