Flip jump
Encyclopedia
The flip jump is a figure skating jump
which takes off a backward inside edge with a toe pick assist, and lands on the backward outside edge of the opposite foot.
, reaching back to pick with the right foot to vault into the jump from the left back inside edge immediately after the turn. The skater performs one or more rotations in the air before landing on a right back outside edge.
The flip can also be entered from a mohawk turn
, and lends itself well to being performed out of a more complicated footwork approach.
In British English
, the flip is sometimes called a toe salchow, but in fact it is a mistake to think of the jump as a toe pick-assisted salchow because the technique and mechanics of the two jumps are very different. The flip is actually quite similar in mechanics to the loop jump
; in both jumps, the rotation comes from the right side of the body (for counterclockwise rotation), and the left leg is already crossed in front of the right in what is called a back spin position when the skater springs into the air.
, a toe-assisted jump which takes off a back outside rather than back inside edge. In the same way that some skaters flutz, or turn an intended lutz jump into a flip by mistakenly changing to the wrong edge on the takeoff, some skaters have a tendency to lip their flips by mistakenly changing to an outside edge so that it is actually a lutz jump. Some skaters never manage to get on a strong edge for either the flip or lutz, a habit that is probably reinforced by the trend to enter both of these jumps from a straight line rather than on a curve. Skating purists tend to cringe at wrong-edge takeoffs, but in recent years it has become increasingly common for judges to overlook these faults. During the 2007 Grand Prix series this trend changed; the technical judges began penalizing wrong-edge takeoffs on all skaters.
Another notable technique flaw that appears in many skaters' flips (and Lutz jump
s) is "hammer toe," which occurs when the free leg rises unusually high, typically near (in some cases above) hip height, before descending to strike the ice. This can make the jump easier to rotate but sacrifices height and some control.
, in which the skater achieves either a front-to-back or sideways (Russian or straddle) split position at the apex of the jump. A full-rotation flip jump with a split position is sometimes seen as well; this is called a split flip.
In the past, it was also quite common for skaters to perform a one-and-a-half flip jump as an element in jump sequences or as a highlight in step sequences.
In general, the International Skating Union
's new "code of points" judging system now discourages skaters from putting variety jumps such as the split flip or one-and-a-half flip into their competitive programs because they count towards the number of permitted jumps but carry a very low point value.
), but it is not known for certain if Bruce Mapes
was the inventor. It was certainly being commonly performed by the 1930s.
It is not definitely established who performed the first triple flip.
David Jenkins may have landed the jump in the 1950s, but perhaps only in practice. Donald Jackson
is said to have performed one at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
. Another source claims that no skater had yet landed one in competition as late as 1968, when John Misha Petkevich
was performing them in practice.
Katarina Witt
was one of two female skaters to land a triple flip for the first time at the 1981 European Championships.
No skater has yet successfully landed a quadruple flip in competition, although Daisuke Takahashi made an attempt of it on 2010 worlds.
Figure skating jump
Figure skating jumps are a major element of competitive figure skating. Different jumps are identified by the take-off edge and the number of revolutions completed. There are six kinds of jumps currently counted as jump elements in ISU regulations.-Technique:...
which takes off a backward inside edge with a toe pick assist, and lands on the backward outside edge of the opposite foot.
Flip technique
The most common entry into a flip, for a counterclockwise jump, is a long forward straight-line glide on the left foot down the center of the rink with the (right) free foot held forward. Then the skater uses the toe of the right foot to push into a left forward outside 3 turn3 turn
A 3 turn is a figure skating element which involves both a change in direction and a change in edge. For example, when a skater executes a forward outside 3 turn, the skater begins on a forward outside edge and finishes on a backwards inside edge...
, reaching back to pick with the right foot to vault into the jump from the left back inside edge immediately after the turn. The skater performs one or more rotations in the air before landing on a right back outside edge.
The flip can also be entered from a mohawk turn
Mohawk turn
A mohawk is a turn in figure skating that involves a change of foot but not a change of edge. It can be done on either inside or outside edges.The most common mohawk turn is the forward inside open mohawk...
, and lends itself well to being performed out of a more complicated footwork approach.
