ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Figure skating jumps

When figure skating, there are certain things called jumps that skaters can do to show off their skills. There are two main kinds of jumps: edge jumps and toe jumps.

Edge jumps happen when the skater jumps off of the edge of their skate blade. This is kind of like hopping with only one foot. When they jump off the edge, they can twist their body around and land on the other foot. The most common edge jump is called the "loop jump."

Toe jumps happen when the skater uses the toe pick on their skate blade to help them launch into the air. This is like jumping off a diving board, but much smaller. When they jump, they can twist their body in different ways and land on different feet. The most common toe jumps are the "salchow," the "toe loop," and the "flip."

Skaters have to be very fast and strong to do these jumps, and they practice them a lot to get better and better. But when they get it right, jumps can be very exciting and fun to watch!