Mississauga / Canada

The ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships concluded in Mississauga (CAN) Saturday with the Free Skating.

Wjsysc17 Russia 652227844Team Junost (Russia 2) skates to gold

Team Junost (Russia 2) skated to gold in a dramatic Free Skating event. Team Fintastic (Finland 1) repeated as silver medalists while the defending champions Team Musketeers (Team Finland 2) pulled up from fourth to claim the bronze.

 

Team Junost, who stood in second after the Short Program, put out a strong performance to “Firebird” by Igor Stravinski that was highlighted by a pair element (death spirals), smooth intersections and a travelling wheel. The Russians earned a level four for the pair element and the step sequence while the intersections, the no hold element, move element and travelling wheel merited a level three. The 2013 World Junior bronze medalists scored 106.49 points for their Free Skating which added up to 168.83 points overall.

 

Wjsysc17 Finland1 652227804Performing to “Bullet Train”, “Slow Down” and “Time”, Fintastic collected a level four for the pair element, the no hold element and the travelling wheel. Two falls cost two points, though and they were ranked sixth in the Free Skating at 96.51 points. Nevertheless, the 2015 World Junior silver medalists moved up one spot with a total of 158.06 points.

 

The Musketeers’ program to “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “The Huntsman” soundtracks included three level-four elements as well. The defending World Junior Champions were fifth in the Free Skating, but pulled up to third overall at 156.24 points.

Wjsysc17 Finland2 652227850

Team Skyliners (USA 1) was second in the Free Skating and missed the podium narrowly, moving up from eighth to fourth place (156.04 points). Nexxice (Team Canada 1) finished fifth (155.97 points) followed by Les Supremes (Team Canada 2) at 154.36 points. Overnight leaders Team Crystal Ice (Russia 1) dropped to eighth after several falls (145.59 points).

A total of 19 teams representing 14 ISU members competed in the Championships. This was the third edition of the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships that was a biennal event, but will become annual from now on.  

Originally called Precision Skating, Synchronized Skating was introduced in the 1950s. It is a highly technical form of Figure Skating characterized by speed, precisions, unison, intricate formations, synchro elements, difficult footwork, spectacular lifts and exciting transitions. A synchronized team consists of 16 skaters (plus up to four alternates).

For more information, full entry lists and results please see: www.isu.org and the official event page https://skatecanada.ca/event/isu-world-junior-synchronized-skating-championships-2017/ Hashtag: #WorldJSynchro