World and Olympic coach Robert Tebby begins a series of videos sharing insights and exercises for lutz development at all levels. He begins by noting that lutz coaching methods have changed over the years, as coaches have found better ways to teach the jump to help skaters learn it more efficiently (faster) and ensure proper execution (proper edge and timing). He says, “We’re much better (at teaching lutz) now.”
Toe placement is the next topic that Robert discusses, and he explains how this changes as the skater’s level changes. For single lutz development, he wants the toe pick to go in further back behind the skater so the skater gets used to drawing the feet together on the ice (using the adductor muscles) before pressing up into the jump. When moving from single to double lutz, the skater does some of that pulling “in the air” meaning the legs and feet are coming together before the toe pick touches the ice, so the pick is placed closer to the gliding foot. For triple and quad lutz, the toe placement is typically very close to the gliding foot. Robert says, “The more rotation on the jump the closer the toe placement.” This variation in toe pick placement is largely due to the quickness differences between the single and double and triple/quad.
Outside edge quality is another primary focus on lutz development and Robert explains that upper body placement is unique for the lutz compared to the other backward entry jumps (salchow, toe loop, loop, and flip – “They are all on the inside.”) which explains the universal problems with lutz edge changes. After learning the other jumps, Robert says of the lutz edge and body alignment, “Our muscles go ‘you haven’t taught me that. I don’t know that. I like to be over here (inside).’ So our muscle memory leads us to a flutz (edge change).” Robert next compares the lutz entry and axel entry and says, “They’re ridiculously the same” with axel gliding forward on an outside edge and lutz gliding backward on a nearly identical edge and very similar position.
For single axel development, Robert has skaters glide backwards on two feet around a hockey circle with the arms in an “L-position” where the axis side arm points directly outside the circle and the non-axis arm is in front of the skater’s body tangent to the circle. After getting stable in this position, he has them lift the picking leg (axis leg) “so their butt is tight,” then bend the skating knee and perform a version of a half lutz where the skater jumps into the circle and glides on two feet toward the center of the hockey circle. With this exercise Robert says, “They’re learning to lean over the outside edge and perform the basic jumping motion on just a simple little half lutz to get comfortable with the balance and alignment of being over the outside edge.”
After skaters master this simple exercise, he adds a “little twizzle” to the two foot landing and eventually he has them do a single lutz. He also likes to use a non-traditional setup going backward down the center of the ice with a much stronger back outside edge all the way towards the side wall boards. He explains the traditional shallow angle lutz entry does not create a strong enough outside edge to ensure proper execution/feeling.
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