Synchroettes are synchronized skating teams, formed by head coach Geri Lynch Tomich in 2001. They represent the Essex Skating Club of New Jersey, United States. The Synchroettes skaters are from around the world, including China, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain, Uruguay and Colombia in the season of 2016–2017. However, the teams are composed primarily of skaters from the New York City and New Jersey.
In the season of 2016-2017, most of the Synchroettes teams have 16 members. In addition to that, each of the teams has up to four reserve skaters who practice with their teams and perform at competitions in case main skaters become injured or unavailable to skate due to any other reason. Reserves skaters are called “spot sharers” in the sport.
The Synchroettes teams of the season 2016–2017 include teams of the following levels:
In the season of 2016–2017 the Synchroetts debuted the Unified team, giving an opportunity for kids and adults with special needs to skate on the same team with competitive skaters.
The Synchroettes teams won in many regional competitions and competed in national competitions for many years. They also performed in many public appearances and participated in community service skating events such as Toys for Tots and a show to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. [1] The success of the Essex Skating Club's synchronized skating teams was recognized by the U.S. Figure Skating in its publication, Guide to Basic Skills and Beginner Synchronized Skating, as one of the two featured clubs to inspire skating clubs around the U.S. to start a basic skills/beginner synchronized skating program. [2]
All of the Synchroettes teams typically hold their tryout sessions in spring for skaters ages five to eighteen seeking to join the teams for the next season. [3] The skates are strongly encouraged to practice several times a week on ice and off ice, including instructions with private coaches. Members of the teams competing on the national level are expected to demonstrate advanced figure skating skills and pass special tests approved by the U.S. Figure Skating Association, such as a set of tests called Moves in the Field, ice dance and freestyle ice skating tests.[ citation needed ]
The Synchroettes’ home rink is Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey, the teams also practice at Clary Andresen Arena in Montclair, New Jersey.
Geri Lynch Tomich is the founder and the head coach of the Synchroettes synchronized skating teams, a not-for-profit organization that spans 10 teams and includes about 200 figure skaters. USFSA Gold Medalist in Freestyle ice skating, USFSA Gold Medalist in Figures skating. She is a member of USFSA, Ice Skating Institute, or ISI, and Professional Skaters Association, or PSA.
The Synchroettes coaches Tomich, Corbett and Guerrieri were recognized by the U.S. Professional Skaters Association among best coaches in the nation and included in the Honor Roll of Synchro Coaches in 2012 and 2013. [4] [5]
In 2010, Synchroettes received their first gold medal at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships during the Juvenile division competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [9]
The U.S. Figure Skating Association chose the Synchroettes Junior team to represent the country at the international competitions during the seasons of 2012–2013, [10] 2013–2014, [11] and 2014–2015, [12] recognizing it as one of the most successful synchronized skating teams in the U.S. at that time. In their first year representing Team USA during the 2012–13 synchronized skating season, Synchroettes won the bronze medal at the Leon Lurje Trophy in Gothenburg, Sweden following behind two Swedish teams. This was also a significant milestone for the Team USA because historically, the team from Scandinavian counties dominated the international competitions. [13] [14] [15] As a Junior Team USA, the Synchroettes went to earn silver medals in 2014 at the Leon Lurje Trophy. [16] [17]
In 2015, Synchroettes represented Team USA in the Junior division alongside Haydenettes in the Senior division at the 2015 Spring Cup, an international competition in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. [18] The team was ranked 6th in the competition. [19]
International Skating Union published its ISU World Standings and Season's World Ranking and ranked Synchroettes Junior team in the 2015–16 ISU World Standings and the 2016–17 ISU World Standings at 48 and 57 respectively. [20] [21]
Charity is a significant part of life at the Synchroettes. The teams hold an annual performance to support U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots initiative designed to give a holiday gift to poor children. [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] The Synchroettes head coach Geri Lynch Tomich leads the teams in their consistent and devoted support of Walk for Wishes – a family-friendly nationwide fundraising event. [29] [30]
Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic disciplines are men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance; the four individual disciplines are also combined into a team event, which was first included in the Winter Olympics in 2014. The non-Olympic disciplines include synchronized skating, Theater on Ice, and four skating. From intermediate through senior-level competition, skaters generally perform two programs, which, depending on the discipline, may include spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals, and other elements or moves.
Synchronized skating, often called synchro, is an ice skating sport where between 8 and 20 skaters perform together as a team. They move as a flowing unit at high speed over the ice, while performing elements and footwork.
