Axel Jump In Figure Skating – Alternate Entrance (Sheila Thelen)

Sheila Thelen suggests an alternate axel entrance for skaters that tend to hook their axel take-off edges. This method can be very effective at straightening out the take-off edge for some skaters. It is also an effective tool for correcting some alignment issues on the step forward as well as minimizing uncontrolled shoulder rotation during the forward step.

This technique should be used with caution, however, as many skaters will swing the arms and legs around when using this setup. If the jump remains “narrow” then this entrance can be an effective tool. But as Sheila notes, this entrance is generally not accepted as a “good looking” entrance for competition which is one of the primary reasons we don’t see it very often.