BUCKLE UP! IN SYNCH by LESLIE GRAHAM
The international synchronized skating season is fast approaching as 15 U.S. junior and senior teams prepare to showcase their techni- cal and artistic talents against the best teams in the world.
The U.S. teams were selected based on
their success at home and abroad last year, in- cluding a bronze-medal effort from the Hayden- ettes at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Here’s a look at where Team USA is headed in 2014: LEON LURJE TROPHY The international season begins January
18–19 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Representing the U.S. are the senior teams from the Skyliners and ICE’Kateers and the junior teams from Mi- ami University and the Synchroettes.
The Skyliners, fourth at the 2013 U.S. Syn-
chronized Skating Championships, will skate their short program to Stravinsky’s The Firebird and their free skate to music from The Lone Ranger by Hans Zimmer. They finished fourth at the Spring Cup last year. The ICE’Kateers return to the international stage after a strong perfor- mance at the French Cup last season. They will skate their short program to music from The Pink Panther and their free skate to music from the motion picture soundtrack of The Artist.
Miami University returns to Team USA, hav-
ing last competed internationally at the 2012 Mozart Cup. “This season we had 15 new mem- bers and we were given the task to uphold our Team USA status,” team captain Alyssa Nowak said. “Not only has our team succeeded in doing so, but also has worked every day to surpass ev- eryone’s expectations of us. This season we have no limits.” The RedHawks will skate their short program to “Anything Goes” and “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” by the “Glee” cast, and
Chicago Jazz Haydenettes
their free skate to a medley of dance songs. The Synchroettes return to the Leon
Lurje Trophy hoping to improve upon their bronze-medal finish last year. They will skate their short program to “Rock this Town” by the Stray Cats and their free skate to the music from Jesus Christ Superstar. “We are beyond excited with our fast and challenging programs, espe- cially our long which requires a level of maturity we have not reached before,” captain Michelle Rose said. “We look forward to consistent im- provement over the season.”
MOZART CUP The senior teams from Miami University
and California Gold venture to Salzburg, Austria, January 24–26. They will be joined by the Skylin-
ers and St. Louis Synergy junior teams. After a bronze-medal performance at Leon
Lurje Trophy and an eighth-place finish at the World Championships in 2013, Miami Universi- ty looks forward to continuing its success. The team will skate to “Let It Be,” sung by Terry Mc- Dermott, for its short program, and a classical theme for its free skate. “Our programs are so different this year; they’re unlike anything we’ve done before,” senior captain Colleen Clancy said. “Each one pushes us outside of our comfort zone in a different way, and it’s really exciting to see them grow every time we’re on the ice.”
California Gold finished eighth at Cup of
Berlin last season. They hope their “Everybody Needs a Best Friend” short program and Avatar free skate will propel them toward a successful 2014 campaign.
The Skyliners look to earn a medal with a ninja-themed short program and their free skate to the Oz the Great and Powerful soundtrack by Danny Elfman. “The balance of intensity and grace that the short and long exhibit is a perfect way to show our skating skills,” captains Jillian Longo and Sabrina Oudine said.
St. Louis Synergy makes its international
debut in Austria. “This is only our second season as a junior team and our goals last year were to make a strong showing in the junior division with hopes of getting an international assign- ment,” team member Amy Downing said. The team is skating to “Bang Bang” by
will.i.am for its short program and a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber for its free skate.
54 JANUARY 2014
TEAM USA PRIMED FOR INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN
PHOTO BY GAIL HANSON-MAYER
PHOTO BY MIKE NARDELLA
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