The Axel - Terrifying but Exciting!
Today's lesson took a turned from our planned events - instead of working on our program we looked at the Axel Jump. It was a nice change but the most odd feeling.
Even though they say to working on the Waltz jump - Loop jump combination and the Waltz jump-back spin to get the feeling for the Axel it still felt completely different to me. The 'hip flick' and 'shoulder flick' has to be a lot faster and sharper than for anything else we have done to date.
I was at first making a crucial mistake and that was whipping my free leg round on in a circle on take off instead of bring it through. It makes a massive difference to bring it through with a the hip, knee and foot pointing inward as if to wrap around a (to complete the first half rotation and move into the back spin position).
After many many attempts and getting no where a brilliant song came on over the sound system and for some reason my body went on autopilot - the best things that could have happened. I did a much deeper outside backward edge before stepping forward into a tight forward outside edge and on take off and whipped my should and hip round in a quick snapping action and pull all my muscles in tight. I was less than a quarter rotation off completing the jump, landed sideways and nearly fell over. It's a miracle I did scream and swear.
But it felt absolutely amazing to have come so close to completing the jump - its just a matter of practise and off ice work too.
My biggest challenge is to keep my body upright now - after that I kept learning forward at the height of the jump - not good!!! And my coach makes it look so easy - but she is excellent at all moves. I have never laughed so much in my life ~I love new challenges!
I will try and film my attempts to post on here next time!
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