Skating 101 - Skating jumps explained through "everyday" activities: Toe Loop
Disclaimer: I've written a small disclaimer for these articles on jumping over on this link. Reading it isn't obligatory, but it does cover a lot of ugliness that I don't want to type every time I write one of these, so if you're about to pick me up on the finer points of jump execution then please read that first!
The Toe Loop
You run a money laundering operation, I keep telling you not to, but that hasn't stopped you yet. It's a typical day for you as a money launderer (whatever that looks like, you tell me) and you're just on your way out of the house to pick up some ill-gotten gains. You step your right leg forward and raise your left foot heel off the floor so just your toes are touching the ground. In this position, you suddenly realise you've forgotten your keys, you clutz!
Still facing forwards, you push down through your left toes into the floor behind you, with the intention to pivot to the left on them so that you can reach your keys on the table behind you. It should be noted that this table is very low to the floor, like, barely a foot high, why you bought such a ridiculous thing is unknown, however this fact will be important in a moment.
Before you can pivot to the table, there comes a knock on your door, startling you. You're now trapped trying to decide what you should do first, your left hand is raised up to reach for the door in front of you so you can answer it, while your right is raised out behind you to reach for the keys behind you (both raised to a bit below shoulder height). Suddenly, the knock comes again and a voice with it:
"POLICE! OPEN THE DOOR!"
Panic. You're finally being busted. I did warn you... but you have to pay for your skating lessons somehow!
In your panicked state, you realise you need to get the gun you keep in your breast pocket for these kinds of situations (it's a Noisy Cricket, like the one Will Smith has in Men in Black) and take cover using the tiny table behind you - it's only a foot tall remember, but it's the best you can do. You'll need to leap over the table to get into cover.
So your right leg should still be bent in front of you, as if taking a step, your arms are still out as described above and your left toes are touching the carpet behind you. You push down through your left toes and bring your arms into your chest to retrieve the gun from your left breast pocket. As you bring your arms in then you lift your right leg up and swing it over to the left side of your body, pivoting on your left toes as you go. As you get about a quarter rotation round the left side of your body, you complete your push off through your left toes and leap over the table behind you (only a foot high remember) to land behind it on your right foot still facing the door as you were when you started this exercise. While now balancing on your right leg, you now throw out your arms to each side to stabilise yourself and your left leg stays off the ground and behind you for more balance.
You're now prepared to engage the police in a gun fight to protect your money laundering operation. You've also just done something resembling the toe loop.
Still facing forwards, you push down through your left toes into the floor behind you, with the intention to pivot to the left on them so that you can reach your keys on the table behind you. It should be noted that this table is very low to the floor, like, barely a foot high, why you bought such a ridiculous thing is unknown, however this fact will be important in a moment.
Before you can pivot to the table, there comes a knock on your door, startling you. You're now trapped trying to decide what you should do first, your left hand is raised up to reach for the door in front of you so you can answer it, while your right is raised out behind you to reach for the keys behind you (both raised to a bit below shoulder height). Suddenly, the knock comes again and a voice with it:
"POLICE! OPEN THE DOOR!"
 |
| "But officer, I needed the money for skating!" |
In your panicked state, you realise you need to get the gun you keep in your breast pocket for these kinds of situations (it's a Noisy Cricket, like the one Will Smith has in Men in Black) and take cover using the tiny table behind you - it's only a foot tall remember, but it's the best you can do. You'll need to leap over the table to get into cover.
So your right leg should still be bent in front of you, as if taking a step, your arms are still out as described above and your left toes are touching the carpet behind you. You push down through your left toes and bring your arms into your chest to retrieve the gun from your left breast pocket. As you bring your arms in then you lift your right leg up and swing it over to the left side of your body, pivoting on your left toes as you go. As you get about a quarter rotation round the left side of your body, you complete your push off through your left toes and leap over the table behind you (only a foot high remember) to land behind it on your right foot still facing the door as you were when you started this exercise. While now balancing on your right leg, you now throw out your arms to each side to stabilise yourself and your left leg stays off the ground and behind you for more balance.
You're now prepared to engage the police in a gun fight to protect your money laundering operation. You've also just done something resembling the toe loop.
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