The newest discipline in Figure Skating

[NoviceSweetie14]

That's right my fellow skaters...SYNCHRONIZED SKATING! Who all synchro skates here? I do! Why do you love to synchro skate? I think it helps me so much with my singles skating, but i love synchro so much!

[*Starryskye*]

Me too! Synchro is so much more than just skating with 20 other people! It's helped me incredibly with my balance and centering for spins, and in skills/moves i've tested soo quickly! All because of synchro! You always have competition, and it's all really close...which makes it so fun because it's all friendly rivalries! But, more than that I just love the support you get from your teammates and how close everybody is...it's so exciting to be able to share a winning moment..or ANY moment with 20 more people when you step off the ice than just yourself. after skating, i just feel amazing! Also, i had to stop competing singles, becuase i wasn't doing too well and it was getting my spirits down. BUT, synchro gave me something that i could compete in and do well! So..it's helped me get all my confidence back! I really hope the sport continues to grow, so if anybody reads this that thinks tehy might be interested? PM somebody for info, or ask around your club..it brings great oppertunities! I've made SOO many new amazing friends!! hehe i love you guys:)

[StarshineXavier]

Hi NoviceSweetie! I do synchro as well! I love it for the reasons that you do, since doing synchro has gave me a lot of power, and the ability to do more intricate footwork in my solos, etc. I've noticed that at recreational levels, skaters tend to have a lot of crosscuts, but doing synchro has kind of deterred me from doing just crosscuts, since to me, it's kinda boring.

All of you out there should definitely check synchro out. It's evolved so much in the past few years, into a sport that's exciting, dynamic and challenging. Where else will you find 20 skaters doing lines, blocks, circles, wheels, jumps, spins, pair elements, field moves, footwork, and amazing choreography in close proximity to one another all in one program? Synchro, that's where!

[NoviceSweetie14]

*Starryskye* and Starshine, you are SO right! Synchro is much more than just a sport, its a thing that changes people...for the better! It helps in everything! Whether it be your skating skills, team skills, or confidence to do better in everything! I'm so passionate about synchro, and even during my singles, I can see such an improvement in myself because of synchro. Especially in my dance skills and also at competitions, my nerves dont get to me anymore!

[Jillianioso]

hey I used to be a competitive dancer and when my partner and I split up I thought my skating career was over. Then I joined a local synchro team... and worked harder than I ever did in dance... and we went to Europe 3 times, nationals 4 times.. and I can't even explain to you how much more I LOVE synchro than I EVER did when I did dance.

[NoviceSweetie14]

Wow!!! Good job!!! Thats so good to hear! I think Ice dance and synchro are very similar...in the footwork and skills you need at least! What team were you on?

[Synchronized]

I'm going into my seventh year, I don't know what I would do without synchro. It's my life now. I'm made some amazing friends along the way and have had so many positive fun experience that I never could've been through without my twenty girls by my side.
Have you ever noticed your relationships with your teammates? For me, I'm so surprised because one of my teammates goes to my school. She's so different than the rest of my friends because it's like we've known each other forever. Our friendship is just this total different level.

You all excited for Manitoba? I found out we have a sponsor so we don't need to do all that much fundraising. We're going to do a car wash, but because they are fun.

[*Starryskye*]

Yeah, I completely agree. This is my 8th year into synchro, and at the competitive level fifth! The friends i have made are priceles...and only one goes to my school. Either way, if i didn't know her through synchro we probably wouldn't be friends, but because of synchro we are REALLY close! its so cool!

[NoviceSweetie14]

Oh yes I am SOOO excited for Manitoba! It's so great that they are combined this year too! Hopefully my team will make it, I think these Nationals, will be an opportunity of a lifetime! They will be in a place most of us have never gone to, and combined with Festival and Competitive. Can't wait to get on the ice again! And yes, that is so true about our teammates. My teammates are so much closer to me then my school friends. I would rather hang out with them then my school friends. I know it sounds werid, but its true. Teammates have a special bond, that isn't the same with your school friends. You go through so much together, long hard practises, heartbreaking experiences, and the best moments of your entire life. You go through so much with them and they are always there for you, holding you up and supporting you! LITERALLY!!! lol!

