Understanding The Base Value And GOE Of A Triple Axel

A triple axel is one of figure skating’s most recognisable elements. It begins from a forward outside edge, requires three and a half rotations in the air, and finishes on the opposite backward edge. That extra half-rotation makes it harder to launch than a standard triple jump, which takes off backwards, and explains why the element carries such importance in a competition score.

Watching a skater land a triple axel cleanly is exciting, but the judging process adds several layers to the moment. The technical panel decides what element was attempted and whether it was fully rotated, while the judges assess its execution through the Grade of Execution, or GOE. Understanding both parts makes a score sheet much easier to follow, whether you are watching a major international event or a session at an Australian rink.

What Makes Triple Axel Different

Most triple jumps involve three rotations in the air. The triple axel starts from a forward outside edge, so the skater must complete an additional half-turn to arrive at the correct landing position. In practical terms, it is a three-and-a-half-revolution jump, even though it is still called a triple because the take-off edge is counted as part of the jump’s identity.

The forward take-off also makes the element visually distinctive. A skater approaches backwards, steps onto the forward outside edge, swings the free leg, and rises sharply into the air. The landing must be controlled on the back outside edge of the opposite foot. A visible hand down, a second landing attempt, a fall, or a severe loss of flow can all reduce the reward for the jump.

A triple axel is especially demanding because the skater must create enough height and rotation without allowing the entry edge to collapse. A strong attempt has a clear take-off, tight air position, fast rotation, and a smooth landing that continues across the ice. The best examples appear almost effortless, although the element places considerable pressure on timing, balance, and leg strength.

How Base Value Is Set

Base value is the starting number assigned to an element in the ISU Scale of Values. For the senior triple axel, the standard base value has been 8.00 points in the scoring system used around the Torino 2019 era. That number represents the technical difficulty of the planned element before the judges consider how well it was performed.

Base value does not mean that every attempted triple axel automatically receives 8.00. The technical panel checks the jump’s identification and rotation. If the jump is under-rotated, its value may be reduced according to the applicable rules. If the rotation is short by a more substantial amount, the panel may identify a downgraded jump, which is valued as a different element. A fall does not erase the base value, but it brings a substantial negative execution deduction.

The final value can also change when the triple axel forms part of a combination or sequence. In a combination, the values of the recognised jumps are added together, provided the skater completes the required connection. A jump may look impressive to a casual viewer, yet receive less technical credit if the landing is stepped out before the next jump or if the entry and exit do not meet the rules.

The event schedule at Torino 2019 is useful for placing each element in context, since it shows when the senior and junior free skates and short programmes were held: event schedule. A triple axel in a short programme has a different strategic role from one in a free skate, where the programme contains more jump opportunities and a wider distribution of technical content.

How GOE Changes The Result

GOE means Grade of Execution. Judges award it to show how successfully the skater performed the element, starting from a neutral value of zero. A positive GOE rewards qualities such as height, distance, speed, clean rotation, controlled landing, and a strong entry or exit. A negative GOE reflects visible errors or weak execution.

Under the 2018–19 judging scale, the triple axel had a base value of 8.00. Each GOE step was worth 0.80 points for that element. A +1 therefore added 0.80, a +2 added 1.60, and a +3 added 2.40. At the top of the scale, a +5 added 4.00 points, taking a cleanly performed triple axel to 12.00 before any separate deductions. A -3, by comparison, reduced the element by 2.40 points.

The exact final GOE was calculated from the judges’ marks rather than from a single person’s opinion. High and low marks were removed, and the remaining scores were averaged and converted using the Scale of Values. This prevents one unusually generous or harsh mark from having too much influence. The process also explains why a jump may receive a technical base value that seems clear while the final number contains a decimal.

A fall is handled differently from ordinary GOE. The judges give negative execution marks, and a separate fall deduction is applied to the programme. This means a fallen triple axel can still retain much of its technical identity, but its total contribution is sharply reduced. A clean triple axel with a slightly cautious landing may score better than a more ambitious attempt that receives a fall deduction.

