Zagreb/CRO

 #WorldJSynchro                                 #SynchroSkating

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Team Junost Junior (RUS)

Defending Champions Team Junost Junior (Russia 1) skated to a confident lead as the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships kicked off with the Short Program in Zagreb (CRO) Friday. The Skyliners (USA 1) are sitting in second place, trailing the Russians by a little over three points. Team Crystal Ice Junior, also from Russia follows in third.

Skating to ‘I Have Nothing’ by Whitney Houston, Team Junost earned a level four for the block pivoting element and a level three for the spinning element, the intersection and the no hold element to score 68.50 points.

The Skyliners Junior completed a level-four travelling wheel and level-four no hold element in their routine ‘Vinceremo’ performed by The Tenors to pick up 65.15 points.

Crytal Ice Junior (Russia 2), earned 63.33 points for their program to ‘Take me to Church’ and ‘Believer’. Their travelling wheel garnered a level four, but they lost a point for a fall in the no hold element.

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Team Skyliners Junior (USA)

Les Supremes Junior (Canada 1) are not far behind in fourth place on 62.33 points. Surprisingly, no Finnish team made the top four. The 2017 silver medalists Fintastic (Finland 2) are sitting in fifth with 57.70 points and the National Champions Dream Edges Junior (Finland 1) placed seventh (50.84 points). Sandwiched in between the two Finnish teams are the Lexettes Junior (USA 2) with 55.95 points in spite of two falls.

Teams from Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey are competing as well.

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).

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 but may be less.

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships conclude Saturday with the Free Skating.

For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU event page and the official website. Hashtag: #WorldJSynchro

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Team Crystal Ice Junior (RUS)