I've been working on this move for a few weeks now, and I just can't seem to get it. I can do a regular split jump, and I can do a falling leaf... I just can't make my body do a split falling leaf.

I understand its more of a side split rather than a stradle (like I do my split jump), and that the body pre-rotates before leaving the ice so that the free leg "scissors" ahead along with the free side. I just can't manage to do it!!! I feel uncoordinated and lopsided whenever I go to do it. Also, I got into the habit of doing it incorrectly a while back by trying to do more of a stradle spilt...

Any tips?

Can you do it off-ice?

You'll need to focus on lifting one leg straight ahead of you while the other stretches straight back behind you. When you are in the split position, your body/head are facing forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_kV28XZJ7U

This is like a grand jete in ballet. My "signature" jump in ballet, LOL!

Think about a kick-kick motion -- kick the front foot out and the back foot up. Think about the kick generating from underneath the front leg -- for some reason, the instant someone says "lift" your legs weigh about eighty pounds apiece. Think "out" or "extend" not "up".

Michelle Kwan has a fantastic split falling leaf. Think whatever you want about the rest of her skating, that move is spectacular. She does it in the "correct" position, you can tell because her legs both get at least parallel to the ice. That's what makes it fly. The one in the youtube video is nice and secure, but the skater doesn't get the back leg anywhere near parallel.

In ballet, the goal was parallel, but the back leg higher than parallel. I used to do a sequence of three grand jetes -- leap, step, leap, step, leap and lean back with my back leg bent so my shoe touched my head. Always got applause...

I know why your not getting it.

It's not fall yet. Leaves aren't suppose to fall until the fall. Hence the word fall.

OK, I was pulling your chain.

I use to be able to do a falling leaf but I haven't done one since the 2004-2005 season. Maybe I'll try one today.

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I wish it were just that easy... Do any other moves have a season? What time of year to cows give birth? It might be a good time to work on my salchow.

I'm having trouble with this too! I can do a regular split jump but I can't figure out why I can't do a split falling leaf.. very frustrating.

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I also found the split falling leaf much more awkward than the split jump. The one thing that made it easier for me was to think about pushing off from the side of the blade of the takeoff foot, rather than staying backwards and rolling straight up off the toe like a loop takeoff. It requires deep ankle bend and a rounder takeoff edge than you would use for the regular split jump.

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I actually like split falling leafs. For a while I could only do split falling leafs and not regular split jumps. Quarkiki had really good tips. I think about really reaching out with the front leg, and then almost trying to put as much distance between the front leg and the back. I enter mine from a mohawk and hold the take-off edge just a little longer than for a loop. Then, as doubletoe said, I push off the side of my blade. I don't jump straight forwards, but rather diagonally. It's all about timing, which, naturally, I can't explain...

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I kinda figured it out today on the ice... The tip about jumping "diagonal" really helped. Thanks!