[*Starryskye*]

Aww..I don't skate in Canada!!! That means no Manitoba:( BUT!! the nationals in the US next year are in San Diego baby!! WOohooo!! It should be so fun, lots of sun too! Good luck getting to Manitoba, and have a GREAT season!!

[Jillianioso]

I skated on barrie for the last 4 years. But I'm going to university this year (in ottawa) and can't afford skating... so no synchro for me this year :evil: :cry: I think I'm gonna die without it!!!! I'm already in withdrawl! lol

[*Starryskye*]

Aww poor you! I'd die without synchro, well..just keep up your singles and moves/skills then hopefully at some point you can join back up again! Ottawa is awesome though, you should definitely like it there a lot...good luck with school!

[Jillianioso]

Thanks!

Hey synchronized... you were/are on Ottawa?
Do you have msn?

[StarshineXavier]

You ladies are lucky that you have teams. Like Jillianioso, I'm off to University in the fall, and the only way I'll get to skate synchro is if I make the varisty team there. If I do, I'll get to see you girls skate in competitions!

On an interesting note, the head coach for the varsity team at University of Guelph is an ex-synchro skater for Oakville Ice Expression, and the one coach for the varsity team at University of Toronto is an ex-Black Ice skater. Just goes to show how talented synchro skaters are!;)

[*Starryskye*]

That's so cool!! I never knew about those coaches!! It's true too..a lot of the coaches were very talented single skaters!! I just found out-my coach skated at nationals, and disney on ice for a couple of years!! I never knew, I think it was nationals anyway..i'm not quite sure..but I'm positive about disney on ice! Those shows are really awesome, the skaters are soo talented! That was the first show I went to... "aladdin on ice"! It would be really cool if they got synchro incorporated with that show somehow! It would definitely add to the astonishing performances!

[NoviceSweetie14]

Wow thats awesome Jillianioso, Ottawa is so nice! And yah good luck Starshine, i'm sure you'll make the Varsity teams!!!!!!!! Where are you going for University? and yah good luck *starryskye*!!! San Diego eh? Sounds like soooooo much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StarshineXavier]

My coach asked me to go try out for Disney on Ice when she tried out this past March. She asked me to go with her because she knows about my ability for footwork that I got from synchro. I passed 4 levels of skills in 2 seasons because of synchro. I credit getting Gold Interpretive to my synchro experience as well, since I used a theme that I had done synchro to, and used some of the moves we used in the program. It's helped me and so many others improve our skills, and that's one of the reasons I love it so much.

Edited to add that I'm going to University of Guelph.

[*Starryskye*]

I know!! I can't wait!! Hopefully we will make it...i'm trying not to get my hopes up too much!! But all the sun would be great, especially becuase I live where it's ALWAYS cold..and most of the girls on my team have never been out west so they really want to be able to share the occasion together..with all of us!!:)

[Jillianioso]

What year was figures turned into skills?
Novice sweetie what team are you on?

[NoviceSweetie14]

Wow starshine thats incredible!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!! Goes to show you synchro isnt all toe pix and cross cuts:lol: Yah *starryskye* I hope we make it too!

[StarshineXavier]

Starry, what region/section are you from?

Figures turned into skills in the fall of 1996.

[StarshineXavier]

Thanks NoviceSweetie! If your team was at Nats this past year, you'll more than likely make it next year. Or at least that's how the politics seems to work!;)

[Jillianioso]

OK then ya I passed 4 skills in 1 1/2yrs and I passed from my tenfox to my last gold dance in 2 years!! hahah

[*Starryskye*]

I'm from the east coast in the US! Sorry, I can't give out much more information:( I know some of you guys though!

[Jillianioso]

wait... you know some of us? lol how?

