{{Short description|Figure skating element}} {{About||the Gerry Anderson series|The Adventures of Twizzle|The Nichols Cube Puzzle (Twizzle)|Larry D. Nichols}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox Figure Skating Element |image= File:Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevičius of Lithuania at 2025 Skate Canda International. 01.jpg |imagesize= 200px |caption= |element name= Twizzle |alt name= |scoring abbrev= SyTw in the RD, SeTw in the FD |element type= |edges= |take off edge= |landing edge= |inventor= |named for= |disciplines= }}
A '''twizzle''' is "a multirotational, one-foot turn that moves across the ice"<ref name="springer" /> 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".{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|p=133}} 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"<ref name="springer" /> because like quadruple jumps in other skating disciplines, twizzles are risky and technically demanding.
== Background == A twizzle is "a multirotational, one-foot turn that moves across the ice"<ref name="springer">{{Cite news |last=Springer |first=Shira |date=29 March 2016 |title=For Ice Dancers, It's Hard to Beat a Good Twizzle |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/03/29/for-ice-dancing-twizzles-you-sunk-without-sync/eMKcf6Zo2KbBpDSytCDFzK/story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624023602/https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/03/29/for-ice-dancing-twizzles-you-sunk-without-sync/eMKcf6Zo2KbBpDSytCDFzK/story.html |archive-date=24 June 2024 |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref> in the sport of figure skating. It is a difficult turn in single skating.<ref name="techpanel-3">{{Cite web |date=25 July 2025 |title=Technical Panel Handbook: Single Skating 2025-2026 |url=https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/rules/sandp-handbooks-faq/24781-tphb-single-skating-2020-21-final/file |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812205908/https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Corporate-Site/Sports-Rules/Figure-Skating-Rules/Handbooks-Single-%26-Pair-Skating/TP-Handbook-Singles-25-26-FINAL-21-July-2025-update-25-July-1753703999-2708.pdf |archive-date=12 August 2025 |access-date=25 September 2025 |publisher=International Skating Union |page=5 |location=Lausanne, Switzerland }}</ref> 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".{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|p=133}} A spin, by comparison, is a stationary, multi-rotational turn. Twizzle sequences, when executed well, are often the highlight of ice dance programs.<ref name="springer" /> A set of synchronized twizzles is a series of two twizzles for each partner, with up to four steps between each twizzle. A set of sequential twizzles is a series of two twizzles for each partner, with up to one step between each twizzle. 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.{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|p=134}} American ice dancer Alex Shibutani calls twizzles "the quads of ice dance"<ref name="springer" /> because, like quadruple jumps in other disciplines, twizzles, which appear most often in ice dance programs, are risky and technically demanding.<ref name="springer" />
There are four types of entry edges for twizzles: the forward inside, the forward outside, the backward inside, and the backward outside. A twizzle-like motion is a motion in which the skating foot executes less than a full turn, followed by a step forward, while the body performs one full continuous motion.{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|p=133}} A series of three-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.{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|pp=133-134}}
== Execution == Twizzles, like steps, must be executed on clean edges.<ref name="techpanel-3"/> 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.{{Sfn|S&P/ID|2024|p=133}} 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".<ref name="springer" /> According to Shibutani, high-quality twizzles are performed when skaters focus on gathering speed as they enter a twizzle sequence, which provides enough directional force to continue rotating for 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.<ref name="springer" /> He also said that there is "no room for mental errors at all" when executing a twizzle.<ref name="springer" />
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".<ref name="springer" /> According to Shibutani, practice, relying on muscle memory, and a good partnership are the keys to performing successful twizzle sequences. He said, about him 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".<ref name="springer" /> 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".<ref name="springer" />
==Gallery== <gallery> File:2009 GPF Seniors Dance - Meryl DAVIS - Charlie WHITE - 5632a.jpg|Meryl Davis and Charlie White, 2009 File:2009 Nebelhorn Dance - Alexandra ZARETSKI - Roman ZARETSKI - 6319a.jpg|Alexandra Zaretski and Roman Zaretski, 2009 File:2018 Winter Olympics - Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - 19.jpg|Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, 2018 File:Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville 2024 Worlds Rhythm Dance 5.jpg|Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, 2024 File:Hana Yoshida 2024 Worlds Free Skate 1.jpg|Hana Yoshida, 2024 File:Katarina Delcamp & Berk Akalin 2025 Worlds Rhythm Dance 09.jpg|Katarina Delcamp and Berk Akalin, 2025 File:Team Les Supreme Free Skate at the 2026 ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 03.jpg|Synchronized skating, 2026 File:Team United Angels from Germany free skate program at the 2026 ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 02.jpg|Synchronized skating, 2026 File:Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevičius of Lithuania at 2025 Skate Canda International. 02.jpg|Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevičius, 2025 </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Works cited== {{Commons category|Twizzles}} * {{cite web |title=Special Regulations & Technical Rules – Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance 2024 |date=June 2024 |url=https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isuproduction/uploads/images/isustatutes/documents/2024_Special_Regulation_SP_and_Ice_Dance_and_Technical_Rules_SP__and_ID_Final_rev.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109092211/https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isuproduction/uploads/images/isustatutes/documents/2024_Special_Regulation_SP_and_Ice_Dance_and_Technical_Rules_SP__and_ID_Final_rev.pdf |archive-date=9 November 2024 |access-date=14 February 2026 |publisher=International Skating Union |ref={{harvid|S&P/ID|2024}}}}
== External links == Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nExZz5Qlc64 performing the twizzle] during their free dance at the 2018 Olympics.
{{Figure skating}}
Category:Figure skating elements