Backward wiggles

Both feet on the ice, the body twisting to zigzag backwards. The first way of travelling backwards.

Also called back wiggles, wiggles or back wiggle. Other names.

basic

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.

shoulder to hip —on the —

both blades on the ice, travelling backwards, the feet swinging side to side together under still shoulders. Negative twist means the shoulders are held back against the hips, which stores rotation before a takeoff and checks it on a landing.

Both blades stay on the ice and you travel backwards in a zigzag, twisting from the waist so that the feet swing from side to side under you. Ice Skating Australia asks for about a metre in six wiggles, with the twist in the upper body while the head and arms stay where they are. New Zealand’s 2008 KiwiSkate badges asked for a distance equal to the skater’s height in four zigzags. Learn to Skate USA asks for six to eight at its first level.

All three programmes teach it before the backward swizzle, which replaces the twist with the heels pressing out and drawing back in. It is the first time a skater moves backwards on purpose.

Build on

Two-foot glideBoth feet stay on the ice, as here, and twist into a zigzag going backwards.

Leads to

One element in the guide is built on this one.

Backward swizzleAll three programmes teach wiggles first. The swizzle swaps the twist for the heels pressing out and drawing back in.

Appears in

In the USA's grades

Learn to Skate USA: Basic 1 to 6: Basic 1