Split jumps

For the unrelated exercise technique, see Split jump (exercise)

Sasha Cohen performs a Russian split jump.

Stephane Lambiel performs a stag jump.

A skater performs a double stag jump.

Split jumps are a category of figure skating jumps in which the skater achieves a split position in the air. Unlike most figure skating jumps, split jumps are positional jumps, rather than rotatational jumps; the point of them is to achieve a position in the air, not to rotate a specific number of times.^[1]

Split and stag jumps

The most common split jumps are derived from the half flip, half lutz, or falling leaf, which are half-rotation jumps with flip, lutz, or loop entries, respectively. More rarely, full-rotation flip and lutz jumps can be done with a split. These jumps are known as the split flip and split lutz.

As an alternative to the standard front-to-back split position, some skaters perform a Russian split, with a straddle position in the air. The only difference between this and the regular split jump is the position in the air.^[1] The legs extend straight out, with the toes pointed. Skaters will often touch their toes as part of a Russian split.

Another variation is the stag jump, in which the forward leg is bent in front while the back leg kicks out as in the regular split jump.^[1] Both the Russian split and stag jump can be done from the same jump entries as the regular split jumps. Bending both legs in a stag jump is sometimes called a double stag jump.

Split jumps are considered fairly basic jumps in figure skating^{[citation needed]}, but they can be very dramatic when performed well. The challenge is for the skater to achieve a full horizontal split or straddle position at the apex of the jump, which requires both body flexibility and a strong spring into the air.

References

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