Technical Corner: Mastering the Axel Jump
Part 3 of Skate VIDA's Technical Corner Series
If you ask most figure skaters which jump they dreamed about landing first, the answer is often the same:
The Axel.
For many skaters, landing a clean Single Axel represents more than learning another jump—it marks a major milestone in their skating journey. It is often the bridge between basic and advanced skating and opens the door to every double jump that follows.
Because the Axel is the only jump that takes off while skating forward, it contains an extra half rotation compared to every other jump.
A Single Axel is actually 1½ rotations.
A Double Axel is 2½ rotations.
A Triple Axel is 3½ rotations.
That additional half rotation makes the Axel one of the most technically demanding jumps in figure skating.
Yet every skater's journey to landing it looks different.
Some athletes master it quickly.
Others spend months—or even years—developing the strength, timing, and confidence to land it consistently.
Neither path is "right."
The Axel has a way of teaching every skater patience.
The Axel Is More Than Just Another Jump
Many coaches refer to the Single Axel as the "gateway jump."
Not because it is the hardest jump in figure skating, but because it demands that skaters combine nearly every fundamental skill they have learned:
Strong edge control
Speed generation
Body alignment
Core strength
Air position
Timing
Patience
Confidence
Weakness in any one of these areas often becomes apparent during Axel training.
That's why many coaches spend months refining skating skills, Waltz Jumps, back spins, and loop jumps before seriously pursuing the Axel.
The better the foundation, the easier the Axel becomes.
Axel Prerequisites Checklist
Before seriously pursuing an Axel, many coaches look for consistent:
Waltz Jump with height and control.
Backspin.
Loop jump.
Strong forward outside edge.
Good core strength and body awareness.
Controlled landing position on a back outside edge.
The Approach: Building Speed Without Rushing
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Axel is that bigger speed automatically produces a better jump.
In reality, quality speed matters much more than raw speed.
The approach should feel controlled, rhythmic, and balanced.
Most skaters enter the Axel from a forward outside edge, allowing the skating knee to bend deeply while maintaining an upright posture and steady upper body.
As the free leg swings forward, it should generate lift rather than simply momentum.
Many beginning skaters rush this phase, causing the upper body to lean forward or the edge to flatten before takeoff.
A clean, controlled edge creates the foundation for everything that follows.
Takeoff: Jump Up Before You Jump Around
One of the most common coaching cues for the Axel is:
"Up before around"
The purpose of the takeoff is to create vertical lift.
Rotation should occur because the body leaves the ice correctly—not because the skater twists early.
The skating knee extends powerfully while the free leg and arms work together to generate upward momentum.
If rotation begins too soon, the jump often loses height and becomes difficult to complete.
The Snap Position
Once airborne, successful Axel technique depends on achieving a fast, compact rotational position.
Coaches often refer to this as the "snap."
The legs come together quickly while the arms move into a controlled rotational position close to the body's center.
The tighter this position becomes, the faster the body rotates.
Skaters who remain open in the air usually struggle to complete the rotation before landing.
This is why off-ice jump training and body awareness play such important roles in Axel development.
Landing: Controlled, Not Just Survived
Landing the Axel isn't simply about getting one foot onto the ice.
A quality landing demonstrates complete control.
Judges and coaches look for:
A secure back outside edge.
Good knee bend.
Strong body alignment.
Controlled glide.
Flow out of the landing.
Confidence continuing into the next movement.
Many skaters initially focus only on staying upright.
Over time, however, the goal becomes creating a landing that looks effortless.
Understanding Pre-Rotation
One technical concept frequently discussed in modern figure skating is pre-rotation.
Pre-rotation refers to the amount a skater rotates on the ice before the blade leaves the surface.
Some amount of pre-rotation naturally occurs in every jump because the body must begin organizing for takeoff.
The challenge is ensuring that rotation does not replace proper lift.
When skaters rotate excessively on the ice before becoming airborne, they often sacrifice height and develop inconsistent technique.
Instead of allowing the jump to happen in the air, too much of the rotation has already occurred on the ice.
Developing a strong edge, explosive extension, and efficient air position helps minimize unnecessary pre-rotation while producing cleaner, more consistent Axels.
Why Progress Isn't Linear
Almost every skater experiences periods where the Axel feels impossible.
Some days it rotates perfectly.
The next day it may disappear entirely.
This is normal.
Learning the Axel often involves building many different pieces simultaneously:
Edge quality
Timing
Air position
Confidence
Strength
Height
Speed control
Progress rarely follows a straight line.
Sometimes a skater appears to move backward before making a significant breakthrough.
