Synchronized skating (or synchronised skating), often called synchro, is an ice skating sport where between 8 and 20 skaters perform together as a team. They move as a flowing unit at high speed over the ice, while performing elements and footwork.
This complex sport originated in 1956 and was initially called "precision skating" due to its emphasis on the maintenance of intricate and precise formations and the requirement of precise timing from all members of the group. Synchronized skating is now well-established as an organized sport in several countries with several of them having produced teams who frequently win championships at the international level. As of 2022, there are more than 600 synchro teams in United States alone.
The new Synchro9 discipline, being debuted at the 2030 Winter Olympics, features a smaller team of 9 skaters, shorter high-impact performances, and a focus on speed, clarity, and visual impact.
Details Synchronized skating currently uses a judging format similar to singles, pairs and ice dancing. The discipline is primarily judged on skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, interpretation and difficulty of elements.
A synchronized skating free skate program consists of elements that are executed in various shapes and formations both connected and disconnected, such as blocks, triangles, circles, lines, or wheels, done while intersecting, traveling across the ice, and rotating. Teams are required to perform turns and step sequences, ranging in difficulty with each level.
There are many different levels including Aspire 1-4, Pre-Preliminary, Preliminary, Pre-juvenile, Open juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, Senior, and Adult. In the highest-ranking levels, Junior and Senior division teams are required to perform a short program in addition to the free skate. The short program is more technical in nature, whereas the free skating program is longer and provides an opportunity to showcase expression, emotion and interpretation.
Junior level teams compete in the Junior World Synchronized Skating Championships. At the senior level, teams compete at the World Synchronized Skating Championship. All member nations of the ISU are allocated one entry for each level, countries that placed in the top five of the previous championship are awarded two team entries.
The required elements must be performed in specific ways, as described by published communications by the ISU, unless otherwise specified. The ISU publishes violations and their points values yearly. Situations warranting deductions in synchronized skating include elements where one-quarter of the team or more fails to execute a maneuver in congruence with the majority of the team, falls, interruptions, illegal maneuvers (such as cartwheels), and violations of the rules concerning time, music, and clothing.
History In 1956, the first synchronized skating team was formed by Dr. Richard Porter. The 'Hockettes' skated out of Ann Arbor, Michigan and entertained spectators during intermissions of the University of Michigan Wolverines hockey team. In the early days, precision skating (as it was then called) resembled a drill team routine, or a precision dance company such as The Rockettes. In 1974, the ISU published the first judges' handbook for synchronized skating.
During the 1970s, the interest for this new sport grew and developed. Teams developed more creative and innovative routines incorporating stronger basic skating skills, new maneuvers and more sophisticated transitions with greater speed, style and agility. Due to the increased interest in the sport in North America, the first official international competition was held between Canadian and American teams in Michigan in March 1976. With the internationalization of the sport, it has evolved, with increasing emphasis on speed and skating skills, and "highlight" elements such as jumps, spirals, spins, and lifts that originally were not permitted in competition.
Elements and formations Competition programs include a variety of elements utilizing various shapes or formations. Scoring of each element is determined by their base value (BV) and grade of execution (GOE), together this determines the teams technical element score (TES). In competition the technical panel identifies elements as each element is performed, elements are then assigned a level of difficulty ranging from B (basic) to Level 4 (most difficult). Element shapes are a set of distinct configurations that are easily identifiable, these shapes are used as the basis of most synchronized skating elements.
Formations Certain elements are composed of specific distinctive shapes or formations, occasionally transitioning from one shape to a different shape for a higher level of difficulty.
Block Identifiable by skaters lined up in at least three separate lines forming a polygonal shape, characterized as block, pyramid or diamond shapes in straight even spaced lines. The shapes can be closed or open formation, with open formations maintaining distinct empty space in the middle of the formation.
Circle
Characterized by rotating around a common center with even distance from the midpoint and spacing from teammates, circles can be connected or disconnected. different circle configurations include multiple circles, circle within a circle, and interlocking. To increase the level of difficulty a circle can include changes of place, or configuration, step sequences, weaving, interlocking, and changes of rotational direction.
Line
Lines are integral to many elements and transitions as they demonstrate the team's collective skating skills and serve as building blocks for both blocks and wheel formations. Lines can be connected and disconnected.
