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Ten-Time World Figure Skating Champion Ulrich Salchow of Sweden invented this edge jump. Done from a back inside edge, this is sometimes confusing for beginning skaters who’ve only done the waltz jump, which is done on an outside edge. A simple way of looking at this jump is that the Salchow is just a 3-turn entrance combined with a waltz jump.
Whether you’re holding onto the railing, near it, or in the center of the ice, the walk-through is the same. Start in the standard 3-turn position, left foot at a 45-degree angle, right foot behind it, facing the other way. Make sure you’re looking up, spotting something on the wall that causes you to keep your chin up. Bend your left knee and do a 3-turn, remembering not to rush it. After you’ve completed the 3-turn, you raise our right foot as though taking a step forward. This is the part where you’ll be doing the waltz jump. In the midst of this walk through, you’ll only get a hint of the middle part of the jump, the portion where you make the transition from forwards to backwards. You’ll ‘land’ on your right back outside edge and your left leg will be behind you. Do this move a few times, either holding onto the railing, or on your own. This is giving you the feeling of what you’ll soon be doing in the air. Nothing was mentioned about the arms, as that’s the next step.
The more you use your arms, the stronger your jump will be. Most of the power is in your legs, but the reason men usually jump higher than women is because of their upper body strength.
Start as before, your feet forming the letter T, left foot in front, right foot turned at a 45-degree angle. This time your arms will be held at your sides, touching your hips. Then pull them out about 4 or 5 inches. Next, you’ll pull them back about 6 inches. Now you’re ready to do walk through with your arms only, don’t be too concerned about your feet, that’s for the next step! As you look up at the rink’s wall bring your arms forward until they’re almost shoulder height. This is going to bring you to the apex of the ‘jump’ in that you will do the revolution so you’re now facing the direction that was to your immediate left. If you begin facing north, you’ll be looking west during the apex of the jump [For clockwise skaters that would be east]. At the apex of the jump, your arms are curved slightly in front of you. Some coaches teach pulling in your arms, but this is normally necessary only for a double Salchow. Then you will assume the arm position for a checked landing. In figure skating it’s all about being able to check a landing, and the more advanced you get the more important it becomes. From the apex of the jump you’ll now keep your right arm out, but your body turns so that you’re now facing south [clockwise will be north] and your left arm extends in front of you. This position of the arms resembles the letter L. Anytime you do this is will help stop your rotation. Sometimes the L is a bit more open as the left arm comes back a bit more. What you want to avoid is not using your arms to land a jump.
Walk through the jump using your arms, legs and head so that all are correctly aligned. Begin with the T-position, arms to the side, then back about 6 inches. Look up at the wall. Your right leg will extend back, along with your arms. To keep your balance you’ll have to bend your left knee. After doing the 3-turn, bend the left knee even more and feel your left back inside edge. Arms and leg will then go forward, to the right. Your arms will be parallel in the center of the walk-through and your legs will be the furthest apart, balance evenly distributed. Assume the L-position with the arms to check out the walkthrough.
Try doing the Salchow jump with a small amount of speed and height. Conservative skaters can try this alongside the railing. More adventurous skaters will be near the railing or elsewhere on the ice.
As for the walkthrough, the actual jump is done on a backward inside edge. As you do the Salchow you need to remember this checklist:
1. Bend your knee!
2. Look up. Points 1 and 2 will be mentioned constantly if you continue skating, especially if you take lessons.
3. Bring your arms to the side and then behind you, keeping your shoulders down. Even if you aren’t feeling too relaxed, try to look it.
4. Do a 3-turn, extending your right foot behind you, having a STRONG check after executing the 3-turn.
5. As you feel that you’re on your back left inside edge, SCOOP through with your right foot. Think inside edge first. In the waltz jump you kicked. Even in Salchow practice you kicked. But when jumping for real, you must think of scooping your free leg so it gets you up and around.
6. Your arms will be in coordination with your free leg [the one that’s doing the scooping!] First they’ll be back, and then they reach forward in a small arc so they add to the power of the jump.
7. At the apex of the jump your arms will be slightly curved in front of you – as though holding a giant beach ball. Your legs will be slightly apart.
8. As for the landing, your right toepick will be the first part of your blade to land. It’ll be doing so backwards as this is a back outside edge landing.
9. Your arms check in the L position, left arm in front, right arm to the side.
10. As you check out, remain on your right back outside edge. Your free leg is behind you, acting as a counterbalance.
You’ve just done your first Salchow jump! Don’t be concerned about getting a lot of height and width in the beginning. Aim for getting the coordination followed by a strong form.
The Salchow is performed from back crossovers into a Mohawk into the jump itself. But for now, this is the safest method. Also, when learning jumps, it’s best to do so under the supervision of a qualified coach.
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