Lack of available freestyle ice can be a factor as well, going into the idea of "time". I live someplace that has, relative to some other regions, a wealth of rinks and high quality coaches. But when freestyle ice ends before I even get out of work, my daughter can't skate more often, period, end of story. Not complaining - well, maybe a little - but it's part of the reality of the sport.
My long-term personal goal is to make up to double axel, but no further since I've read stuff saying double axel and triple jumps are very, very rare in the general skating community, especially for people who didn't start as young children.
So how tough is it? How many skaters make it? I know most don't make it because they simply lose interest in skating and quit.
Is this a good example below?
Probably 90% of skaters make it thru beginner classes to Freestyle level 1.
Probably 60% of skaters land the single axel.
Probably 20-30% of skaters land all of the double jumps except double axel
Probably 2%-5% land double axels and a few easier triple jumps, like triple salchow and triple toe-loop.
Less than 1% land triple axels or quad jumps or go to the Olympics.
USFSA has a chart about "The Competitive Pipeline" where it estimates numbers as follows:
about 100,000 skaters do the basic skills
about 30,000 skaters move up to competitions
about 3000 do Regionals (that's going to be single axel and above)
about 900 go on to Sectionals (that's double axel and above)
about 300 go to Nationals
about 150 go on to novice, junior, and senior international competitions (triples and above)
about 100 go to Junior Grand Prix or Junior World Champs
about 15 go to Olympic level competitions (this group is the group that has the best triples and the quads)
If ISI is not included, then the number of skaters who start skating at basic levels is larger than 100,000, so the percentage of those who make it to doubles & triples is lower.
Also, of the 15 going to the Olympic team (in the chart), 9 are free skate and 6 are ice dance (no jumps in ice dancing). If the ratio holds, then I’m thinking that maybe the numbers for Sectional competition and above are 60% free skate and 40% ice dancing. The qualifying competitions for ice dancing don’t even start until Sectional. I think the numbers at the qualifying Regional competitions would be just free skate.
Not sure I agree with this statement. I would say that any skater that puts in those hours should get all of their doubles up to a double axel.I have to agree - most skaters who put in 10-15 hours a week can learn triples.
Not sure I agree with this statement. I would say that any skater that puts in those hours should get all of their doubles up to a double axel.
But from a double axel up, even if a skater has good technique, a skater starts to encounter physical and mental limitations. These jumps require a certain amount of height (air time) and I'm not sure if most skaters get enough. And from what I hear from around the rink, lots of skaters are scared of the forward entry of an axel - they can push through a single but I think the double is a different beast.
I find this discussion really fascinating. One thing is though that often people dislike 2A more than 3S, I’m working on both right now (there’s two of us at my club who are and we both really don’t like 2A) and also the pain from falling on these is quite high and I find there to be a big jump pain wise from most doubles (not 2A) to 2A,3S,3T etc and it really can freak some people out. I’m used to coming home from the rink with at least five bruises.
Not sure I agree with this statement. I would say that any skater that puts in those hours should get all of their doubles up to a double axel.
But from a double axel up, even if a skater has good technique, a skater starts to encounter physical and mental limitations. These jumps require a certain amount of height (air time) and I'm not sure if most skaters get enough. And from what I hear from around the rink, lots of skaters are scared of the forward entry of an axel - they can push through a single but I think the double is a different beast.
My daughter refused to wear butt pads until she had a couple of brutal falls when working on triples. Then she asked for them.
To do a triple, you have to jump higher and rotate faster so the falls are much harder on the body (more g forces at work). As a result, a good chiropractor is needed to put the body back into assignment. It is amazing how many skaters we see at the chirpractor's office.
US skaters start doing triples in competitions at the Intermdiate level. Last season at the summer competitions it was not uncommon at this level to see 4 withdraws (from group of 15 -20) before an event even started and another 1 or 2 before the event finals. I'm sure most of these withdraws were from failed triple attempts. Talk about survival of the fittest!