Fifth Annual Synchronized Skating Training Festival in Delaware This Week
Synchro Training Festival photos on the INcrowd |
The event kicks off Thursday morning with the National Coaches College and concludes Sunday night with an exhibition performance by each of the eight teams and the DREAM athletes at the Fred Rust Arena.
The National Coaches College will bring together approximately 190 coaches. Seminars led by U.S. Figure Skating officials and Team USA coaches will cover topics including the newest changes to the international judging system (IJS), tips for teaching turns, features and basic technique, and how to increase presentation and musical interpretation. The coaches college will wrap up with a sports psychology workshop led by Dr. Deborah Roche. Other faculty includes Team USA coaches Saga Krantz (Haydenettes), Pam May (Team Braemar) and Shannon Peterson (Crystallettes) as well as U.S. Figure Skating officials Dann Krueger, Wendy Enzmann, Karin Sherr, Janette Davey and Karen Weismeier.
For the second year, 10 athletes will participate in the DREAM (Determination, Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Motivation) program during the National Coaches College, a special leadership track for chosen athletes to join U.S. Figure Skating in programs that support and promote synchronized skating in the United States. The track will include sessions on the international judging system and opportunities for involvement in figure skating beyond participating as an athlete.
On Friday, U.S. Figure Skating's Synchronized Skating Technical Panel Seminar will get under way. Participants will learn the intricacies of the IJS during the seminar, and will have the opportunity to use what they learn to earn a place on technical panels at future events.
Two hundred athletes will take part in the "Fashion Week"-themed training festival segment of the weekend, which begins Friday night with a kick-off orientation. Athletes will hit the ice Saturday morning.
Athletes will be divided into eight city-themed teams for the weekend, based on fashion capitals from around the world. Each team will have four on-ice and four off-ice classes per day on topics such as "Developing Turns and Edges," "Step Sequences," "Developing Skating Skills" and "Musical Interpretation." Off-ice training will include dance classes, "Project Runway" presentation class, team building and stretching.
The event is highlighted by its coaching staff, which is made up of Team USA coaches, including Josh Babb (Skyliners), Jill Cipresso (California Gold), Lisa Darken (Chicago Jazz), Carla DeGirolamo (Miami University), Krantz, May, Heather Paige (Starlights), and Peterson and Holly Teets (Crystallettes). National Coaches College attendees will have the opportunity to observe their colleagues' teaching techniques in addition to attending roundtable discussions on Saturday and Sunday.
Running simultaneously with the athlete program will be the first-ever Team Manager's Track, which will give new and veteran team managers the opportunity to learn the basics of team management and share their ideas and experiences. Seminars topics include "Finances," "Working with Your Figure Skating Club," "Building a Program Philosophy" and "Collegiate Team Management." The faculty for this portion of the weekend is made up of Dr. Roche, veteran team manager Gordon Benson, veteran coaches Teets, Merita Mullen and Geri Lynch-Tomich, and several headquarters staff members including Senior Director of Athlete Development Kelly Hodge and Senior Director of Membership Susi Wehrli-McLaughlin.
Other opportunities include four parents education classes and a Saturday evening collegiate skating seminar, in which athletes and their parents can learn about U.S. Figure Skating's collegiate programs and what individual schools have to offer. Volunteers from Team Delaware and the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club will also be on hand to help organize the event.