In British English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
, the flip is sometimes called a toe salchow, but in fact it is a mistake to think of the jump as a toe pick-assisted salchow because the technique and mechanics of the two jumps are very different. The flip is actually quite similar in mechanics to the loop jump
Loop jump
The Loop jump is a figure skating jump that takes off from a back outside edge and lands on the same backwards outside edge. For a jump with counterclockwise rotation, this is the right back outside edge. It is named from its similarity to the loop compulsory figure. The invention is widely...
; in both jumps, the rotation comes from the right side of the body (for counterclockwise rotation), and the left leg is already crossed in front of the right in what is called a back spin position when the skater springs into the air.
Common technique flaws
The flip is also similar to the lutz jumpLutz jump
The Lutz is a figure skating jump, named after Alois Lutz, an Austrian skater who performed it in 1913. It is a toepick-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.- Lutz technique:...
, a toe-assisted jump which takes off a back outside rather than back inside edge. In the same way that some skaters flutz, or turn an intended lutz jump into a flip by mistakenly changing to the wrong edge on the takeoff, some skaters have a tendency to lip their flips by mistakenly changing to an outside edge so that it is actually a lutz jump. Some skaters never manage to get on a strong edge for either the flip or lutz, a habit that is probably reinforced by the trend to enter both of these jumps from a straight line rather than on a curve. Skating purists tend to cringe at wrong-edge takeoffs, but in recent years it has become increasingly common for judges to overlook these faults. During the 2007 Grand Prix series this trend changed; the technical judges began penalizing wrong-edge takeoffs on all skaters.
Another notable technique flaw that appears in many skaters' flips (and Lutz jump
Lutz jump
The Lutz is a figure skating jump, named after Alois Lutz, an Austrian skater who performed it in 1913. It is a toepick-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot.- Lutz technique:...
s) is "hammer toe," which occurs when the free leg rises unusually high, typically near (in some cases above) hip height, before descending to strike the ice. This can make the jump easier to rotate but sacrifices height and some control.
Flip variants
A half-rotation jump with a flip entrance, typically landed on the left toe pick and right forward inside edge for a counterclockwise jump, is called a half flip. The half flip, in turn, forms the basis for the common split jumpSplit jump
A split jump is a sequence of body movements in which a split is performed after jumping, while the performer is still in the air. Split jumps are commonly found in dance, figure skating, and gymnastics, and may also be used as a form of exercise....
, in which the skater achieves either a front-to-back or sideways (Russian or straddle) split position at the apex of the jump. A full-rotation flip jump with a split position is sometimes seen as well; this is called a split flip.
In the past, it was also quite common for skaters to perform a one-and-a-half flip jump as an element in jump sequences or as a highlight in step sequences.
In general, the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
's new "code of points" judging system now discourages skaters from putting variety jumps such as the split flip or one-and-a-half flip into their competitive programs because they count towards the number of permitted jumps but carry a very low point value.
Flip history
The origins of the flip jump are obscure. Starting in 1913, the jump was known for many years as a Mapes (now applied to the toe loop in the jargon of artistic roller skatingArtistic roller skating
Artistic roller skating is a sport similar to figure skating but where constestants run on roller skates instead of ice skates. Within artistic roller skating there are several disciplines:* figures...
), but it is not known for certain if Bruce Mapes
Bruce Mapes
Bruce Mapes was an American figure skater from the early 1900s. In 1913, the jump now known today as the flip became known by his last name, but it is not known for certain if he was the inventor. In 1920, Mapes invented the toe loop, which is now called a Mapes in artistic roller skating...
was the inventor. It was certainly being commonly performed by the 1930s.
It is not definitely established who performed the first triple flip.
David Jenkins may have landed the jump in the 1950s, but perhaps only in practice. Donald Jackson
Donald Jackson
Donald George Jackson, CM is a retired Canadian figure skater. He captured four Canadian titles and a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics...
is said to have performed one at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
North American Figure Skating Championships
The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an...
. Another source claims that no skater had yet landed one in competition as late as 1968, when John Misha Petkevich
John Misha Petkevich
John Misha Petkevich is an American former figure skater. He won the 1971 United States Figure Skating Championships in men's singles and the North American Figure Skating Championship in the same year. He placed 6th at the 1968 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1972 Winter Olympics...
was performing them in practice.
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt is a German figure skater and model. In Germany she was commonly called "Kati" in the past, but today her full name is used more often....
was one of two female skaters to land a triple flip for the first time at the 1981 European Championships.
No skater has yet successfully landed a quadruple flip in competition, although Daisuke Takahashi made an attempt of it on 2010 worlds.