World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby explains and demonstrates important fundamental concepts for jump landings. He begins by noting that our understanding of jump landings continues to evolve, which means our teaching methods also need to change and improve. As coaches we need to remain humble and open-minded and be willing to adapt. He then takes a few moments to address the idea of exaggerating a correction to get a better result, knowing the fully exaggerated correction is not exactly what is desired. As an example, he discusses the idea of teaching a straight picking leg on the flip jump. The point here is that landings may also require some exaggerated corrections to get the desired result.
Robert uses an exercise he calls the “inside hop” which is sort of a toe assisted waltz jump (side hop) in a straight line that makes it easy to a landing with the free foot crossed and to the axis side and then to simulate the remainder of the landing movements. These movements include the free foot coming forward after the initial landing and then around and out, as well as turning the head to the axis side on the stretch into the final landing position. For the free leg Robert says, “Don’t try to jerk it out.” He comments that the old school idea of getting the free leg unhooked and out as fast as possible isn’t really the goal anymore. He explains that on double axel and triple the free foot actually goes back a bit first before coming forward. This helps the skater properly hit the landing toe and “grab the ice” for the initial stability of the landing. He points out that skaters (and coaches) are “so preoccupied with opening up (for landing) that you’re not rotating to the end of the jump.” He demonstrates the “inside hop” and shows how the free foot or free heel is initially pulling back.
Robert notes, “If you have a really good landing, you’re making everything look good.” But the final stretched position of the landing isn’t where a skater really “lands” the jump successfully. It actually happens in the last moments of the flight and in the first moments after impact. He reiterates the need for forward body pressure or a forward tilted axis on impact and landing. He explains, “Those toe picks are there to help us. They don’t just help us jump up into the air, they help us land.” The forward body axis helps ensure the toe pick grips the ice. Robert goes further and shows how the chest “compresses toward the knees a little bit” as the skater absorbs the initial impact forces. He also explains that this doesn’t take much time, but it’s important.
Returning to the inside hop, Robert recommends briefly holding and gliding in the “compressed” position that some coaches have referred to as the “brace position” or “check position” or the “claw position.” The purpose is to “establish balance” and control. After hitting this position Robert says “we need to have a continuation of the balance, that sort of equal and opposite motion. Our free leg will go in somewhat of a circular motion. We don’t want it to go extremely wide, but it is definitely going to go in a circular motion out and you want to counteract it with the motion of the right (axis) shoulder so the left (free) hip and the right (axis) shoulder are doing an equal and opposite motion.”
Sorry, this content is for members only.Click here to get access.
Already a member? Login below… |
Add to "My Favorites" (Beta testing)
