Twist lift

Figure skating element
A double twist lift in mid-air
Element name:	Twist lift
Scoring abbreviation:	Tw
Element type:	Lift
Disciplines:	Pair skating

A twist lift is a pairs figure skating hand-to-waist lift. The man lifts the lady in the air, where she performs one or more rotations in a laid-out position. He catches her in the air and lets her down onto one foot. The element is judged on a variety of factors, such as speed, smoothness of the take-off and landing, the height reached, the position of the lady in the air, the continuous rotation, and good coverage of the ice surface.

The twist lift movement starts with both skaters skating backward. The man holds the lady by the waist and she holds him on his wrists. The lady toe-picks into the ice and springs into the air, while the man assists into lifting her above his head and then throwing her into the air. In the short program in International Skating Union (ISU) competition, the twist lift take-off is either a Flip take-off or a Lutz take-off. In the free skating of ISU competition, there is no such restriction.

The lady rotates a specific number of times in the air. The number of rotations may be part of the requirement for the element.

As the lady completes the element in the air, the man rotates forward to catch her at the side of her waist. Under ISU rules, the man's secure contact with her waist should be made while the lady is in the air and prior to her landing on the ice. The lady's hands should not touch the man during the catch. In 2007, the ISU rules were revised to indicate that the lady's arms as well as her hands were not to touch the man on reentry to the ice. The man then assists the lady into a smooth landing on the ice. For ISU competitions, the lady lands on the ice on a backward outside edge on one foot. The man also exits from the twist-lift on one foot.

Twist lifts are categorized by the edge and type of take off. The three types of twist lifts are named for the jump entrance take-off that they use. The Toeloop twist lift uses the toe loop jump take off, the Axel twist lift users the axel jump take off, and the Lutz/Flip twist lift uses either the Lutz jump or the Flip jump take off.