Synchro9 Earns Its Place at the Alpes 2030

[CaroLiza_fan]

I am not... I found it boring.. but that's just me of course. There is one worst sport, ski mountaineering.

I have been into Ski Jumping for even longer than I have been into Figure Skating. But I never really got into Cross Country Skiing that much. As a result, if I am totally honest, it is only the Ski Jumping half of the Nordic Combined competitions that I tend to watch.

I haven't watched Ski Mountaineering, so I can't comment on it.

It's not enough to have a circuit. Athletes from all over the world need to take part in it. If the circuit is alive because of 4-5 nations only, they won't make it Olympic.

In the 2025-26 Nordic Combined World Cup standings, there were 11 countries represented in both the boys and the girls standings. Which surprised me. With the Women's circuit being less than a decade old, I was impressed that they were already matching the Men's circuit, which has been going a LOT longer (Men's Nordic Combined has been part of the World Championships since the first edition in 1925; the Men's World Cup started in the 1983-84 Season; and the Men's Continental Cup started in the 1990-91 Season).

Admittedly, some countries had rather more athletes than others. But, still.

It's not. I am pretty sure the bobsleigh/luge tracks are the most expensive things to build from scratch... A ski jumping board is expensive but you don't have to build a stadium around it... I wonder if other facilities are just as expensive to build because of that. For instance a long track speed skating oval would be cheaper but not the stadium/seating around it.

I was going by Sochi 2014, where I remember hearing that said about the Ski Jumping hills. But, you make some very good points. But, does the bobsleigh track have a stadium around it? I've not watched much siding sports over the years, but when I have caught some, I haven't seen any spectators within camera shot. And I can't imagine you would see much anyway.

Ski jumping is huge in Japan. It's also getting a bit more popular in North America with some recent successes.

Fair enough, I forgot about Japan. (I was writing that post between 6am and 7am). And it is getting bigger in North America. But, Central Europe is still the heartland of the sport.

They are simply adapting to nowadays trend. I don't see a huge problem with losing Nordic combined and Modern Pentathlon for instance.

That's the problem in a lot of sports nowadays. They are making changes to attract a new younger audience, but in the process are alienating their long-time existing audience. For example, I hate to admit it, but I am rapidly losing interest in Formula 1 and MotoGP with the changes that have been made in recent years.

As I said, both the traditional sports and the more modern sports can be accommodated if there was co-operation and co-ordination between the Olympics and the X-Games. And adding in the missing aspects of ski sports, skate sports and sliding sports that are currently missing due to there being no room at the inn could bring in new audiences to the Olympics.

But, the IOC is in cost-cutting mode. And with the cost of hosting an Olympics making it prohibitive to most places that could be potential bidders, I can understand why.

Which is why I am amazed that they are bringing in a team sport.

It is a nice idea but it won't happen.

I know

CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

On the plus side, I look forward to whatever modern trendy innovation the IOC brings next. Breakdancing on ice? Competitive snow angels?

Bring back Ski Ballet!

Held as a demonstration sport in Calgary 1988 and Albertville 1992.

I'm jesting, but I wouldn't put it past them with the way things are going!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[TontoK]

But, the IOC is in cost-cutting mode. And with the cost of hosting an Olympics making it prohibitive to most places that could be potential bidders, I can understand why.

Which is why I am amazed that they are bringing in a team sport.



I know

CaroLiza_fan

And here's the thing. Nordic Combined doesn't have any unique facility requirements. They use the same jump hill as the flyers do, and probably the same cross-country trails as the main sport. It's a cheap sport to include. I assume, but I do not know, that they do (or could) even "borrow" the same officials.

And ditto on the concept of bringing in a new team sport, and especially one that is one-gender-only.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

And here's the thing. Nordic Combined doesn't have any unique facility requirements. They use the same jump hill as the flyers do, and probably the same cross-country trails as the main sport. It's a cheap sport to include.

Exactly. You are correct on all points.

Which is why I am now concerned about the future of Ski Jumping, because there will be questions about the cost effectiveness of having to build facilities that will now only used by one sport. At least when there was Nordic Combined, the hills were being used by two sports.

I assume, but I do not know, that they do (or could) even "borrow" the same officials.

