#SynchroSkating

Team Fintastic Junior (FIN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships take place on March 15 and 16 in Neuchâtel (SUI). A total of 24 teams with 543 Skaters representing 20 ISU Members have been entered for the Championships. It is the ninth edition of the event that started in 2013.

Team Hot Shivers Junior (ITA) competes during the 2019 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Neuchatel (SUI) @ISU

Overview of the competitors

Three-time and reigning World Junior Synchronized Skating Champions Fintastic (FIN) are back in action and have set their eyes on the top prize again. The Finns have won the event in 2020, 2022 and 2023. The event was cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Current silver medalists Nexxice (CAN) and bronze medalists Skyliners Junior (USA) return as well and want to challenge the favorites from Finland.

Team Fintastic Junior (FIN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

Fintastic comes with a victory from the French Cup in Rouen to Neuchâtel but had to settle for third place at the Marie Lundmark Trophy and Budapest Cup (seasons best 200.39 points).

Nexxice finished second to Fintastic in Rouen and took bronze at the Cup d’Ecosse earlier this season (seasons best 177.39 points) while The Skyliners won the Lumiere Cup and got silver at the Hevelius Cup 2024 (seasons best 202.07 points).

The top teams need to watch out for Team Elite Junior (USA) that won the Hevelius Cup and Budapest Cup and has the highest seasons best with 205.54 points. Les Suprêmes Junior (CAN) struck gold at the Marie Lundmark Trophy and finished third at the Hevelius Cup (seasons best 198.65 points).

Team Les Supremes Junior (CAN) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2023 in Angers (FRA). @ISU

Team Valley Bay Synchro Junior (FIN) debuts at the ISU World Junior Championships but is a contender after winning the Trophy d’Ecosse and coming second at the Marie Lundmark Trophy where they beat Fintastic (seasons best 197.50 points).

Other contenders include the Hot Shivers Junior (ITA), Team Starlight Junior (SUI) and Team Magic (HUN).

Team Starlight Junior (SUI) competes during the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championship 2020 in Nottingham (GBR). @ISU

Originally called Precision Skating, Synchronized Skating was introduced in the 1950s. It is a highly technical form of Figure Skating characterized by speed, precision, unison, intricate formations, synchro elements, difficult footwork, spectacular lifts and exciting transitions.

A synchronized team consists of 16 skaters (plus up to four alternates).

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships were originally held biennially since 2013 and are held annually since 2017. Neuchâtel hosts the event for the second time after 2019. 

 

Schedule of the event

The schedule of the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships is as follows:

Friday, March 15:                    Short Program
Saturday, March 16:               Free Skating

 

For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page. The event is live streamed on the ISU Youtube Channel. Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #SynchroSkating and #FigureSkating.

 

Where to watch the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships 2024:

The ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list in the Where to Watch news here.

Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted. 

The International Skating Union (ISU) has supported the Skating Federation of Ukraine since the start of the war, implementing ISU Communication 2469, and also granting financial support to assist Ukrainian Skaters. The ISU reiterates its sympathy for and solidarity to all affected by the War in Ukraine. The ISU maintains its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms. The ISU Council met on June 9-11, 2023 and discussed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations of March 28, 2023 for International Federations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarussian passport in international competitions.The ISU Council decided to explore the feasibility issues with regard to potential pathways to implement the IOC recommendations within ISU Sports.The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the ISU activity as well as the decisions and their implementation within the Olympic Movement. In the meantime, ISU Communication 2469 remains in force.