Twizzle

A twizzle is a multirotational one-foot turn in figure skating.^[1] The twizzle is most commonly seen in ice dancing, where it appears in a number of Pattern Dances (originally called Compulsory Dance) and is a required element of step sequences in the short dance, original dance and free dance.^[1] A twizzle is also common in synchronized skating where it is also a required element of step sequences.

A twizzle differs from a figure skating spin in that it travels across the ice instead of being centered in one spot. Skaters can turn several revolutions on a twizzle, the number of which depends on the level at which they are skating or what is set in the specified steps of a Pattern Dance; as defined by the ISU Technical Committee of the relevant discipline. ^[2]

Twizzles can be performed both forward and backward, on both inside and outside edges, and both clockwise and counterclockwise.^[1] Twizzles are most commonly performed in an upright position with the free foot held close to the skating leg, but other variants are possible as well, such as a twizzle in a sit spin position.

Speed, ice coverage i.e. distance, unison (couples), closeness (couples), variety and difficulty of positions, change of rotational direction (counter-clockwise, clockwise), and difficult entries are taken into consideration by the judges and technical specialists.

Gallery

• 
  Ice dance twizzle (Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir)
• 
  A twizzle in ladies singles skating
  (Kristine Musademba)
• 
  Twizzles in ice dance
  (Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat)
• 
  Twizzles in ice dance
  (Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev)
• 
  Twizzles in ice dance
  (Kristina Gorshkova & Vitali Butikov)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Twizzles.

1. 1 2 3 Eric, Freeman. "What's a twizzle? Here's a guide to the figure skating term". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 17, 2014. 
2. ↑ "What is the Difference Between Twizzles and Spins in Figure Skating?". Retrieved 2015-10-06.