The Loop Jump – Survey Results Part 1 (Trevor Laak)

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Jump specialist Trevor Laak begins a multiple part series on the loop jump.  A few months prior to posting this video, Trevor asked iCoachSkating subscribers to take a survey about the loop jump.  The survey consisted of 15 multiple choice questions.  Responses from coaches and skaters were separated, and a relatively clear picture of the current level of understanding regarding the loop jump is available from the survey results.

In this video, Trevor introduces the series and addresses the first 3 questions of the survey.  He provides the survey questions, the multiple choice answers, the survey results, the correct answer, and video examples demonstrating the correct answer.  To summarize the details of this video:  A loop jump takes off forward, with the skater’s shoulders and foot facing forward toward the landing.  Also, a good loop jump leaves the ice from the toe pick.  As you’ll see in the video, the survey results indicate there is still some confusion regarding these concepts, especially among skaters.

When you finish the video below, please check out Part 2 here.


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5 responses to “The Loop Jump – Survey Results Part 1 (Trevor Laak)”

  1. EEDR

    Yeah, I got the answers right! Current older adult skater and former coach.

    Reply
  2. Kim Ryan

    Nice job Trevor clear and informative!

    Reply
  3. Jessica

    But if the skating foot is facing forward on the take off, wouldn’t that be cheating the jump, especially if it’s past forward?

    Reply
  4. Trevor

    Jessica – A forward take-off on a loop jump is not a cheated take-off. It is a correct take-off. The real question is why do you think it might be considered cheated? What training have you had that states the take-off foot should not be facing forward? It’s possible you haven’t had any such training, but repeatedly hearing things like a “single loop jump rotates a full turn in the air” has led you to that conclusion. But to my knowledge, there is no formal document in skating that says a loop jump takes off backward (or forward or sideways for that matter). Overwhelming video evidence shows that a good loop jump takes off forward. I think the question of whether a skate that is rotated PAST forward before lifting off should be considered cheated is more interesting. Of all competition triple loop videos I’ve analyzed, not one that left the ice with some rotation past forward was penalized in any way. I’m not saying we want to teach it that way, but it is not drawing attention in competition. It’s much more common to see double and triple axels that take off completely backward and none of those are getting penalized either. So as long as the jump take-off timing and rhythm appears normal (the skater doesn’t stop and spin on the toe pick), these jumps will never be considered cheated. The point is: Video analysis shows us what happens on good jumps that get full credit, so we need to focus on modeling that, even if it runs counter to our preconceptions.

    Reply
  5. Amanda

    Jessica – I would like to weigh on your inquiry about whether a forward take off is considered a cheated jump or not (I am a coach and technical official).

    As long as the last “edge” a skater skates during take off is backward outside edge, a pivot to forward in a loop (and most other jumps) is totally acceptable and actually necessary to the mechanics of the jump. Loops may be called << if the back outside edge turns to a forward inside edge prior to take off. I most often see this called with the toe loop (I.e. Toe Axel) and Salchow (back inside edge turning to a forward outside edge). It is also interesting to note that on panel, jump take offs cannot be reviewed in slow motion as all jumps technically take off forward (I am not sure if this is a Canada only rule or international).

    Happy Skating!

    Reply

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