Actually, no. They have a completely different setup. But, I agree that it could be more effective to have more integration.

And ditto on the concept of bringing in a new team sport, and especially one that is one-gender-only.

To be fair, there are boys that do Synchro. Not anywhere near as many boys as there are girls, but they are there.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[4everchan]

I have been into Ski Jumping for even longer than I have been into Figure Skating. But I never really got into Cross Country Skiing that much. As a result, if I am totally honest, it is only the Ski Jumping half of the Nordic Combined competitions that I tend to watch.

Then you can still watch that because, thankfully, Ski jumping has developed its women side and the sport is represented in both women and men as well as the mixed team!

I haven't watched Ski Mountaineering, so I can't comment on it.

Go ahead and watch it. That's a ridiculous sport in my opinion.

In the 2025-26 Nordic Combined World Cup standings, there were 11 countries represented in both the boys and the girls standings. Which surprised me. With the Women's circuit being less than a decade old, I was impressed that they were already matching the Men's circuit, which has been going a LOT longer (Men's Nordic Combined has been part of the World Championships since the first edition in 1925; the Men's World Cup started in the 1983-84 Season; and the Men's Continental Cup started in the 1990-91 Season).

Admittedly, some countries had rather more athletes than others. But, still.

The issue is not just representation but also the possibility of athletes from a variety of countries to medal. If a "new sport" is going to be only always producing podiums with 1 or 2 countries on it, they will probably not encourage it.. They will waif for more depth. It is only when the sport of curling started to pick up in Asia that it was admitted at the OGames. It used to be Canada all the way and now, Canada has issues even finding the podium. The sport has changed tremendously.

I was going by Sochi 2014, where I remember hearing that said about the Ski Jumping hills. But, you make some very good points. But, does the bobsleigh track have a stadium around it? I've not watched much siding sports over the years, but when I have caught some, I haven't seen any spectators within camera shot. And I can't imagine you would see much anyway.

No stadium. Just stands I think. Like most mountain sports. There are spectators The track though is very costly.

Fair enough, I forgot about Japan. (I was writing that post between 6am and 7am). And it is getting bigger in North America. But, Central Europe is still the heartland of the sport.



That's the problem in a lot of sports nowadays. They are making changes to attract a new younger audience, but in the process are alienating their long-time existing audience. For example, I hate to admit it, but I am rapidly losing interest in Formula 1 and MotoGP with the changes that have been made in recent years.

I never caught up to this. So I cannot help you there. For me, that's a "game" not a sport... and a "game" for the super wealthy people. But, that's again, just my take on it.

As I said, both the traditional sports and the more modern sports can be accommodated if there was co-operation and co-ordination between the Olympics and the X-Games.

Why would the X games lose their money making sponsors ? These events are huge because they are spectacular. There is a tour, just like world cups, going around all winter. We don't see much of it... because it hasn't picked up in traditional media and we only see it at the O games but there is a circuit. X Games is not just a one a year or one in a four year event.. so I don't see the interest for them to combine with the Olympics and destroy their money making season-long circuit... for a once in a four year deal. There is a reason why these athletes compete season after season and for some, because they were included so late in the Olympics, the X games circuit is more meaningful.

And adding in the missing aspects of ski sports, skate sports and sliding sports that are currently missing due to there being no room at the inn could bring in new audiences to the Olympics.

But, the IOC is in cost-cutting mode. And with the cost of hosting an Olympics making it prohibitive to most places that could be potential bidders, I can understand why.

Which is why I am amazed that they are bringing in a team sport.

they are brining it cheaply by truncating it severely.

I know

CaroLiza_fan

 

[4everchan]

IOC Meeting : we need to reach gender equity... So let's see where we can cut men and/or add women.

Some IOC member : Nordic combined is men only, maybe we should include women.

Some IOC member : What about include a women sport only instead... like Syncrho. That is more relatable than Nordic combined, actually let's cut Nordic Combined...

Some IOC member : But synchro has a few men in it.

ISU : meh,.. let's just forbid men from participating in it... we will do anything for synchro to get in

Other IOC member : wait guys... that's a lot of people. 16 skaters per team... + subs etc.

