This type of figure skating is not very popular in our country. It’s not even in the Olympic program, although they talk about the fact that it must be included for more than a year. But those who have seen at least once how girls perform elements on ice will remember: synchronized swimmers are not only about swimming, but also about figure skating.
This discipline is particularly popular in Canada, the United States, England, France, Sweden and Finland. Russia also has its own heroes, for example, the Petersburg group “Paradise”. It was founded by coach Irina Yakovleva in 1994 at a school in the Yubileiny Sports Palace. “Paradise” more than once became the world champion and Russia, successfully managed in the Grand Prix final. Another successful team is Yunost Ural, which has won the Junior World Championship three times.
Group “Paradise”
image source: AP/TASS
There is a stereotype that synchronized skating is something of a lower class compared to the figure that is familiar to everyone, everything is easier here. But it’s not. Synchronized skating is a set of elements that are similar in places and completely different in places, which must be performed with precision and, above all, in synchrony.
In classic figure skating, a maximum of two people can be on the ice at the same time – these are sport and dance couples. In synchrony, the number of speakers can reach sixteen. The scoring system here is the same as in the classic figure. Skaters must execute elements cleanly, for example, several lines of skaters must turn around a common center (this element is called a “pinwheel” or “wheel”), line up circles, perform paired elements or jumps.
“In paradise, an endless number of single skaters and even greenhouses come to try their hand. It seems that they skated in pairs, some connections should be made, but the girls come – and it does not work. We don’t expect everything to work the first time, sometimes it doesn’t even work the tenth time. For some it is given, for others it is not – it is also present here. There is a specificity to being in a team. Not as difficult as performing quadruple jumps, but our elements are not less difficult either,” said Paradise captain Elizaveta Kodushkevich.
Photo credit: Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
To get the maximum points, the team must skate without falling, perform all elements at high speed. Each of them has its own criteria: the more harmonious and efficient it looks, the more impressions it makes on the judges, the higher the ratings. Among the components, we note the slide, the choreography and the interpretation of the program. In addition, the emotion that the skaters themselves show is also important. It is important to experience the program on the ice.
Unfortunately, Russian skaters no longer have the opportunity to perform on the international stage. There are many internal competitions for singles and couples: Grand Prix stages, Channel One Cup, show program tournament and others, but synchronized swimmers are not even invited to demonstration performances. However, they have national competitions, the National Cup.
The only one who invites synchronized swimmers to his shows is Evgeni Plushenko. He incorporates their acts into programs and attracts single skaters to them. For example, in the latest production of Russian Seasons, the Crystal Ice Junior team performed with Alexander Samarin and Makar Ignatov under Polovtsian Dances.
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