Synchronized skating

Synchronized skating has a long history in the Section. Former Section Executive member Elizabeth Swan is credited as being one of founders of synchro skating in Canada - between 1978-80 as national director she chaired a committee to establish a precision skating framework, and the national volunteer award for synchronized skating is named after her.

Dale Russell Fitzpatrick is the Section director responsible for synchronized skating in the province.

Objectives of the Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Synchronized Skating Committee:

To promote the development of synchronized skating in all areas of NL Section;
To encourage skaters of all ages and abilities to participate in synchronized skating;
To provide a source of communication for synchronized skating team managers, coaches, and club synchronized coordinators;
To foster understanding and an exchange of ideas and information amongst coaches, managers, club coordinators, and judges, and;
To promote the continued skill development of synchronized teams throughout NL Section.

News

NEXXICE Synchro Seminar - CANCELLED. -- Posted by synchronl on Wednesday, July 22 2009
Unfortunately, the necessary number of applications was not received by the registration deadline date. There are no plans to reschedule at this time.

Team Manager Guide - NEW -- Posted by synchronl on Wednesday, June 10 2009
The Skate Canada Synchro Committee has written and produced a new Team Manger Guide for our Synchro discipline. It is available to review and download on the Members Only site. From the main menu go under “Technical and Program Information” – “Synchronized Skating”. {dates have not been updated}

Synchro restructuring -- Posted by synchronl on Thursday, February 26 2009
The full presentation, as shown in Corner Brook, of the restructuring for next season of synchro categories, ages,team numbers, and elements from the Long-Term Athlete Development module is available here

Synchro DVDs in Section Resource Library -- Posted by synchronl on Monday, January 5 2009
Four Synchro DVDs have been added to the Section's Resource Library: Synchro Skating Skills with Kelley Morris Adair featuring "Kelley's Curves"; Synchro - Working with IJS [International Judging System] with Jeannine Cullen-Weinschrod and Karen Wiesmeier featuring how to add levels of difficulty; Synchro Footwork Drills with Erin Donovan, from the 2005 Professional Skaters Association Conference; and Synchro Stroking Exercises to Improve Your Team also from the 2005 PSA Conference. Contact Lori Brett at the Section to arrange viewing.

Choreography Clinic in Deer Lake -- Posted by synchronl on Sunday, January 4 2009
COS Coach and Choreographer Nita Patel was in Deer Lake for a long, busy, and successful choreography clinic on Saturday, December 27th. Teams from three Clubs worked through their routines during the clinic and according to one of our NL coaches, "It was the most beneficial seminar I have ever been to. She [Nita] is just awesome!!" According to Nita, "I think they are doing a good job for the little ice time they have a week! The skaters were polite, well behaved and eager. It was a pleasure to work with them all."
[Photos]

Inter-Provincial Synchronized Competition - Quebec -- Posted by synchronl on Monday, December 1 2008
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec will be the site of the 2nd annual Inter-Provincial Synchronized Competition. March 29, 2008. Announcement and details available by contacting Dale.

Technical information -- Posted by synchronl on Wednesday, October 1 2008
Coaches are reminded to review an important and time-sensitive email posted on Members Only at the following location: Main Menu/ Information: Cumulative Points Calculation Judging System (updated September 23, 2008)/Synchronized Skating/Online training update October 2008

2008-09 Synchro Committee Members -- Posted by synchronl on Wednesday, September 10 2008
Cindy (Ivany) Marshall, Shelly O'Brien, Jeannie Penney, Sharon Penney, Daisy Power, Susan Thistle along with Dale Russell FitzPatrick

25 years of synchro -- Posted by dgel on Tuesday, July 1 2008
The Skate Canada website is commerating 25 years of synchronized skating [more | video]

