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WPCNR RINKSIDE. By “Edge” Bailey. Providence, Rhode Island. January 27, 2007 UPDATED With More Pix from Providence: The Skyliners were last to skate. They needed one great skate to win. The Skyliner Junior Synchronized Skating Team faced each other in two flights of 8 — — 16 girls in melancholy bows to the ice to begin their free skate to the haunting music of Poseiden, needing 84 points to win the Junior Eastern Synchronized Team Skating Championship.
The 3,000 spectators were silent with respect, anxiety and anticipation as the dramatic swell of the music lifted the girls’ elegantly from the ice into action. One slip, one skate late, one confused formation, one horrifying fall, could cost them their goal. They had to make this Poseiden their best — the equivalent of throwing a game winning pass that takes 4 minutes in the air to reach the receiver. Would they complete the program without a deduction? Photos by WPCNR Sports
No Point Intersection Intensity: The girls skated liquidly into two straight lines relentlessly turning on collision course straight at each other in spread eagle stance evoking the menace of the sea. The Skyliners hit the no-elbow-room, no point intersection clean, fast — perfect on an impossible angle – (the only team to execute this high point maneuver in the six-team field) – splicing the maneuver clean — fearlessly — with the power of a sunami.
The Skyliners moved into their blocks, their lines, their circles, conjuring menace, agony, beauty, emotion, courage, commitment to survive in face and body — evoking the multi-levels of emotions in the Poseiden score.
The judges thought so too, marking them with a 5.88 in Interpretation, and 5.81s in Skating Skills and Performance/Execution, a 5.69 in Transitions and Coach Josh Babb’s choreography a 6.00. The Skyliners were righteous, presenting the deep edges, calling on all their athleticism, flowing with precise finesse and silken grace personifying the awe of the Poseiden music.
They needed one great skate to overcome the superb efforts of The Lexettes of Hayden, Massachussetts and they gave the most dramatic program in Juniors all they had.
The Skyliners’ Poseiden takes chances; it gathers audience emotions, cascades into the depths and struggles valiantly, gathers grace to lofty heights in purposeful double lines, delivering the most intersections, reaching its height of power with face to face spiral lines that turn out of a change foot spiral line into a spread-eagle block intense in attitude.
The Ladder turning Clockwise: Note the left legs all in the same position.
The Spread Eagle Block
Then came their spectacular finish highlighted by wave after wave of solo spread-eagling sylphs on blades shooting the length of center ice at 15 miles an hour elegantly threading a path between intricate 3-skater crossing lines and spinning beauties in a choreography of crisis. The rink erupted in accolades!
The Lexettes of Hayden Recreation Center of Lexington, Ma, above and below had worked and honed their skate since the Colonial Classic three weeks ago were technically superb, as they always are, turning in their best performance of the season Friday night when they edged The Skyliners in the Short Program, 50.35 to 49.24, and posting an 82.7 in their Free Skate. The Skyliners with their great effort were equal to the worthy challenge.
Skyliners Closing their Friday Night Short Program with their signature “Boss” Spread-Eagle Wheel fade to a stop to Proud Mary. The Skyliner circle at the top of the program was not called and they received a 1 point deduction giving The Lexettes a 1 point going into the Free Skate.
Lexettes’ sophistication shows in this their powerful short program Friday. The two prongs are about two intersect. There was little difference between the two clubs Saturday.
Team Delaware executes their Spiral block. The Junior Delaware club, new this year to the division finished a strong third in the Free Skate and have made impressive progress, scores climbing every competition.
Departing the ice, the Skyliners stood behind the endboards awaiting the final scoring total of the flight. The judges in the upper level were checking their television screens, assigning the scores while the girls nervously waited their every emotion, smiles and nervousness portrayed on the jumbo ”Synchrotron” hanging over the ice for the entire arena to see. They knew it was the best they had ever skated the program. Were they good enough?
