Phobia of axels. XD?

Question

For some reason, I'm so scared of falling when I do jumps like axel. Not, strangely, when I do double-sarchow. Or, not as much. Are there any ways I can overcome this phobia of jumping axels? I'm beginning doubles and don't want this to get in my way.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Part of it is because its so unusual and its the only forward egdge jump.

GET CRASH PADS! Get the bunga crash pads, you can get them online. If you wear pants, wear an extra pair of tights under and put the pads between your tights and pants. If you wear a dress, wear two pairs of tights and put the pads in between.

Also get some knee pads.

Alot of the problem is probably overthinking it. Dont think about it, or if you do just think of it as a big waltz jump plus a loop.

If you can, get your coach to help you do them on the harness, to get used to the feel.

Do them off ice until you can do them without thinking about it (EVERY DAY!!!)

Also: try to never pop. Just go for it, dont think too much. If you pop your just psyching yourself out.

Its probably just a phase. Most people go through it, and manage to cope until it passes. Good luck!!! :P

Answer 2

I had that problem too when I first started my doubles but it should pass. Just think how great you will feel after doing the axel and maybe get someone to watch you like your parents or a coach. Do wear pads because if you do fall it won't really hurt as much. This feeling will go away because I remember I couldn't do an axel without someone watching me which is a little pathetic... haha ok good luck =] ♥

Answer 3

Okay, as someone who shares (well, shared) this particular phobia, I can say, it sure is a toughie. I managed to get to where I could do the axel most of the time and even land it (though not completely rotated which on roller skates is not the disaster it is on ice). But I never got to where it didn't terrify me to get into the air.

Funny thing was, in roller, there is an opposite foot jump called the Boeckel (skate forward on the right foot, press the inside edge and jump, rotate 1.5 times and land on the right foot going backwards), I don't think ice has anything remotely like it. And my Boeckel was the best in the state... so I did it instead of the axel. And the Boeckel never scared me, so I never quite figured why the axel did... except that it was that awkward outside edge take off.

If you look at some of the elite skaters on TV, you can usually pick out the ones who are still scared of the axel (in their case, the triple axel). They go WAY down on the knee and often, they skid off the outside edge before they take off. The worst of them pre-rotate the axel on the ice before taking off. All of these are technique problems, but, IMO, they are technique problems prompted by fear... fear of that proverbial awkward forward take off. Just goes to prove, d**k Button has NOT just been blathering all these years.

So, how did I manage to get the jump done? Here's a couple tips:

1) check your tracing to see if you're skidding off the edge on take off. This could be caused by a number of things, all of which are fix-able.

2) try taking off from a flat rather than a circle. The lean into the circle always messed me up, causing me to fall over into the circle. I tended to lean in too hard, so trying to jump from a flat, kind of straightened me out. I still was on an edge, just not so deep of an edge.

3) DON'T LOOK DOWN. No, I mean it. I was so scared of the axel that I'd often look at the floor (in your case, the ice) and that's where I'd end up, if I dared to jump at all. I used to pick a point in the distance and look at it. Two reasons, first of all, it made my posture better. Better posture on the take off means better chance of landing on something other than your behind. Second, it took my mind off the idea that I was going forward and was afraid.

4) Make absolutely sure that you'r going up square--shoulders and hips at the same time. Men can muscle out jumps with their strong shoulders, women MUST jump with shoulders and hips square because what takes them around is the hips.

5) Try for a lot of spring. The higher you get in the air, the less you have to worry about rotating fast. Practice this off ice, at least 3 sets of 5 every night on that one foot.

6) Practice the whole jump off ice. Practice it on your feet. But also, do it in your head. Visualize yourself not only doing the jump, but also not being afraid of it. Make this your mantra for when you get bored (in school or work). If you can SEE it and if you BELIEVE it, you can DO it.

Visualize yourself while you go through the motions off ice, try to feel off ice what you feel on ice... except without being afraid.

7) If your rink has a jump tender (a hanging contraption for allowing you to jump while making sure you don't fall), might not be so bad to use it a bit until you gain confidence.

8) Use breathing exercises and relaxation exercises to control your fear.

9) Practice falling forward onto something soft in exactly the manner that you do when landing an axel badly. I can almost guarantee you, that's what you're really afraid of... falling forward.

10) Studies show that while skaters spend 60% of their time practicing jumps, they spend only about 1% of that time practicing jumps they are learning and the rest on jumps they can already do. Spend more time on the axel. Do them until you either do three in a row or fall three times in a row or for a half hour. Then go do something else for 10 minutes, not jumping. Clear out your head. Relax. Let the adrenalin quiet itself down. Then, go back and flog that axel. When you get tired. STOP. Practicing when your body is worn out will just beat you to heck, it won't do any actual good.

Anyway, I hope these things help you. Though I did manage to "get" the axel, it was never a comfortable jump for me and I left skating before I really ever became confident in it. But, it can come. Work on making your technique perfect and on controlling your fear. Bad technique and fear feed on each other. Each one makes the other worse.

Good luck.

Answer 4

just pretend everyones nude

Answer 5

What you should do is practice a LOT of off-ice axels. Believe it or not, axels off-ice are harder than on-ice ones, so if you can do it off-ice, you can do it on-ice. It's just all in your mind! You THINK you'll fall, but how will you know? Im not saying you're not going to fall, but really, after you fall a lot of times, you get used to it!

Also, everytime you're about to do your axel, imagine yourself landing a perfect axel. And don't think about the axel too much. Try not to stress too much about the arms, legs, rotations...Just do it! After much practice, you'll get the hang of it. You just need confidence in yourself!

Best of luck! =)

Answer 6

Have you tried crash pads or the harness to get over the fear?  Some coaches don't want you to wear them, but it might help you over the hump.