Vierumäki / Finland

The International Skating Union held the first ISU Synchronized Skating Development Training Seminar for Junior Age Skaters and their Coaches in Vierumäki (FIN) on May 9 - 16 and attracted 63 skaters and 40 coaches from 14 countries. 

Vierumäki is the home of The Sport Institute of Finland which is an ideal location to hold a seminar. The Sport Institute of Finland acts as an official training and education center of the Olympic Committee of Finland.  Vierumäki is also a national coaching and training center for sports and physical education with high quality services and is located in the beautiful Finnish lake scenery and surrounded by wilderness.

The aim of the Seminar was the development of Synchronized Skating Coaches and the members of their teams to a higher technical level and also to introduce Synchronized Skating to new areas where it is not yet traditionally pursued. World-class Coaches including Ms. Cathy Dalton, Ms. Mirjami Penttinen, Mr. Alain Daniel Hostache, Mr. Maurizio Margaglio, Ms. Leena Laaksonen (Program Evaluation), Mr. Mika Saarelainen, (Program Components), Mr. Matti Henttinen, (Fitness, Physical education) and Ms. Lilli Helpi (Ballet/ Modern Dance) moderated the Seminar.  Daily on and off-ice classes were held and included topics such as theory, GOE and ISU Judging System requirements, physical education/fitness, ballet, jazz/mime/expression, relaxation/yoga, movement to music, theatre and modern dance technique lectures. For a more personal learning effect, the experts were available for a one-to-one contact with participating Coaches.

It was an intensive seminar updating all participants with the latest rules and regulations applicable to the upcoming season 2015/16.

The ISU aims to ensure ongoing support to Synchronized Skating teams/skaters and their Coaches and to assist the growth of new and developing ISU Members in the discipline of Synchronized Skating, an exciting and fast growing discipline within the Figure Skating branch of the ISU, worldwide.

The ISU knows the importance of giving the participants as much guidance as possible to enable them to continue development of their synchronized skating skills.