A kinematic analysis of ladies figure skating jump technique throughout the last four decades

R. Clark, I. Ivanov

Abstract: The goal of this study is to estimate the longitudinal progression of jumping technique performing a kinematic analysis of six major jumps from the 1980s to the present in women's figure skating. Fifteen female figure skaters chosen as top performers from four decades – from 1980s to the present, were studied. For all female athletes, three kinematic jump characteristics were quantified: preparation and flight phase time durations (PFT, FFT), average body angular velocity in flight phase (AVF). Several conclusions were drawn from the results; the comparative analysis by decade demonstrated that technique performance and thus the kinematic profile of the jumps changed over time; double Axel showed a trend towards increasing duration of the PFT and AVF; triple Salchow - clear decrease in the PFT and FFT and a significant increase in the AVT at 2020s; triple Lutz - constant duration of the FFT and significant increase in AVT; triple Toe Loop - relative invariance of all three parameters from the 1980s to the 2010s and a significant change in the 2020s.; the highest AVT was measured on A. Trusova (2020) at quadruple Lutz - 5,22 rpm. A suggestions in order to improve jumping technique were synthesized: the female figure skaters need to work thoroughly on improving the functional performance of their lower limbs by improving their individual jumping strength/speed profile; there is also a need to improve the dynamic properties of the lower limbs, such as maximum force at takeoff, initial speed of the flight phase, and elasticity index at takeoff; in order to meet the need to increase the jump difficulty and attractiveness, it is necessary to improve the movement of the upper body segments during rotation in the flight phase, including the head. Efforts should be focused on reducing the body's moment of inertia, which accelerates rotation in the flight phase.

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.37, No.1 (2023), 81-89
DOI: 10.7546/SB.11.01.2023

Keywords: Figure skating; kinematic analysis; skating jump phases

Date published: 2023-02-02