Toe loop jump
Encyclopedia
The toe loop is one of the simplest jumps in figure skating
. It is usually the second jump learned after the salchow
. It is a toe pick-assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same backward outside edge.
. The skater then vaults into the air from the right back outside edge with an assist from the left toe pick, planted well behind the right foot, before rotating counterclockwise in the air and landing on a right back outside edge. For a clockwise jump, left and right are reversed.
Another common entry to the toe loop is from a forward outside 3 turn with a step to the back outside edge on the other foot just before the pick. The toe loop is also often used as the second jump in jump combinations, because it takes off on the same edge on which most jumps land.
In a toe loop, the skater must be careful not to pre-rotate the upper body prior to or during the toe pick action, as this is considered a serious flaw in technique. A pre-rotated toe loop, where the skater has turned to jump forward off the toe pick instead of backward, is nicknamed a toe axel because it is essentially an axel jump
.
The ballet jump bears the same relation to the toe loop as the half flip, half lutz, and falling leaf to do the flip
, lutz
, and loop
jumps, respectively. Like the other half jumps, the ballet jump is landed forward, on the left toe pick and right forward inside edge for a counterclockwise jump.
In the mazurka, after picking with the left foot for the jump takeoff, the skater kicks the right leg forward in a scissoring motion, so that the legs are crossed in the air. The jump lands forward on the right toe pick and pushes immediately onto a left forward outside edge. Tenley Albright
was particularly known for this jump.
Another toe loop variant is the one-and-a-half toe loop. As the name implies, this is a 1.5 rotation jump that lands forward, like the ballet jump. Up until the 1970's it was quite commonly used as an element of jump sequences, but is almost never performed today because of the emphasis on triple and quadruple jumps.
, an American
professional show skater.
Toe loops can be done as singles (one revolution is completed in the air), doubles, triples, and even quadruples. Thomas Litz
was the first skater to land a triple toe loop, which he accomplished at the 1964 World Figure Skating Championships; Grzegorz Filipowski
of Poland was the first skater to perform a triple-triple toe loop combination in competition - 1980. Jozef Sabovcik
of Czechoslovakia landed a quadruple
toe loop at the 1986 European Championships
which was recognized at the event but then ruled invalid three weeks later due to a touchdown with his free foot. At the 1988 World Championships
, Kurt Browning
of Canada landed the first quad toe loop which has remained ratified.
Today, many elite-level male skaters perform quadruple toe loops as a regular part of their repertoire, but as of yet, no female skater has been credited with landing one successfully in competition. French skater Surya Bonaly
made numerous attempts to land a quadruple toe loop in her career, but the judges deemed her attempts as over-rotated triple jumps instead.
In British English
, this jump is sometimes (confusingly) called a cherry flip, but a toe loop is not the same as a flip jump
. In artistic
roller skating
, the toe loop is also called the Mapes after its inventor.
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. It is usually the second jump learned after the salchow
Salchow jump
The Salchow is a figure skating jump with a takeoff from a back inside edge of one foot. The rotation in the air is made in the direction of the curve of the take-off edge. The landing is made on the back outside edge of the foot opposite the one used for take-off. One or more rotations may be...
. It is a toe pick-assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same backward outside edge.
Toe loop technique
The most commonly taught entrance to a toe loop is straight-line approach into a right forward inside 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...
. The skater then vaults into the air from the right back outside edge with an assist from the left toe pick, planted well behind the right foot, before rotating counterclockwise in the air and landing on a right back outside edge. For a clockwise jump, left and right are reversed.
Another common entry to the toe loop is from a forward outside 3 turn with a step to the back outside edge on the other foot just before the pick. The toe loop is also often used as the second jump in jump combinations, because it takes off on the same edge on which most jumps land.
In a toe loop, the skater must be careful not to pre-rotate the upper body prior to or during the toe pick action, as this is considered a serious flaw in technique. A pre-rotated toe loop, where the skater has turned to jump forward off the toe pick instead of backward, is nicknamed a toe axel because it is essentially an axel jump
Axel jump
The Axel is a figure skating jump with a forward take-off. It is named after the Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen, who first performed the jump in 1882. An Axel jump has an extra ½ rotation in the air due to its forward take-off...
