Axel

Axel

6 Seasons

Axel
  • Foundation: On ice axel take-off 1/2 turn same foot landing drill

    Episode 3

    Level: Foundation
    Base exercise: Axel take-off to follow through
    Variation: Landing on take off leg rather than landing leg.
    Purpose: This drill helps skaters practice getting their full power and vertical height on their take-off by not allowing the free side to enter into rotation before the...

  • Advanced-Elite: Resisted skating side arm axel take-off check drill

    Episode

    Purpose: This drill helps skaters work on the awareness and stability of their skating side shoulder and arm position of the axel take-off

    Focus: Axel take-off, upper body position, skating side arm, skating side check, shoulder abduction

  • Advanced-Elite: Resisted free arm axel take-off to follow-through drill

    Episode 2

    Purpose: This drill helps skaters control their free arm on the axel take-off so that their shoulders do not release too soon before the follow-through.

    Focus: Axel take-off, axel follow-through, upper body position, upper body check position, free side shoulder strength

  • Advanced-Elite: Banded free leg axel take-off drill

    Episode 2

    Purpose: This drill helps skaters work on the pull back and muscle engagement of their free leg in the axel take-off
    Focus: Axel take-off, glutes, hip flexors, external rotation, free hip lifted, knee turnout, free leg pathway

  • Advanced-Elite: Single leg axel take-off box jump with 1/4 turn off drill

    Purpose: This drill helps skaters build vertical height on their take-off leg of the axel without using the free side to create the vertical explosion. Skaters also need to maintain good alignment and pressure over their take-off side on the second half of the drill

    Focus: Axel entry, axel take-...

  • Foundation-Advanced: Off-ice axel take-off free leg turnout yoga block drill

    Episode 1

    Purpose: This drill helps skaters work on the turn-out of the knee and hip of the free leg on the axel take-off to follow-through.

    Focus: Axel take-off, axel follow-through, free leg position, turnout, knee position

  • Foundation: Off-ice stationary axel take-off lockdown + 1/4 turns drill

    Purpose: Practicing single leg stationary axel take-offs is important so that skaters can focus on the stability and quality of their take-off position into their follow through. If skaters are practicing the jump with momentum from an entrance, they can often lose the quality of their take-off p...

  • Foundation: Off-ice axel take-off to axel follow-through walk-through

    Purpose: This exercise starts by skaters setting their hips so that they are leading with their take-off side on the axel. From that position, they then move through the axel take-off to the axel follow through and air position to build muscle memory.

    Focus: Alignment, basic technique, skating ...

  • Foundation: On-ice axel take-off hold into waltz jump drill

    Level: Foundation
    Base exercise: Axel take-off hold
    Variation: Follow through into a waltz jump
    Purpose: This drill has skaters check and work on the quality and stability of their axel take-off position. If the body position isn't correct and aligned over the skating side, it will be difficu...

  • Foundation: On-ice axel take-off skips on a straight line drill

    Level: Foundation
    Base exercise: Axel take-off skip
    Variation: On a straight line, continuous
    Purpose: This drill helps skaters learn how to fully use their skating side for vertical height by pressing up to their toepick. Doing this on a straight line helps the skater practice control of the fr...

  • Foundation: On ice axel entry to take off 1/2 turn two foot landing drill

    Level: Foundation
    Base exercise: Axel entry to take-off walkthrough
    Variation: 1/2 turn, two foot landing, turn forwards and repeat
    Purpose: This drill allows skaters to isolate the axel entry and take-off without needing to attempt the full rotation. The two foot landing allows skaters to fee...

  • Advanced: On ice axel entry to same leg 1/2 turn lockdown outside twizzles

    Level: Advanced
    Base exercise: Axel entry to same leg 1/2 turn lockdown
    Variation: Starts on a circle, outside twizzles in lockdown position after the outside edge
    Purpose: This drill helps skaters work on maintaining pressure on an outside over their take off side. It also helps condition th...

  • Advanced: On ice straight line axel entry to same leg 1/2 turn lockdown drill

    Level: Advanced
    Base exercise: Axel take off to 1/2 lockdown same leg
    Variation: On a straight line, back outside three turn after landing to turn forward, check, and repeat the drill
    Purpose: This drill really works on the control of the axel take off side throughout all phases of the jump. By...

  • Advanced: On ice double axel entry to take-off direction stand still drill

    Level: Advanced
    Base exercise: Double axel entry to take-off walkthrough
    Variation: Stationary, finishes with follow through into air position
    Purpose: Doing this drill from standstill allows students to work specifically on the direction of their head, arms, and free leg on the take-off of th...