Flip jump facts for kids

The flip jump is an exciting move in figure skating. It is also known simply as the flip. This jump is a "toe jump," which means skaters use the toe pick of one skate to help them launch into the air.

The International Skating Union (ISU), which sets the rules for figure skating, describes the flip jump clearly. A skater takes off from a backward inside edge of one skate. Then, they land on the backward outside edge of the opposite skate. Imagine gliding backward, then using the inside part of one blade and the toe pick of the other skate to spring up!

The History and Challenge of the Flip Jump

No one knows for sure who invented the flip jump. Some people think an American skater named Bruce Mapes might have created it. This jump is known to be quite tricky for many skaters. It requires a lot of precision and balance.

Figure skating experts say the flip jump is harder than some other jumps, like the loop or salchow. This is because skaters need to be very exact with their timing. They also need to balance on an edge that can feel a bit unstable. To do a flip jump well, a skater's blade should be almost straight on the ice, not leaning too much. Because it's so difficult, doing a quadruple (four-rotation) flip jump is very rare and impressive!

Different Kinds of Flip Jumps

Skaters perform a few different versions of the flip jump. These include the half flip and the split flip.

• Half Flip: This is a simpler version. Skaters often use it as a smooth connecting move in their routines. It can also be a starting point for other half jumps.
• Split Flip: This is a single flip jump where the skater performs a split in the air. They stretch their legs wide apart at the highest point of the jump.

It's interesting to note that there isn't a clear record of the first male skater to successfully land a triple flip jump in competition.

Scoring Flip Jumps in Competitions

In figure skating competitions, judges give points for each jump based on its difficulty. Here's how the base values for flip jumps are set:

• A single flip jump is worth 0.50 points.
• A double flip jump is worth 1.80 points.
• A triple flip jump is worth 5.30 points.
• A quadruple (four-rotation) flip jump is worth 11.00 points.
• A quintuple (five-rotation) flip jump is worth 14.00 points.

Amazing Firsts in Flip Jump History

Many incredible skaters have made history by being the first to land difficult flip jumps. Here are some of those groundbreaking achievements:

Abbr.	Jump element	Skater	Nation	Event	Ref.
3F	Triple flip (women's)	Witt, KatarinaKatarina Witt	East Germany	1981 European Championships
	Triple flip (women's)	Ruben, ManuelaManuela Ruben	Germany
4F	Quadruple flip (men's)	Uno, ShomaShoma Uno	Japan	2016 Team Challenge Cup
	Quadruple flip (women's)	Trusova, AlexandraAlexandra Trusova	Russia	2019–20 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

Images for kids

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  You Young begins the flip jump with her left foot on the inside edge and her right toe pick about to hit the ice

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  You Young begins to take off the ice

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  Eliška Březinová landing