Gustave Lussi
Encyclopedia
Gustave François Lussi was a figure skating
coach. His students include many champions, such as Dick Button
, Donald Jackson
, Ronald Robertson, Ronald Ludington
, Barbara Ann Scott, David Jenkins, Hayes Jenkins, Dorothy Hamill
(during her novice years), John Misha Petkevich
, and John Curry
.
, Switzerland
. Lussi himself was not a competitive skater but a ski jumper
. He lost his nerve for that sport after a fall, and became interested in skating instead. His previous experience with the sport was only recreational skating on Lake Lucerne
as a boy. Since he had very little money, he was unable to compete as an amateur, but he made arrangements to learn skating from a top professional in Switzerland in exchange for later becoming his coach's assistant. He vowed that if he could not become a World Champion himself, he would make one through his teaching.
He emigrated to the United States
at the age of 20, just after World War I
, and settled in Philadelphia. His first champion student was Egbert S. Carey Jr., who won the U.S. junior men's title in 1924.
Beginning in 1932, Lussi was based at the Olympic
rink in Lake Placid, New York
, one of the few rinks in the world that provided summer ice in those days. He died on June 23, 1993, at the age of 95.
technique. Lussi was also responsible for developing modern figure skating jump
technique, including the now-standard cross-legged or back spin position in the air. His pupil Dick Button
was the first to perform a triple jump, and his students were also the pioneers of flying spins such as the flying camel and flying sit spin which are now a standard part of every elite skater's repertoire.
In April 1990, a documentary film Gustave Lussi: The Man Who Changed Skating was shown on the PBS television network. The documentary was conceived and co-produced by his former student Cecily Morrow
and produced by station WCFE-TV
. Around this time Morrow also worked with Lussi to produce a series of instructional videos capturing his coaching techniques.
Some of Lussi's other students, such as Mary Scotvold, Robin Wagner
, Evelyn Kramer and Priscilla Hill
, have also become successful coaches who have passed on Lussi's techniques to subsequent generations of skaters. Wagner coached Sarah Hughes
to the 2002 Olympic title
and Sasha Cohen
to her first World Championship medal. Priscilla Hill has coached Johnny Weir
to three national titles. Evelyn Kramer is now known as a "spin doctor" and has helped many skater improve their spins
. They include Michelle Kwan
, Robin Cousins
and Caryn Kadavy
.
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
coach. His students include many champions, such as Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
, Donald Jackson
Donald Jackson
Donald George Jackson, CM is a retired Canadian figure skater. He captured four Canadian titles and a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics...
, Ronald Robertson, Ronald Ludington
Ronald Ludington
Ronald Ludington is an American figure skater and coach. He was born in Boston.-Biography:With his then-wife, Nancy Rouillard Ludington, he won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in pair skating four times, between 1957 and 1960, after having been the junior national champions in 1956...
, Barbara Ann Scott, David Jenkins, Hayes Jenkins, Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:...
(during her novice years), John Misha Petkevich
John Misha Petkevich
John Misha Petkevich is an American former figure skater. He won the 1971 United States Figure Skating Championships in men's singles and the North American Figure Skating Championship in the same year. He placed 6th at the 1968 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1972 Winter Olympics...
, and John Curry
John Curry
John Anthony Curry, OBE was a British figure skater. He was the 1976 Olympic and World Champion. He was famous for combining ballet and modern dance influences into his skating.-Early life:...
.
Biography
Lussi was born in StansStans
Stans is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.-History:Stans is one of the oldest settlements in the entire Nidwalden valley. The first traces of human settlement date to the 2nd Century BC...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Lussi himself was not a competitive skater but a ski jumper
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
. He lost his nerve for that sport after a fall, and became interested in skating instead. His previous experience with the sport was only recreational skating on Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.The lake has a complicated shape, with bends and arms reaching from the city of Lucerne into the mountains. It has a total area of 114 km² , an elevation of 434 m , and a maximum depth of 214 m . Its volume is 11.8...
as a boy. Since he had very little money, he was unable to compete as an amateur, but he made arrangements to learn skating from a top professional in Switzerland in exchange for later becoming his coach's assistant. He vowed that if he could not become a World Champion himself, he would make one through his teaching.
