How to Swizzle

Beginning skaters must learn some important skills before tackling more advanced techniques. Swizzles are one of the most basic techniques to learn. Swizzles helps to train a skater how to control their skates and where to place their weight why executing the movement. You will also hear this movement referred to as scissors or fishes. After some practice, this movement should become more fluid and can be extended into a continuous series of movements.

Things You'll Need

  • Skates
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start with your feet in a V-Stance. Your heels should be touching with your weight on your heels and your legs straight.

    • 2

      Push both of your heels out at the same time with the weight focused on the heels and sides of your feet, not your toes. Use even pressure on both feet and don't lean forward. Focus on pushing to the sides, left foot should have pressure at 9 o'clock and right foot towards 3 o'clock. Bend your knees as you do this movement.

    • 3

      Allow your skates to separate a few inches wider than shoulder width apart. Start to direct your toes inward until the toe wheels touch with your heels out. This is you're A-Frame Stance. The whole movement should be as if you are tracing a football or fish with you skates.

    • 4

      Continue the movement by redirecting your skates as the come together. When your toes complete the fish or football and are touching, direct them outward into a V-Stance. Do a series of these movements in a continuing pattern.

    • 5

      Try this movement in reverse to do a backwards swizzle. Start with your toes touching in the A-Frame Stance, push out to the side and bring the heels to a V-Stance. Keep your shoulders square and head looking straight in front of you. Use your inner thigh muscles to complete this movement smoothly and effectively.