Synchronized Skating - News & Announcements
~ as of May 4, 2010
Announcements
New ISU Communication
Nexxice Senior Named Ontario Team of the Year 2009
The Team of the Year is presented annually at the Ontario Sport Awards by the Province of Ontario to Ontario's outstanding amateur sports team. Note Shelley Barnett, Nexxice Coach, was one of the top 3 finalists for Female Coach of the Year 2009.
Team Canada One Returns Home From the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships
Nexxice (Senior) returned from Colorado Springs with a 5th place overall finish.
Even though the team did not come home with the results they wanted, the defending World Champions represented Canada with style and class. Two falls in the short program proved to be costly, but they laid down an exquisitely beautiful long program and captured everyone's hearts in the arena, clearly the crowd's favorite! And the team received a perfect 10 score for performance from one of the judges.
Congrats girls! We are proud of you!
A heartfelt message from a Nexxice Dad - Frank Lortiz
There's been a lot of chatter about was and wasn't accomplished this past year... but this is what I saw...
I saw an artistic vision come to life over the last few months through the work of a dedicated team of coaches, dance artists, and athletes all very talented in their fields. As a team they composed an artistic concept that was fleshed into a set of poetic movements on ice. This was then stitched into a whole to produce a seamless choreography of music, colour, and movement. They worked tirelessly to perfect the execution never losing the vision of producing a work of art. When the time came, they hid their toil and sweat behind smiling faces, dazzling dresses, and graceful dance manoeuvres. As the season progressed the spectacle
delighted audiences for months. And in the end they did accomplish what they set out to do... to create a work of art that they would be proud of for life. The whole indeed was greater than the sum of its parts. Were they the best in the world at 6:05:32 pm on April 10, 2010? Some thought no, but they were very close. Now they will savour their successes, analyze their shortcomings and become ever more determined to better their work in their pursuit of excellence. Like standing on the head of a pin, perfection allows a good view for a brief moment but it's awfully unstable and you usually can't stay there too long. I believe that most of you will agree that its not perfection that's important but rather the pursuit of that ideal that really matters.
... that's what I saw happen this past year and as a parent I could not have hoped for a better outcome for my daughter.
Well done Team Canada 1 NEXXICE 2010. We all participated in an extraordinary chapter in our girls' lives and we have been enriched (and also de-riched) by the experience.

Nexxice Short Program

Nexxice Long Program ~ watch it on YouTube

Gotta love those Canadian Fans!
Photo credit -
Skate Canada / Jim Coveart
WO Synchro Teams Win 4 Out of the 5 Categories at Nationals!
Another great National Championships for synchronized skating in Brampton, ON on
March 4-6, 2010. 48 teams took part in the activities with 8 teams from WOS. Congratulations to all teams!
| Senior |
• Nexxice Senior - 1st |
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|
| Junior |
• Nexxice Junior - 1st |
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|
| Open |
• Nexxice Open - 1st |
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| Intermediate |
• Synchronicity - 1st
• Innovation - 5th
• Ilderton Silver Jets - 7th |
| |
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| Novice |
• Burlington Ice Image - 2nd
• Ilderton Precisionnaires - 5th |
2010 Central Regionals Results
37 WO Synchro Teams participated in the Central Regional
Synchronized Skating Championships on February 12-14, 2010
in Fort Erie.
18 teams came home with medals! 9 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze
Good luck to the teams going to the Synchronized Skating
National and Adult National Championships!