Wheel
A wheel is characterized by every skater rotating around a common center point in connected lines. Different formations that teams can form including a two to five spoke or a parallel wheel. Each spoke (line) of the wheel should be straight and the team should be leaning into the center of the wheel. The difficulty of the wheel can be increased by adding footwork, changing the rotational direction of the wheel, configuration of the wheel.
Elements Programs incorporate a set number of specific elements that is announced at the beginning of each season. Currently junior and senior teams both complete 5 elements in the short program, in the free skate junior teams attempt 8 elements, and senior teams attempt 10.
Artistic element Done in either a circle/wheel formation, or a line/block formation, this element should be used to emphasize the music or theme of the program with no requirements for steps or changes of place.
Creative element Selected each season, the creative element is intended to be a unique interpretation of the other defined elements or formations (e.g.: creative wheel, creative lift)
Group Lift element
Incorporating all members of the team, skaters form different groups with each lifted skater supported by two or more teammates at any height. Group lifts can be classified as being ether gliding or rotational, with rotational lifts starting gliding then having the supporting skaters switch between forwards and backwards gliding to rotate the lifted skater.
Intersection element
An intersection, is when the skaters proceed towards each other in lines and intersect. The intersection can consist of two to four lines, with three and four line intersections forming a triangle or box shape before and after intersecting. The entry to the intersection can be made more difficult by executing various free skating or pair movements while forming the lines, or intersecting from an angle or a whip. The moment when the lines intersect is known as the point of intersection, here skaters do rotational turns or free skating movements to increase the level of difficulty.
Mixed element Consisting of at least two separate element formations occurring simultaneously and interacting with each other. Some examples would be a circle within a wheel or line intersecting a block.
Move element This element is a sequence of movements that must include free skating moves such as spirals, biellmanns, or 180's. The team can be split into units to execute additional features for levels of difficulty, such as ducking under each other's legs, changing edge, or transitioning from one position to another.
No hold element
Done in a block formation, the skaters are disconnected but maintain even spacing while executing step sequences and changes of configuration.
Pair element
Incorporating all members of the team, skaters are paired to execute pairs moves, free skating moves, and or step sequences.
Pivoting and linear elements Done in block, or line formations, programs can include both pivoting and linear elements though they would be done in separate shapes. Pivoting elements rotate around a common center point and must remain connected for the majority of the element while maintaining shape and even spacing. Linear elements need to progress across the ice, and can utilize changes of placement and configuration.
Synchronized spin element Characterized by all members of the team, in either a solo or pairs spin. Positioned on the ice in any identifiable shape, with all skaters maintaining the same spin position simultaneously, and moving from one position to another as a team.
Traveling and rotating elements Done in circle, or wheel formation, rotation is necessary in both elements. Programs can include both traveling and rotating elements though they would be done in separate shapes, if a program only includes one element both wheel and circle formations can be used as a change of formation for difficulty. Traveling elements are characterized by ice coverage during the element with the circle or wheel required to continually move a certain distance along a set path while rotating. Rotating elements remain stationary. Both elements can utilize changes of position, rotation, and configuration for higher levels of difficulty.
Twizzle element Highlighting the twizzle turn, the team executes two to three twizzles, this element can be done in any identifiable formation. The skaters must execute their twizzles while maintaining the chosen shape or transitioning from one configuration to another, and rotating simultaneously. For added levels of difficulty teams can attempt the aforementioned change of place or configuration, different rotational directions for each twizzle, and certain difficult arm and free leg positions.
Competitions
International There are international synchronized skating competitions at the Senior, Junior, and Novice levels (with Senior being the most elite). The International Skating Union held the first official World Synchronized Skating Championships (WSSC) in 2000 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The top Junior teams from around the world competed from 2001 to 2012 at the ISU Junior World Challenge Cup (JWCC), held in a different location every year. The JWCC were accompanied in 2013 by the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships, to be held biannually in odd-numbered years with the JWCC in even-numbered years. Other long-running, major international events attracting elite teams at different levels include the French Cup, Spring Cup, Neuchâtel Trophy, Cup of Berlin, Zagreb Snowflakes Trophy, Leon Lurje Trophy and Prague Cup.
ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships