Loop Jump

For those of you who don’t already know, a Loop Jump is a jump that takes off on a backward right outside edge (for CCW skaters), and lands on a right outside edge. Sounds simple, right? Not for me; this jump is the bane of my existence.

Actually, it’s a testament to Coachie’s skills that I can do the jump at all. My heart is willing—I think this jump is one of the most beautiful ever invented. My brain knows everything about how to make this jump possible. My body, by contrast, takes on a will of its own and refuses to take the steps necessary to make the jump happen.

Like most people, I learned the jump from a right inside three-turn. Beginners start the jump from this entrance because you already have your weight over your right side and your left foot is slightly raised from the ice, allowing for easier lift-off.

It took nine months before I could really do the jump from the LI three. In the meantime, I sprained my knee, bashed my right elbow, turned my hip into hash, and terrified my coach. Still, all the pain, effort, money invested in this entry paid off and I could do it relatively consistently, though not beautifully.

Then Coachie decided it was time to learn the “real” entry. That means you get on the backward right outside edge through crossovers or a Mohawk.  This is more challenging because you have to learn to keep your left foot on the ice, and slightly outside and ahead of your right/ skating foot, and lift it in a scissoring motion as you take off from the right foot.

The kids learn this skill in five minutes.  I, on the other hand, have made every mistake humanly possible. I feel sorry for Coachie as she tries to correct me. I can see the wheels churn in her head as she fights to say the same thing that she’s said 585 times in a new and convincing way.

Ironically, doing the jump itself is not the problem most of the time. I just need to learn to land it on ONE foot. I have the complete rotation, my weight is over my ride side, and still, I’ll two-foot the darned thing.

Worse, on the days I do land the jump, I have no clue how I did it. I usually land a few when taking lessons, so something Coachie says is working. When I practice on my own, I jump a few, land them fine and then lose the jump entirely.

I want to make a Loop Jump piñata and smash the crap out of the thing. Then I’m driving over it.  In the Zamboni.