history

Team Russia 1 surprise leaders after short program at Worlds

Well that was exciting!

Skating eleventh in a field of 21 teams, RUS1 managed to hold on to win the short program at the World Synchronized Skating Championships in Sweden today, even after all top nine teams skated clean. Yes — RUS1, who has exactly zero World Championship medals (save for one “small” silver from 2007 where they placed second in the short before falling to eighth in the free), and finished seventh in 2011, currently leads a field that includes all the medalists from nearly every World Championship, ever. Only three former medal-winners aren’t competing in Gothenburg: Miami University (USA), Team Unique (FIN), and now-defunct black ice (CAN).  (more…)

Canadian, Finnish, and U.S. teams to compete for World berths

You can’t become a World Champion without getting to the World Championships.

Sounds painfully obvious, no? While true, it is the most important consideration for Senior teams headed to their respective National Championships in Canada, Finland, and the U.S.A. this week and next. Each country will qualify two teams to compete at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in April. But while it will be considered an upset if Nexxice (CAN) and the Haydenettes (USA) don’t earn berths to represent their countries at Worlds, Finnish Nationals is anyone’s game. (more…)

Synchro Canadians heads West…times two!

I’m having great difficulty containing my excitement right now. So I won’t.

HOLY CRAP, CANADIANS IS COMING BACK TO THE WEST!

TWICE!

Skate Canada, you’re blowing my mind a little.

In separate press releases today, Skate Canada announced that the 2013 and 2014 Skate Canada Synchronized Skating Championships will be held in Calgary, AB, and Burnaby, BC respectively. I’m currently based in Calgary, so couldn’t be happier about this news for obvious reasons. But this is also amazing/important because of the following: (more…)

Haydenettes’ founder Lynn Benson nominated for U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame

The official ballot for the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was announced today, and I’m thrilled to see that Lynn Benson has been included. Lynn formed the Haydenettes in 1979 and remained with the team until the end of the 2004-05 season, when she passed the torch to their current coach, Saga Krantz. In her years with the team, Lynn created a foundation for excellence. The Hayden organization has grown to include teams at multiple levels, and the Haydenettes are now 19-time U.S. Champions and two-time World Bronze Medalists, having represented the U.S. at every World Championship since the first ISU-sanctioned event was held  in 2000 (as well as at each of the World Challenge Cups, held from 1996-99).

It’s wonderful to see this kind of recognition for synchronized skating at such a high level. Lynn’s inclusion on the 2012 ballot places her in good company–she’s been nominated alongside skating legends such as Michelle Kwan, Rudy Galindo, and Lori Nichol.

The full list of nominees is here. The elected Class of 2012 will be announced on December 15, and the induction ceremony will take place at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January.

Congratulation to Lynn and Hayden Synchronized Skating Teams on the nomination!