Jumps

Jumps involve the skater leaping into the air and rotating rapidly to land after completing one or more rotations. There are many types of jumps, identified by the way the skater takes off and lands, as well as by the number of rotations that are completed.

Most skaters rotate all their jumps in an anti-clockwise direction. Some prefer to rotate clockwise, and a very small number of skaters can perform jumps in both directions. For clarity, all jumps will be described for the anti-clockwise skater.

There are six major jumps in figure skating. All six are landed on a right back outside edge (with anti-clockwise rotation, for single and multi-revolution jumps), but have different takeoffs, by which they are distinguished. The two categories of jumps are toe jumps and edge jumps.

Toe Jumps

Toe jumps are launched by tapping the toe pick of one skate into the ice, and include (in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest):

1. Toe loops, also called Cherry Flips, take off from the back outside edge of the right foot and are launched by the left toe pick. Toe walleys are similar, but take off from the back inside edge of the right foot.
2. Flips, which take off from the back inside edge of the left foot and are launched by the right toe pick.
3. Lutzes, which take off from the back outside edge of the left foot and are launched by the right toe pick.

Edge Jumps

Edge jumps use no toe assist, and include:

1. Waltzs, which take off from a left forward outside edge and land on a back right outside edge. This jump is similar to an axel, but is only a half rotation. It is typically the first jump a skater learns.
2. Salchows, which take off from a left back inside edge. Swinging the opposite leg around helps launch the jump.
3. Loops (also known as Rittbergers), which take off from a right back outside edge and land on the same edge.
4. Axels, which are the only jump to take off from a forward edge (the left outside edge). Because they take off from a forward edge, they include one-half extra rotations and are usually considered the hardest jump of them all.

The number of rotations performed in the air for each jump determines whether the jump is a single, double, triple, or quad. Most elite male skaters perform triples and quads as their main jumps, while most elite female skaters perform all the triples except the axel, which is usually double. Only a handful of female skaters have successfully landed triple axels in competition.

One variation, known as the Tano, is far more difficult than a normal jump because the jumper keeps one arm raised above their head while jumping. The name is derived from Brian Boitano, who made a triple lutz with an upraised arm his signature jump.

There are also a number of other jumps which are usually performed only as single jumps and are typically used as transitional movements or highlights in step sequences. These include:

1. Half Loops, which take off from a right back outside edge like a l...