In synchronized skating, a team consists of 16 skaters competing together on the ice with up to four reserve skaters. The team moves as a flowing unit at high speed while completing difficult footwork. The teams compete with both a short program as well as a free-skating program that require elements such as circles, lines, blocks, wheels, intersections, moves in the field and, in the higher levels, lifts.
Learn some of the elements via our Synchro School!
Synchronized skating started out in the US and has since then spread worldwide. Back in 1954, Dr Richard Porter in Ann Arbor, Michigan, arranged a group of ice skaters to formation skating teams. The first official synchronized skating competition was held at the same place in 1976. The first international competition took place in Mölndal, Sweden, in 1989. It had participants from seven different nations.
The first ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships was held in year 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the World Championships, the teams are only being called by their nations names.
A lift involves four skaters, all of which need to participate in the execution. As a skater you’re either being lifted up in the air our you’re doing the lifting. The skaters can choose to do features, like switching positions on the skater being lifted up. These features need do be performed during the lift.
This element can comprise of up to three circles and can be performed in different ways. The team can be required to move the circle (or circles) across the ice. They also can perform two circles, one within the other, each circle rotating in different directions, switching places with one another or change the number of circles and rotation during the element.
Moves in the field is the name of the element that includes free skating moves with strong edges, showing the skaters flexibility. The element requires that the team performs either a predetermined move such as spirals, depicted in the image, or choosing up to four different moves that is performed simultaneously, in a complex pattern.
In a pivot block the skaters must form at least three parallel lines, close to each other. To get the highest score, the team need to do four difficult turns and at the same time change pivot point.
In the same way that circles move, the team can also choose to move a three-spoke wheel across the ice. The difficulty lies in maintaining the shape, rotating around a moving center, all while performing steps and turns.
