Nick Perna shows how he introduces a skater to the flip jump. This is a follow-up video to Nick’s presentation of the loop jump for beginners. Notice how Nick’s approach builds on the same concepts he uses for loop.
There’s some great info in this video including exactly how to put the toe pick in the ice. Nick gives a great “ball of sneaker” concept to make the point. The standstill drill is outstanding but the explanation that the standstill drill is not the same as the actual jump is really valuable. He also mentions the forward take-off.
In the loop video, Nick alluded to the necessary internal rotation of the landing leg. In this flip video, he discusses it in more detail. Notice that with a forward take-off and even minimal rotation in the air, the skater will land with the skate gliding backward if they internally rotate the hip in the air. Believe it or not, this is crucial for skaters to learn and directly applies to triples (eventually). If the flip takes off forward and lands backward, the rotation in the air is just half a turn. In reality, it can be less than half a turn so the skater can get on an outside edge for the landing. All of the rotation for a single jump (other than axel) can be accomplished simply by internally rotating the foot and hip.
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21 responses to “How To Figure Skate: Learn a Flip Jump (Nick Perna)”
Does it matter teaching the half flip first? Does that help or not towards the single flip?
nick perna is my coach he is a terrific coach
I am soo trying this…
Thank you, very helpful. I really appreciate the description of the toe pick placement after the skating foot has started to draw back.
Terrific! I’d love to see how you teach the next step on this jump (I’m a skater, not a coach). I was taught to toe in and then draw back, although one coach taught “pick on the way up” – maybe this accomplishes the same thing as drawing back first and then planting the toe? I’m not sure I totally understand what I’m supposed to do instead, but I plan to start with the drill. Thanks!
Some coaches DO teach to reach way back and point the toe. This is, in fact, correct advice when you are in the initial “reaching” stage of the take-off. The issue of toe pick placement comes into play AFTER the skating foot has started to draw back…this is when the actual BOTTOM toe pick “cluster” makes contact with the ice. If you watch the top skaters, in slow motion, performing technically correct lutzes, I think you will see that the TOP toe pick never actually comes in contact with the ice.
I was always under the impression the top toe pick entered first, and was used to pull back onto the entire pick for the take-off push, thereby giving a longer reach/draw into the jump. There are coaches that teach to point your toe in order to accomplish this. Why is this wrong? Or more than right vs. wrong, why is this not the better method? Has anyone tested to see which is better or is everyone just going by what works? I am not trying to be put down any technique, just find answers.
very helpful…..thanks again.
Terrific! Thanks for the lesson!
Thank you Nick!
Again very good way to simplify the jump. In order to do my flip jump, I usually have to reach far back as well and lead from the shoulder blades and up and off the toe pic as I do the H and pull as if I am trying to push the toe pic forward. Hope that makes sense. Everything else is exactly as you show…again thanks for confirming what I have been learning.
Regarding the question about the use of the “top toe-pick”, the answer is…we basically do NOT EVER use the “top toe-pick”!! One way to verify this is by inspecting the blade and noticing the “pristine condition” of the top toe-pick! It usually looks BRAND NEW! Also, in order to get the top toe-pick to go into the ice, you have to place your foot and leg at a ridiculous angle! Try it…it is quite extreme and difficult. Most blade manufactures have long since “admitted” (at least privately) that their top toe-pick is primarily a “signature” type of design…more for form rather than function.
I really like how the fish in the water concept can be taken to the flip! thanks again
Great visual and ease of explanation! But, when do we use the top toe pick? I thought the top toe pick was for take-offs. Thanks
Terrific explanation of what happens. Thank you so much for this helpful video!
There are at least 5 major concepts in this video! WOW NICK! Thanks!
love the videos and explanations – I have a crazy bad muscle memory for this jump, maybe you can help? My feet are too far apart when I jump (someone told me I am doing a toe loop type of jump from a flip entrance……) my drawback is not straight – but swizzled out (hope I am making sense) and my left foot actually goes back too far (passes the right foot – my toe pick foot before I jump)
Are there any exercises I can do to break this habit? As an adult skater I tend to over analyze this…..Thanks
Linda, these are all common mistakes that beginners tend to make with the flip jump. One suggestion would be to practice 1/2 flips until you can make the take-off straighter. Then start to add more rotation from the picking leg and toe. (Internal rotation of the leg). It sounds like you are not transferring the weight from your left foot to your right soon enough.
Will do! Thanks…….
love your videos please can you tell me what kind of pen you draw on the ice with?
Thanks
Sarah, I use the Sharpie “Flip Chart” markers. They are non-toxic, washable, and they leave a nice bright line!