It wasn't so much the size of the toe picks--although they are bigger--as much as they're lower on the blade. I was in Mystiques for a little over a year, and had to get new skates because my heels were moving in them. The pro shop was having their annual sale, and one of the skate school coaches recommended Competitors for me. They even had them in my size. I did have to relearn basic stroking-ie-not toe pushing because they were lower. AND, I tripped on them more than a few times until I got used to them. Even bruised a couple of ribs once--it hurt to laugh for a while. But, it was worth it.

I think the way Uncle Dick goes on about the axel is hilarious, sort of like it's his own way of patting himself on the back!!! I mean afterall, he was the first skater to land a double axel in competition!!!! I always laugh at his axel comments for that reason!!!

Well having been working on the double axel this lunchtime I think Uncle Dick has got a point. I'm past being worried about the FO edge on the single axel, but on the double it is the worst part. You have to get that FO edge just right otherwise the whole thing goes haywire - and then of course you find yourself in mid-air spinning out of control thinking "this is going to hurt"

Fortunately today none of them did hurt that much, but the ice was all wet so I got soaked to the skin!

John

The bunny hop can actually be a spectacular highlight move if you give it a lot of oomph on the take-off to really get into the air and then really extend your body and legs in mid-air and also when landing. Charlie Tickner always had one in his "My Way" exhibition number.

Well, I love bunnyhops! They are my best jump. I was scared to jump up when I first learned them, but now I can do them across the rink and they get higher as I go (or they seem to )

I think they are so fun. I wish all jumps were that easy!

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Sasha Fan
Supporter of Alissa and Amber Czisny

I can do Bunny Hops on both feet, but I hate them! I don't like landing forward and I'm too big to be doing dainty little jumps. Ironically, I can teach anyone a bunny hop in a heartbeat. All my students learn them early -- I guess I'm compensating for my own fears.

Last year, I went to an on-ice workshop where we had to do what the instructor called a "One-Foot Bunny Hop." I chickened out and still haven't practiced it. It's just a skip on one foot, but I'm with you all on the fear of catching a toe pick and kissing the ice. Maybe I'll try it tonight on the wall.

A bunny hop doesn't have to be dainty if you really attack the HOP part of it. It might help if you think of the jump more as a full-grown Kangaroo hop than as a bunny hop.

One skater once taught it to her son by telling him: "First you kick the rabbit in the stomach, then, when he doubles up in pain, you stomp on the back of his neck!" Works for me....

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

PML! Will try thinking of it that way next time I'm doing bunny hops

What does everyone think of inside axels? Do you think they are easier then regular axels? I'm taking a jump&spin class over the summer and we have skaters from all different FS levels. So far we've done a lot of axel excersizes and I learned the inside axel! Well I kept two footing it, but still, I haven't even done a lutz yet! And the loop is my total nemesis jump.

TashaKat,

I agree on the axel being a big brain thing on difficulty. I worked on the axel for weeks with my coach, many years ago when I didn't know what an axel was, and I worked at it like any other jump I had learned. And then, someone informed me about the axel. Next lesson I questioned my coach. She just stood there saying, "NO, no, no." I take it she was quietly sneaking into this jump. My previous questions had been ignored and talked fast over. Once told, I got worried. Before that I had been cluesless and unafraid. I've never been concerned about bunny hops. Saying that, I've seen some serious head bangers on this skill. One guy went off in an abulance! Beware of bunnies. =-)

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

The inside axel is harder than a regular axel. I wish I can do an inside one. I have always wanted to do the inside axel-2sal combination but can't get the inside axel to take off.

I think you mean one-foot axel. They are often confused. Think of it as defined by the entry edge instead of landing edge.

Regular axel - LFO take-off, CCW rotation 1.5x and RBO landing edge.
One foot axel - LFO take-off, CCW rotation 1.5x and LBI landing edge.
Inside axel - RFI take-off, CCW rotation 1.5x and RBO landing edge.

Jill Trenary and Emily Hughes both have done one-foot axels to triple sals, so did another mid-range skater at US Nationals in the not-too-distant past but I'm blanking on who (Amber Corwin?). I have rarely seen inside axels and they're usually part of a footwork sequence like walleys.

Oh you're right. I was confusing inside axel with a one-foot axel.

I would say inside axel is easier and regular axel. My right leg is stronger than my left. So it's no big deal for my right leg to spring me up in the air and rotate for the inside axel. The one problem I have with the normal axel is taking off in a way that will allow me to transfer my weight over to the right side and rotate around that side. I tend to feel my weight somewhere in the middle of my body on the axel.

Hey there!

I've been working on the axel on and off for about 2 months now, but i think i'm going to put my all into it. Today on ice, i get into the air and either my arms are flying, or my arms are fine and my free leg is not pulling through enough. I got up in the air a couple times but end up falling half way the way through. My coach has been teaching me and making me continuasly do the waltz-backspin and i've been doing that and it's hepled quite a bit. Same with the waltz-loop. I just try not to be afraid when attempting it too lol.
Off ice today i landed the axel. It wasn't that great, and i think i cheated it a bit, but it felt good knowing it was going somewhere. lol. I could never do them before.