Darned axels........

[AshBugg44]

Anyone have some tips to offer??????

[axelkid]

Ah, practice practice practice.

I have a permanently bruised hip thanks to axels, but I finally have an axel.

It's all about the take off. I think 99% of the time, it's the take off that causes an axel to not work. From the back outside edge, you step onto a forward edge that's not too curved. Many people teach that it should be a straight edge. Make sure there's a knee bend and when you jump, the toe pick should be last to leave so it gives you extra height. The free leg swings past the skating leg a little bit out of the circle, this helps set you up for the backspin position that you have to get into in order to complete 1 1/2 revolutions.

It's easier to explain this when you're on the ice though.

I hope I make some sense.

[jkovner]

Work on Axels on the ground. Then, when you can do it, try to highlight the feeling of stepping up into the backspin. Once you do that, concentrate on that feeling when you are attempting it on the ice. Once you are able to get that backspin feeling you will soon get the jump.