Triple Flip

[Ed123]

I'm not a figure skater but I just have a question about the triple flip. Which edge does the jump take off from? Does it take off from an outside or inside edge? Or does it take off from a straight edge? What makes a flip different from a Lutz? What is a flutz? I am so confused. Please help me out.

[Brieanne]

let me name some differences first that are common between the two jumps, but that are not the big differences between them, Most of the time, a (triple) flip has a three turn right before it, so the skater will glide forward, switch backwards on one foot, and do the jump. Whereas the lutz usually takes off from a long backward glide (but some skaters will even do a short entrance lutz which is done immediately after a three turn or something like that)
The BIG differences between the lutz and flip is that the flip takes off from an inside edge, and the lutz takes off from an outside edge. that's why the lutz is harder, because of having to be on the outside edge.
A flutz is the name for a lutz done improperly. The lutz HAS to be on the outside edge when you take off on the lutz. if it takes off on the inside edge, judges won't count it as a real lutz, and deduct points. because the flip takes off on an inside edge, thus the name flutz.
i'm sorry if i confused you at all, but i tried to give a fairly detailed description of both. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP--> hope that helped<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->

[Ed123]

that was very helpful and iformative. But I'm still a little bit confused. I was watching Michelle's 98 Nationals long program yesterday. Just when she was about to do her triple flip, Dick Button said something about Michelle quickly switching into a "straight edge" after turing around. He also said that it was perfect. Now, does the flip take off from an inside edge or a straight edge?

[axelkid]

You're right it does kind of get muddled at that point. The entrance that a lot of people use is a forward outside edge and they three turn into a back inside edge. But these aren't real loopy, curvy edges...trying to do a flip off a real curvy edge is quite difficult because you have all this rotational force about you and you can't concentrate it. Instead, the skater has to straighten it out the edge, and that's accomplished by how you position your body weight over the edge and your arms etc....it's still on an inside edge, but the edge is straightened out.

Does this make sense?

Sorry Brieanne if I stole your thunder. I'll make it up to you somehow! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->

[Johnny5uwsp]

Hey all,

This is my first time posting here, but you all seem very very nice and helpful, so I feel comfortable asking my question. On other boards people are not very nice, so I don't really add anything, but you all are just great!!! My question is this: I have been having so much trouble on my triple flip......not that it matters how many turns you can do, you guys know what I mean?? Anyways, I seem to switch over to a back outside edge, instead of the inside, and can't seem to fix the problem. I am not comfortable doing it in competiton anymore, so it is really becoming a problem!!! My coach and I are just at a cross roads with the problem, and I don't know what to do anymore. Because you all seem very knowledgable and seem to skate yourselves, I was wondering if any of you have any information that could help! I have tried pressing my back arm more to the right, but that just causes me to lean very much in the air!!! AHHHH, if someone can help that would be just great. And I want to add one more thing, all the people on this board are sooooooooo wonderful, you are true fans of the sport!!!! Keep being as nice and wonderful as you have always been, cause it is sooooo nice to come here and read your great informative posts!!! I just love you guys!!! :-) Take care all!!!!!

[axelkid]

Those are very gracious comments!! I hope you continue to post here and participate in the interesting and provoking discussions that arise. Unfortunately, I'm not a skating expert myself though I love the sport and I've been skating for 5 years..(I started in college). If you are working on a triple flip, I'm not sure it's terribly prudent of me to offer advice since I've only attempted a triple flip once and that was sort of on a dare. The flip is one of my favorite jumps and on good days I can get a decent double. I'm not sure if I understand how you are getting off on the outside edge. Are you essentially turning your flip into a lutz? I think this is how I understand it. And I'm thinking that if you are doing a left outside three turn into a back inside edge, the tendency would be to deepen the inside edge further as opposed to falling onto the outside edge. My thoughts: where is your free leg after you three turn? maybe it is behind you and over to the left and that's steering you onto an outside edge. Or perhaps your weight is shifted to the left? Or maybe it's your posture over the blade. It should be somewhat square if I remember properly. Oh well. That's all I can think of for now. Hope everything works out! Good luck!