Defending ISU World Synchronized Champions Les Suprêmes of Canada edged Finland’s 2022 ISU World bronze medalists Helsinki Rockettes by less than one point in the Short Program. Team Unique, also from Finland, are currently ranked third. All three teams posted new season’s best scores.
Les Suprêmes looked indeed supreme in their intense program to “Le Di a la Cazae Alcance” by Estrella Morente and picked up a level four for the Twizzle Element, the Intersection and the steps within the No Hold Element. The Move Element was rated a level three. The Canadians set a new season's best of 79.00 points.
Les Suprêmes (CAN) took a narrow lead in the Short Program at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Lake Placid, USA. @ISU
“We try not to put pressure on ourselves. It’s a completely new year with new programs so we try to make new memories and we don’t really put pressure on ourselves,” said Team Captain Olivia Di Giandomenico.
Team Captain Julia Bernardo added: “It felt super good stepping on the ice. The crowd was super welcoming and it was fun to see all the Canadian flags and everyone standing and cheering us on.”
Skating to “Breathing” by Kate Bush and “Rebirth Breaths” by Karl Hugo, the Helsinki Rockettes produced three level-four elements as well and gave an emotional performance to achieve 78.61 points.
Helsinki Rockettes (FIN) posted a season's best score to end the Short Program just 0.39 points behind the reigning champions. @ISU
“It was amazing. We did it together and felt the team, felt the ice, felt the audience and it felt amazing,” Team Captain Petra Viitanen commented.
“Now we are going to sleep well, eat well and just do the same as we did today in tomorrow’s free skating,” she continued.
Team Captain Milja Suila noted: “At the end of the program the feeling was just incredible. We all cried a bit, because it was so amazing.”
Team Unique delivered a strong performance to “I See Red” and “Wicked Ways”, both by Everybody Loves an Outlaw, to score 76.13 points. The Finns had the same levels as the top two teams.
Team Unique's (FIN) suitably attired skate to I See Red saw them end the first day of the championships in a podium position. @ISU
“It was really, really loud and we enjoyed it a lot,” Team Captain Tullia Niituinperä shared. “Of course it feels really good to reach a new season best in the most important competition of the season.”
Nexxice (CAN) finished in fourth place at 72.17 points followed by Team Miami University (USA) in fifth (70.07 points) and The Haydenettes (USA) in sixth (64.77 points).
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 USA hosts the event for the fifth time. Lake Placid was allocated the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2020, but the event was cancelled (and as well in 2021) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the IOC recommendation and in order to protect the integrity of ice skating competitions and for the safety of all the participants of international ice skating competitions, the ISU Council based on Article 17.1.q)i) of the ISU Constitution, agreed that with immediate effect and until further notice, no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus (see ISU Communication 2469).
Schedule of the event
The schedule of the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships is as follows:
Friday, March 31: Short Program
Saturday, April 1: Free Skating
For full entries and results, please see the ISU event page and the official event website.
Where to watch the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2023:
The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships will be live streamed on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-restrictions will apply in markets where TV rights are in place. You will find the full list on the Where to Watch webpage here.
Subscribe to the Skating ISU YouTube Channel to receive alerts when the live streams start and when new videos are posted.
Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #WorldSynchro.
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