What is a loop jump and how is it different from a Salchow?

These two jumps are easy to confuse because both are edge jumps (no toe pick) and both are one rotation. But the takeoff mechanics are completely different.

Loop (for a CCW skater):
- Skater glides backward with feet crossed (right foot in front of left)
- Takeoff edge: right back outside edge
- Both knees compress, then spring straight up — there is no free-leg swing
- Lands on the right back outside edge (same foot, same edge as takeoff)
- Loop is often the LAST single jump beginners learn — pure spring with no toe-pick or leg-swing assistance

Salchow (for a CCW skater):
- Skater glides backward on the left back inside edge
- The right (free) leg swings forward in an arc to initiate rotation
- Left leg pushes off the ice
- Lands on the right back outside edge — note: the foot that was the free leg is now the landing foot

Common confusion clarified:
- Both jumps land on the SAME foot (right) and SAME edge (back outside) — that's standard for almost every single jump for a CCW skater
- The difference between landing on the "same foot" or "different foot" depends on which foot took off, and varies by jump

The "Euler" (one-foot Salchow combination) and "half-Loop" terms are sometimes used interchangeably; both refer to a Loop-like jump used as a connector between other jumps in a combination.

Want to spot whether your skater's Loop has a clean spring or is sneaking in a toe-pick? SkateMarks captures the takeoff sequence so you can see what's actually happening.