flutzing...

[figure_skater]

any advice for flutzin' a single lutz? i just learned it but i just keep switching edges... any tips?

[*JennaD*]

what helped me was just to practice the take off edge and to be really comfortable on that edge. Also, don't pick right away, take your time. I hope that helps!

[mikawendy]

I'm only working on the half lutz, but here's what helps me--when you pick in, be sure that your picking foot is going into the ice directly behind you, and not out to the side.

For example, if you skate CCW, make sure your right foot is not picking diagonally back to your right side. If your picking foot is way out to the side, your body weight will tend to go to that foot, and you'll be pulled from the outside edge to an inside edge.

I've also seen some people place their picking foot over the tracing, into the INSIDE of the circle being created by the outsde edge. That is, if you're CCW, the picking foot would go behind you and sorta to the left, at about 7 o clock in relation to your left (skating) foot. I've heard that there are pros AND cons to this approach, though. (It can make you tip too far forward if you're not careful, and then you'd be too tilted in the air to land the jump well.)

[sophisastar]

I had the same problem!
If there's any advise I can give is something not to do.
When I was told I was flutzing I tried to accentuate the outside edge by putting
my right shoulder back, in fact it does the opposite, by doing that, at the moment you pick that shoulder is then low and the oudside edge becomes a inside edge.
It might not help much but all I can add is take your time during the preparation and don't focus too much on your edges it sould correct intself by just going into the jump with your back strait and strong.

[techskater]

Shorten the entry edge to the take off - try the Mohawk-cross entry or a bracket (FI-BO), 3 turn (FI-BO), Counter or rocker

[stardust skies]

I think some skaters can do a true lutz, and some can't. You can work on fixing your edge as much as possible, but there's a reason that even in the USFS rulebook for FS tests, it is written in black and white that a small change of edge is allowed. It just happens. You come to terms with it, and you do your best to keep it at a minimum. It won't hurt you- just ask Sasha Cohen.