Behind the mask with Cyclones’ mascot Twister

CINNCINATTI, Ohio – It was a bright and sunny morning when I met Terry, a.k.a. Twister Cyclone, out side of a restaurant to tell  his story. Preferring his true identity remain secret, I honored his no photo request. He was relaxed and animated as our conversation got under way.
 
His latest stint as the Cincinnati Cyclones mascot has been the past four years. Twister has developed a signature move in that time that includes sliding down the ice on his noggin. Somehow the upside down shenanigans began one night in the locker room with a move to put on the headgear while standing on his head and then flipping himself upright. It did not work as intended, but it spawned an idea.
 
Ice is a slippery surface and maybe he could slide, whilst standing upon his costumed head. The first few attempts were a comedy of trials and errors that led to improved engineering of the headgear for increased slipperiness that eventually led to the use of a proprietary Teflon tape.
 
With the top and edges covered in this slick tape, Twister has attempted to set the Guinness World record for distance sliding on ice, while standing on his head. The feat had small beginnings, but grew in length to encompass the distance from the far blue line to the home goal line and beyond. The feat was recorded and measured according to Guinness’ stout standards for such records attempts.
 
  He told me a story about the intermission he never wants to repeat. It was a race against a fan, with both of them inside giant “hamster ball” props. Once the arena crew got all of his six foot plus costume into the ball, it began to get a little claustrophobic for him. Then the race down the ice began and the inside of the ball became filled with condensation and with each breath, depleted the oxygen inside the ball. By the time the race was over, he was severely short of breath and covered in sweat, almost panicking, frantic to get out into the ice cooled arena air. Never again will he get into a prop like that, while in his mascot costume.
 
He is working the off-season touring with a childrens’ show dressed as a giant T-Rex.   In other off-seasons, he’s worked at the local amusement park, performing as a costumed character in the ice show. Many performances daily in a fun environment are tiring, but satisfying work.
 
Terry is a native of the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield, where he still calls home. I was especially interested in his formal education, as he is a photographer by trade. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Photography, and specialized in fashion and model portfolio work, before the mascot gig stole him away. I had a look at his hockey photographs and he has produced some stunning shots taken when he is not required to be in character.
      
Look for Twister to slide down the ice again on October 30, when the Wheeling Nailers come to town to take on the Cyclones at US Bank Arena for the home opener of the 2010-11 season.
 
Back to other Cyclones updates; congratulations to former coach Chuck Weber. Weber has accepted a new position as the head coach of the Rochester Americans of the AHL. It has been a slow summer for fans, so far, without a coach.   There have not been any players signed as of this date.   The only news, has been the addition of Nick Brunker, as Director of Public Relations and Broadcasting.
 
Contact the writer and photographer at Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com