The precise and final tones of Wendy Sheridan — the country’s aboslutely best skating Public Address Announcer, delivered the verdict of the judges: “The Skyliners Total Element Score, 40.32, the Total Program Score, 46.71, for a total score of 87.03, which places The Skyliners in First Place”
It was all over.
They were good enough.
Skyliner parents were in silent agony as the Skyliners’ forever minutes unfolded, were in suffocating tension. The last time, I felt tension like this was watching my daughter hit with the winning run on, or pitch with the winning runs on.
As Ms. Sheridan announced the result, they leaped to their feet, embraced each other, obscuring the ice. The crowd applauded in shrieks in appreciation of another synchronized skating thrilling finish. The Skyliners were all smiles and hugs and had skated Poseiden their best when it counted, scoring 136.27 to The Lexettes second place score of 133.05, a 3.22 margin for the Gold Medals and their first Eastern Regional Championship.
The Skyliners – The 2007 Eastern Synchronized Team Skating Champions Wearing the Gold.
Novice Inspires
Prior to the Junior Division Skate The Skyliners Novice team, ages 12 to 17, delivered perhaps the skate that inspired the Juniors’ fantastic finish. The Novice team, skating in a small division this year has been skating under the radar, stated they have arrived skating Down with Love better each time they have performed, competition to competition.
The splendid IceMates of Hayden Recreation Center, Lexington, Massachussets absolutely nailed their lead off skate in Novice, throwing up a 54.61, putting the pressure on The Skyliners. Check out those IceMate Blocks! The Mates were skating on another planet Saturday.
The Skyliners Novice responded. They took second place from Team Boston and skating with a sophistication and airiness beyond their years, looking superbly adult, worldly, exuding the class of a Julie London, the sass of Lena Horne, the blasé of Tallulah Bankhead. They skated a 45.81 by far their best score of the season and boding well as they look ahead to Juniors next year. Thank you, Novice.
The Skyliners Novice Team 2007 Eastern Synchronized Team Skating Runnersup
With The Skyliners–The Girls Get a Great Wardrobe!
Yonkers Team Image breaks through with Fabulous Performances.
Team Image of Yonkers joined The Skyliners, in strongly representing the NY-NJ area as Team Image delivered strong skates this confirming the vitality of their divisions with outstanding finishes: First in Preliminary Juvenile, 4th in Juvenile and 3rd in Intermediate.
In Intermediate The Colonials of Massachussetts skated their Superman program the best they have ever executed it this season, eclipsing Twin Ponds of Harrisburg Pennsylvania 44.29 to 39. The Colonials won it on their technical score of 28 to Twin Ponds 21. But, Twin Ponds skate was magic, too. A very close and exciting finish here again. Team Image was a close third at 36.75.
On Friday night, in Preliminary Division, Team Image “Princess” Program looked like a higher division team to capture the First Place trophy, denying The Skyliners Pre-J’s First Place for the first time in any competition this season. It was not that the Skyliners Pre-Js peformed their Anchors Aweigh with less panache. Team Image’s little girls just had their night. It was really a great weekend for Team Image, showing the tenacity, hard work and progress that was so in evidence all weekend long in all the divisions this reporter saw.
Turning that Pinwheel — The Littlest Sailors — The Skyliners Pre-Js turned in another flawless performance with their Anchors Aweigh program to take Third Place. The Pre-Js had won four Competitions in a row.
Earlier Friday afternoon, the Skyliner “Cheerleaders,” competing in the Juvenile Division finished fifth in the strong Juvie field behind Team Image’s “NASCAR” program. But, the Cheerleader program, like the University of Delaware’s vampire program of two years ago in the College Division remains an unforgettable, high energy classic for which the Skyliner Juvies will never be forgotten by those who have seen it. The Juvies have one more chance to show the Synchro world their Cheerleader progam in Colorado Springs at the Nationals coming up next month.
The “95s” — Team Image Juvenile Team Finished in 4th Place with their NASCAR program to hotrod music.