.
Variants
There are two half-rotation jumps in figure skating which use a toe loop takeoff.The ballet jump bears the same relation to the toe loop as the half flip, half lutz, and falling leaf to do 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:...
, lutz
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:...
, and loop
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...
jumps, respectively. Like the other half jumps, the ballet jump is landed forward, on the left toe pick and right forward inside edge for a counterclockwise jump.
In the mazurka, after picking with the left foot for the jump takeoff, the skater kicks the right leg forward in a scissoring motion, so that the legs are crossed in the air. The jump lands forward on the right toe pick and pushes immediately onto a left forward outside edge. Tenley Albright
Tenley Albright
Tenley Emma Albright, M.D. is an American figure skater. She is the 1956 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, 1952 Olympic silver medalist, the 1953 & 1955 World Champion, the 1953 & 1955 North American champion, and the 1952–1956 U.S...
was particularly known for this jump.
Another toe loop variant is the one-and-a-half toe loop. As the name implies, this is a 1.5 rotation jump that lands forward, like the ballet jump. Up until the 1970's it was quite commonly used as an element of jump sequences, but is almost never performed today because of the emphasis on triple and quadruple jumps.
Toe loop history
The toe loop was invented in the 1920's by Bruce MapesBruce 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...
, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional show skater.
Toe loops can be done as singles (one revolution is completed in the air), doubles, triples, and even quadruples. Thomas Litz
Thomas Litz
Thomas Litz is a former American figure skater. He won the gold medal at the 1963 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and competed at the 1964 Winter Olympics...
was the first skater to land a triple toe loop, which he accomplished at the 1964 World Figure Skating Championships; Grzegorz Filipowski
Grzegorz Filipowski
Grzegorz Filipowski is a former Polish figure skater. He is the 1985 European bronze medalist, the 1989 European silver medalist and the 1989 World bronze medalist....
of Poland was the first skater to perform a triple-triple toe loop combination in competition - 1980. Jozef Sabovcik
Jozef Sabovcík
Jozef Sabovčík is a Slovak figure skater who competed representing Czechoslovakia. He is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time European Champion .- Career :...
of Czechoslovakia landed a quadruple
Quad (figure skating)
A quad, or "quadruple", is a figure skating jump with four or more, but fewer than five, revolutions. Most quadruple jumps have exactly four revolutions; the quadruple Axel has 4½ revolutions, although no figure skater to date has completed this jump, either in practice, or, more importantly, in...
toe loop at the 1986 European Championships
1986 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1986 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1985-1986 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
which was recognized at the event but then ruled invalid three weeks later due to a touchdown with his free foot. At the 1988 World Championships
1988 World Figure Skating Championships
**http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067164/index.htm*http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-148236-165452-56215-0-file,00.pdf...
, Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:...
of Canada landed the first quad toe loop which has remained ratified.
Today, many elite-level male skaters perform quadruple toe loops as a regular part of their repertoire, but as of yet, no female skater has been credited with landing one successfully in competition. French skater Surya Bonaly
Surya Bonaly
Surya Bonaly is a French professional figure skater. She is a three-time World Championship silver medalist, a five-time European Champion, the 1991 World Junior Champion and a nine-time French National Champion.-Career:...
made numerous attempts to land a quadruple toe loop in her career, but the judges deemed her attempts as over-rotated triple jumps instead.
Usage note
In skating parlance, a toe loop jump is often referred to simply as a toe; for example, double toe, triple toe.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...
, this jump is sometimes (confusingly) called a cherry flip, but a toe loop is not the same as a 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:...
. In artistic
Artistic 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...
roller skating
Roller skating
Roller skating is the traveling on smooth surfaces with roller skates. It is a form of recreation as well as a sport, and can also be a form of transportation. Skates generally come in two basic varieties: quad roller skates and inline skates or blades, though some have experimented with a...
, the toe loop is also called the Mapes after its inventor.