Figure Skating Tip: Good Jumps Need Good Edges (Joan Orvis)

Joan Orvis discusses forward inside and outside edges.  Joan makes a great point at the beginning of this video that good jumping cannot happen in skating without good edges.  In fact, everything we do in skating is a result of good edges with proper hip position, arm position, and control.  Unfortunately, these concepts are starting to be less well known among coaches as younger coaches without figures backgrounds never learned these precise positions required for good edges.

Joan breaks down the forward inside and outside edges in detail.  She talks about body positions, hip placements, foot placement and movement, arm placements and movement, head position and body lean.  Joan also shows how skaters need to bend their ankles for a proper push.  She calls it “dropping the ankle in” to make sure the skater pushes from the side of the blade and not the toe pick.

Notice that she emphasizes that the free hip stays pushed back throughout forward outside edges, even as the free foot passes in front.  Similarly, the free hip stays back throughout the forward inside edge as well.

The concepts in this video are extremely important, even if basic edges aren’t very “sexy.”  But good jumping and spinning (more exciting?) requires good edges, so don’t overlook this great information.

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