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Rockettes and Marigold Ice Unity earn chance to defend at Worlds

Rockettes and Marigold Ice Unity will have the chance to defend their World medals in Gothenburg, Sweden, after the two teams won gold and silver medals respectively at Finnish Nationals yesterday.

Rockettes, Marigold, and Team Unique were all in the running for Worlds berths after trading placements in various international and domestic competitions all season. Finnish Nationals was the final test to determine which two teams would represent Finland at the World Championships in April. Although Rockettes won the National Championship and Marigold Ice Unity took the silver medal, Marigold earned the designation of Team Finland 1 for Worlds based on their cumulative successes this year. Rockettes will attend Worlds as Team Finland 2. Team Unique finished third in both the short and free programs at Nationals to win the bronze medal.

Full results from the competition are available here.

Rockettes and Marigold have won gold and silver respectively at the last two World Championships, while the Haydenettes (USA) are repeat bronze medal winners from 2011 and 2010. The Haydenettes will aim to earn a trip to Worlds when they compete at U.S. Nationals later this week, where they also hope to win their 20th National title.

2012 Canadian Championships quick links

Skate Canada Synchronized Championships
February 23-25, 2012
Windsor, Ontario

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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…)

Incorporate your competition report card into your strategy for success

You’ve practiced. You’ve competed. You’ve gotten a score, maybe a medal, and a report card.

Now what?

Teams often find themselves asking this question after the first competition. There are an infinite number of different strategies a team can use to prepare for the next competition, and a chosen strategy may or may not change after you have a score and report card from two competitions, or three. No official can tell you which approach will lead to guaranteed success, but I do have a few tips to share to help you make the best possible use of your report card. (more…)