Take-off kinematics of the triple lutz in artistic roller skating

A biomechanical analysis of the Triple Lutz was performed using a stereophotogrammetric system in five world-class roller skaters. On average, the pelvis centre showed a horizontal velocity at the toe-assist lower than in the previous phases. The horizontal velocity decreased after the toe-assist, then remained constant up to the take-off. The vertical velocity was already elevated at the left skate end-gliding, and reached higher values at the take-off. In the toe-assisting leg, the hip and the knee showed a limited eccentric work phase, whereas the ankle showed a marked loading. Regarding the gliding leg, at the toe-assist the hip was in the neutral position on the frontal plane, whereas it was markedly flexed, as the knee and the ankle. Taken together, the results showed rather different executive strategies in various phases of the movement, highlighting individual interpretative patterns.