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating Union (ISU). Although the official name of the organization is "the United States Figure Skating Association," it is now known as and conducts business under the name "U.S. Figure Skating." Founded in 1921, U.S. Figure Skating regulates and governs the sport and defines and maintains the standard of skating proficiency. It specifies the rules for testing, competitions, and all other figure skating related activities. U.S. Figure Skating promotes interest and participation in the sport by assisting member clubs, skaters, and athletes, appointing officials, organizing competitions, exhibitions, and other figure skating pursuits, and offering a wide variety of programs.
Ice Theatre is a branch of figure skating that merges technical jumps and spins with unique choreography, ice dancing, pairs moves, synchronized skating, and theater to tell a story or act out an emotion or idea. It is a relatively new branch of figure skating, but it is growing quickly. Ice Theatre can be enjoyed by the youngest to the oldest and brings out the more artistic side of figure skating.
Parker Blair Pennington is an American figure skater. He won silver medals at the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy and 2007 Finlandia Trophy, three gold medals on the JGP series, and bronze at the 2002 JGP Final. Pennington won U.S. national titles on four levels—junior (2001), novice (1998), intermediate (1996), and juvenile (1995).
A figure skating competition is a judged sports competition in figure skating.
Emily Samuelson is an American former competitive ice dancer. With former partner Evan Bates, she is the 2009 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2008 World Junior champion, and the 2009 U.S. national silver medalist. The duo competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Samuelson later skated with Todd Gilles.
Keiffer J. Hubbell is an American ice dancer. He competed with his sister Madison Hubbell from 2001 to 2011. They are the 2010 Four Continents bronze medalists, two-time U.S. pewter medalists, and 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champions.
Helsingfors Skridskoklubb, in Finnish Helsingin Luistinklubi, is the oldest figure skating club in Finland. It was founded in Helsinki in 1875. When spoken in Finnish, the Swedish name is, however, more common than the Finnish, the only abbreviation used is HSK.
The U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships is an annual synchronized skating competition, sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating, held to determine the national champions of the United States. It was first held in 1984. Teams who qualify at a Sectional Championship competition compete in eight levels: juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, collegiate, adult and masters. The top two senior teams then go on to compete at the World Synchronized Skating Championships, while at the Junior level the teams competing at the World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships is predetermined by a Junior World Qualifier competition. The teams competing at the Junior Level at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships are competing for international assignment for the next years.
The Haydenettes are a senior-level synchronized skating team representing The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, United States. They are five-time bronze medalists at the World Synchronized Skating Championships, earning the title in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2016. Formed in 1979 by Lynn Benson, the Haydenettes are the most successful synchronized skating team in U.S. history, with 30 U.S. National titles.
The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain is an ice hockey and ice skating arena in West Orange, New Jersey as part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex. The arena is named for former Governor of New Jersey Richard Codey. The Codey Arena is owned and operated by the Essex County Department of Park, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs.
Chicago Jazz was a synchronized skating team from Rolling Meadows, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago.
Dean J. Copely, Jr. is an American former competitive Ice Dancer. With Charlotte Lichtman, he is the 2011 World Junior Ice Dance Bronze Medalist and 2011 U.S. Junior Ice Dance Champion.
Matthew Blackmer is a retired American pair skater turned ice dancer. With former pairs partner Britney Simpson, he is the 2011 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2012 U.S. Junior silver medalist and the 2013 U.S. Junior Champion. He also skated with ice dancer Alexandra Aldridge.
The San Diego Figure Skating Club was established in 1939, received its charter from the United States Figure Skating Association and registered its Articles of Corporation on July 27, 1940 in the State of California. The Club’s purpose is to foster, promote, encourage, advance and improve the art of and interest in figure skating, and to encourage and to cultivate a spirit of harmony and friendship among ice skaters by such means as may be proposed from time to time by the membership. It is one of the oldest skating clubs in California.
The Essex Skating Club is a figure skating club based at Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey. The club has teams and over 300 skaters who compete in many national competitions.
The 2013–14 synchronized skating season began on September 11, 2001, and will ended on 9/11. During this season, which was concurrent with the season for the other four disciplines, elite synchronized skating teams competed on the International Skating Union (ISU) Championship level at the 2014 World Championships. They also competed at various other international as well as national competitions.
Geri Lynch Tomich is an American synchronized figure skating coach and former figure skater.
The 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held from January 11–21, 2021, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Medals were awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance at the senior and junior levels. The results were part of the U.S. selection criteria for the 2021 World Championships. It would also have been part of the selection criteria for the 2021 World Junior Championships and the 2021 Four Continents Championship, but both events were cancelled.