2026 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships | Apr 10-11

[4everchan]

and they lifted the dude !!! go girls !

 

[Karoltyna]

and they lifted the dude !!! go girls !

that was fun fun fun

 

[4everchan]

WOW at the Helsinki Rockettes. The speed... the precision in most of the elements. They are so good.

 

[4everchan]

Nova has a tough act to follow... I hope they just skate well and not worry about skating after the Finns.

 

[ladyjane]

Having a great time, that's for sure. Never mind that I don't get the requirements precisely or the judging. It is just so wonderful!

 

[4everchan]

oh noooo the tall on twizzles... late in the program

I really liked the Histoires sans paroles bit (the piano/voice part). by Harmonium.

 

[4everchan]

Well... Haydenettes skated well but this program was like the music -one note and dreary

Not as creative as the Finns, Nova nor Skyliners.

 

[Jeanie19]

Haydenettes. Beautiful program and skate.

 

[4everchan]

on noooo fall on the pivoting block.. lowering the level and there will be a deduction.

I think they were far superior to the Americans though.... they should still win

 

[4everchan]

Les Suprêmes reign supreme for a 4th title in 5 years.
What a comeback from last year, missing out on the podium.

Skates of the night however belong to both Finnish teams

 

[ladyjane]

I've just been reading up on the synchro9 notions, but the way they plan to organise it, is not my cup of tea. I found this info on the ISU webpage
/////
What is the Synchro9 competition format?

Synchro9 will introduce a knockout-style competition format, a major departure from traditional scoring systems.

Key elements include:

• Head-to-head battles
• Elimination rounds
• Themed performances

This format adds a new level of excitement and unpredictability, making competitions more engaging for both live audiences and viewers at home.
//////
I guess I am not much of a sportswoman (I only watch figure skating, sometimes synchronised skating like I did this weekend) but then I am old too so perhaps not so much in need of a 'new level of excitement and unpredictability'.

Don't get me wrong. Like @sissy7 I quite liked the three demos. As Chris and Sammie (?) said, there's room on the ice with only 9 skaters (compared to 16) as well as more freedom for some spectacular moves, even if I missed the really fascinating intersections. But the format? Competitions wouldn't engage me at all. I wish to see all good skates, and not miss-out on skates because the team who whould have performed it, will already have been eliminated because their first effort was against a really good team. I also know, I am just n=1. Maybe it's just the thing for someone else.

 

[4everchan]

I've just been reading up on the synchro9 notions, but the way they plan to organise it, is not my cup of tea. I found this info on the ISU webpage
/////
What is the Synchro9 competition format?

Synchro9 will introduce a knockout-style competition format, a major departure from traditional scoring systems.

Key elements include:

• Head-to-head battles
• Elimination rounds
• Themed performances

This format adds a new level of excitement and unpredictability, making competitions more engaging for both live audiences and viewers at home.
//////
I guess I am not much of a sportswoman (I only watch figure skating, sometimes synchronised skating like I did this weekend) but then I am old too so perhaps not so much in need of a 'new level of excitement and unpredictability'.

Don't get me wrong. Like @sissy7 I quite liked the three demos. As Chris and Sammie (?) said, there's room on the ice with only 9 skaters (compared to 16) as well as more freedom for some spectacular moves, even if I missed the really fascinating intersections. But the format? Competitions wouldn't engage me at all. I wish to see all good skates, and not miss-out on skates because the team who whould have performed it, will alrready have been eliminated because their first effort was against a really good team. I also know, I am just n=1. Maybe it's just the thing for someone else.

I don't like the head to head battles either. Synchro has this appealing way right now of allowing some mistakes in a group which makes the focus on excellence and not perfection. I fear that in head to head battles, the focus will be on who made a mistake first and not on how generally the skating was...

Let me rephrase, how would the public understand that a top team won though one skater had a fall against a very basic team that went cleaner ?

So if that happens, will teams no longer take risks or will individual skaters have more impact than the group? Right now, I feel we are still watching a whole group and that the whole group is scored. Mistakes happened to all the top teams and they lost points for them but the judging allowed for the best combo of two programs to win the big medals... However 5 teams won small medals and I was quite in agreement with that. I don't think head to head battles will produce the same kind of experience I got to enjoy in synchro.

 

[bckabck]

I am gonnna be controversial, I liked the Synchro9 demos, really liked it

All 3 teams brought something different, and it was really interesting to see the different approaches.

The 9 seem more chaotic to me than the 16. I do think 12 was a better compromise.

 

[bckabck]

The Polish free was a highlight for me of the free programs.

I really enjoyed the free of Les Supremes. I’m normally not a fan of constant arm flailing in general but their arm movements were more controlled, on the beat and worked well with the theme.

 

[bckabck]

Btw, thank you @4everchan for creating this.

I did reach out a month or so ago to Gdsk8 about the Synchro forum. They responded that it got archived because it wasn't used. However, they commented that they would bring it back if they can get enough interest and engagement.

 

[Jeanie19]

Btw, thank you @4everchan for creating this.

I did reach out a month or so ago to Gdsk8 about the Synchro forum. They responded that it got archived because it wasn't used. However, they commented that they would bring it back if they can get enough interest and engagement.

I do like to watch Synchronized World Championship. Thank you @4everchan

 

[4everchan]

You are both really welcome. Thanks also for the moderators who updated the OP because I was half way out the door when it occurred to me that it was starting and I really wanted to open up a thread but had no time for It . It got done in the end and it was a very nice competition. I really like synchro. It's amazing how so many people can do at the same time and so close to one another, on blades on ice...