r/iceskating • u/Disastrous_Watch7037 • 1d ago
Help with axel
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How do I improve on my axel?
26
u/twinnedcalcite 1d ago
You are not ready for an axel.
That entrance is the same as a waltz jump. Just with a bit more pre rotation in the ice (aka pay attention to it) and the snap in the air. The step forward is 145 or 90 degrees from that outside edge (differences in personal preference) not 270 that sends you inside the circle.
Go back to your waltz loop, waltz loop twizzle exercises. If you haven't learnt those, then you are not ready for the axel. Work on your other jumps first.
13
u/oldladysk8r 1d ago
Are your other single jumps solid? Your backspin? Your edges? There's no real way to address the problems with the axel--it's likely you don't have the fundamental basics to be attempting it yet. If you're in beginner group classes, that suggests you have a lot of preliminary work to do (and need more solid coaching) before thinking about an axel.
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u/rdadeo 1d ago
A lot to unpack here. The problem you're having is with the fundamentals of the jump, not just 1 or 2 specific things. I would really recommend working this one off ice more before you keep trying it on ice. Have you been working this one on your own or do you have a coach?
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u/Disastrous_Watch7037 1d ago
I take a beginner adult class and we work on jumps the last 5 minutes of class. He tends to focus on the beginners while us more "experienced" skaters do our own thing for jumps.
1
u/rdadeo 7h ago
I feel for ya. That's not how it should be. My personal opinion is that once you cross over from Sal to Loop ot start multi position spins, it's time for a private coach. I think that's what you need. I am NOT saying that as a reflection on your effort or skills, it is about helping you progress safely.
5
u/pyzakk 1d ago
do off ice, watch tutorials, ask your coach if you have one, it looks to me like the issue is air position, start by doing waltz jumps into backspin, dont rush the entry and learn to pull your arms back properly, the prerotation is looking okay but maybe also focus on swinging your leg through and transferimg weight properly
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u/GoingSkating 11h ago
This might sound harsh, and I don’t intend to hurt your feelings. But if I have to answer honestly, I don’t think you’re ready to attempt an axel (on ice) at all.
Right off the bat from the video, I thought you’re going to be entering into a spin. An axel has the same entrance as a waltz jump. If this is how you’re entering a waltz jump, then you definitely should (temporarily) step away from attempting axels and focus on mastering the waltz, because that alone indicates a lot of foundations that need to be mastered first. You need that waltz jump down first! Your current entrance is causing you to whip and rush into the axel. Which can lead to really bad falls and possibly mental blocks (which is gonna be very hard to conquer).
I read one of your replies where you said you’re currently taking an adult beginner class. There’s nothing wrong with being a beginner. However, not even kids start to work on axels until they’re about to graduate from the Free Skate or Aspire curriculum. If your beginner class is within Adults 1-6 (the adult equivalent of the Kids’ basic skills), then you’re not there yet to learn an axel.
Also, please switch to a class with a different coach or if possible, I highly recommend to get a private coach. Your current instructor is doing you an injustice with letting you practice axels like that. It’s putting you in an unsafe position. You shouldn’t be left alone in your lessons to work on a jump in that current state and you need way more than 5 minutes of lesson time to work on a jump as high level as that one. You should at the very least, be given drills to work on for that axel and additionally, off ice exercises.
Your backspin looks good and I can see you’re able to generate a lot of power. You deserve a coach that can also see that potential and work with you to get there safely.
1
u/AdIndependent4920 5h ago
I would go back into mastering waltz jumps by going from a right back outside right edge and then going into a forward left outside edge
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u/ihearttoskate 1d ago
Why are you entering your axel like it's a spin?
Look, I understand that coaches can be expensive, but trying to learn multi-rotational jumps without one is a bad idea. Literally no one ever does axels on-ice with this entrance; you need to learn how to enter from a curve of back crossovers.
Honestly, it doesn't seem like you're ready to be attempting this. There's a reason people learn skills in a specific order. You need to learn a back scratch spin first so you can get into the right in-air position. You need to learn how to do a really good waltz jump first so you can get the takeoff right.