IOC member not knowing anything about the sport : I guess they do things like 4 groups of 4 so let them have 3 groups of 3 on the ice so it's 9 skaters now.

ISU : we will take it..

ME : happy/not happy/dubitative... but more skating in the end is great...

Canadian media : we are going to win that medal for sure ...

Other countries, for instance, China : watch us... now that it is an Olympic sport... we will take over.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Why would the X games lose their money making sponsors ? These events are huge because they are spectacular. There is a tour, just like world cups, going around all winter. We don't see much of it... because it hasn't picked up in traditional media and we only see it at the O games but there is a circuit. X Games is not just a one a year or one in a four year event.. so I don't see the interest for them to combine with the Olympics and destroy their money making season-long circuit... for a once in a four year deal. There is a reason why these athletes compete season after season and for some, because they were included so late in the Olympics, the X games circuit is more meaningful.

I was thinking more along the lines of having the more extreme sports just at the X-Games, keeping the Olympics for just the more traditional sports, and cross-promoting of the two events as being equivalent in status.

I hadn't realised until today that the X-Games were an annual event. I thought they were being done along the same lines as the Olympics, being every 4 years, or maybe every 2 years (just shows how much I know about extreme sports! ). But, since there is less visibility of those sports' regular seasons, the X-Games could be kept as annual and still hold the same high status as the Olympics.

But, this is all a fantasy in my head. It ain't going to happen.

CaroLiza_fan

P.S. I loved your post about how the decision about Synchro was reached!

 

[4everchan]

I was thinking more along the lines of having the more extreme sports just at the X-Games, keeping the Olympics for just the more traditional sports, and cross-promoting of the two events as being equivalent in status.

I hadn't realised until today that the X-Games were an annual event. I thought they were being done along the same lines as the Olympics, being every 4 years, or maybe every 2 years (just shows how much I know about extreme sports! ). But, since there is less visibility of those sports' regular seasons, the X-Games could be kept as annual and still hold the same high status as the Olympics.

But, this is all a fantasy in my head. It ain't going to happen.

CaroLiza_fan

P.S. I loved your post about how the decision about Synchro was reached!

Having sports at the Olympics that belong exclusively to the XGames before has been good for the athletes who now are funded with their national federation. That's what the O games has done for these athletes while theX games are brining superstars and their fans to the O games... for instance Shaun White, Tony Hawk, Chloe Kim and Eileen Gu.

I think their partnership has reached its potential and its objectives and they are both pretty happy

 

[TontoK]

To be fair, there are boys that do Synchro. Not anywhere near as many boys as there are girls, but they are there.

CaroLiza_fan

I was referencing an earlier post that indicated the Olympics Syncho9 would be an all-female competition.

I don't know if that's correct - just what was previously shared.

 

[midori green]

It kind of feels like synchro sold its soul to achieve its goal of getting into the Olympics. Cutting from 24 skaters (dating myself) slowly down to 9 over the years to make the IOC happy is just sad. It's not the same sport. Intersections, wheels, circles, and blocks will all be smaller and less impressive. But yay, I guess...you did it.

(Plus, part of what made synchro cool was its coed nature.)

 

[ramurphy2005]

I was referencing an earlier post that indicated the Olympics Syncho9 would be an all-female competition.

I don't know if that's correct - just what was previously shared.

The Youth Olympic event is all female, but for the actual Olympics it's still undecided at this point.

 

[TallyT]

There have been rumours for quite a few Olympic cycles that the IOC wanted to drop Nordic Combined because it was a male only sport and they wanted equal opportunities in sports.

But if so, adding (as I understand from this thread) women-only Sybchro9 goes directly against that? And there's less excuse because as you say, Women's Nordic Combined is an actual thing and could be in there.

I dislike 'synchro' sports, and won't be watching it; I also think it probably will do as much for skating's image and popularity as synchronized swimming (which manages to be both daggy and slightly creepy, those fixed fake smiles are worse than the worst ID couples) did for water sports. But hey, good for them if it makes them happy and they can draw an audience.

And remember, getting into the Olys does not for one minute equal staying in.

