Twizzle

For the Gerry Anderson series, see The Adventures of Twizzle. For The Nichols Cube Puzzle (Twizzle), see Larry D. Nichols.

Figure skating element
Element name	Twizzle
Scoring abbreviation	SyTw in the RD, SeTw in the FD

A twizzle is "a multirotational, one-foot turn that moves across the ice" in the sport of figure skating. The International Skating Union (ISU) defines a twizzle as "a traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations which is quickly rotated with a continuous (uninterrupted) action". It is most often performed in ice dance, although single skaters and pair skaters also perform the element. Twizzles have been called "the quads of ice dance" because like quadruple jumps in other disciplines, twizzles are risky and technically demanding.

Background

A twizzle is "a multirotational, one-foot turn that moves across the ice" in the sport of figure skating. It is a "a difficult turn" in single skating and a required element in the rhythm dance segment in ice dance. A set or sets of twizzles may fulfill the requirement in the rhythm dance in ice dance; a set of sets of synchronized twizzles may also be included in the required elements of a well-balanced free dance program. More difficult and higher-scoring step sequences in pair skating must include two different combinations of three difficult turns, one option being twizzles. The International Skating Union (ISU), the governing body of figure skating, defines a twizzle as "a traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations which is quickly rotated with a continuous (uninterrupted) action". A spin, by comparison, is a stationary, multi-rotational turn.

Twizzle sequences, when executed well, are often the highlight of ice dance programs. A set of synchronized twizzles is a series of two twizzles for each partner, with up to three steps between twizzles. A set of sequential twizzles is a series of two twizzles for each partner, with up to one step between twizzles. For both a set of synchronized twizzles and a set of sequential twizzles, each twizzle should be at least one full rotation on one foot performed at the same time by both partners. This can be done matching each other (side-by-side in the same direction), mirroring each other (side-by-side in the opposite directions, or by following one another, with one partner skating forward and or/backward and the other partner skating forward and/or backward). American ice dancer Alex Shibutani calls twizzles "the quads of ice dance" because like quadruple jumps in other disciplines, twizzles, which appear most often in ice dance programs, are risky and technically demanding.

There are four types of entry edges for twizzles: the forward inside, the forward outside, the backward inside, and the backward outside. A series of 3 turn steps does not constitute a twizzle because they do not constitute a continuous action. If the skater stops traveling during the action, it is deemed a solo spin (or pirouette) and not counted as a twizzle. A twizzle-like motion is a motion in which the skating foot executes less than an full turn, followed by a step forward, while the body performs one full continuous motion. Since the 2019–2020 season, ice dancers were judged individually on their execution of the twizzle; their scores were then added up, and teams were awarded combined scores.

Execution

Twizzles, like steps, must be executed on clean edges. In a twizzle, the skater's weight is on the skating foot, with the free foot in any position during the turn, and then placed beside the skating foot to skate the next step. Although the twizzle is not considered a difficult move compared to other elements in figure skating, when a twizzle is executed properly the three turns are done so quickly that it is difficult to see the turns. The skater must continually rotate and move across the ice on one foot, by executing a quickly-controlled rocking action on his or her blade. Skaters must have equal strength in each rotational direction, while having exact synchronicity with their partners. Skaters increase the difficulty of twizzles, and earn more points for them, by performing variations in the placements of the leg (grabbing the blade while extending the leg) and arms (moving the arm or arms over the head or behind the back). According to American ice dancer Colin McManus, the finesse required in mastering the twizzle makes it "very easy to run into issues like putting your foot down or hitting your toe pick". According to Shibutani, high-quality twizzles are performed when skaters focus on gathering speed entering a twizzle sequence, which provides enough directional force to continue rotating as long as the choreography demands, and that muscle memory should carry them through the rest of the sequence. Shibutani reported that strong teams are able to adjust, make self-corrections, and follow what their partners are doing. He also said that there is "no room for mental errors at all".

When ice dancers perform twizzles too slowly, trip while traveling across the ice, or fall out of sync with each other, it can ruin the flow of a program and "deflate the energy in the arena". According to Shibutani, practice, relying on muscle memory, and a good partnership are the keys to performing successful twizzle sequences. He said, about he and his long-time partner and sibling Maia Shibutani, "Hopefully, we’re rotating so fast that we can’t really see each other and it’s just kind of a feel thing". American ice dancer Meryl Davis reported, when speaking about how detailed and exact the synchronization is in the execution of twizzles, that she and her partner Charlie White knew the placement of each other's feet based on the sounds their blades made on the ice. Maia Shibutani stated that partners need to have strong individual skating skills, and that staying in the moment is important because when skaters lose focus and think too far ahead, "then you're finished".

Gallery

• 
  Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, 2012
• 
  Meryl Davis and Charlie White, 2009
• 
  Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, 2011
• 
  Kristine Musademba, 2008
• 
  Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, 2011
• 
  Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev, 2011
• 
  Kristina Gorshkova and Vitali Butikov, 2008

Works cited

• "Special Regulations & Technical Rules Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance 2018". International Skating Union. June 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2020 (S&P/ID 2018)