Synchronized skating

Synchronized skating (English: Synchronized Skating (SYS ) ) is a very young sport, who is originally from North America. 1957 synchronized skating was first presented publicly in the United States. In the 60s, the first competitions were held in California. The first international competition took place in 1976 in Ann Arbor (Michigan) with American and Canadian teams instead. 1977 developed the USA and Canada, the first exact rules for synchronized skating.

When a synchronized skating team from 12 to 20 leads (since the 06 season / 07 only teams with 16 runners are internationally approved ) mostly female, with up to four male skaters various steps and formations to selected music before. It depends mainly on synchronicity and precision but also on pace technical difficulty of the programs, interpretation of music and expression of runners.

The competition is divided as in the individual and pairs figure skating competition in two parts, in the short program and free skating.

In the short program prescribed five elements must be shown in the freestyle teams will have more freedom to design, but must follow strict rules and regulations on the composition of the program.

Since 2000 I have been to world championships in this sport. The Finnish and Swedish teams make it the medal places from among themselves. Other good teams come from Canada, the U.S., Russia and Germany. The situation is similar also to the junior level. For the 12 to 19 year olds since 2003 are unofficial world championships held ( World Challenge Cup for Juniors).

To achieve a high level all year round and almost daily training is necessary. This includes dance training, such as ballet or jazz dance, resistance and endurance training, the rehearsal of the programs, the practice of the elements and style of running training on the ice.

In North America and Scandinavia undergoes synchronous skating a very wide popularity, while the sport in the rest of Europe a shadowy existence.