He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the age of 20, just after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and settled in Philadelphia. His first champion student was Egbert S. Carey Jr., who won the U.S. junior men's title in 1924.
Beginning in 1932, Lussi was based at the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
rink in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, one of the few rinks in the world that provided summer ice in those days. He died on June 23, 1993, at the age of 95.
Legacy
Lussi's skaters are known for their superb spinningFigure skating spins
Spins are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball of the foot...
technique. Lussi was also responsible for developing modern figure skating jump
Figure skating jump
Figure skating jumps are a major element of competitive figure skating. Different jumps are identified by the take-off edge and the number of revolutions completed. There are six kinds of jumps currently counted as jump elements in ISU regulations.-Technique:...
technique, including the now-standard cross-legged or back spin position in the air. His pupil Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
was the first to perform a triple jump, and his students were also the pioneers of flying spins such as the flying camel and flying sit spin which are now a standard part of every elite skater's repertoire.
In April 1990, a documentary film Gustave Lussi: The Man Who Changed Skating was shown on the PBS television network. The documentary was conceived and co-produced by his former student Cecily Morrow
Cecily Morrow
Cecily Morrow is a figure skating coach who has taught Olympic champions, international competitors, and testing skaters, as well as beginners. She teaches the figure skating techniques and methodology of Gustave Lussi...
and produced by station WCFE-TV
WCFE-TV
WCFE is a Public Broadcasting Service public television station in Plattsburgh, New York. It is known under its corporate identity of Mountain Lake PBS. This name was adopted to reflect Plattsburgh's location between the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain. It broadcasts on channel 38 from transmitters...
. Around this time Morrow also worked with Lussi to produce a series of instructional videos capturing his coaching techniques.
Some of Lussi's other students, such as Mary Scotvold, Robin Wagner
Robin Wagner
Robin Wagner is an American figure skating coach. She was a competitive skater in the late-1970s and competed at the United States Figure Skating Championships at the Novice and Junior levels. She trained with Sonia Dunfield, Peter Dunfield, and Gustav Lussi....
, Evelyn Kramer and Priscilla Hill
Priscilla Hill
Priscilla Hill is an American retired competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach. She was a two-time medalist at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and competed twice at the World Figure Skating Championships...
, have also become successful coaches who have passed on Lussi's techniques to subsequent generations of skaters. Wagner coached Sarah Hughes
Sarah Hughes
Sarah Elizabeth Hughes is an American figure skater. She is the 2002 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World bronze medalist in ladies singles.-Personal life:...
to the 2002 Olympic title
Figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics
-Full Results:Referee:* Sally-Anne StaplefordAssistant Referee:* Junko HiramatsuJudges: Wendy Langton Merja Kosonen Janet Allen Nicolae Bellu Yuri Kliushnikov Volker Waldeck Alexander Penchev Mieko Fujimori Evgenia Bogdanova Jarmila Portová -Ladies:Hughes, fourth after the technical program, skated...
and Sasha Cohen
Sasha Cohen
Alexandra Pauline "Sasha" Cohen is a U.S. figure skater. She is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World Championship medalist, the 2003 Grand Prix Final Champion, and the 2006 U.S. Champion.-Personal life:...
to her first World Championship medal. Priscilla Hill has coached Johnny Weir
Johnny Weir
John Garvin "Johnny" Weir is an American figure skater. He is a three-time U.S. National Champion , the 2008 Worlds bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and the 2001 World Junior Champion....
to three national titles. Evelyn Kramer is now known as a "spin doctor" and has helped many skater improve their spins
Figure skating spins
Spins are an element in figure skating where the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. The skater rotates on the part of the blade just behind the toe pick, with the weight on the ball of the foot...
. They include Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan
Michelle Wingshan Kwan is an American figure skater. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time U.S...
, Robin Cousins
Robin Cousins
Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own...
and Caryn Kadavy
Caryn Kadavy
Caryn Kadavy , is an American figure skater known for her classical style in singles skating.-Career:...
.