 

[Mathman]

Well, I for one look forward to seeing what all those innovative coaches and choreographers can come up with in the new lean, mean, skating machine format. Might turn out to be a dud, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Mathman]

I dislike 'synchro' sports, and won't be watching it; I also think it probably will do as much for skating's image and popularity as synchronized swimming...

The difference is that swimming races are just -- races. No, I would not cheer a new sport of "synchronized speed skating" or short track.

But figure skating thrives on choreography, program construction, presentation -- synchro skating is not just a bizarre perversion of basic figure skating values.

 

[TallyT]

The difference is that swimming races are just -- races. No, I would not cheer a new sport of "synchronized speed skating" or short track.

But figure skating thrives on choreography, program construction, presentation -- synchro skating is not just a bizarre perversion of basic figure skating values.

I admit, I always see synchro skating as a bizarre cross between water aerobics and Busby Berkeley. with Stepford smiles to complete the image {shudder}.

 

[4everchan]

I will just drop a couple videos. That may be useful for the conversation to remain constructive.

 

[ladyjane]

IOC Meeting : we need to reach gender equity... So let's see where we can cut men and/or add women.

Some IOC member : Nordic combined is men only, maybe we should include women.

Some IOC member : What about include a women sport only instead... one that is more relatable than Nordic combined... like Synchro.

Some IOC member : Just but synchro has a few men in it.

ISU : meh,.. let's just forbid men from participating in it... we will do anything for synchro to get in

Other IOC member : wait guys... that's a lot of people. 16 skaters per team... + subs etc.

IOC member not knowing anything about the sport : I guess they do things like 4 groups of 4 so let them have 3 groups of 3 on the ice so it's 9 skaters now.

ISU : we will take it..

ME : happy/not happy/dubitative... but more skating in the end is great...

Canadian media : we are going to win that medal for sure ...

Other countries, for instance, China : watch us... now that it is an Olympic sport... we will take over.

This really looks too real....

 

[bckabck]

I am happy that synchro is getting a chance to be an Olympics sport, and I am sad that some sports got taken off. Sadly, this happens even in the Summer Olympics.

Figure skating is consistently ranked as being among the top (usually top 3) in terms of viewership ratings during the Winter Olympics. Those ratings equal commercials which then equal money. So it makes sense to add more figure skating and see how it goes.

I am most intrigued with how they are going to do the synchro 9 as far as competitions go. The synchro 9 concept talks about matches and a knockout format, which is very different to what synchro competitions are now. That's even different from how synchronized swimming is. Hopefully, we'll get a synchro competition that will include it before their 2027 ISU Synchro Worlds so I can watch it.

While I prefer the 16 or even 12 member teams, I have been told that 9 is easier to follow and is less spread out. To me that's more of a choreography and rule thing that can be fixed. Also the issue with more members on a team was off-ice and locker room space at the arena.

 

[TallyT]

I will just drop a couple videos. That may be useful for the conversation to remain constructive.

Can someone advise what they are? I am serious, truly and sorry but all I get is two big black boxes....

 

[Mathman]

I admit, I always see synchro skating as a bizarre cross between water aerobics and Busby Berkeley. with Stepford smiles to complete the image {shudder}.

Yeah, synchronized swimming always gave off a vibe of fake smiles, look alike theatrical make-up, etc. I could sort of understand it from the point of view that they have to play to the back row of the balcony (less so in the television age). What was of greater concern to me was rhythmic gymnasts who in the past were required to look like walking skeletons to make the team.

However, for figure skating, I see synchro as more like the ensemble numbers in a Broadway musical. Sure the soloists and duets have the spotlight in their turn, but the show isn't complete without a couple of rip-roaring group numbers to give it some punch. What would West Side Story be without "When You're a Jet"?

About whether sychro skating should be officially classified (Olympics-wise) as a "women's discipline," I am conflicted. The principle should be, come one, come all. And yet, there are many "women's sports" featuring teams of women only -- for instance women's soccer or women's basketball. No one is complaining that men are not eligible to sign up for the women's teams. Plus, it would make direct comparisons of teams (it's a competitive sport, after all) more difficult and subjective. A sychro team of 6 women and 3 men would have access to a different range of tricks than a team of 9 women (or for that matter, a team of 9 men).