How to Do An Axel

Many skaters take months or years to learn and perfect the axel. If you master the axel, you're much more likely to move more smoothly to the double jumps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Skates
• Positive attitude

1. Perform backward crossovers to gather speed. Keep a straight back and hold your arms and head up. To begin the jump, you must begin from a right backward outside edge.

2. Keep the jump moving along, do not hold the right backward outside edge for too long. Step from the right backward outside edge to the left forward outside edge. As you step to the forward edge, you'll need to swing your arms to assist with the takeoff.

3. Next comes the takeoff. You will need to be certain that you takeoff (for a single axel) from the toe pick. If you're doing doubles or triples, you will most likely do a skid indicating that you began rotating while still on the ice.

4. In the air you must complete 1-1/2 revolutions and to finish, land on a right outside back edge. Hold the landing position for 2 - 4 seconds. You will be so happy when you land it the first few times!

Tips & Warnings

• Crash pads for your knees, tail bone, and hips may come in handy
• If you hit a plateau, take a break and try later
• Make sure your upright spins are very strong before trying the axel
• Keep in mind that it takes hundreds, if not thousands of hours of practice to master a sport such as skating
• Some skaters & their parents may feel more secure with a helmet until the skater gains a moderate/high level of control