Axel

An “Axel” is a term commonly associated with a figure skating jump. It is named after Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen, who first performed the jump in the late 19th century. The Axel is distinguished by its unique entry; unlike most jumps that take off from a backward position, the Axel begins with the skater facing forward. During the jump, the skater takes off from one foot, rotates in the air, and typically completes one and a half rotations before landing on the opposite foot. This jump is notable for being one of the more challenging and technically complex moves in figure skating due to its required height, rotation, and timing. Axels can be performed in various forms, such as single, double, or triple, depending on the number of rotations completed.