| Gold Medal
Teams |
• NEXXICE Senior • NEXXICE
Junior • NEXXICE Open • Ilderton
Silver Jets - Intermediate • Burlington
Ice Image – Novice • London Synchronicity
– Pre Novice • Plattsville B Pizzazzed
– Juvenile • London Synchronicity
– Adult SYS 2 • Ilderton Classic Jets
– Adult SYS 1 |
| |
|
| Silver Medal Teams |
• A-T Encore – Adult SYS 3 •
Ice Breakers – Adult SYS 3 • London
Synchronicity – Intermediate • Ilderton
Precisionnaires – Novice • Plattsville
Pizzazzed – Pre Novice |
| |
|
| Bronze Medal Teams |
• Classic Image – Adult SYS 3 •
Ice FX – Adult SYS 2 • Innovation
– Adult SYS 1 • Magic Blades - Elementary |
Western Ontario Team Results
| Senior |
• Nexxice, KWSC / Burlington
- 1 |
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|
| Junior |
• Nexxice, KWSC / Burlington - 1 |
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|
| Open |
• Nexxice, KWSC / Burlington 1 |
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|
| Intermediate |
• Ilderton Silver Jets, Ilderton SC - 1
• Synchronicity, London SC - 2*
• Innovation, WC St Catharines - 5 • Alvinston
Ice Angels, Alvinston SC - 9 |
| |
|
| Novice |
• Ice Image, Burlington SC - 1
• Ilderton Precisionniares, Ilderton SC - 2 |
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|
| Pre-Novice |
• Synchronicity, London SC - 1 •
Plattsville Pizzazz, Plattsville SC - 2 •
Alvinston Ice Angels Brooke Alvinston - 4 •
Ice Impulse, St. Thomas SC - 5 • Starlights,
Amherstburg - 9 • Maple City Ice Crystals,
Chatham SC - 12 • Dazzling Diamonds, South
Dumfries SC - 13 • Oxygen, Jordan SC - 15
• Icebergs, Woodstock SC - 16 |
| |
|
| Juvenile |
• B-Pizzazzed, Plattsville SC - 1 •
Ice Image, Burlington SC - 5 • Ilderton
Mini Jets, Ilderton SC - 9 • Synchronicity,
London SC - 10 • Rose City Rhythms, Rose
City Rhythms - 16 |
| |
|
| Elementary |
• Magic Blades, Mt. Brydges - 3 •
Petite Pizzazz, Plattsville SC - 4 • Waves,
St Thomas SC - 6 • Ilderton Blue Jets, Ilderton
SC - 10 • Alvinston Ice Angels, Brooke Alvinston
SC - 11 • Ice Chips, Woodstock SC - 15
• Ice Picks, Petrolia SC - 16 |
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| Adult SYS 3 |
• A-T Encore, East Elgin SC - 2 •
Classic Image, Burlington SC - 3 |
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|
| Adult SYS
2 |
• Synchronicity, London SC - 1 •
Ice Breakers, Port Stanley SC - 2 • Ice
FX, Watford SC - 3 • Tavistock Team Unity,
Tavistock SC - 4 • South Coast Synchro,
Langton SC - 8 • Ancaster Affinity, Ancaster
SC - 10 • Blades N Sync, Parkhill SB - 11
• Crystal Formations, Brant SC - 14 •
Diamond Divas, Amherstburg - 15 • Innovation
WC, St Catharines - 16 |
| |
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| Adult SYS 1 |
• Ilderton Classic Jets, Ilderton SC - 1
• Innovation, WC St Catharines - 3 •
Team Velocity, Woodstock SC - 5 • Crystal
Foundations, Brant - 9 |
Are You Interested in Becoming
a Synchro Judge?
We're looking for present and former skaters who would
be interested in becoming a synchronized skating judge.
New synchronized judge clinic is being planned for early
February 2009.
Criteria - The skater needs to have a
skating background that includes:
- Any two of Junior Bronze free skate, dance or skills;
or
- Any one of Senior Bronze free skate, dance, or skills;
or
- Juvenile competitive test; or
- Any one higher test level
Interested??? Contact Sabrina Wong, WO Synchro Judges Rep.
sabrinawong@cogeco.ca
Communication From Skate Canada Re: Clarification on the
Summary of Calls for the NHB (No Hold Block) for the Junior
Festival and Open Festival level Short and Free Program
With the team composition at the Junior Festival and Open
Festival level having a range, some teams may have an odd
number of skaters and should not be penalized when performing
the NHB in either the Short and/or Free programs, as long
as they meet the following criteria:
Free Skating Program
The closed block must consist of four (4) skaters in four
(4) lines or the number of skaters in the 4 lines must be
as equal as possible
Short Program
The closed block must consist of four (4) skaters in four
(4) lines or the lines must be as equal as possible
Example: a team of 14 skaters
- Acceptable: 2 lines of 4 skaters and
2 lines of 3 skaters = 14 skaters in a closed block formation
- no deduction would be taken.
