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2018-19 Well Balanced Program Content for Synchronized Skating

The ISU has published Communication 2152, Well Balanced Program Content 2018-19 for Synchronized Skating. This year’s programs will include several new elements, many of which were described at the Technical Committee Annual Meeting with Coaches, which you can watch below (audio begins at 8:56).

The new elements and shorter program times are pending approval at Congress in June, so this document could still see revisions. If all of these changes pass, programs will likely look quite different next year.

Watch isu.org for updates.

2018 World Championships Videos

Medals were awarded today at the 2018 World Synchronized Skating Championships, marking the end of the 2017-18 season. Finland’s Marigold Ice Unity were crowned champions, winning their first gold medal since 2014. Skating in their home country, Sweden’s Team Surprise won the silver medal, reclaiming a spot on the podium after last medaling (gold) in 2012. Two-time defending champions Paradise, from Russia, fell from the top step but remained on the podium for the fourth year running, taking home the bronze medal. Full results are available here.

If you missed watching the live stream, you can find videos of all the short and free programs on the ISU Skating Channel. (In the USA, watch on Ice Network.) For ease of navigation, here are the groups. (more…)

2015 World Championships Quick Links

ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships
April 10-11, 2015
Hamilton, ON, Canada

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ISU 1856: 2014-15 Well Balanced Program

The ISU released Communication 1856 a few weeks ago, but I admit I found it difficult to pay it much attention until after the medals were awarded at Worlds this past weekend. With the 2013-14 season now in the books, let’s have a look at what’s in store for next year.

Communication 1856 presents the Well Balanced Program requirements for Adult, Basic and Advanced Novice, Junior, and Senior categories for 2014-15. I’ll stick to discussing Junior and Senior here, since countries often have their own requirements for domestic Adult and Novice categories. 1856 is not overly detailed, and we’ll unfortunately have to wait until at least June, when ISU Congress wraps up, for any new definitions of Elements, Features, and Additional Features, and probably later for a Communication on Difficulty Groups. Based on trends over the past few seasons, some educated guesses can probably be made as to requirements and specifications, but until the proposals are debated and new documents published, we won’t know anything for certain.

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