Greatest split Jumps ever?

[gsk8]

I came across this cool photo from 1955 of French skater Alain Giletti doing a Russian split jump.



Some of the skaters I can think of off the top of my head that have good Russian split jumps include Jason Brown, Stéphane Lambiel, Denis Ten, Sasha Cohen, and Kurt Browning.

What makes a great Russian split jump?

• Legs reaching close to 180 degrees.
• Toes pointed.
• Good height off the ice.
• Straight knees.
• Strong body position and posture.
• Musical timing rather than simply throwing it into the program.

Who are other skaters you can think of? Share photos and videos!

 

[yfan1]

Hiwatashi

 

[Diana Delafield]

Toller Cranston
He did oversplits where his feet were higher than his shoulders. As an encore to exhibition programs, he'd do a series of Russian splits over and over in a big circle while the fans counted. Usually he did at least seven in a row.

 

[humbaba]

Can't talk about great split jumps without mentioning Rory Flack. She was incredible. Her split jump is just after the 2 minute mark in this video.

 

[Skating47]

Jason Brown, Kurt Browning, and Paul W.

 

[4everchan]

I think... Toller to Shawn to Anthony ?

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Can't talk about great split jumps without mentioning Rory Flack. She was incredible. Her split jump is just after the 2 minute mark in this video.

Definitely!

Funnily enough, about 6 weeks ago, the founder of Sportity posted a compilation video of my youngest kid, Oliviia Bazlova (CYP), doing split jumps:



https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYMINxpsaKy/

And somebody who commented on it said Oliviia reminded her of Rory Flack.

A caveat: Oliviia only turned 13 last month. So you have to bear in mind that the younger you are, the more flexible you are. As she gets older, it will probably become more difficult.

That said, it seemingly didn't for Rory.

But as it stands, Oliviia's split jump is good.

Looking forward to seeing her in the Junior GP Series this coming season.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[iluvtodd]

In addition to everyone else mentioned above, Sasha Cohen, "my" Todd, Sean Rabbitt ...

I Russian Split Jumps - probably my favorite element in figure skating!

 

[noskates]

Jason Brown

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Paul Wylie, Jason Brown.

 

[TT_Fin]

I see nobody has mentioned Kazuki Tomono He makes just a few seconds after the video begins.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

While I wouldn't pretend that his Split Jump is as great as Jason Brown's are, I would be unpardonable not to mention what very few know apart from his core fans, that Yuzuru Hanyu has a really beautiful Split Jump; simply, he wouldn't jump one that wouldn't be "necessary" or "adding meaning" to his programs and, contrary to Jason Brown's (of course we can suspect Rohene Ward to be partial to Jason Brown's Split Jumps and to keep them in mind when conceiving his programs), they wouldn't suit most of his programs.
I think that there may also be something personal, perhaps rooted in each Skater's own program history (or past reference history) leading Jason Brown to give Split Jumps the versatile means of expression power, given to Hydroblade by Yuzuru Hanyu.
Anyway, here's Raison, a program he skated for the Tour B of 2022 Fantasy on Ice on Raison d'Être by Taisei Miyakawa (Miya), the costume meaning referring to Demon Slayer and the Split Jump being at 3min23:

 

[el henry]

Well, given my tag line and my avatars, past and present.

Toller.

Jason.

Whenever Jason does his four to five splits in a row in galas, I think of Toller. I don’t know if Jason considers it an homage, but I do.

 

[gsk8]

Funnily enough, about 6 weeks ago, the founder of Sportity posted a compilation video of my youngest kid, Oliviia Bazlova (CYP), doing split jumps:



https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYMINxpsaKy/

Very impressive!!!!

 

[SmileHappy34]

I haven't seen too many very early skaters do their jumps and split jumps like from 1908 to around 1970
Basically I think all do a good one
I don't see too many bad one. When they do I don't remember it or the person.
I focus on what they do right
A list I can't give. It would be very long.

 

[4everchan]

Shawn in his tribute to Toller

 

[Mathman]

Toes pointed.!

Lots of wonderful examples. But... can anyone post a picture or video of a skater pointing his/her toes in a skating boot?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTiH8dZbsZLUhrDfG_hfPE6JjdceomW3rQRpLvzX62kQ&s=10

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPbwT-qQ-w-QPaIAJL1S2chw2JfgL-mObPkoq5aLw0kw&s=10

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ0o1QJe1voJXkUuueXTnggf0D_59KkpB60lpkCj5mxZQ&s=10

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Toller Cranston, Jason Brown, and Tomoki Hiwatashi, come immediately to my mind.

ETA:
For sure, Paul Wylie! I knew I was forgetting someone special.

 

[yfan1]

Tomoki Hiwatashi

It's so strange only the two of us mentioned him. His oversplits were so distinct.