- Not acceptable: 3 lines of 4 skaters
and 1 line of 2 skaters = 14 skaters. The call would be
the level of the NHB + DED 3 for NAR (Not According to Requirements)
wrong shape.
Should you have any questions regarding the above please
do not hesitate to contact us. From Meredith Warner, Skate
Canada
Synchro Technical Info
Links to Skate Canada documentation and ISU Technical Communications
are available on the WO
Synchro Technical page. Information for the 2009-2010
will be added as available.
WOS Synchro Coaches - Videos of Synchro Events
- Synchro Nationals start from 1988, 1992 - 2004 recent
- Worlds 2000
- Precision Canada International - Toronto 1994
- Snowflake International - 1993, 1995
- various WO Sectionals, Gold Medallion competitions
Please note that we can no longer lend these videos due
to copyright issues. However, these can be viewed on the
premises by phoning ahead to set up a suitable day/time
at the Section Office. Contact Lori, 519-686-0431 ext. 21
or memberservice@skating-wos.on.ca
Testimonial of a Synchro Skater
"First you are
a part of it, then it becomes a part of you"
(anonymous)
For some, Synchronized skating is synonymous with
commitment, unison, speed, teamwork, dedication
and emotion. Having skated on a synchronized skating
team for more than 13 years, I know it is so much
more that that!
A lot of my friends do question why I continue
to subject myself to the early morning practices,
rigorous workouts and the stress of competitions.
I synchro skate because the support felt as 19 other
skaters struggle with you overpowers the pain inflicted
by the workouts. And I compete as a synchro skater
because the adrenaline rush while competing and
the feeling of joy when you are finished makes you
forget the feeling of stress that was overpowering
right up until the moment when the music begins.
We may arrive at our practices from all walks of
life, but when we step on the ice we are one, we
move as one, we succeed as one, we are a team.
Central to synchronized skating is friends and
family; throughout these years I have been blessed
with many long-lasting friendships that offer support
and happiness. For me, my coaches, managers, teammates
as well as their parents have become a second family
whom I can rely on at any time. Synchronized skating
has allowed me to continue to skate with my close
friends well beyond when I stopped skating individually.
In this aspect synchronized skating is a sport for
all ages.
The sport of synchronized skating itself demands
that the skater is comfortable and confident with
his or her own body image and this has to be portrayed
on the ice. I am grateful for all the experiences
and opportunities synchronized skating has to offer.
My club's synchronized skating program provides
a positive and fun environment for physical activity
and exercise.
Furthermore, I am indebted for the life lessons
I have learned from my participation in the sport
of synchronized skating. Balancing school, work
and synchronized skating has required me to develop
time management skills, which are invaluable life
skills. I have also been taught perseverance, commitment,
discipline and responsibility as well as the meaning
of sportsmanship. These lessons will undoubtedly
benefit me in every aspect of my life. Not only
has synchronized skating provided me with an immeasurable
amount of happiness and memories, but also I am
confident it has also contributed to making me the
person I have become. Finally, I feel this quotation
captures the spirit of synchronized skating,
"There are many things in life that will catch
your eye, but only a few will catch your heart…
pursue those" (anonymous)
...from a Synchro skater
|
Team
Number Splits for Synchronized Skating
- The following table is relevant for Festival Juvenile,
Festival Novice, Festival Adult teams.
| Total
Number of Skaters on Team |
75%
within the age limit - Number of skaters |
25%
over the age limit - Number of skaters |
| 8 |
6 |
2 |
| 9 |
7 |
2 |
| 10 |
7 |
3 |
| 11 |
8 |
3 |
| 12 |
9 |
3 |
| 13 |
9 |
4 |
| 14 |
10 |
4 |
| 15 |
11 |
4 |
| 16 |
12 |
4 |
| 17 |
12 |
5 |
| 18 |
13 |
5 |
| 19 |
14 |
5 |
| 20 |
15 |
5 |
| 21 |
15 |
6 |
| 22 |
16 |
6 |
| 23 |
17 |
6 |
| 24 |
18 |
6 |
|