Did you all know that pointing toes during jumps is not done for the visual pleasantry, but rather to combat back injury from landing on the flat????
That is interesting information about toes and boots, Nthuz.nthuz said:It is impossible to point one's toes in figure skating boots in the way that a dancer points toes. The foot that is laced into a boot cannot arch due to the stiff sole. The "illusion" of pointed toes [in skaters] comes from the bending the ankle.
The extent to which the ankle can bend depends on the boot (and of course the skater's determination). Usova and other dancers have better "point" becuase the top of a dance boot is cut much lower-especially in the back, allowing for greater flexibility of the ankle. Freestyle boots need to be higher and stiffer for the skater doing jumps...
I always wondered about Butyrskya's (sp?) back--seemed like her knees never bent when she landed.