Axel help!!?

Question

okay so i've been working on my axel for like a year, and i've been skating for 2. well... i do an axel right? i do the rotations land on 2 feet and for some reason hop on my toepick like a toeloop.... is there any way i can fix this?!?

Answer 1

I would simply practice it off ice in your tennis shoes. If you don't do that already, it helps a lot. It will train your body to land on one foot. Or pactice doing a loop after it. It will make you land on one foot. It helped me, but I can't guaruntee that will help you. But I would definately try it off ice.

Answer 2

it sounds like you could either be underrotating or overrotating.  not a lot, just a quarter of a turn.

a lot of girls overrotate. ask your coach if you are, then just make your jump airier (is that a word?)

also you have to feel the landing. i know, even when you try it doesnt work out. but try to feel the landing. imagine it in your sleep. it will turn out! it could be the first try, it could be the 20th. but you'll get it.

Answer 3

Don't worry, you will get it soon. Practice doing them off-ice in gym shoes. Then ask your coach to put you on the harness. They both train your muscles to do it right, and you will have it soon. Don't be afraid to fall. I took a bad fall last year, and I was afraid to do it. I had to over come that fear, and now I am landing them fine. I would also suggest getting a waxel pad if you fall a lot. They help me too. You should also do warm-ups, like waltz loop, waltz jump with 5/10 loops, waltz loop backscratch loop, once arounds, once around back scratch. Walk it through also.Start by stepping as if you were going to do a waltz jump, come up on your toe, and then step to the other foot and do a small back scratch. If you have a problem landing on your toe, hop up and down on your right foot toe pick 5 times. Do that 3 times, then do your axel.

Good Luck, and Be Patient!

It took me forever to land my axel, and I am still trying to get it really consistent. Don't get mad if it takes you longer than other people to get their axel. Some people have an easier time jumping than others. Just keep practicing and you will get it.

It sounds like you aren't crossing your leg over though. When I had this problem, I did some of the exercises above, and a different one too. I would pretend like I was doing a waltz jump, and once I jumped up, I would cross my leg over. I wasn't doing an axel, but it helped me get the feel for it. If you fall a lot, you could try a waxel pad. It protects your bottom from getting hurt from falling.

Good Luck!