The success of a synchronized ice skating team demands maximum commitment with complete acceptance of the results. With involvement on this team, success on the ice in the traditional sense is not the most important accomplishment. The Hockettes have taken every opportunity they are given and used it to their advantage. Each ice rink has its own protocol to ensure skater safety. Pinaglia was introduced to the sport by synchronized skater Nicole Davies, a producer on the film. With the subsequent development of the Unified Hockettes team, Grace was able to continue with her skating dreams. The middle person from each spoke comes together and does a pairs spin while the wheels are interlocking with one another, kind of passing by, so its very exciting. Rather than get together in a rink, the Hockettes convened via Zoom, where head coach Lindsay Grajek and her staff emphasized that safety was the top priority. ANN ARBOR, MI The first synchronized skating team, the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club Hockettes, are featured in a documentary that is garnering national attention. Theyre interacting all the time, and the kids really get to know each other, said Erin Donovan, the director of Hockettes Synchronized Skating. Synchronized skating is hardly a socially distant sport. Eventually, four skaters from Michigan qualified for the World Games as Special Olympians. The trainers and community really are great and supportive. When they were finally able to skate in-person again, the Ann Arbor-based Hockettes were forced to travel to nearby Ohio, as their home rink was still closed due to health and safety restrictions. She had been a coach for 35 years when she was presented with students with disabilities who enrolled in the Learn to Skate program. As I was writing songs for this album, the pandemic hitand it just felt very parallel to what was going on in the world. In the 1950s, Dr. Richard Porter had a vision of a team that would embody many important elements of a successful sport for girls. Mary Johanson is a coach from the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club. Daane knows every athlete and parent; and is not only professional, but very personal. So far, Life in Synchro has been accepted to 12 film festivals around the country. "I don't think any of us expected it to be like that," she said. They dont take it for granted, thats for sure.. Information & Application . The Hockettes are cited in the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame as the first Synchronized Skating Team (known as "Precision Skating"), created by Dr. Richard Porter in 1956. Mady previously skated for Onyx Synchronized Skating and Hockettes. This grew into the Adaptive Skating Program and a Special Olympics team. The team brings adaptive skaters together with peer mentors to learn, compete and grow. Each adaptive skater on the team gets a Unified buddy from one of the traditional synchronized skating teams, and they work together on skills and support each other as they learn. To include varying perspectives from the synchronized skating community, Pinaglia and Davies said they chose their documentary subjects carefully. It really brings joy to the kids. In the stands, nearly filled to capacity, their fans cheer them on as they move through their routine. She has passed her senior moves, pre silver dances, and juvenile freestyle. Athletic Republic Conditioning Cords provide controlled resistance while allowing athletes to perform at game speed, greatly improving sport-specific power for hitting, throwing, running, shooting, spiking serving and/or jumping. Though this has not been the season that the team envisioned, the coaches and skaters have not let this distract from their goals. Ded. When Donovan heard this concept, a lightbulb went off that this would be the perfect song to add to the Hockettes medley, which also consists of Light of the Seven from the Game of Thrones soundtrack, In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles, and Where We Come Alive by Ruelle. Though the season looked a little differently than they had initially expected, the Hockettes were thankful for the opportunity to stay on the ice. Ashley attended Miami University and earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Speech Communications. Synchronized skaters are always talking about the sport to people who dont know about it and trying to make people understand how cool and special it is, said Davies. The Learn to Skate USA program plays a major role at the rink and within the club. It's just nice to be able to relate to the audience on such a big span." Both Grace and her mother report that the benefits from team skating are invaluable. MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, MEDIA,INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS1845 Sheridan RoadEvanston, IL 60208-2101. All participants wear masks throughout practice, and the coaches pass around hand sanitizer constantly. So [I just want] that hope and that light at the end of the tunnel." Novice Teams - Novice. Alison began skating at the age of 5 and never looked back! The coaches and skaters used every possible opportunity to practice together, whether virtual or in-person. Event Results for 2023 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships. I think its a nice parallel with the Hockettes leading the way with this, she said. In her past six seasons with the team, UMSST has won three national titles. Thats always been our weakness, Grajek said. To cultivate a safe and supportive environment that provides for the advancement of our members in all disciplines and levels of figure skating.. 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