What is the Waltz Jump and when should my child learn it?

The Waltz Jump: Your Child's First Jump

The Waltz Jump is often the very first jump skaters learn—and it's a wonderful milestone. It's a single-rotation jump where your child takes off from the forward outside edge of one foot and lands on the back outside edge of the opposite foot, all in one smooth motion. You'll notice it looks almost like a graceful hop rather than an explosive leap, which is exactly why it works so well for beginners.

Most skaters start working on the Waltz Jump around Pre-Preliminary level, usually within their first season or two of learning to skate. It requires very little speed and rotation, making it the perfect stepping stone before tackling Half Lutz, Single Lutz, and eventually the other single jumps. The beauty of the Waltz Jump is that it teaches fundamental jump principles—takeoff timing, landing position, and basic rotational awareness—without overwhelming a young skater.

You'll want to watch for a smooth, controlled takeoff and a solid landing where your child stays centered over their landing leg. Even small improvements in these basics now will pay huge dividends as jumps get more complex.

Want to see this in your child's skating? SkateMarks analyzes every jump with per-second AI coaching notes.