As parents, we embark on a remarkable journey alongside our children as they navigate the exhilarating yet challenging world of synchronized skating. Cheers of victory and shared moments of triumph are undoubtedly some of the most gratifying experiences. What about those inevitable disappointments that punctuate the journey? From an unexpected placement at a competition, falling …
Author Archives: HCG
The scores are in – now what?
Your skater and their team have just completed their skate. Athletes stand anxiously in the kiss-and-cry area. There may be smiles and happiness about what they just performed, or they may be nervous knowing it was not their best. We all wait, sometimes for what feels like an eternity, while the judges award their marks …
Making the most of the first competition
It’s competition season! The time is finally here! Synchronized skaters have been practicing for months learning new skills and programs. New costumes and music are finished and the first exhibitions to “shake out the nerves” are over. It’s what everyone has been preparing for. The bleachers are full, everyone is cheering on their teams, and …
Back to school season for synchronized skating teams
In a world where our young athletes are pushing their limits and striving for excellence in synchronized skating, this time of year presents additional obstacles for athletes to balance. The juggling act of managing rigorous school schedules alongside the demanding commitments of participating on a competitive team is not for the faint of heart. For …
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What is testing and why does it matter?
Synchronized skating teams at most levels require a minimum skills test achievement to participate, based on U.S. Figure skating regulations. These are intended to ensure skaters can safely complete the elements required at that level of competition. Most teams will not let a skater audition for a level if they do not have the minimum …
Every position on the team has something to teach
Having had a skater who has filled just about every role on a team throughout her synchronized skating journey, I can definitely say one thing. Every situation teaches our children something and mine was no different. And as the mom, I was usually more anxious about it than she was. Our very first experience in …
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Summer synchro – What is it all about?
Synchronized skating teams are set and summer practices are in full swing. While most families are on vacation or enjoying the beach during the summer school break, synchro families often find themselves doubling down with time at the ice rink in what is affectionately known as the “off season”. But truly, there is no off …
The top 10 lessons I learned as a synchronized skating parent
When I started on this journey all those years ago, I knew very little. I knew that figure skating was in the Olympics every 4 years, that it was under a mysterious judging system called 6.0, and that skaters like Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi were superstars. I guess it’s fair to say I’ve learned …
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How it all began
It all seemed so innocent at the beginning. My mom thinks that the day during a Christmas family gathering that she put my daughter on the ice, with just her tiny gym shoes and her two older cousins holding her up, was a day that shaped her future. My daughter got “slid” around the ice …
in synch mom 