Almost everyone has heard of synchronized swimming—swimmers performing a synchronized dance routine in the water—but what about synchronized skating? Starting this year, Niverville has its own synchronized skating program.
So, what is synchronized skating? It’s a team discipline of figure skating that involves a minimum of eight athletes, moving in unison and performing group elements and challenging footwork. Coach Meghan Rafferty of the Niverville Skating Club explains that synchronized skating is growing in popularity, both nationally and internationally. In fact, it’s being considered as a new sport at the next Winter Olympics.
“I was really excited to get a team started in Niverville because it adds a different team experience for these athletes,” Rafferty says. “Competing in singles is great, but that is individual. I’d love to give these skaters the opportunity to learn what it’s like to work as a team.”
Rafferty and the Skating Club have been planning the new program for quite some time. This includes figuring out a team name, making music selections, off-ice planning, and determining costumes.
This past spring, Rafferty had the pleasure of travelling to Newfoundland with Skate Canada to sit in on their synchro sessions and learn more about what the program has to offer. “Skaters who pursue it can eventually be on university teams, travel across the country, become professional coaches… really the sky is the limit, so I just can’t wait to build this program in Niverville.”
The synchronized skating team is planning to perform in exhibitions throughout the season in preparation for the final competition in Dauphin in March.
“That’s the realistic goal for the first season,” says Rafferty, “and we will build on that next year to hopefully be competing two or three times across Manitoba.”
Rafferty would like to add a huge thank you to the community, parents, and board for their support of the new synchronized skating program. Along with synchronized skating, the Skating Club offers the Learn to Skate program for children and adults, figure skating, and power skating.
