www.vernonskatingclub.ca
Synchro
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
For information about synchro teams in the Vernon Figure Skating Club, please call 260-6632
Synchronized Skating
Synchronized skating, or "synchro" is a specialized discipline of skating involving groups of eight or more skaters performing various group formations and maneuvers. The objective is for the team to perform as one unit executing circles, blocks, lines, wheels and intersections in unison to the music, while demonstrating quality edges, power and flow.
There are two event streams of Synchronized Skating in Canada – a recreational or Festival SynchroSkate and Competitive SynchroSkate. Both of these streams can lead a team to national level events.
Festival SynchroSkate
Festival SynchroSkate provides recreational synchronized skating teams the opportunity to qualify for National level competition in a program specifically designed to meet the needs of this type of team and skater.
Festival SynchroSkate was introduced into Skate Canada programming in 2000, with the first National Festival SynchroSkate held in April 2001. Currently over 400 Festival teams participate at all levels in each of the 13 Skate Canada Sections. With smaller team numbers, no test pre-requisites, and more lenient age restrictions many Skate Canada clubs are finding it feasible to field one or more teams in the Festival stream. It also provides further competitive opportunity for athletes who choose not to be involved in the qualifying event stream of synchronized skating.
Skate of Mind is an Adult Synchronized Figure Skating Team comprised of 17 women ranging in age from 19 to 49 who love to skate and enjoy their success on and off the ice. The skaters live in Vernon, Lake Country, Kelowna and Westbank and currently skate out of the Vernon Figure Skating Club. Their motto is, “Skate hard, have fun” and that is how they approach every practice, every competition and every exhibition. They take pride in the fact that they go to Provincials every year and have brought home medals in the past. The Skate of Mind Team strives to continue to improve their skills, to always have fun and to be a competitive force at competitions. These ladies find it a privilege to be able to stay active and continue to skate as adults – a passion which they all share.
