International coach and jump specialist Chris Conte continues a short series of videos on important concepts and drills for developing jump landings. In Part 1 Chris introduced important foundational ideas and talked about single jump landings, including free leg placement and alignment over the landing hip. In this video, the focus shifts to landings for waltz jumps and other single jumps (not including axel).
Chris begins this video by demonstrating and describing the waltz jump and landing. Notice the idea that in the air the waltz jump is sideways, and at landing the free leg is in front in what Chris describes as the “checked position in the air.” He notes, “I don’t like to see a skater swing their free leg back (in the air) on a waltz jump. I really like to see it stay in front at the impact.” Also notice how much attention Chris gives the alignment of the landing over the free hip. He skates inside the circle and pushes the hips outward to ensure the alignment from the skate up through the knee and hip and upper body.
Next the skater does a variety of single jumps and Chris comments throughout. He shares the concept of “checking up” rather than checking out as a way to lighten the landing impact forces, noting that the body is slightly “forward over the (landing) hip, not arching away (backward).” Chris explains that the forces at impact typically feel like they are going downward and outside the circle. To prevent this, the skater is preparing in the air to oppose those forces which is what Chris means by saying “checking up.” This a way of saying the landing should not collapse but remain active. Notice how the skater’s lower back presses well forward/down after impact as she absorbs the vertical forces, and even though the upper torso is remaining fairly vertical she is not pulling back. Chris notes that being tall and aligned in the air creates stronger yet lighter landings as the body is in a better position to absorb the landing.
