I'm having a hard time getting my ankles crossed in my off-ice jumps and I just can't figure out what to do. I'm doing rotation jumps and I'm working on getting 1 1/2 rotations (I'm at 1 1/4 right now! So close!), but my legs stay next to each other. My coach has me doing backspins on ice and for off-ice training I'm doing single rotation jumps and landing in the loop position and holding it. The problem with landing in the loop position though is that it's making my free leg come up way too soon when I try to jump normally and I end up not being able to get past one rotation cause my leg is flying around. When I try to kind of force my ankles to cross, it throws me entirely off my jump. I either fall sideways, my free leg just hangs out in front of the other one, or my leg comes up too soon anyway. I hurt myself pretty good a couple weeks ago trying to make my ankles cross because they didn't uncross when I landed and I came down sideways on my foot.
I know I must be doing something wrong because I watch other skaters doing off-ice jumps and it looks so easy and natural like the ankles are just supposed to cross if you're jumping right. Is that the case? Are there any exercises I can do to help? I'm doing drills where you jump up and simulate the in-air position (ankles crossed, wrists crossed at chest) and then land back down on two feet. I also do the drill where you jump up and keep your upper body and shoulders straight while you twist your hips and feet to the side. Is there anything else I should be doing? Thanks in advance!
(Edited to say I added a video of me jumping as an example in response to a comment, so any feedback is much appreciated!)
I know I must be doing something wrong because I watch other skaters doing off-ice jumps and it looks so easy and natural like the ankles are just supposed to cross if you're jumping right. Is that the case? Are there any exercises I can do to help? I'm doing drills where you jump up and simulate the in-air position (ankles crossed, wrists crossed at chest) and then land back down on two feet. I also do the drill where you jump up and keep your upper body and shoulders straight while you twist your hips and feet to the side. Is there anything else I should be doing? Thanks in advance!
(Edited to say I added a video of me jumping as an example in response to a comment, so any feedback is much appreciated!)
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