America’s Favorite Cheerleaders — The Skyliner Juvies– Skating at an earlier competition will see you next in Colorado Springs.
In the Intermediate Division Saturday afternoon, Team Image skated to a third place performance with their unique “Rocky” Program behind Twin Ponds of Harrisburg and The Colonials who smoothly executed their skate to Superman.
Team Image Intermediate Team moving their lines in their Rocky program placing them third just 7 points off the Colonials winning Score. They are movin on up!
Princeton University and The University of Delaware Hold Up Midlantic Resurgence.
The University of Delawre threw up an amazing 94 score in their College Division skate, perhaps the single greatest score this reporter has ever heard of, skating to “Wicked.”
Not to be intimidated, Boston College delivered after an impressive University of New Hampshire skate putting up an equally respectable 79 to finish second to the Fighting Blue Hens, ahead of UNH by an edge. The Boston College Eagle should have been there to see it!
The Ice of the Tiger: Princeton University’s synchronized skating team vaulted the field finishing first in the Open College Division. The team features a former Skyliner, Catienne Boucher.
By far the most gratifying statement about what hard work can do and the rewards of synchronized skating was turned in by The Ice of the Tiger, Princeton’s Open Collegiate Division team (which has to get the Gold Medal for best new name). Skating next to last, they turned in the fastest, most intricate program of the division (reserved for collegiate teams which do not have skaters who have passed the test levels necessary to compete in the collegiate division) and in a stunning result, captured the Gold Medal. Last year Princeton University simply did not have the level to achieve this. But, what a difference work and dedication make.
A special tip of “The Edge’s” hat to the Steel City Blades, who competing Saturday afternoon in Intermediate, in executing a spiral block saw the lead skater lean over too much and the entire row fell forward on top of each other onto raised skate blades. To their everlasting credit they recovered on the fly reformed the block and finished strongly. My admiration for their coach and the young ladies’ courage in pulling this program back together.
As I watch these programs impressed by the beauty and the speed and athleticism, I forget the element for injury is ever present. They are not wearing pads, helmets or wrist guards. When they fall as the Blades did, they are at the mercy of the ice gods. The danger element is something they face on every pass, every tight block. If something should go wrong – watch out. Synchronized skaters have heart.
All considered, there were so many teams throughout the East who showcased enormous growth in sophistication, style and skills, delivering program after program that compelled fan viewing this weekend.
Judges on the “Synchrotron” going over the scores on the new International Scoring System.
It was also a competition that showed the new International Scoring System is adding new drama and understanding to the heretofore mystic world of judging, while improving the product the teams are putting out there. The leaders in the sport are being pushed by teams embracing the challenge of getting better. Choreographers are being challenged to design as finely as their skaters skate. They must negotiate the edge between putting out the technical excellence while delivering the entertaining choreography at the risk of technical faux pas. When the balance is in synch, that’s when spectators stand up and cheer.
The yawns were few this weekend. The thrills never stopped.
The Eastern Regional Title is the Skyliners first regional title.
“How Sweet It Is,” as Bob Prince used to say: Larry Rosen, President of the Skyliners after the scores were announced.
The Great White Ice Stage where once in the spotlight, you remember the feeling forever. There were 126 Synchronized Skating teams skating in Providence this weekend, and 136 teams skating at the Midwest Regional Synchronized Skating Championship in Illinois.
White Plains Ebersole Ice Rink Alumnae at the Eastern Synchro Show:
White Plains Aly Salonger —
Skating for the 2007 Eastern Synchronized Skating Champion University of Delaware Synchronized Skating Team
Ally and her Mom, former President of White Plains Figure Skating Club, Yvette Salonger after Ally’s Team’s knockout performance in the Collegiate Division.
Daria Marinelli of Hartsdale, longtime Ebersole Skater, shown on the “Synchrotron” 4th from left(Center) skates for Team Millenium in the Junior Division
Juliana Bailey,
Member of the Champion Skyliner Juniors Team, White Plains Figure Skating Club, Senior, White Plains High School,