Technical Information

2009-2010 Synchronized Skating Program Requirements as of June 2009
Tool for calculating age/ team compositions
ISU Technical Communications
- ISU Communication 1532 - replaces communication 1503 - all information for the 2008-2009 season; includes the Difficulty Groups of Features and their requirements for the 2008 - 2009 season; the Difficulty Groups of Elements for the 2008 - 2009 season; the Requirements for Elements (Simple and Difficult Variations) for the 2008 - 2009 season; describes and clarifies the requirements for some elements and features; includes scales of values for elements.
- ISU Communication 1529 - Grade of Execution Charts for Elements Guidelines for Judges Reduction of GOE Deduction Chart for Referees and Technical Panel Program Component Chart This Communcation will prove useful to every synchro coach as you prepare your programme.
- ISU Communication 1528 - guidelines for novice competitions
- ISU Communication 1466 - Synchronized Skating (Clarifications and Corrections To ISU Communications 1423, 1393 (Appendix B & C), 1435 (Appendix A & B), 26p, August 2007)
- ISU Communication 1395 - Synchronized Skating (Includes ISU Congress Decisions, 26p, July 12, 2006)

Awards

The Cornel and Butt Trophies are awarded annually at the Provincial Festival of Synchronized Skating [past winners].

The national Elizabeth Swan Memorial Award is presented annualy to one individual at the Skate Canada Achievement Awards Gala. Skate Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Section presents its own award to its nominee at the Section AGM (first presented in 1988). Nominations should be sent to the Section by event Technical Representatives, domestic or international event referees, National Team coaches, national or international Team Managers, Section Synchronized Skating representatives, or any member of the Skate Canada and/or Section Board of Directors. The Section should then forward the nomination forms on to the National Office. Skate Canada reserves the right to not present this award in any given year. Criteria:

Active and currently registered adult volunteer (including judges, team managers, synchronized skating coordinators and representatives, etc.) recognized for his/her contribution to synchronized skating;
Reflect the characteristics of Elizabeth Swan - dedication, perseverance, commitment, passion and spirit;
A strong desire and interest in promoting the sport of synchronized skating within and outside the skating community;
An individual who is aware of, and supports, the development of all levels of synchronized skating (e.g. qualifying event teams and Festival teams); and
An individual who has given at least 10 years to the discipline of synchronized skating in a volunteer capacity.

National and provincial winners

Competition results

Provincial School Studio Festival of Synchronized Skating/ Eastern Festival Synchro, Grand Falls, February 2008
Provincial School Studio Festival of Synchronized Skating/ Eastern Festival Synchro, St. John's, 9-11 February 2007
Provincial School Studio Sectional Festival of Synchronized Skating, Feb 3-4 2006, Mount Pearl.
Provincial Festival of Synchronized skating, Jan 29 2005
North Atlantic Synchro Sectionals, Corner Brook, Jan 30-31, 2004
North Atlantic Petroleum Synchro Provincials, Gander, 2002
North Atlantic Petroleum Synchro Provincials, Mount Pearl, 2001
North Atlantic Petroleum Synchro Provincials, Corner Brook, 2000
Synchro Provincials, 1998

Synchonized skating/ Precision- location of competitions, 1982- present

Results of national level competitions can be found on the Skate Canada web site.

Photographs

Synchro clinic with Nita Patel, Dec 27 2008
Provincial School Studio Festival of Synchronized Skating 2008 [Photos from Saturday | Photos from Friday]
Provincial School Studio Festival of Synchronized Skating/ Eastern Festival Synchro, 9-11 February 2007
Eastern Festival of Synchronized Skating Feb 10-11 2006, PEI
Provincial School Studio Sectional Festival of Synchronized Skating, Feb 3-4 2006, Mount Pearl [Practice photos from Friday | Competition photos | Medal and award presentations]
Eastern Festival of Synchronized skating, Laval, Feb 2005
Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Festival of Synchronized Skating 2005 - Day 1 photos | Day 2 photos | Medal presentations
North Atlantic Petroleum Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Festival of Synchronized Skating and StarSkate 2004
Section synchro seminar, November 2003
Synchro and StarSkate Nationals, Brampton, Ontario, March 2003
Eastern Festival of Synchronized Skating 2003
Synchro provincials 2003