[*Starryskye*]

Haha i don't KNOW you..but you inparticular know who I am, and what team I'm on..we talked on msn..shh;) lol..i'm almost POSITIVE we did anyway!!

oh yeah, great job with the dance..that's kinda what i'm starting to do now!

[StarshineXavier]

Jill, you are such a champ!

Starry, we understand that you can't reveal anything else. We're just glad you're here with us though!

[*Starryskye*]

Thanks you guys:)

[NoviceSweetie14]

Yes, I also can't reveal too much about myself...Starshine you know what team I'm on...lol so shhh!:D I really hope we do make it though! It would be amazing!!!! Wow we just started this thread and already on our second page! Yay for us!!! hehe

[Jillianioso]

hehehh a champ.

Wait starry... did I get you in trouble once? lol for talking about alcohol? Or are you someone else?

Have fun with the dance... what I wouldn't do to dance again!!!!! I haven't tried any tests since 1998. And I MISS SYNCHRO

[StarshineXavier]

Do I? I'm trying to think..............Are you on Messenger right now?

[*Starryskye*]

Haha yup! hahaha that is me!! But remember, she thinks its somebody else..so we're still okay!! hehe! And thanks, so far I'm just starting silver dances..and I began pre silver in about January..soo we'll wait and see!! I start skating for the summer in a week...yay!

[*Starryskye*]

Nope, Jill's the only one...I don't really use MSN that much..it's not as big in the states as it is in Canada...I use AIM

[NoviceSweetie14]

Hey guys...just saying goodnight! Cuz i gotta split! Talk to you all in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jillianioso]

lol thats so funny starry! What dances are in silver? Its different names than here.
Hey if anyone non-synchro is reading this... and you wanna jump in into the convo... go ahead!!!! We would gladly answer ANY questions for you. No question is stupid!!!

novice sweetie... are you from festival or competitive? competitive right? If so... are you in WOS?

[*Starryskye*]

Yeah..definitely ANY skater can join in!!



Actually..as terrible as it is..i don't even know the dances in there yet..I just passed my last pre silver!! Sorry! I know pre silver is Ten Fox, Foxtrot, and the fourteen step! I believe silver has the American in it..i'm not too sure!! I'll know in a week! hehe

[StarshineXavier]

Pre-Silver is like Sr. Bronze, Silver is like Jr. Silver, etc.

[*Starryskye*]

Thanks for the translation!! Sorry, I'm not great with remembering all of them...I've taken so many in such a short time ..well 3 years that they all seem and sound the same!!

[NoviceSweetie14]

Hey girls. dont mean to be a drag, but lets try not to make this a chat, as we don't want to get shut down. Let's talk about why we like synchro so much, or our goals for our synchro season this year, or what synchro has taught us. and in response to Jill, im actually on a Festival team. Someday would LOVE to be on competitive, but just festival for now. but now i actually do have to go, so ill talk to you all in the morning!!!!!:D

[luna_skater]

These are the Canadian dances:

Preliminary:
-Dutch Waltz
-Canasta Tango
-Baby Blues

Junior Bronze:
-Swing
-Fiesta Tango
-Willow Waltz

Senior Bronze:
-Ten-Fox
-Fourteenstep
-European Waltz

Junior Silver:
-Harris Tango
-Rocker Foxtrot
-American Waltz
-Keats Foxtrot

Senior Silver:
-Paso Doble
-Starlight Waltz
-Kilian
-Blues
-Cha Cha

Gold:
-Viennese Waltz
-Argentine Tango
-Westminster Waltz
-Quickstep
-Silver Samba

Diamond
-Ravensburger Waltz
-Tango Romantica
-Yankee Polka
-Rhumba
-Austrian Waltz

[StarshineXavier]

Thanks luna! And just to note, we're doing this not because we feel obligated by SB, but because we're trying to gain awareness about synchro. We're just a bunch of synchro junkies!

[*Starryskye*]

Right, Do any of you Canadian skaters ever compete at competitions in the US? Like Bourne, Lake Placid, or Mid Americas?

