GENERATION OF VERTICAL VELOCITY IN TOE-PICK FIGURE SKATING JUMPS

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the techniques by which skaters generate vertical velocity during toe-pick figure skating jumps. Data were collected from seven male skaters completing triple Lutzes during the 1999 State Farm Figure Skating Championship in Salt Lake City, UT using four high speed video cameras. During the propulsive phase of the triple Lutz, the relative contribution of the arms and free leg was, on average, only 2.89% of the vertical momentum of the skater. During the first half of this phase, the radial velocity of the take-off leg was negative while the vertical velocity of the COM was positive. This suggests that the skaters were able to utilize eccentric muscle actions to increase the ground reaction during the first half of the propulsive phase of the triple Lutz.