Axel: Missing Something?

[Three Dots]

I've been working on the axel for about 2 years, and I'm getting really desperate, fustrated and even depressed at myself because I still can't land it. I'm basically happy with everything I can do, fast spins, power, etc. But the one thing I can't do is my axel. And it's very fustrating to see skaters who start skating after me land their doubles and axels before me.

Many people tell me it's all in my head because I can land it on the harness, even without my coach pulling me up. I can land it with just the harness belt on, even without the rope to pull me up. But when the belt gets off, I can't. I can land it two footed, fully rotated, I never fall, I land with my landing foot touching the ice first, and then my other foot doesn't check back but stomps on the ice after. I can land it fully rotated, one footed on the ground, so what is wrong with me on the ice?

Just recently, I lost the "pop", the hip turn that rotates my body to a backspin. Any tips on getting that back and making sure that my right foot doesn't touch the ground, but checks back?

[*JennaD*]

I have the exact same problem! I either 2 foot it, but its fully rotated, or, as you said, my other foot stomps on the ice after I land it on 1 foot!

[sk8er1964]

<snip>But when the belt gets off, I can't.

Can your harness detach from the rope? Because if it can try jumping with the belt on, but without the rope attached. It's a trick you can play on the mind that might help.

I can land it two footed, fully rotated, I never fall, I land with my landing foot touching the ice first, and then my other foot doesn't check back but stomps on the ice after.

This might sound weird --- but let yourself fall. You might be so conerned subconsciously about not falling that your mind is not letting you land correctly. When I was getting my axel back (I was off ice for many years) I must have fallen a couple of hundred times. And I was 37 at the time!

Just recently, I lost the "pop", the hip turn that rotates my body to a backspin. Any tips on getting that back and making sure that my right foot doesn't touch the ground, but checks back?

When that happens to me, I am usually swinging my right side on take off, instead of bring my arms straight through. Either that, or I am trying too hard.

The axel is a very mental jump. However, once you master it (if you ever do ;) - I still lose mine every once in a while) it can be a very fun jump. Good luck!

[pennybeagle]

I'm going to assume you rotate CW (from your description of trying to keep your right foot from touching the ground). So...you may have to translate all this to the opposite side.

When I start 2-footing my axels, often it's because I'm not completely aligned over the correct side. I'm a CCW jumper, so that means that after I step up into the axel, I'm not getting my arms over my right side and letting the rotation happen. Usually, I try too hard, pull my arms over to the left, and then I'm rotating diagonally across my body, too much weight is over my left side, and my left foot touches down and I two-foot...even if I got my right foot down first.

So the following things help me get that alignment corrected:
-Think about pigeon-toeing my right foot as I step into the jump (this prevents me from swinging my leg or jumping outside the circle)
-Get my arms over towards my right shoulder, and stay over that side.
-Stay in that backspin position as long as possible, even if it means over-rotating the jump and falling at first. Get in the habit of staying in position.
-Don't try too hard to make the jump big. Start small. You really don't need a lot of speed or height to do this jump...that will hopefully come later.

And...don't be afraid to start making DIFFERENT mistakes. Put on some pads and take some falls if necessary. Chances are, multiple repetitions of the same mistake (two-footing) and never falling have made your body believe that this is the proper way to do the skill, even if your brain says otherwise.

And listen to skater1964. She has a gorgeous axel. ;)

[BelleOnIce]

This might sound weird --- but let yourself fall. You might be so conerned subconsciously about not falling that your mind is not letting you land correctly.

This is very right. Quite often you see people either fully rotating but stepping out of a jump or two footing a jump and its often then just dont have the technique quite right to land it and release your free leg out.
Opening up and bit and just jumping without fear of falling or thinking you aint going to land it right can help you mentally?
It sounds like you can do it and it is just a fear of falling? When jumping with the harness you have a sense of security.
My axel is my favourite jump though for a while I wasnt skating often and lost it completely! It wasn't even that it was the biggest jumps I got my other doubles back before it as alot has to do with the stepping forward in to the jump (it scared me and I kept thinking I was going to fall flat on my face!!!)
Though once I padded myself up a bit I just went for it!!

Hope it sorts out soon!
Good Luck
Belle

[ice-princess]

I was having problems with my axel for a few days this week as well. Its actually a lot better to just let yourself fall. I actually feel a bit like I haven't had a complete practice if I hadven't fallen at least once.

But anyway, I kept doing the exact thing you describe-stepping down on the wrong foot. Theres a really good exercise to get around that though:

On the ice, do your axel from standstill but don't worry about crossing your legs or even doing the complete rotations- just focus on keeping the left leg up (if you're jumpin CCW). Just think left leg up!!!

Do that about 10 times. Then try your axel properly a couple of times. And just keep alternating between doing the exercise and the axel, decreasing the number of times you do the exercise until eventually you only do it 2-3 times before you attempt the axel. It should help.

And...Think positive!!!!

[sk8er1964]

And listen to skater1964. She has a gorgeous axel. ;)

Aww, thanks pennybeagle :oops: :)