The Beginner's Guide to Synchro Skating

Editorial

When it comes to rink competition, recent years have seen ladies swayed by Roller Derby. While we admire their pluck, drive and theatrical violence, here at Citysearch, frankly, we've been looking for an excuse to get back on the ice.

And it's not just because of the super-kitsch costumes, either.

Traditional, non-inline roller-skating, or quad-skating as it is now broadly known, differs from ice-skating. While it offers an exceptional cardio and lower body workout, quad-skating is a finite skill. This is to say, once you attain a certain level of speed and precision, you can't really improve. Figure-skating, by contrast, is a demanding, sequin-covered gymnastic mistress that allows you to improve all the way to the Olympic level.

Of course, I am not a tiny twelve-year-old called Olga with a mother who sleeps in a cot bed next to the rink. And, neither are you. Our Olympic dreams are behind us but, damnit, our urge to undertake a sport that demands consistent improvement and shiny frocks has not receded.

For grown-ups, the rigours of solo or pair skating competition may be extreme. There is a local adult guild for competition and there are International Skating Union competitive age groupings which extend to those born in 1939. However, for those who crave maximum fun from their skating dollar, team competition allows us to share the load.

Synchronized Skating began in seventies Ann Arbor, Michigan as a half-time entertainment during Ice Hockey games. Today, you can still see the ultra-perky cheerleading element upheld by teams of 8 to 20 skaters; some states allow teams of up to 24. It's a bit like Glee on ice. Have a look, here.

When trying a new sport, or resuming an old favourite, it's wonderful to have a goal and goals rarely shimmer with the high-kicking promise of this form of ice-dance. Before auditioning for a team, of course, you're going to need to hone your skills. Check with Ice Skating Australia for details on Aussie Skate™, our national learning program. Ensure that your instructor is accredited.

And then, when you've spun your way up the Synchro pyramid, send me a picture of you in your winning outfit!

Helen Razer, Citysearch