I know the US has a lot of competitions that are "international" and Canadian skaters can attend..does Canada have any of these?

[StarshineXavier]

A few Canadian teams competed at the last Lake Placid synchro competition. I'm not 100% sure who, but there were about 5-7 teams from Canada competing there.

Canada has the same with Winterfest in Central Ontario. Many US teams compete, and same with Gold Medallion, until it was done away with.

[IEsynchroSk8a15]

I've been synchro skating for 6 years, and I love it! I have been on a competitive team for 2 years, and its my life. I love it so much. I thought I liked solo before, but when i joined synchro, solo just became mediocure to me. I mean solo is cool and all, but I think synchro is so much more fun. In synchro you get to go out with all your friends and do what you love most....SKATE!! You all get to achieve all your goals together and I think that's awesome. I never want to quit synchro!! If someone out there is considering doing synchro I say go for it! Seriously, theres nothing to lose, I can promise that once you get used to it, its sooo much fun!! lol well i just had to say that. C ya :lol:

[mandie]

synchro changed my life when i first started 6 years ago.i would be a completely different person without it! it's taught me team-work skills,how to put a lot of trust in others.and, it's taught me how to perform well, and how to do really intricate footwork, and how to pay great attention to where i'm going and what i'm doing on the ice.it has also helped me become a better dance and freestyle skater.it is also fun to watch the other teams, and perform at competitions, do cheers,and do fun stuff with all your best friends! you are never alone when it comes to synchro, and it's also fun because it's really dangerous and it's exciting.


www.synchroboards.com
www.worldsynchro.com

[mandie]

check out these pics from the 2003 world synchronized skating competition!in ottawa canada(it wouldn't let me paste them here)

http://www.gymnastics.ca/photos/03worldsynsk/:)

[StarshineXavier]

Just editing the link mandie gave.

http://www.gymnastics.ca/photos/03worldsynsk/ (Pics from Worlds)

[*Starryskye*]

just to add, their are some really cool behind the scenes pictures from worlds at

this website... (http://www.synchronizedskatingmag.com)
just go there, then click on pictures :)

[NoviceSweetie14]

Awesome pictures girls! Aww i remember Worlds, even though I didn't compete...as you can see im NOVICE lol! i went as a spectator, and it was the best trip of my life! It was so amazing to watch all the senior teams, and everything was incredible...and not to mention the CROWD!!! Wow we were so loud for the Canadians it was amazing!!!! I think the 2003 Worlds crowd was the best ever! Let's see how the Croatian's do this year:D

[Jillianioso]

hey I've been to Croatia 4 times.. and i've competed in the rink twice... its not as nice as canada and it holds about 5000-6000 people. But still... should be good!!
I was sitting with the Croatians at worlds this year and they were taking notes and stuff hehe.
Worlds WAS amazing... my friend competed in it and said it was amazing to hear the crowd so loud. Best competition of her life (obviously!!!!)

I was also told that the crowd was louder than it was at singles Worlds in Washington!!!

[Synchroprincess]

OMG i wish I couldve gone to worlds, I just got the tape off of Lifetime and it looked like so much fun! I even used the Marigold Long in a presentation I had @ school and by the time I was done, everyone was like in awe of synchro! Going into my 7th year of synchro and 12th year of skating (I started @ 4), synchro has taught me how to win and lose with grace. I think it is easier to lose a competiton with 19 other girls for support then to lose by ur self when you are doing solo. I love it and wouldnt give it up if my life depended on it! YEAH I CANT WAIT FOR NATS IN SAN DIEGO 2004!

[Synchronized]

I was on a Junior Competitive team last year and we competed at Lake Placid. Actually there were only two american teams in the level, and the rest of us were canadians. I loved it down there it was beautiful. I hope we'll go back. Especially with our dollar going up it might not be so expensive.

[Magz]

i would've loved to join syncro but unfortunately i couldn't. Sounds like it's tons of fun though...maybe someday!!

