Entrance to an Axel?

Question

OK, I am learining how to do an axel and i was wondering how to do the entrance. I was wondering if you do it as a froward 3-turn, sidways 3-turn(like a loop) or just do it(like a waltz jump). The way my older friend taught me to do it like a waltz jump and i think that is right but i am still wondering.

So how do you do the entrance??????

Answer 1

It is like a waltz jump.  Instead of getting your leg through straight for a big waltz jump, get your knee up straight like you would if you were walking up stairs, taking two at a time.  After that point, snap into your backspin position.  Good luck!

Answer 2

An axel takes off from a forward outside edge (jumps are determined by the take off EDGE, net necessarily just the turn).  Only waltz jumps and axels are like that . . . so yes, in that sense the entrance edge is like a waltz jump.  

But the jump technique is a bit different.  In a waltz jump you sort of jump up and OUT to make a half revolution (basically turn from front to back) and land.  In an axel you jump up and IN so you can snap in to a backspin position to do one and a half revolutions in the air and then land.  Axel is much harder - wink!

Hope that helps!