What Judges And The Technical Panel See

The technical panel focuses on whether the element is correctly identified. For a triple axel, its main concerns include the take-off edge, the number of rotations, and the landing. Slow-motion review may be used when the rotation is difficult to judge with the naked eye. This is why the technical panel’s abbreviation on a protocol can be just as important as the judges’ GOE marks.

Judges then assess quality. They look for positive features such as unexpected difficulty in the entry, a clean and effortless take-off, very good height and length, a tight and fast rotation, and a fluent landing. A long glide out of the jump, with the body controlled and the free leg extended naturally, usually creates a stronger impression than a landing that is checked immediately.

The categories overlap but are not identical. A skater may complete enough rotation to receive the intended triple axel while still earning negative GOE because the landing is unstable. Conversely, a jump can be fully rotated and technically valid but receive only modest positive GOE if the height, distance, or transitions are ordinary.

Viewers should also avoid judging from the apparent number of revolutions alone. Camera angles can hide a short landing rotation, especially when a skater opens the shoulders early. A jump that looks clean in real time may receive an under-rotation call after review, while a seemingly quick landing may be accepted when the replay shows the required rotation was completed.

Reading A Triple Axel On The Protocol

A protocol usually lists the element code, its base value, the GOE marks, and the final element score. The code “3A” identifies a triple axel. If it appears with another jump, such as “3A+2T”, it means the axel was completed in combination with a double toe loop. The total base value is then calculated from both recognised jumps before GOE is applied to the combination.

A symbol beside the jump can indicate a technical issue. Depending on the rules and season, viewers may see signs connected with under-rotation, a downgrade, an unclear edge, or a fall. These symbols matter because a programme can contain the correct planned element while the panel awards a different technical value after reviewing the execution.

The final element score is best understood in stages. First, identify the awarded element and its base value. Next, check whether the GOE is positive or negative. Then look for any separate deductions, such as a fall. Finally, remember that the total programme score also includes composition and skating skills through the programme component scores.

Programme components are not a second GOE for the jump. They evaluate broader qualities, including skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, and interpretation. A skater who lands a high-quality triple axel may still have a lower overall segment score if the rest of the programme lacks speed, connection, or musical clarity.

A Practical Viewing Guide For Australian Fans

For viewers in Australia, the easiest way to follow the scoring is to watch the jump twice: once for the overall impression and again for the details. Local time differences can make European competitions an early-morning or late-night commitment, so replays and official protocols are often more practical than trying to calculate every mark during a live stream.

The same habits work whether you are watching at home in Melbourne, attending a session at O’Brien Icehouse in Docklands, or following a competition from Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney. Australian skating fans often use straightforward rink language such as “clean,” “under,” “stepped out,” or “good save” when discussing an element. Those quick descriptions can be matched to the formal scoring terms below.

• Check whether the take-off is from a clear forward outside edge.
• Count the landing quality rather than relying only on the rotation in the air.
• Look for speed, height, distance, and a controlled exit.
• Separate an under-rotation call from a general execution error.
• Read the GOE alongside the base value instead of treating the total as a single judgement.
• Account for a fall deduction when comparing two otherwise similar attempts.
• Compare the jump with the skater’s programme strategy, especially in the short programme.

Australia’s skating market is relatively small compared with Europe, North America, or Japan, and many fans follow major events through international broadcasts, federation updates, and club communities. That makes a basic understanding of the protocol particularly valuable: a replay may show the jump, but the score sheet explains why a landing that looked “pretty good” earned only a small positive mark.

It is also worth remembering that rink conditions can affect how an element appears. Ice at a local public session may feel slower or busier than competition ice, while a skater at a Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide rink may train in a very different climate from the cold European arena shown on television. The scoring principles remain the same, but speed, timing, and confidence can look different from session to session.

A well-executed triple axel is valuable because it combines difficulty with visible quality. Its base value recognises the challenge of the element, while GOE rewards the skater who adds height, flow, control, and polish. Once those two layers are separated, the result becomes less mysterious: the technical panel identifies what happened, the judges measure how well it happened, and the protocol records both.

Use that framework during the next competition you watch. Mark the attempted element, note any rotation or landing issue, estimate the likely GOE, and then compare your reading with the official result. With a little practice, the score sheet becomes a clear account of the performance rather than a string of unfamiliar symbols.