Heel height really has nothing to do with jump height. Jump height comes from springing up from deeply bent knees. The deeper the bend, the faster the straightening/spring, the higher the jump. A minute amount comes from speed as well, but that mainly determines the distance the jump covers on the ice. It takes a lot of muscle to launch yourself into the air, turn around and land backwards on one sliver of metal.
Basketball players' jump shots are usually equated with figure skating jumps. There is some correlation and plyometrics training helps increase height by honing the explosive jumping technique required. However, most off-ice jumping is done in place; figure skating jumps are executed as the skater travels along the ice far further than any basketball player and the rotations required are higher for figure skaters.
No one jumps flat-footed on the ice or off. When you jump in tennis shoes, you lift your heels and press upward off the ground using the balls of your feet and your toes. That's basically the position figure skates with a heel create. Since the skate's sole is solid when compared to tennis or basketball shoes, it makes sense to build in that strong foot position.
Heel height also allows the skater to glide and turn on the rocker by concentrating body weight forward. Without a heel, footwork, spins and gliding maneuvers (such as spirals and spreadeagles) are very difficult because of the balancing. There is a lot more to this sport than jumping.
Topic: Boot heel height and jump height (Read 2409 times)