That doesn't mean training isn't working.
It means the body is still learning.
One of the biggest mistakes young skaters make is comparing their Axel progress to teammates.
Every athlete develops differently.
Growth, strength, flexibility, maturity, and experience all influence when the Axel begins to click.
Your journey is your own.
Common Axel Mistakes
Throwing the shoulders instead of jumping up.
Collapsing the skating knee before takeoff.
Opening the air position too early.
Looking down during takeoff or landing.
Chasing rotation instead of creating lift.
Rushing the entry instead of holding a controlled forward outside edge.
How the Axel Is Judged
Under the ISU Judging System, every jump receives both a base value and a Grade of Execution (GOE).
The base value reflects the difficulty of the jump itself.
GOE rewards how well the element is performed.
Judges consider factors such as:
Height
Distance
Flow across the ice
Speed entering and exiting the jump
Clean takeoff edge
Tight air position
Secure landing
Strong extension and control
Musical timing within the program
A beautifully executed Single Axel with excellent quality often receives significantly higher marks than a technically difficult jump performed with poor execution.
What Earns Positive GOE?
Positive Grades of Execution are generally awarded when an Axel demonstrates qualities such as:
Excellent height and distance
Effortless speed throughout the jump
A controlled, flowing entry
Clean takeoff with minimal visible struggle
Fast rotational position
Secure landing on a strong back outside edge
Flow maintained after landing
Good body line and aesthetically pleasing technique
Musical expression and seamless integration into the choreography
Conversely, GOE may be reduced for issues such as:
Poor height or distance
Weak flow
Step-outs
Touchdowns with the free foot or hand
Under-rotation
Poor landing control
Significant pre-rotation that compromises jump quality
Awkward body position
Looking Beyond the Single Axel
Double Axel
The Double Axel introduces an additional full rotation while maintaining the same forward takeoff.
At 2½ rotations, it becomes one of the defining jumps separating intermediate and advanced competitive skaters.
Success depends not only on greater rotational speed but also on increased height, stronger air position, and excellent consistency.
Many skaters spend considerable time developing a reliable Double Axel before moving on to triples.
Triple Axel
At 3½ rotations, the Triple Axel remains one of the most technically demanding jumps in figure skating.
It requires exceptional power, explosive vertical lift, extraordinary rotational speed, and precise timing.
Only a small percentage of skaters ever master this jump in competition, making it one of the sport's most celebrated technical achievements.
How Skate VIDA Teaches the Axel
At Skate VIDA, we don't view the Axel as a race—we view it as a milestone that should be built on a strong foundation.
Rather than rushing skaters into repeated Axel attempts before they're ready, our coaches focus on developing the individual pieces that make a successful Axel possible. Every skater progresses through these stages at their own pace, building confidence and consistency before adding additional complexity.
Our approach emphasizes:
Strong forward outside edge control
Powerful and controlled Waltz Jump mechanics
Excellent landing position and edge quality
Backspin development and rotational awareness
Proper air position ("snap")
Core strength and body alignment through off-ice training
Safe, progressive drills both on and off the ice
Mental confidence and patience throughout the learning process
Because every skater learns differently, we recognize that there is no single "correct" timeline for landing an Axel.
Some athletes develop the rotational mechanics first and then refine the edge. Others develop beautiful technique before the timing suddenly clicks. Still others need additional strength or confidence before the jump comes together.
Our job as coaches is not to compare one skater to another—it's to identify which piece of the puzzle each athlete needs next.
When those pieces are developed in the right order, the Axel becomes not just attainable, but repeatable and sustainable.
Every Great Axel Starts With Great Fundamentals
The Axel is often remembered as the jump that changes a skater's career—but long before the first successful landing comes countless hours spent building the skills that make it possible.
Every edge exercise, every Waltz Jump, every off-ice drill, every correction from a coach, and every missed attempt contributes to the moment when everything finally comes together.
If you're working toward your first Axel, be patient with yourself.
Don't compare your timeline to another skater's.
Celebrate small improvements, trust the process, and remember that mastering the Axel is about far more than completing one and a half rotations. It's about becoming a stronger, more technically sound, and more resilient athlete.
At Skate VIDA, we're passionate about helping skaters build those foundations one step at a time. Whether you're preparing for your very first Waltz Jump or chasing a clean Double Axel, our experienced coaches create individualized training plans that emphasize sound technique, confidence, and long-term success.
Ready to start your Axel journey?
Whether you're looking for private lessons, specialty jump classes, off-ice training, or a comprehensive development program through the Skate VIDA Summer Academy, we'd love to help you take the next step in your skating journey.