Hello all,

Im going to start learning the half loop and the take off sort of confuses me, plus im having trouble geting much height on it. Can someone tell me the proper way to do a half loop and any advice on the jump.

thanks in advance =)

Glide on two feet, backwards, on a curve. Your weight should be on the innner hip (if you jump the 'usual' way, this is the right hip). Jump from backwards on two feet, counterclockwise turn in the air, to backwards on the outside foot (if jumping the 'usual' way, this is the left foot), landing on a back inside edge. Does this make sense? It's so much harder to say in words than to show! As for advice, make sure you're doing this on a curve. When done properly, it will feel like a very easy and natural movement, more like a little hop over than a jump.

You might have more luck trying it in combination such as: axel (or waltz jump), half loop, salchow. I can't do it on its own to save my life. Remember that contrary to its name, the half loop is actually a full revolution jump. It's evil.

i can't do an axel yet but i can do a waltz and a salchow so i'll try it in a combo with one of those. And Yeah i see what you mean after trying the jump alone, it IS EVIL lol thanks for the advice. =)

Some of us learned loops and half loops from an entry of right inside 3-turn, then jump. The difference between the loop and half loop is which foot you land on.

On the half loop, you take off of the right foot and land on the left foot.
On the full loop you take off of the right root and land on the right foot.

I remember learning this jump. At first I would do the right inside 3-turn then just jump up from there. At first there was no rotation, but eventually the rotation came and I would land on two feet. Eventually one foot and that was it...success! Good luck!

Thanks for the advice and help =)

I have one more question lol . When i prepare for the jump by going into it from the backward take of edge, can someone tell me how my feet should be crossed prior to the jump and what edge i should push off on when jumping, because i get all of this mixed up and confused and sometimes i don't know if im doing it right. Thanks =)

The half-loop is just too dainty for me, I usually do it when I blow a full loop (my best jump.) The landing is awkward.

Assuming you jump ccw, here goes:

Entry: some people use a LFO 3, others a RFI Mohawk, and still others just pick up a RBO edge. However you get there, your check should be the RBO edge. The left foot glides on the same "circle" or tracing (LBI edge.) Your left arm is in front, your right arm points the way backwards. Your weight is on the RIGHT side. Bend your knees, lean onto a really deep RB outside edge, and spring up. At the same time, bring your right arm around to meet the left arm in front and start the CCW rotation.

I know someone suggested jumping with both feet. I really jump from the RBO edge. When I try to use both feet, I found that I started to lean forward on takeoff.

In the air, your left leg lifts with the foot still in front. Hips are closed. Think of lifting your thigh UP, not your foot. I teach the foot position here to be free foot flexed, jumping foot pointed. Almost like an open "jack knife" dive position.

Both the half-loop and the loop are full rotations in the air. So, if you take off backwards, you have to land backwards.

Landing: To land the half-loop, let the left toe land and pull out onto a LBI edge. Your right leg extends to the back.

To land a whole loop, land on the right toe and pull onto a RBO edge. The arms are checked with the left arm in front, right arm behind.

Bend your skating knee on the landing in both cases, and really PULL the landing edge to control the curve.

Best of luck!

Good luck.

Can you do a regular loop jump yet or know the entry to that? The half loop is the same entry but landing on the opposite foot, back inside edge rather than the regular landing foot back outside.

I found that my 1/2 loop got better once i started practicing axels...since i naturally seeemd to tack one on to my axels turned waltz jumps