The first skater to accomplish an Axel was its creator, Axel Paulsen, at the first international figure skating competition, which was held in Vienna in 1882. He did it as a special figure involving a bracket and landed the jump on both legs.
World Figure Sport’s Braxel Flying Figure (released in 2023) furthers an iconic moment in sporting history from Vienna on January 21, 1882 for the 2023 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships on black ice. On that day, two skating artists competed with Flying Figures in the Special Figures International Figure Skating Competition: Axel Paulsen and Franz Biberhofer. Axel called his Special Flying Figure a “Three Jump with 1.5 revolutions” and Franz named his an “Edge Jump Biberhofer Figure” which was a three, loop, three, counter, change of edge and jump (Flying Choctaw). The documentation is from World Figure Sport’s Skating Archives and is published in our Skating Exam Catalog.
The 2023 Braxel Flying Figure consists of a right backward outside bracket turn and step at top of circle into a waltz jump (flying three with change of foot) landing on the backward outside edge gliding into the center to repeat the combination on the other side. Skating Artists may begin on either side that they consider is their stronger flying side. Complete 6 tracings for this World Class Braxel Flying Figure Composition. Any questions, please contact WFS’s Office.
Two more videos of Mrs. Kelly demonstrating and teaching the Braxel:
Notes
The Braxel is named as Axel and Back Bracket, for Braxel. It’s a Special Figure.
It starts on the back outside edge, you do the bracket at the quarter, step at the top to do the waltz jump, then you glide and hold all the way back to the center. And then you repeat the other side.
Tremendous technique to land on a clean edge and hold the back outside edge, so it really helps your technique overall. Plus the back bracket teaches you how to stay on your spine and come out with your spine really solid.