Starfire Synchronized Ice Skating

Sunchronized Ice Skating girls with banner after competition.

Our Mission for Starfire Synchronized Ice Skating

The purpose of our STARFIRE program at Rocket Ice Skating Rink is to provide skaters with the opportunity to participate in the ever growing sport of Synchronized Ice Skating. Our program advances individual ice skating skills, enhances self confidence and improves performance techniques through both on-ice and off-ice practice. The STARFIRE program stresses Good Sportsmanship, Cooperation, Leadership and Community Awareness through the competitive experience and service projects. In the past, Starfire has volunteered for Feed My Starving Children and walked to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.

Join the team! Starfire 2024 - 2025 Season

Be a part of Starfire for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 season!

You are invited to join Starfire on March 6th, 2024 to learn what Starfire is all about. Come watch the Starfire exhibition followed by skating with the team and coaches. Click here for the Exhibition & Skate flyer.

Tryouts are required, Registration is now open, Click Here to Register for Tryouts.

Click here for the 2024-2025 Clinic & Tryout information.

2024 Starefire Exhibit Story

What is Synchronized Ice Skating?

  • Synchronized ice skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform an ice skating routine together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and dance. It is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. Teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements.
  • Elements in synchronized ice skating include: blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, and more. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater. The typical senior-level athlete has passed a senior or gold test in at least two disciplines.
  • Synchronized ice skating teams in the U.S. can compete in 15 different levels according to the age and skill level of the team members.
Synchronized ice skating starfire team in green uniforms performing
Tot synchronized ice skating team after competition.

The Ultimate Team Experience: Why Synchronized Ice Skating is Different

  • You must have complete trust in your teammates.
  • There is a lot to consider while performing.
  • Engaging the audience through use of facial expressions and energy is just one component of the routine.
  • Every ice skater holds equal importance to the team.
  • There is no individual scoring, judging is based on the synchronized ice skating team’s performance as a whole.
  • Communication and teamwork is essential to success.

 

How to Get Started

Each year we provide several events to let our students and parents learn more about Synchronized Skating. Each year regularly scheduled tryouts occur in late March and early April.  It is possible to join a team at other times during the year in certain situations.

2023 Exhibition & Skate with Starfire

2023 Starfire Clinics and Tryouts Details

Interested in Joining the fun of being on a Synchronized Skating Team?

Simply send us an email at office@rocketice.com and we will provide you with the information you need.  Starfire Clinics and Tryouts 2023

Synchronized Ice Skating History

Synchronized ice skating is a popular discipline both within U.S. Figure Skating and around the world. U.S. Figure Skating held the first U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in 1984 and also hosted the first World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2000. There are approximately 525 synchronized ice skating teams registered with U.S. Figure Skating, and nearly 5,000 athletes participate annually in the Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships.

Synchronized Ice Skating in College

Ice skating does not have to end when college begins!  Each year, approximately 35 colleges participate in U.S. Figure Skating’s Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, entering the Open Collegiate, Collegiate, Junior and Senior levels. There are many Universities in the Midwest that have a Synchronized Ice Skating program such as:

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Illinois State University
  • University of Michigan
  • Michigan State University
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Indiana University
  • Central Michigan University
  • Miami University of Ohio
  • Ohio State University
  • Robert Morris University
  • Western Michigan University.

For a list of all colleges with figure skating, go to the list of colleges on U.S. Figure Skating’s Collegiate Skating page: http://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/colleges.pdf

What about the Olympics?

Although not currently an Olympic sport, fans and participants of this fast-growing discipline have begun to strive for recognition by the rest of the skating and athletic world. In 2007 synchronized skating took one step closer to Olympic contention when it was selected to be part of the World University Games as a demonstration sport.

(Much of this information is from US Figure Skating’s website. Please visit https://www.usfigureskating.org/skate/skating-opportunities/synchronized-skating for more details.)

Younger synchronized ice skating team at competition.
5/5
"Rocket Ice- First of all I wanted to let you know that Janani is having a lot of fun in the Rocket Ice Arena. My wife and I also totally love the atmosphere. Janani is excited about Starfire and same with us. I wanted to put a good word for two of your instructors. Coach Carrie Fredin, for recognizing Janani's effort and giving her the leverage that she needed. I believe that a coach should not only point out the weakness in a student and help overcome it, but also recognize the effort put in by the student (Janani) and give the leverage the student needs. That is exactly what Coach Carrie did and we are extremely pleased with this. Thank you Coach Carrie! Coach Katie Soraghan, for making me understand the importance of practicing during the public skating during weekends. Janani has improved greatly. And other parents are encouraging their children by giving Janani as an example. Thank you coach Katie for your simple yet powerful words!"
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