Each skater's best jump

[icenut84]

Even though there is an order of difficulty in the jumps, nearly every skater has a jump they do best (over their others). What do you think they are? I'm just interested.

*Michelle Kwan - not sure. Maybe the loop?
*Sarah Hughes - double axel.
*Sasha Cohen - ?
*Irina Slutskaya - not sure. She has a great flip and loop though.
*Maria Butyrskaya - ?
*Julia Sebastyen - lutz.
*Elena Sokolova - ?
*Viktoria Volchkova - flip?
*Fumie Suguri - ?
*Tara Lipinski (as an eligible) - the loop obviously, but I also think she had one heck of a flip.
*Lu Chen - ?
*Oksana Baiul - lutz? loop? She also had a good salchow I think.
*Nancy Kerrigan - ?
*Kristi Yamaguchi - ?
*Surya Bonaly - toe loop?
*Vanessa Gusmeroli - ?
*Yuka Sato - ?
*Midori Ito - triple axel.
*Tonya Harding - lutz? axel?
*Katarina Witt - toe loop.

*Evgeny Plushenko - toe loop? axel?
*Alexei Yagudin - ?
*Tim Goebel - salchow.
*Elvis Stojko - toe loop?
*Michael Weiss - lutz.
*Alexander Abt - ?
*Ilia Klimkin - ?
*Todd Eldredge - axel.
*Ilia Kulik - axel?
*Phillippe Candeloro - ?
*Alexei Urmanov - ?
*Viktor Petrenko - ?
*Kurt Browning - ?
*Brian Boitano - ?
*Brian Orser - axel?

Anyone else? What do you think?

[A.H.Black]

Petrenko - Axel
Boitano -lutz

Yuka Sato - loop
Butyrskaya - I think its her loop

[jss]

I think maybe we need to define best:

Best as in which jump is most consistantly landed or which jump is their best when landed...

If it is the first then Michelle's best jump definately isn't the loop

[mkfan34202]

lol, yeah, MK's best jump is not the loop, if anything, that's the worst. Her best would probably be the toe or the flip. I don't include the lutz because sometimes, it's not a true lutz, but otherwise, the jump is fantastic.

For Sasha, she has a great flip.

Fumie - Lutz

[bcskater]

*Michelle Kwan - i'd say lutz
*Sarah Hughes - double axel.
*Sasha Cohen - double axel
*Irina Slutskaya - loop
*Maria Butyrskaya - loop
*Julia Sebastyen - lutz.
*Viktoria Volchkova - lutz
*Fumie Suguri - lutz
*Tara Lipinski (as an eligible) - loop
*Oksana Baiul - lutz
*Nancy Kerrigan - toe
*Kristi Yamaguchi - lutz
*Surya Bonaly - toe
*Vanessa Gusmeroli - lutz
*Yuka Sato - loop
*Midori Ito - triple axel.
*Tonya Harding - axel
*Katarina Witt - toe
*Jennifer R. - sow
*Yoshi Onda - axel


*Evgeny Plushenko - toe
*Alexei Yagudin - axel
*Tim Goebel - salchow
*Elvis Stojko - ?
*Michael Weiss - lutz
*Alexander Abt - ???
*Todd Eldredge - axel
*Ilia Kulik - axel
*Phillippe Candeloro - ?
*Alexei Urmanov - axel
*Viktor Petrenko - axel
*Kurt Browning - toe
*Brian Boitano - lutz
*Brian Orser - axel

[icenut84]

Originally posted by jss
I think maybe we need to define best:

Best as in which jump is most consistantly landed or which jump is their best when landed...

If it is the first then Michelle's best jump definately isn't the loop

I mean best as in good technique, consistent, and a good overall jump (height/distance etc). I put the loop for Michelle because it always seems to be the first jump in her LPs and many skaters like to get a jump under their belt before they go for the combo, etc. I haven't seen her fall on it either. Thinking about it though, I agree with toe loop. And I can't believe I forgot about the lutz for Boitano! lol.

[loveskating]

*Michelle Kwan - 3 toe loop
*Sarah Hughes - double axel.
*Sasha Cohen - 3 sal or 4 sal and 2 axel
*Irina Slutskaya - flip and loop
*Maria Butyrskaya - lutz
*Julia Sebastyen - lutz.
*Elena Sokolova - ?
*Viktoria Volchkova - lutz?
*Fumie Suguri - ?
*Tara Lipinski (as an eligible) - the loop obviously
*Lu Chen - ?
*Oksana Baiul - lutz and salchow
*Nancy Kerrigan - ?
*Kristi Yamaguchi - lutz
*Surya Bonaly - toe loop?
*Vanessa Gusmeroli - lutz
*Yuka Sato - ?
*Midori Ito - triple axel.
*Tonya Harding - lutz? axel and best lutz I ever saw lady do at Lillie/LP
*Katarina Witt - toe loop.

*Evgeny Plushenko - 4 toe loop
*Alexei Yagudin - 3 axel, second best ever
*Tim Goebel - 4 tl
*Elvis Stojko - 4 toe loop
*Michael Weiss - lutz
*Alexander Abt - 3 axel
*Ilia Klimkin - ?
*Todd Eldredge - lutz
*Ilia Kulik - 3 axel...best ever, IMHO
*Phillippe Candeloro - ?
*Alexei Urmanov - 3 axel
*Viktor Petrenko - 3 axel
*Kurt Browning - not the lutz, rofl, 3 tl
*Brian Boitano - 3 axel
*Brian Orser - 3 axel

Anyone else? What do you think?

