Jumps

See basic jumps and hop drills.

Apex Jump Intro

Objective: Skaters to learn the basic moves for an apex Jump

Suitable for: L1+

Action:

• Skaters on track to practice the basic jump up / Super Mario jump movement.

• Up up - practice up up - launching from your left foot and landing on your right foot.

• Lift knees - your speed will take you forward.

• Swing right foot to the front to give you momentum

• Swing arms for momentum - opposite arms to legs

Apex jump with cones

Objective: Start thinking about trajectory for an apex jump

Set-up: Put some cones at the apex

Action:

• Skaters push-off with the foot closest to the inside boundary

• Skaters land on the foot furthest from the inside boundary

Coaching points:

• While jumping, skaters have the bottoms of their feet parallel to the ground (as opposed to having their shins parallel to the ground and their feet backwards)

• Skaters jump upwards, not forwards (their forwards momentum is carried on from their skating speed)

• Skaters bend through their knees after landing and engage their core for stability

• Skaters can control their trajectory after landing (i.e. they don't fly off the track through the outside boundary)

• Something that might help with these jumps is to "count" the steps until the jump in your head: this will help with ending up with the right leg in the right position in the end. In addition, skaters can come skating at a moderate pace, then use their last 2-4 small powerful strides to really get the speed they need for the jump.

Progression: L2+ practice with a person on the apex.

L3 only: Once skaters are ready, put a skater at the apex and have them hit (first softly, then harder) the skater in the air, or have them extend an arm so that the jammer can feel what it's like to make contact mid-air. Please be mindful of the fact that intentionally hitting another skater while jumping is illegal and dangerous!