Olympic coach Michelle Leigh discusses how she introduces the toe loop to a skater for the first time. This is a short video, but incredibly important. There are several concepts here that should be well understood by all coaches and skaters.
First and foremost, the non-picking foot needs to continue to skate backwards and not be lifted and turned prematurely. If this is done incorrectly, it results in a “toe waltz jump” or “toe axel.” Michelle offers the suggestion of standing at the boards for support and putting an object on the ice that the skater can push with the back part of the blade to get used to the feeling.
The next idea Michelle provides is one of those “secrets of the master coaches” that does not seem to be well known by most coaches and skaters. On a good toe loop, the non-picking foot actually takes off from the back part of the blade with the toe pointed upward. And as Michelle notes, it’s like a three-turn where the cusp of the turn is directly in line with the toe pick in the ice. Michelle offers a great exercise she calls the “windshield wiper.” Notice that as she comes off her heel, the non-picking leg is STRAIGHT and is NOT lifted in a classic “h-position.” This is 100% correct.
Video of hundreds of triple toe loops shows that the non-picking foot does indeed come off the heel with the toe pointed upward, and the non-picking foot is straight or nearly straight IN ALL CASES. And as Michelle notes, this idea of a straight leg take-off for toe loop really helps skaters turn the jump over for doubles triples, and quads. (Remember that Michelle coached Elvis Stojko who had a quad toe back when almost nobody could do them.)
Michelle also notes that many young skaters attempt to jump off two feet and they need to remember that the skater actually leaves the ice from just the picking foot. One of the things that makes the toe loop so challenging is that the skater needs to transfer their weight from one foot to the other during the the take-off and again as they lift into the air (into the air position). Michelle also mentions the common mistake of picking “inside” the circle. Skaters should go directly over their toe pick as the take off.
This is a fantastic video that is packed with gems of wisdom about a poorly understood jump. Please leave a comment below.
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15 responses to “Learn To Ice Skate Video: Toe Loop (Michelle Leigh)”
This totally fixed my 6 and 1/2 yr. old skater’s toe loop today! Now she does a beautiful toe loop instead of a toe waltz! I had been looking for some new ways to help her! THANK YOU Michelle!!
fantastic exercises – will test them out on my skaters 🙂 thank you!!
Double toe is my FAVORITE double! I’ve had success teaching it with your exercises using the plexi glass to see the alignment of their bodies before takeoff. In reviewing their video, I see I have skaters lifting into the ‘h’ position at takeoff. I will introduce the straight leg today and see if that helps! Thanks!
Thanks for the info! This is such a help!!
Very clear information! Thank you!
Thanks for this video, Michelle. Double Toe was not my favorite as a skater and it is turning out to not be my favorite as a coach! I am going to try to put your tips to use so that my skaters don’t stress over the 2-T like I did.
Fantastic! This is so helpful. Thank you so much Michelle!
Thanks Michelle, you are my Guru!
This is a great drill! I really like the breakdown. I spin and jump clockwise, so the nuts and bolts really help!
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Thank you so much!!! This is the best explanation and demonstration I have ever seen for toe loop take off! Thanks so much!
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