[gatorboy]

The 3loop is definitely the most challenging jump for Michelle. She puts it first because she wants to do it on fresh legs. It was the last triple she attained in her repertoire back when she was 13 or so and has been her least consistent (note: it is strong for her when she is trained and prepared by nationals or Worlds generally).

If anyone saw Michelle skate (on TV) at that seaosn opening Campbell's Challenge thing in Daytona Beach, after she finished, you could hear her say with surprise to Scott Williams (coach) that she landed the 3loop. Notice she never, ever includes it in her exhibition pieces.

The 3flip has mostly been good for Michelle but was noticeably bad at Olympics. As she attempts so many lutzes and 3 toes (2 each in her typical long program), I'd say either of those is her most reliable. The 2axel has been very strong the last few years (after a couple misses at Worlds in 98 and 99).

[mkfan34202]

MK did a triple loop in her On My Own Exhibition during the 1998 Olympic Season. Her 3 flip is amazing to look at when it is "on." Her 2axel use to be amazing as well back in the 95-98 days when she could do it with such ease. Sasha, her best "looking" jump is definitely not the sal, I'd say the flip, also, definitely not the 2axel. Most the time, her landing leg is a little shakey on the landing. Krisit's 3lutz/3toe was another amazing feet to behold.

[gatorboy]

Good call on Michelle's 3loop in exhibition in '98. I suspect this was due to the injury to her left foot, as that was the year she also included 2 3loops in the free program. Don't get me wrong, Michelle has a great 3loop, but I think Michelle herself would probably classify it as her least favorite triple, if she has one.

[Luenatic]

Originally posted by loveskating
[B*Sasha Cohen - 3 sal or 4 sal and 2 axel
Anyone else? What do you think? [/B]

Just curious. I missed several GP events this season and didn't taped them either (I was travelling out of the country for a month during GP). When did Sasha land her 4 Sal? Was it in one of the GP events? I bet it's amazing to watch. Sasha must be so happy for landing such difficult jump! Two thumbs up way up!!! Yeah!

So I guess Sasha is the first US lady landed a quad in competition then. I wonder if I can download Sasha's 4Sal video clip on the net. Any links?

[icenut84]

Luenatic - Sasha hasn't landed the 4salchow in competition yet, although she's landed it in practice (it was filmed). In a recent interview she said she's working on it and she might try it at Worlds.

[spiralsrfun]

I'll just do some current ladies eligibles

*Michelle Kwan - 3 toe, 3 lutz, 3 sal - all wonderful
*Sarah Hughes - 2 axel
*Sasha Cohen - 3 sal and 2 axel are beautiful
*Irina Slutskaya - 3 flip and 3 loop
*Elena Sokolova - 3 lutz
*Viktoria Volchkova - 3 lutz
*Fumie Suguri - 3 toe
*Shizuka Awakawa - 3 lutz
*Yoshie Onda - 2 axel

[loveskating]

Originally posted by Luenatic
Just curious. I missed several GP events this season and didn't taped them either (I was travelling out of the country for a month during GP). When did Sasha land her 4 Sal? Was it in one of the GP events? I bet it's amazing to watch. Sasha must be so happy for landing such difficult jump! Two thumbs up way up!!! Yeah!

So I guess Sasha is the first US lady landed a quad in competition then. I wonder if I can download Sasha's 4Sal video clip on the net. Any links?

She didn't land a quad in competition...but generally, its been news in skating when ANY woman lands a quad anywhere, anytime. We've seen her land it in practice, we know she can do it. Few can even in practice.

Similarly, it was news when the two ladies landed 3 axels in competition recently, despite the fact they were both not anywhere near the podium for other reasons.

[loveskating]

Originally posted by spiralsrfun
I'll just do some current ladies eligibles

*Michelle Kwan - 3 toe, 3 lutz, 3 sal - all wonderful


I wouldn't call a small lutz where the takeoff is at its best from the flat that good.

Same goes for Irina on the takeoffs, although she makes the left outside edge for real sometimes, and her lutz is big.

Also, I wouldn't call Kwan's air position on any of her jumps steller...for that, its Sasha and Irina who really set the standard as to the proper backspin position in the air (which is one reason their jumps have such nice arc and explosiveness).

[Kabooke]

Originally posted by loveskating
I wouldn't call a small lutz where the takeoff is at its best from the flat that good.

Funny,
that describes Sasha, except she takes-off from and inside edge.
Her jumps are no more explosive or bigger than Michelle's.

Sasha has what tara had, fast rotation,
which should be mistaken for anything more or less.

Explosiveness, Sasha?
Surely you jest!;)

Back to the main topic:
I think Michelle's lutz, toe-loop, and
salchow(can't remember the last time she missed it in major competition) are her best jumps.

[catija]

regarding oxana baiul.....

i think in one of my old tapes...they said her fav jump was the loop....but not necessarily her bestjump :)

btw everytime i see MK doing the 2 axle i get sooo nervous...

[bcskater]

Originally posted by catija
btw everytime i see MK doing the 2 axle i get sooo nervous...
I AGREE!