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© Photo by Donna George |
Did you ever wonder how all of those skaters manage to practice on the same ice with only a few rare collisions with one another? To find out, we're here at Quad Country International Iceport. |
 © Photo by Susan Russell |
There is Elvis Stojko, one of the best ice pilots in the business getting ready to execute a quad jump which is one of the most difficult maneuvers to achieve. He is currently talking to the ice traffic control tower while doing his pre-flight check. |
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Part of the pre-flight check involves reviewing the quad jump in the flight manual. Here is an excerpt from that manual that shows how a quad jump is executed. |
 © Photo by Valerie Milon |
Elvis:
"Ice traffic control, this is Stojko requesting rink co-ordinates (x=40,y=20) for a quad takeoff. Over." Tower: "Roger, Stojko. This is the tower. You're cleared for quad takeoff at co-ordinates (x=40,y=20) in T minus 10 seconds. Over." |
 © Photo by Tricia Ris |
Elvis:
"Roger, tower. This is Stojko. I'm taking off. Over." |
© Photo by Tricia Ris |
Elvis:
"Ice traffic control, this is Stojko. I'm in mid-flight of a quad requesting rink co-ordinates (x=55,y=21) for landing in T minus 100 milliseconds. Over." Tower: "Stojko, this is the tower. You're cleared for landing. Over." |
© Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen |
Elvis:
"MAY DAY! MAY DAY! I can't control the landing! I'm going down!" |
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FOOTNOTE: For those of you who prefer happy endings, don't worry. Elvis walked away from the crash scene with only a few bruises. Just a few minutes later he executed a text-book quad. |
