Glossary
General Principles
The primary objective of positional jumps is to achieve a distinct position while airborne. In these jumps, the skater appears to suspend for a moment in the air capturing a dramatic pose. Positional jumps may be initiated with a toe assist or from a clean edge. In general, positional jumps consist of a half revolution; although certain variations require a full turn in the air.
Bunny Hop
Learned in the earliest stages of a skater's training, the bunny hop is a unique jump requiring no rotation at all. It is simply a forward leap from the flat of one blade to the toe pick of the other followed by a push forward to the flat of the original blade. From stroking or a basic glide, the skater kicks one leg forward while springing off the toe pick of the other blade. The legs should remain straight in the air and the toes pointed. When performed with speed and height, this jump can look impressive.
Toe Assisted Positional Jumps
Half Rotation Jumps
Toe assisted jumps are most commonly initiated like a half-flip from a forward inside to back inside mohawk or LFO3 turn followed by reaching back with the right leg, tapping the ice with the right toe and vaulting into the air. Completing a half turn, the skater achieves the desired pose at the peak of the jump. The move concludes like a basic half-flip, landing forward on the left toe pick before pushing onto a RFI edge. A flip-like entrance is the most basic method to initiate almost all positional jumps. Nomenclature conventions assume that most positional jumps are performed as half-flip variations unless otherwise indicated.
However, toe assisted positional jumps may also take off from a lutz entrance. Lutz based variations are less common than their flip-like counterparts. To enter a positional jump from a lutz preparation, the skater glides on a shallow LBO edge, reaches back with the right foot, picks with the right toe and vaults into the air counter-rotating a half turn into the desired position. The jump concludes like a basic half-lutz landing forward on the left toe pick before pushing onto a RFI edge. Because lutz based positional jumps are considered variations, the entrance must be specified in the name for clarification. For example a basic “stag leap” becomes “stag half-lutz”.
A toe loop entrance may also be used to enter positional jumps, although this variation is not as common for stags and splits. Certain half-rotation jumps such as the Mazurka and Ballet jump are based on toe loop entrances.
Full Rotation Jumps
Although positional jumps are most commonly performed with a half rotation, full rotation variants are occasionally seen in a program to add drama, originality and difficulty. These jumps may be based on a flip or lutz jump. After initiating the jump and rotating forward, the skater achieves the desired position in the air, then completes the final half-rotation while attaining a basic landing posture. While very uncommon, full rotation positional jumps may also be performed as toe loops.
Positional Jumps from an Edge
Positional jumps performed from a clean edge without a toe assist are executed with a loop entrance. Half jumps are performed from a RBO edge; leaping forward into the desired pose and landing forward on the left toe pick before pushing onto a RFI edge. Full rotation variants may also be completed like a basic loop jump landing on a RBO edge.
Falling Leaf Jump
The falling leaf is a positional jump requiring a half revolution from a loop entrance. It has no toe assisted equivalent. From a RBO edge, the skater begins to rotate counterclockwise and reaches his left leg forward. Leaping off the RBO edge, he achieves an open position in the air and lands forward on the left toe pick before pushing onto a RFI edge. This jump may be performed either by reaching the left leg forward or turning the toe out and kicking.
Falling leaf jumps may be performed in stag or split positions and are called “falling leaf stag” and “falling leaf split”, respectively.
Basic Jump Positions
Unless otherwise specified, all of the jumps described below are the most common versions based on the
Stag Leap
The stag leap earned its name because the air position resembles a deer leaping through a meadow. After vaulting from a flip preparation, the skater turns forward raising a bent left knee toward her chest allowing the calf muscles to touch the underside of the thigh, while maintaining an upright body carriage. The trailing leg remains straight with the toe turned out and lifts off the ice. Ideally, the legs should part in a perfect split. The skater may face forward or to the side. The leading arm may curve gracefully overhead while the trailing arm extends parallel to the trailing leg. Otherwise, the arms may remain outstretched to the sides. The jump lands like a basic half-flip.
Double Stag Leap
Similar to the basic stag leap, except the trailing leg bends and does not turn out. The trailing knee points more or less toward the ice. Ideally, the trailing foot reaches upward. The air position resembles a sprinter frozen
Split Jump
For a traditional split jump, the skater achieves a full 180° split position in the air. The left leg extends in front of the torso and the right leg lifts off the ice and stretches behind the body. This position duplicates the common forward split performed by cheerleaders and gymnasts on balance beam.
Russian Split Jump
To achieve a Russian split air position, the skater faces sideways and pikes slightly at the waist to lift both legs off the ice. He appears to sit in the air with his legs parted in a wide “V” shape. The further the legs separate, the more difficult and dramatic the jump. Generally, the hands reach toward the toes at the peak of the jump. The arms may also simply stretch out to the sides. Most often executed as a half-flip, the Russian split jump may be performed as a full flip or, in very rare cases, a half or full rotation lutz. A loop entrance is not used.
American professional skater, Rori Flack Burghart, performs a unique version of the Russian split in which her legs part in the basic “V” shape, but hyperextend beyond the traditional seated position. Her feet often reach above the level of her shoulders.
Russian Split Axel
A variation on the Russian split jump, it is one of the few positional jumps requiring axel rotation. The Russian split position is achieved by leaping off a LFO edge, then the skater contracts into the backspin rotational position to complete an axel jump. The jump is a delayed axel with the delay occurring in a Russian split pose.
Technically, a Russian split axel may be considered a rotational jump since full axel rotation is required. Similarly, tuck axel variations may be considered positional jumps because several tucked poses may be achieved which differ significantly from the basic backspin posture.
Mazurka
One of the few jumps based on a toe loop entrance, the Mazurka is a half rotation jump that does not have a full rotation counterpart nor is it performed from any other entrance. From a RBO edge, the skater taps his left toe pick into the ice as though initiating a toe loop jump. As he begins to turn, the right leg passes quickly across the left in a kicking motion. This results in a cross-legged pose in which both legs remain straight with the toes pointed down. Unlike the basic backspin rotation position, the legs do not lock together with the ankles touching. The legs actually scissor passed each other. In extreme versions, the legs may kick far enough apart to resemble a cheerleader split position facing sideways. The skater lands forward on the right toe pick and pushes to a LFO edge.
Ballet Jump
Similar to the Mazurka, this jump is initiated from a toe loop entrance on a RBO edge. Reaching back with the left toe pick, the skater springs into the air. The left leg remains straight and perpendicular to the ice with the toe pointed downward. The right leg lifts off the ice and turns out, resembling the trailing leg of a split or stag leap. The jump lands on the left foot, facing forward. The skater pushes to a right forward inside or outside edge.
Miscellaneous Variations
Skaters invent new variations of positional jumps adding interest to choreography, complexity to a footwork sequence, or to create a mood. Canadian skater, Elvis Stojko, gives a martial arts flavor to many of his routines by including unique positional jumps. Dance, cheerleading, or other sports such as gymnastics and martial arts may inspire novel positions.
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The definitions provided in the technical glossary are offered in good faith for personal use. They are not necessarily official definitions.
The content of this site is copyright by "Kay" K. J. N., 1999 - 2001