Lutz jump
Encyclopedia
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.
The skater typically performs a long glide on a left backward outside edge in a wide arc into the corner of the rink. Just prior to jumping, the skater reaches back with the right arm and the right foot and uses the right toepick to vault into the air, before performing a full turn in the air and landing on the right back outside edge.
In addition to the standard entry described above, it has become common for skaters to do a Lutz from a footwork entry, for example, a mohawk
or 3 turn
followed by a step to the left back outside edge and immediate pick for the jump. In this case the jump is more commonly done from a straight-line approach down the center of the rink, rather than placed in a corner.
The Lutz is similar to the flip
and the two jumps can be hard for the novice viewer to tell apart. The flip is initiated on the inside edge on a curve that has the same sense as the jump's rotation. The Lutz is initiated on the same foot, but on an outside edge.
The Lutz is considered one of the more difficult jumps because its entry is counterrotated — that is, the rotation of the jump is opposite to that of the entry edge. The body's natural impulse is to "cheat" or begin to pre-rotate the jump by veering off at the last minute onto the inside edge, which really makes the cheated jump a flip. For this reason, the cheated Lutz is often called a flutz. On the other hand, skaters with excellent Lutz technique will actually deepen the outside edge as they reach back for the pick.
Another notable technique flaw that appears in many skaters' Lutzes (and flip 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.
did clockwise Lutz jumps and the remainder of her jumps and spins in a counterclockwise direction. This practice disappeared with the development of multi-rotation jumps.
Today the Lutz is often done in double or triple versions. Alena Vrzáňová of Czechoslovakia was the first woman credited with a double lutz, performed at the 1949 World Championships
. Donald Jackson
of Canada
was the first skater to execute a triple Lutz jump in competition, at the 1962 World Championships
; Denise Biellmann
of Switzerland is credited as the first woman to do so, at the 1978 European Championships
. Brandon Mroz
of the United States is credited with landing the first quadruple Lutz jump in a sanctioned competition at the 2011 Colorado Springs Invitational, a club competition sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating; Mroz's jump was subsequently ratified by the International Skating Union
after video review. On November 12, Mroz landed it in the short program at 2011 NHK Trophy
, becoming the first skater to land it in an international competition.
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:...
, named after Alois Lutz
Alois Lutz
Alois Lutz was an Austrian figure skater. He invented the Lutz jump. He performed it for the first time in competition in 1913.-References:*...
, 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
The following description assumes a counter-clockwise jump; for a clockwise jump, reverse left and right.The skater typically performs a long glide on a left backward outside edge in a wide arc into the corner of the rink. Just prior to jumping, the skater reaches back with the right arm and the right foot and uses the right toepick to vault into the air, before performing a full turn in the air and landing on the right back outside edge.
In addition to the standard entry described above, it has become common for skaters to do a Lutz from a footwork entry, for example, a mohawk
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...
or 3 turn
3 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...
followed by a step to the left back outside edge and immediate pick for the jump. In this case the jump is more commonly done from a straight-line approach down the center of the rink, rather than placed in a corner.
The Lutz is similar to the flip
Flip jump
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.-Flip technique:...
and the two jumps can be hard for the novice viewer to tell apart. The flip is initiated on the inside edge on a curve that has the same sense as the jump's rotation. The Lutz is initiated on the same foot, but on an outside edge.
The Lutz is considered one of the more difficult jumps because its entry is counterrotated — that is, the rotation of the jump is opposite to that of the entry edge. The body's natural impulse is to "cheat" or begin to pre-rotate the jump by veering off at the last minute onto the inside edge, which really makes the cheated jump a flip. For this reason, the cheated Lutz is often called a flutz. On the other hand, skaters with excellent Lutz technique will actually deepen the outside edge as they reach back for the pick.
Another notable technique flaw that appears in many skaters' Lutzes (and flip jump
Flip jump
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.-Flip 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.
Lutz history
In the "old days" of skating, some skaters carried the idea of the Lutz's counter-rotated entry to an extreme by doing this jump in the opposite direction than their other jumps. For example, Sonja HenieSonja Henie
Sonja Henie was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles, a ten-time World Champion and a six-time European Champion . Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater...
did clockwise Lutz jumps and the remainder of her jumps and spins in a counterclockwise direction. This practice disappeared with the development of multi-rotation jumps.
Today the Lutz is often done in double or triple versions. Alena Vrzáňová of Czechoslovakia was the first woman credited with a double lutz, performed at the 1949 World Championships
1949 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
. 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...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was the first skater to execute a triple Lutz jump in competition, at the 1962 World Championships
1962 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
; Denise Biellmann
Denise Biellmann
Denise Biellmann is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion. She won the Swiss Championships three times.-Amateur career:...
of Switzerland is credited as the first woman to do so, at the 1978 European Championships
1978 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1978 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1977-1978 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
. Brandon Mroz
Brandon Mroz
Brandon Mroz is an American figure skater. He is the 2009 U.S. silver medalist and the 2006 & 2007 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist. He has the record of the first skater to complete a quadruple lutz jump in a sanctioned competition.-Personal life:Brandon Mroz was born in St. Louis,...
of the United States is credited with landing the first quadruple Lutz jump in a sanctioned competition at the 2011 Colorado Springs Invitational, a club competition sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating; Mroz's jump was subsequently ratified by 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...
after video review. On November 12, Mroz landed it in the short program at 2011 NHK Trophy
2011 NHK Trophy
The 2011 NHK Trophy will be the NHK Trophy Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season and the fourth of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series. The event is organized annually by the Japan Skating Federation.The...
, becoming the first skater to land it in an international competition.