Half-swizzle pumps

One foot glides the circle while the other presses out and in to feed it speed.

Also called circle thrusts, pumping or half swizzle pumps on a circle. Other names.

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

On a circle, the foot on the inside glides and holds the curve while the outside foot makes half a swizzle, out and back, over and over, each one adding speed. Ice Skating Australia asks for six to eight on a circle in each direction; Learn to Skate USA’s third level wants four to six, in either direction. New Zealand calls it forward pumping.

Australia teaches it along a straight line first, knees bent into a semi-dip, both arms in front, one foot making the half swizzle while the other stays on the flat of its blade, finishing on two feet before the other foot takes a turn. On the circle the gliding foot stays on the circle throughout, and the manual asks for correct upper-body and arm positions. Learn to Skate USA teaches forward crossovers at the next level, on the same circle.

Build on

• SwizzleHalf a swizzle: one foot makes the in-and-out movement while the other glides. Ice Skating Australia teaches it in a straight line and then on a circle.

Leads to

4 elements in the guide are built on this one.

• Left forward outside crossed step behind, Right forward outside crossed step behindThe same circle, with the free foot crossing behind the skating foot, which British Ice Skating defines as a crossed step behind.
• Left forward outside crossover, Right forward outside crossoverLearn to Skate USA teaches forward crossovers one level after the pumps, on the same circle. In Ice Skating Australia's description the outside leg crosses in front and each foot pushes outwards, away from the circle.

Appears in