Loop timing

[sunshinepointe]

My loop is the most inconsistent thing in the world and I know it's all a result of timing.

My coach wants the loops from back CCW crossovers. Sometimes I nail it and it's fabulous, other times it's a two foot train wreck.

I have a hard time telling when to take off. I think I wait too long before I spring up and I slip off my edge. Or I'm not pre-rotating the right way or something.

I know it's hard for you to tell me how to fix my loop issues, but does anyone have a "timing" method for me to think about? Like with all of my other jumps I'm able to count it out in a cadence sort of way, but I haven't figured out how to do that on a loop yet. When I do them right, I tend to not have any idea what I just did.

I've tried doing the loop out of a waltz jump and this is easier, but it's not that good. Plus I want to be able to do a loop by itself.

I'm going to try to work on this with my coach next week, but in the meantime if anyone has any timing tips or things to remember in the loop it would be appreciated.

:giveup: I hate this stupid jump

[mmscfdcsu]

No real help here I'm afraid. My loop has always been my easiest and best jump. Way back when I was learning it, my coach insisted that I do it from a mohawk entrance. for me, that made the timing easy. I also felt secure and centered following that mohawk. The jump almost did itself. Good luck

[The Ice Demon]

I always count my loop, 1 is holding a glide on both feet (after doing crossovers) 2, i cross my left foot (or rather slide it further over in front of and to the right of the right foot (i hope this makes sense!) 3, i start to turn ready for the take off (you know the bit where the tracing curves in tightly at the end).

I don't know if this is any help - it's really hard to explain it in words. Some other things that help is doing the entry but with out jumping, but instead curl into a backspin, this helps to get the take off edge right. Also make sure you keep the right shoulder back until the last possible moment. If you look at the tracing of a good loop you can see from the 'hook' how you are actually facing the takeoff direction by the time you take off. Also a deep knee bend helps with the spring so that you pop up with nice height.

I hope this is some help, i'm not very good at explaining things, maybe someone else will do it better. :lol:

[luna_skater]

My loop stinks too, but is getting much better. The things that help me out on the days when it's not bad:

Making sure my weight is correctly placed over my right hip. Coach has me doing an exerice now where I glide backwards on two feet, then gently lift my left foot off the ice, making sure to keep my weight over my right hip. If it's in the wrong place, I'll fall off the edge. If it's in the right place, I will stay perfectly balanced, and actually speed up.
When my loop out of cross-overs deserts me, I try a few out of a RFI-3 to try and get the timing back.
Making sure to keep my free leg in front makes a big difference too.

[Joan]

Have you tried a forward inside 3-turn entry? Pretty much as soon as you are stable on your back outside edge after the 3-turn, bend your knee and jump. Although you want to do the loop from back cross-overs, this 3-turn entry might be a good way to practice the timing of the actual jump.

[Hannahclear]

I've always done my loop from crossovers (it's my best jump). But lately, my coach has given me some technique that has really made it even better. Check the rotation of your upper body, with left arm in from and right arm back/to the side. Then, while holding the check of the upper body, take off from the right BO edge with a bit of a twist motion.

[slusher]

I have a hard time telling when to take off. I think I wait too long before I spring up and I slip off my edge. Or I'm not pre-rotating the right way or something.


I have loop issues. I do it from an inside 3 turn, it makes sure that my free foot is in front. When I do it from crossovers or back pull my free leg is in some other universe.

To think about timing, I do 3 turn and wait one, two, on two I kneebend lower, and then on three almost push down to snick the toe/initiate the jump. The whole thing from beginning is:
down-up-down (3 turn)- little up - big down and UP.

If I feel that I'm jumping off the edge and not the toe, I'm not rotating enough on the take off and missing the pick.

[blisspix]

I've always done my loop from crossovers (it's my best jump). But lately, my coach has given me some technique that has really made it even better. Check the rotation of your upper body, with left arm in from and right arm back/to the side. Then, while holding the check of the upper body, take off from the right BO edge with a bit of a twist motion.

*nods* it's all about the check. Once you've checked your shoulders, you can jump. It helps to look back to pull the shoulders into line.

Also, try larger, slower crossovers. I do my loops from a mohawk but you pull your foot across like a big crossover (although stopping the forward foot in front) before I check and jump.

[Hannahclear]

I'm glad my explanation made sense. :D

To add another bit, there should be a bit of a hook on the takeoff tracing. That means you are twisting correctly.

But remember that check!