Sports

Simple Figure Skating Toe Jumps

By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, About.com Guide

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There are some simple toe jumps that are fun and easy to do on figure skates. As a figure skater advances, these simple jumps are used to connect steps and elements in a skater's program.

Bunny Hop

The bunny hop is a fun and easy ice skating jump. It is one of the first jumps new figure skaters learn and master.

Mazurka Jump

Janet Champion Personal Photo Collection

In the mazurka jump, there is a cross-legged pose in the air. Figure skating legend, Sonja Henie, did huge mazurka jumps. Today's skaters rarely do the large mazurkas that were once a standard for most figure skaters.

Split Jump

Janet Champion Personal Photo Collection

A split jump is a figure sakting jump where the familiar split position that can be done on the floor is done in the air.

Stag Jump

Photo by John Terence Turner - Getty Images

A stag jump is a simple half revolution figure skating jump that similar to a split jump, but the forward leg is bent at the knee.

Ballet Jump

IOC Olympic Museum /Allsport - Getty Images

The ballet jump looks a bit like a ballet dancer dancing on pointe.

Tap Toe Jump

A tap toe jump is a simple figure skating jump that does not rotate, and resembles a skater skipping sideways. The jump is similar to a mazurka jump, but there is no scissor action and the legs don't cross in the air.

Half Flip Jump

In a half flip jump, from a backward inside edge, the skater "picks" with the other toe, jumps and turns a half revolution in the air, lands on other toe, and exits on a forward inside edge.

Falling Leaf Jump

In a falling leaf jump, the skater glides backward on a back outside edge at first. As the skater begins the jump, he or she will turn and leap up off the backward skating foot. There will be a half-turn rotation in the air. If the skater wishes, he or she can split a bit in the air by scissor splitting both legs during the jump.

Simple Figure Skating Toe Jumps

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