competitions

2011 SynchroFest International Quick Links

Event site: Main | Detailed schedule | RESULTS

Skatebuzz: Live streaming!

Competition schedule

  • Wednesday, December 28: Short program 7:00PM-8:25PM (EST)
  • Thursday, December 29: Free program 7:00PM-8:40PM (EST)
Facebook: Join the event

Top teams in the world set to compete at London SynchroFest International

It’s a great week to be involved in synchro in Canada.

The synchro community is still buzzing after news broke only a few days ago that the 2013 and 2014 National Championships will both be hosted in Western Canada. Hopefully everyone still has some excitement left in the tank, because there’s a big event to get revved up about in the more immediate future–in less than a week, some of the top teams in the world will be in Ontario to compete for $50,000 in prize money, the biggest purse ever awarded in synchro, at the 2011 London SynchroFest International December 28 and 29.

And the best news of all, for those of us who can’t be there–live streaming! Thanks Santa! (more…)

November is the month for reality checks and finding balance

Ah, November. In all my years of skating, it didn’t matter which team I was on, who was coaching me, or what category I was competing in–November sucked. The anticipation and excitement of the early part of the season, when everyone was fresh and anything was possible, had been replaced by debilitating stress and total panic. A handful of skaters still didn’t know their steps. The intersection that had once been disguised as “challenging” now revealed its true nature: impossible. Elements were over-rotated one day and under-rotated the next. The program didn’t have an ending. There was at least one injury. The dresses either weren’t ready, didn’t fit, or were hideous.

Memories I hold near and dear to my heart.

The intent of this post is not, however, to reminisce. Rather, it’s to speak to a few key points coaches need to keep in mind during this very important month. An optimist might say November builds a team’s character. A pragmatist knows that choices made in November can have a big impact on the trajectory of the rest of the season, and prepares to make adjustments. (more…)

World’s top teams will compete for $50,000 in prize money in London

Wow.

It’s been years since a Senior International was held in Canada (other than Worlds), so the announcement that London, Ontario, host of the 2007 World Synchro Championships, would be holding an event this December was exciting simply on its own. But now there’s $50,000 in prize money involved?

That’s a big deal.

The news comes from an article on the John Labatt Centre’s website, where you can also purchase tickets. Yes, $50,000 is a pittance compared to what singles skaters, ice dancers, and pairs teams earn on the ISU Grand Prix circuit, when you consider how many individual athletes a synchro competition involves. It doesn’t matter whether the prize money for Synchro in the City is in Canadian or American dollars, or some other currency entirely–split $50,000 among one team, some teams, or all of the teams, and it disappears pretty quickly no matter whose mug is on the bills. What’s worth more than the amount, however, is the additional legitimacy this brings to the sport. If this trend continues, could we actually see synchro skaters start to regularly earn money as professional athletes?

That’s a very big deal.

Tickets for the 2011 Synchro in the City — London Synchrofest International (could they have chosen a longer name?) go on sale Friday, October 21st. Maybe Santa will bring me a seat sale for Christmas.