#SynchroSkating

Defending Champions Les Suprêmes (CAN) in action in Zagreb, Coratia © ISU

Hot favorites Les Suprêmes (CAN) edged the Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) for the lead as the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships opened Friday in Zagreb (CRO). A total of 21 teams with 479 Skaters representing 17 ISU Members have been entered for the Championships. It is the 23rd edition of the event that started in 2000.

Les Suprêmes (CAN) lead in Short Program

Two-time and defending ISU World Synchronized Champions Les Suprêmes of Canada have set their eyes on their third ISU World title and edged current World silver medalists Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) for a narrow lead in the Short Program. The Haydenettes (USA) finished third in this first segment of the competition.

Performing to “Love Is Blindness” and “Blinded by Love”, Les Suprêmes picked up a level four the no hold element (step sequence), the twizzle element and the move element while the intersection element/point of intersection was rated a level three and four. The Canadians set a season’s best of 78.89 points.

Les Suprêmes (CAN) take the lead in Zagreb, Coratia © ISU

“We’re super happy with how it turned out tonight,” team captain Olivia Di Giandomenico said. “Our little quote is that it's not about being perfect, it is about being awesome, so we never strive for perfection. We just want to be awesome and create a great story and time on the ice for the crowd and the judges, so we just skated as good as we could tonight and we are very proud of that.”

Team captain Julia Bernardo explained a bit more about their routine: “Our short program theme this season is love is blindness. So we go through all of the emotions of a toxic relationship. At the beginning you sort of enjoy it but then as it goes on you’re just getting more and more hurt. At the end of our program we choose ourselves and we put ourselves first and leave feeling free.”

The Helsinki Rockettes are less than one point behind on 78.00 points, another season’s best. The Finns collected the same levels for their elements in their routine set to “Liberation” and “Will of the People” but scored a little less for the execution and for the components.

“Our short program is called liberation and I think the inspiration is the challenges of the world,” team captain Eveliina Tikkinen commented. “We can truly make the change and make the work a better place.”

Heading into the Free Skating on Saturday, the Finnish team wants to stay calm and confident. “We are going to have the same plan as we had today,” team captain Roosa Latvala said, “but we’re going to go to the ice and enjoy our time there and do our best.”.

Team Helsinki Rockettes (FIN): in second place in Zagreb, Croatia © ISU

The Haydenettes’ performance to “Clair de Lune” also featured four level-four elements, as the Americans netted 76.74 points.

“Our short program theme is a selection of music from Claude Debussy called Clair de Lune. It's a newer version of it that our coach found. It’s very much a beautiful piece of the music that allows us to skate freely,” team captain Stephen Murray said.

The US team was excited about the small bronze medal they got for the third place in the Short Program. The Haydenettes were last on the World podium in 2016.

“This medal this year reminds me of a conversation we had as a team when we started the year of why did we come back, why are we on this team,” team captain Maia Laats shared. “It’s because we love to skate, it is because we love spending time with each other, it’s because of the joy that it brings is above all else in our lives right now. So it (the medal) means a lot to every single one of us because of how many years we put into this team or into this sport and to finally reach this moment is just really, really special.”

Team Haydenettes (USA) on the ice at the 2024 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb, Croatia © ISU

Last year’s World bronze medalists Team Unique (FIN) remains close to the podium in fourth place with 76.50 points. Nova Senior (CAN) follows in fifth place (72.09) while Team Skyliners (USA) came sixth at 69.28 points.

Team Unique (FIN) performs in Zagreb, Croatia © 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).

Zagreb (CRO) hosts the event for the third time after 2004 and 2009. Zagreb was allocated the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2021, but the event was cancelled (and as well in 2020) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

 

Schedule of the event

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

Friday, April 5:                        Short Program
Saturday, April 6:                   Free Skating

For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official event website.

The event is live streamed on the ISU YouTube Channel. Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #WorldSynchro and #FigureSkating.

Where to watch the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2024:

The ISU World Synchronized 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.