Synchronized skating

Synchronized skating is a discipline of figure skating where 8–20 (the number of skaters on a team depends on the level) skaters skate on ice as a team, moving as one flowing unit at high speeds while completing difficult footwork. The discipline was originally called precision skating in North America because of the emphasis on maintaining precise formations and timing of the group. Synchronized skating grew rapidly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Synchronized Skating uses the same judging system as singles, pairs, and ice dancing skating and is judged primarily on teamwork, precision, speed, difficulty, and performance.

For a synchronized team to flow in unison, individual skaters must be competent at a variety of skating skills, including speed, footwork and ice presence. The team performs a program set to music, with required formations including circles, lines, blocks, wheels, intersections, a move in isolation, and, at high levels, lifts. The teams are required to perform step sequences involving a number of various turns such as twizzles, counters, brackets, and rockers and simpler turns like three-turns, mohawks and choctaws, and double-three turns. In Junior and Senior divisions, teams are required to perform two different routines: a short program and a free skating program, also known as the long program. Generally, the short program is more technical in nature, where the free skating is longer and provides an opportunity to showcase expression, emotion and interpretation. Teams in the senior division are also permitted to perform lifts in the free skating program including pair lifts where the lifted skater may not be lifted overhead, as well as group lifts consisting of three or more skaters which can be extended overhead to full arm height in a variety of positions.

A synchronized routine may consist of straight line sequences, wheels, blocks, circle step sequences, or also moves in isolation. Moves in isolation are when one or more skaters separates from the rest of the group and performs freestyle type moves. For example, three skaters may separate and go into sit spins, while the rest of the team is in a circle formation. The three skaters will then join the group again and carry on with the routine. Junior and Senior programs also include moves in the fields where the whole team does moves such as spirals, spread eagles or bauers connected.

Required elements:

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