How to Do Forward Swizzles in Figure Skating

Figure skaters use forward swizzles to move forward without removing their skates from the ice. Correctly doing forward swizzles feels as if you're repeatedly drawing circles into the ice with your feet. It is a basic figure skating technique that teaches skaters how to use their knees and the correct edge of their blades while skating.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Stand on the ice with your heels together. Your back must be straight and your weight centered over your heels.

2. Position your toes out to the side, keeping your knees straight. When you look down at the ice, your feet should be making a "V" (heels together, toes apart).

3. Bend your knees and push them out over your feet. Your skates will begin to move in opposite directions, causing your body to move forward. Make sure you are using the inside edge of your blades.

4. Shift your weight to the middle of your skates and continue gliding forward on the inside edge of your blades.

5. Turn your toes back in toward each other by straightening your knees and shifting your weight to the front of your skates.

6. Allow your skates to glide back toward each other until your toes touch.

7. Bring your heels back together, quickly, and re-make your "V." Bend your knees and push out to continue practicing forward swizzles.

Tips & Warnings

• When doing forward swizzles, you must glide on the inside edge of your blades.
• Practice forward swizzles a few times at a moderate pace until you are confident that you can bring your toes back together. Otherwise, you will end up doing a split on the ice.
• The harder you push out of the "V" position with your knees, the faster you move across the ice.

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