How to Learn Forward Swizzles on Ice Skates
Learn forward swizzles step by step: knee bend, heel pressure, what to practise with your instructor and common beginner mistakes on public ice.
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To learn forward swizzles on ice skates, bend your knees, push both feet apart along curves and then bring the heels inward while keeping controlled pressure on the inside edges. Forward swizzles are a basic learn-to-skate skill that builds travelling movement before one-foot glides and crossovers. Practise them in a coached setting first; this guide explains what the movement is and how to recognise good repetition, not a substitute for live correction.
What is a forward swizzle?
A forward swizzle is a two-foot move in which each skate traces an outward curve and then an inward curve as you travel forwards. The toes may stay roughly apart while the heels open and close, creating a rounded, fish-tail path sometimes called a bubble.
The Learn to Skate USA Basic Skills curriculum includes consecutive forward swizzles in its early levels alongside marching, two-foot glides and introductory stopping. iceHQ's Aussie Skate progression lists forward swizzles in its first beginner stage for adults and older children. Sequences differ by country and rink.
If you are brand new, see which skills beginners should learn first and how to start figure skating as an adult. The learn-to-skate overview links skills, sessions and blade care in one place.
How do you start practising forward swizzles safely?
Work with an instructor before practising long swizzle patterns alone on busy public ice. A sensible first setup includes:
- Choose space. Begin near the boards or in a quiet lane with room to stop.
- Stand in a small skating stance. Knees soft, shoulders over toes, eyes forward.
- March first. Confirm you can move and stop in that area before adding swizzle shape.
- Try one short outward-inward cycle. Push gently; avoid maximum width before you can steer both feet.
Skate Canada's safe-sport guidance highlights adequate spacing and supervised progressions for beginners. If you cannot yet use a basic stop, prioritise snowplough stopping before lengthening swizzles.
What should your feet and knees do during a swizzle?
Coaches may describe swizzles differently, but most beginners are taught to:
- Bend both knees so pressure stays through the balls of the feet, not the toe picks.
- Push the heels apart along a shallow outward curve, using the inside edges for grip.
- Bring the heels inward along inward curves without letting the blades slide flat.
- Keep the upper body quiet so balance does not swing from side to side.
An inside edge is the blade surface nearer your other foot; an outside edge faces away. Early swizzles rely mainly on inside-edge pressure. If the skates chatter or skid, ask whether you are standing too upright or pushing the toe picks.
The U.S. Figure Skating beginner instructional archive discusses controlled knee flexion and edge pressure as foundations before faster skating. Your instructor may add arm or head position cues specific to your rink's programme.
How many swizzles should a beginner aim for?
There is no universal count. Curriculum documents list the skill; they do not promise a set number in one session. Practical goals look like:
| Goal | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Three controlled cycles in a row | Shows repeatability, not luck |
| Eyes up while swizzling | Confirms you are steering, not staring at your feet |
| Able to stop after swizzles | Links movement to safety |
When consecutive swizzles feel steady, many programmes move toward longer two-foot glides and one-foot balance. For what comes next, read what to practise after forward swizzles and when you are ready for the next learn-to-skate level.
What mistakes do new swizzle learners make?
Pushing the toes too wide. Maximum spread can make inward recovery harder and twist the knees.
Straight legs. Locked knees reduce edge control and make inward pulls jerky.
Looking straight down. You lose awareness of traffic and drift toward the boards.
Speed without stopping. Swizzles create forward travel; pair them with a coached stop every session.
Copying another learner's stride. Adults and children differ in height, strength and prior balance experience. Compare your own repeatability instead.
If one foot consistently skids, boot fit or blade sharpness might contribute, but technique usually comes first. First figure skates for adult beginners covers hire and fit basics.
How does this skill fit learn-to-skate levels?
Forward swizzles appear in early national syllabi, but the label on your badge does not guarantee identical content worldwide. Figure skating levels explained compares how Aussie Skate, Learn to Skate USA and independent trackers describe the same foundations.
Coaches decide when your swizzles are strong enough for the next class set. Use practice notes to list what felt wobbly and ask in your next lesson.
Key takeaways
- Forward swizzles are outward and inward curves on two feet, travelling forwards.
- Bend your knees and use inside-edge pressure, not toe-pick scraping.
- Practise with supervision, spacing and a reliable stop before open-ice sessions.
- Repeatability matters more than distance; link progress to your rink's learn-to-skate level criteria.