[iskater13]

I am showing my age when I tell you that I was on the team "Fraserettes" and we won the first two national senior titles in 1984 & 85. I was at Skate America and went to the museum two years ago. When I went downstairs they had a synchro section and there was our pic, perfect 6.0 scorecard and one of our gold medals............Synchro (or I call precision) is a great sport and you make so many lifetime friends:0) good luck and keep up the good work!

[FSWer]

Hi everyone!!!!! Just want to say that as a really big Synchro. fan for years, I have a lot of fav. Teams. Some of which are The Haydenettes,The Crystallettes from the USA.,Team Surprise,Fire on Ice,and many more. Who are all your fav. Teams here? Say also,if it's alright. I'd love to please know from any Senior Synchronized Skaters here in your own words what it really is like being a Senior.

[SynchroSk8r114]

I skate synchro for my university's intercollegiate team. Last year was our first year together in open-collegiate and this year we'd love to move up to collegiate! (We've been doing a lot of recruiting, so it's a possibility...)

I love, love, love synchro! I've met some of my best friends thanks to synchro. Nothing's better than having ten of your closest friends there to share the ups and downs of the sport! :D

Synchro's taught me so much that singles skating (which I still do as well) wasn't always able to provide me with: teamwork, patience, determination, facing challenges, etc. I can't imagine my life without synchro! ;)

To answer your question, FSWer, I absolutely love Team Surprise. Their speed and footwork on the ice just looks amazing! I really aspire to skate as well as those girls do. Of course, my team still tops my list!

[altamaleskater]

Wouldn't mind getting into synchro, looks like so much fun, but when I tried it with a local team last year I found I had a lot of problems because of my height. At 6' and 200 lbs, it was harder for me to do a lot of the moves because the ladies I was skating with (I was the only male) were a lot shorter than me and it was like I had to cut 6 inches off my legs! Uggggghhh! Does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with this kind of problem? I know most you aren't 6' tall but what could I do to make things easier?

[winziped]

Too synchronized skating is my favorite as fans , is very nice , my favorites teams are Team Surprise, Haydennetes, Crystallettes and Fire on ice .

About Team surprise are great her programs have something dynamic that make it very different

[FSWer]

Too synchronized skating is my favorite as fans , is very nice , my favorites teams are Team Surprise, Haydennetes, Crystallettes and Fire on ice .

About Team surprise are great her programs have something dynamic that make it very different


HEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!!! COOOOOOOL!!!!!!! ME TOO!!!!!!

[FSWer]

Say...I've always wondered what a typical day on a Team IS really like? I mean..when you as a skater get to the rink, besides pratice time which you have of course. Do you get time to mingle with your friends? Or make friends if your new to a Team? Do you get a Breakfast,lunch,or Dinner break? I mean.....what exactly happens?

[FSWer]

I'm going into my seventh year, I don't know what I would do without synchro. It's my life now. I'm made some amazing friends along the way and have had so many positive fun experience that I never could've been through without my twenty girls by my side.
Have you ever noticed your relationships with your teammates? For me, I'm so surprised because one of my teammates goes to my school. She's so different than the rest of my friends because it's like we've known each other forever. Our friendship is just this total different level.

You all excited for Manitoba? I found out we have a sponsor so we don't need to do all that much fundraising. We're going to do a car wash, but because they are fun.


COOL!!!!!!! Is she in your class too? Does the school know your both Synchros?

[FSWer]

First,I am NOT trying to single-out Disciplines here. But I just WANT to say that I am very,very proud of each and EVERY ONE of our Synchro. Skaters on the Board here!!!!!! They have worked so extreemly hard, and deserve reconation for ALL their hard work,pratice,and talent!!!!! I especailly would love to reconize Senior Teams and their skaters for their GREAT ability to be able to lift and to get lifted with such ease!!!!! So I surely hope our Synchros read this, as I mean EVERY word. Thanks.

[FSWer]

i would've loved to join syncro but unfortunately i couldn't. Sounds like it's tons of fun though...maybe someday!!


Why don't you Mag.?