#SynchroSkating #WorldJSynchro
The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships will be held in Zagreb (CRO) March 16 and 17. A total of 21 teams representing 16 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. This is the fourth edition of the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships that was a biennal event and has become annual beginning in 2017. The previous three editions took place in Mississauga (CAN) in 2017, Helsinki (FIN) in 2013 and in Zagreb (CRO) in 2015. Finnish teams have been dominant, winning the gold and silver medals in the first two Championships, but in 2017 Russia claimed the title.
Team Junost Junior (Russia 1)
Defending Champions Team Junost Junior (Russia 1) and silver medalists Fintastic (Finland 2) are back in action. The challenge should come from Team Dream Edges Junior (Finland 1) the reigning National Junior Champions as well as from Team Skyliners (USA 1), Les Supremes (Canada 1) and Nexxice (Canada 2).
Team Crystal Ice (Russia 2) will be looking for redemption after last year when they led after the Short Program, but dropped to eighth in the Free Skating.
Teams from Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey are competing as well. The 2017 bronze medalists Team Musketeers from Finland did not qualify this time.
Team Skyliners (USA 1)
Originally called Precision Skating, Synchronized Skating was introduced in the 1950s. It is a highly technical form of Figure Skating characterized by speed, precisions, unison, intricate formations, synchro elements, difficult footwork, spectacular lifts and exciting transitions.
A synchronized team consists of 16 skaters (plus up to four alternates).
Les Supremes (Canada 1)
The Junior Short Program consists of five required elements: Intersection Element, No Hold Element, Pivoting Element – Block, Synchronized Spin Element and Traveling Element – Wheel. The Short Program is 2 min 50 seconds +/- 10 seconds in length.
The Junior Free Skating program contains four required elements: two different Intersection Elements, No Hold Element, Pair Element plus one element that has to be chosen from three different groups of elements such as rotating element, linear element, creative element or synchronized spin element. The Free Skating program is 4 min +/ - 10 seconds in length.
The schedule of the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2018 is as follows:
Friday, March 16: Short Program
Saturday, March 17: Free Skating